Technology tends to move at a frenetic pace. Every year, companies create a variety of fantastic new gizmos and then strive to convince users that their lives could be vastly improved if only they could add the new thingamabob to their existing collection of digital trinkets. Most of these gadgets aren’t worth the silicon that powers them, but a few will go on to change humanity forever — or at least until the next big thing comes along. Here are a few educated guesses at the technology trends that will dominate your attention over the next 12 months.

The future is in your head(set)

Hollywood and its technology partners poured a lot of time and money into selling people on 3D. If they’d focused their energies on virtual reality instead, we’d be able to see the future in front of our eyes today. It wouldn’t just consist of a few pointy objects and floating text, it would be a truly immersive and interactive world that is almost indistinguishable from reality. Facebook-owned Occulus was the first mover in this space, but competitiors now abound in the form of the HTC Vive, Sony Morpheus and even Microsoft’s augmented reality headset – the HoloLens.

Smart toasters, toothbrushes and more

The Internet of Things has been the stuff of academic conferences and policy discussions for at least half a decade now. It is finally ready to make the jump into your living room. Phones and TVs becoming smart was to be expected, but in 2016, it is quite conceivable that you will receive a text message from your washing machine informing you that your laundry is done or an email reminder from your fridge to restock the veggie drawer. Phillips’ Hue line of connected light fixtures that illuminate according to your mood and Oral B’s new app-supported toothbrushes that track your dental hygiene are the first in what will soon become a long line of ordinary machines with extraordinary abilities.

The last smartphone you’ll ever buy

The typical smartphone has a shelf life of a few months. If it doesn’t have a shattered screen or an over-heating battery by then, it is almost certainly obsolete. Google is attempting to tackle this endless cycle of cell phone consumption with Project Ara – a program aimed at building a modular smartphone. In an Ara device, everything from the screen to the battery is a module that can be removed and replaced at will. So your phone could transform radically in style and function everyday, while all the while remaining the same underneath.

The designated driver of your dreams

Self-driving cars aren’t ready for prime time yet. However, limited self-driving technologies such as General Motors Super Cruise are not far away from production vehicles. While they will require you to stay alert and take over in certain situations, these cars in most cases, eliminate the need for human interaction in negotiating bumper-to-bumper traffic or long, straight, highways. Audi, Mercedes Benz , Ford, Nissan, Delphi, Toyota, and Tesla are all working on self-driving technologies at the moment. Expect to see at least half of them introduce automation in to their cars before the year is out.​

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