The next big things in technology set to transform our lives

There are a new set of technological trends headed this way in 2022. Here’s a selection that may change lives.

Ransomware attacks look likely to spill over into 2022. Picture: iStock

After a year that made the terms WFH (work from home) and metaverse instantly recognisable for many people, there are a new set of technological trends headed this way in 2022. Here’s a selection that may change lives in the coming year:

Meatless meat

Meat alternatives have become common in an increasing number of households, due in part to ­Beyond Meat and Impossible Food plant-based products that come far closer to the texture and flavour of beef or pork.

As the products have improved and the prices edged downward, demand has been boosted by concern about the environment: raising animals for food is responsible for 14.5 per cent of human-linked greenhouse gas emissions, according to UN data.

The global market for plant-based meats is expected to be worth $US35bn ($48bn) in 2027 – up from $US13.5bn in 2020, due in part to expansion beyond the US, according to a report from ­Research and Markets.

David Bchiri, president of US consulting firm Fabernovel, said 2022 would be “the crowning year of food made from plant-based proteins. The products are mature and good. They’re going to become mainstream.”

‘Web 3.0’

The internet’s first phase was the creation of websites and blogs, which allowed the emergence of companies such as Yahoo, eBay and Amazon. The next iteration was Web 2.0, defined by social media and user-generated content on sites such as Facebook and YouTube. These platforms “get the money and control it, they let you on their platform,” said Benedict Evans, an independent analyst specialising in Silicon Valley.

So, is Web 3.0 coming?

In this iteration, “users, creators and developers would have stakes and votes” in a platform in much the way a co-operative worked, Evans said on his Another Podcast. Such a revolutionary step could be made possible by blockchain technology, where computer programs run on networks of thousands or millions of computers.

So far, blockchain has enabled the rise of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, and more recently unique digital objects such as drawings or animations called NFTs.

“We talk a lot about decentralised finance, but I think in 2022 we will see more localised use cases, which will enter everyday life,” said Bchiri of consulting firm Fabernovel. As highly volatile digital moneys like bitcoin have hit record high values in 2021, a huge range of players have entered the game, including versions launched by the cities of Miami and New York.

Ransomware, everywhere

The spike towards record ransomware attacks and data leaks in 2021 looks likely to spill over into the coming year.

Cyber-extortion heists break into a victim’s network to encrypt data, then demands a ransom, typically paid via cryptocurrency in exchange to unlock it.

A confluence of factors has fuelled the trend, including the booming value of cryptocurrencies, victims’ willingness to pay and the difficulty authorities have in catching attackers.

Cybersecurity company SonicWall wrote in late October: “With 495 million ransomware attacks logged by the company this year to date, 2021 will be the most costly and dangerous year on record.”

Sandra Joyce, executive vice-president and head of global intelligence at cybersecurity firm Mandiant, wrote: “When I think about 2022, the thing that’s top of mind for me and for my colleagues continues to be ransomware. It’s simply too lucrative.”

Big Tech regulation?

A series of regulatory and legal threats launched this year will provoke major battles for Big Tech in 2022. In the US, the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust lawsuit against Facebook represents a genuine threat to the social media giant, though a court has already dismissed the case once.

More lawsuits and a federal investigation – and maybe even new laws, finally – are possible in the wake of the damning whistleblower leaks showing that Facebook executives knew its sites could cause harm.

Some critics say the firm’s major push into realising the metaverse – a virtual reality version of the internet – is an effort to change the subject after years of criticism.

Apple dodged a bullet this year when a US federal court said Fortnite maker Epic Games failed to show the iPhone giant held an illegal monopoly, but it was ordered to loosen control over its App Store. Both sides have ­appealed.

New regulations may come sooner in the EU as it pushes through new laws, such as the Digital Services Act, which would create much stricter oversight of harmful and illegal content on platforms such as Facebook.

AFP