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Adalla Allan @Adalla_Allan

The pandemic left the world at a standstill, with many people turning technology including the internet in carrying out daily activities.

But now with the approval of three vaccines, things are set to change. 

Research by Econsultancy tech prediction website in July last year indicated that the number of social media users reached 4.57 billion (equal to half the global population), with 346 million new users joining in the 12 months prior. Experts now foresee a further increase in the use of social media with Facebook in the lead. 

“The pandemic has accelerated our need to share in real-time through live video, with Facebook reporting a 50 per cent increase in viewers watching live videos in March 2020 compared with the previous month. 

With a vaccine in sight and “normal life” returning in some form soon, we will see a huge increase in us sharing our real-world experiences in real-time,” says Tom Jarvis, a tech expert. 

Alfred Ongere, the founder of AI Kenya and managing director of Mind Intelligence Ltd, say with internet penetration at over 80 per cent in Kenya as at end of 2020, there is a lot of opportunities for innovators and creators to create digital services and experiences to make life easier for consumers this year.

He says more businesses will easily unlock more value from providing and consuming different digital services in Kenya. 

Building lives

“Continuous democratisation of Fourth Industrial Tech such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence, 3D printing and Augmented Reality means we have the tools to start creating and improving solutions to our everyday problems and it is evident they will be effective in 2021.

Artificial intelligence plays a key role in processing documents, verifying identity, recommending services and helping us navigate better. For Africa, the time to build and improve lives is now, ” he tells People Daily.

Cybersecurity is also one of the most anticipated tech fields, especially now that many businesses had to change work dynamics thanks to Covid-19.

CEOs and managers want to protect employees and domains virtually as much as possible.

Virtual Private Network (VPN), cloud services, and other online solutions helped companies continue their work even when employees work remotely.

A significant percentage of agencies benefitted from the switch to digital, and as such they have invested in new and efficient cybersecurity to protect their assets.

Gaming spree

After coronavirus hit, people turned to gaming for solace, and the whole industry not only survived; it prospered. Market researcher Newzoo, had predicted that the entire gaming industry — PC, mobile, and console games — would grow 19.6 per cent to more than $174.9 billion (Sh19 trillion) in 2020. With two new consoles launched in November, the industry will likely grow again in 2021, helping gaming stand apart from the crowd.

This year, there was a huge surge in venture capital investments in game studios, and a big wave of acquisitions as well, with Microsoft buying ZeniMax Media (Bethesda) for $7.5 billion (Sh809 billion) and Embracer Group announcing it had bought 12 game studios in one day. A continuation of this growth is the easiest prediction to make.

And what about the gadgets?  No one expected the launch of millions of gadgets and apps in 2020.

In 2021, anticipate for smartphones and all other devices to pack more computing power because that will be what they need to focus on, more than cameras and battery life.

Tech experts are predicting on folding, rolling, swivelling smartphones in the new year too and the consumers will be more bothered about the devices that will work for long hours without tiring, offering good screen clarity and front cameras for video calls.

There will also be a low budget smartphone used for online education in many households.

The smartphones that support 5G are also expected to be on high demand once the 5G network starts operation in various countries.