Brave New Wired World

From working remotely to how we keep fit, the pandemic will continue to influence how we use technology in 2021

- Charlie Mclean

If ever there was a year when consumers embraced technology on a big scale it was 2020. Of course, many were dragged into the world of bots and mega bytes thanks to the multiple lockdowns and restrictions that kicked in last year.

For some it was tricky – but for many it was a revelation. And given the way things are going right now, embracing technology will become an even bigger thing in 2021. We look at some of the trends making waves around the world.

AS A SERVICE

Some refer to it as Software as a Service (Saas), others as Everything as a Service (Eaas) but it’s pretty much the same thing and refers to how a great deal of the tech we use these days is a service offered by software companies.

It’s already everywhere: your music or film/series streaming service subscription is one example – you pay for something to be provided digitally.

Other examples include things like fitness apps that you pay for to get exercise or eating plans or a guided meditation app where you pay a fee for various sessions, as is something such as Google Photos, where you can store and edit photos online. Google recently announced the unlimited storage service would stop being free from June this year, a clear indication that the Saas trend is here to stay.

The growth will be even greater in the virtual or remote communication space. As New York Times technology columnist Brian Chen puts it, “Video chat apps like Zoom, Google Meet and Webex have been around for years but they were forced to improve quickly when so many people flocked to them during the pandemic.