6 Technology Trends That Will Take Over the Consumer Market in 2016

When it comes to technology and innovation, 2015 has been a very exciting year. As we begin Q4, we can see the technologies and ideas that were dawning in 2014 have started becoming mainstream, and are expected to take over the consumer market in 2016.

Here are six of the most exciting technology trends that you should look out for:

1. Wearable Tech

The landscape of wearable tech is emerging and expanding. We’ve seen smart watches, health monitors, pedometers, fitness and activity trackers, and virtual reality headsets have changed the way we move, exercise, communicate, and stay connected on-the-go.

For example, Pebble, which started the smartwatch movement in 2013, encouraged big names such as Samsung, LG, and Apple to enter this space in 2015. Since then, we’ve seen a number of smartwatches released, and we expect this trend to take off in 2016 as more people get their hands on smartwatches.

It's the same with other wearable tech, specifically fitness-related wearables. Fitbit, launched in 2007, is now a publicly traded company valued at $8 billion, which shows the rise of wearable tech will reach more markets in the coming years.

2. Smart Home Tech

Home automation is perhaps the most exciting segment of the consumer market this year, and was the center of attention at CES 2015. From doorbells to thermostats, to security devices and smart bulbs, practically everything can be operated and monitored with your smartphone.

Already we’ve seen some great products like Nest, Ring, Canary, and Hue in the home tech category, and we expect more products becoming part of smart homes.

The number of smart and efficient homes is increasing daily; homeowners are enjoying more convenience and comfort when it comes to basic security monitoring and advance customization of lighting, temperature, entertainment systems, and more. The smart home tech market will grow more in the coming year, and we are really looking forward to next year's Consumer Electronics Show.

3. 3D Printing

3D printing or additive manufacturing has been used by manufacturers since early the '90s in the aerospace and automotive industries. Back then, three-dimensional objects and models were built with large-scale printers that cost upwards of $100,000 or more.

In recent years, manufacturers have been focused on building affordable 3D printers, and they are being used by hobbyists, artists, and creative designers, which is very exciting. 3D printing pens are more of a gimmick, but you can get an excellent 3D printer for as low as $500; for two or three grand, you can get a 3D printer that is being used by professionals and scientists. The Form 1+ by Formlabs costs under $3,000.

There is a lot going on this space. HP already introduced Sprout, a 3D desktop scanner for home users and educators, and has said it will introduce its own line of 3D printers in 2016 that will put this technology into more hands, especially students.

4. Drones

Drones aren’t just for paparazzi or film crews with massive budgets. Drone technology has taken a massive leap in the last few years, and during 2015 we saw amazing drones. From the DJI Phantom and Inspire drones to drone maker Yuneec scoring a partnership of $60 million with Intel, things are heating up in the drone world. And more competition means drones will become more and more affordable for regular consumers.

The camcorder revolution was a massive era in human history that gave access to the average person to shoot and record his or her moments, and gave birth to shows like America’s Funniest Home Videos. I believe the drone technology will be a step ahead as there are number of drones out there which you can use to shoot videos for as little as $500. Drones come with preinstalled cameras and optional mounts where you can insert your GoPro and start shooting like Fotokite.

Millions have been pledged on aerial camera drones on Kickstarter which shows there is a massive demand and need for products like these, a godsend for filmmakers. I think the trend will only grow from here, and we can expect to see this technology reach a wider audience next year.

5. 4K Everything

1080p is old school now; any new camera or smartphone that is unable to shoot feels like it is missing something. Even though not everyone has upgraded to 4K yet, we already know 4K is becoming the standard in high-quality video.

This year was the year of 4K: YouTube is finally hosting and displaying videos on 4K, and big-name TV manufacturers like Sony and Samsung introduced 4K TVs that are capable of displaying four times the resolution of today’s HD sets. But 4K is not limited to TVs; action cameras, mirrorless cameras, and even smartphones can now shoot at 4K resolution as iPhone joined the party this year. 4K has become so popular that Sony released the world’s first 4K screen smartphone this year.

So what’s next in 4K for 2016? For starters, I believe TVs will become more affordable; the next variant of Chromecast will most likely be able to cast 4K videos. We’re already seeing 4K computer monitors reaching more people, but it will be more about streaming to TVs and recording video than having the 4K screen itself--and that is something I am really excited about.

6. Electric Rideables

So far, we’ve covered technologies and trends that affect the way we live, build, and watch things. Electric rideables are pushing the boundaries on how we move. Sure we talk about Tesla and self-driving Google cars, but electric rideables are what are available today and what people can afford to buy, and they are growing extremely fast.

A rideable is something you can ride on, has an electric motor that's powerful enough to be used as a commuting device, and small enough to take into the office with you.

So what types of rideables are available in the market right now? We have everything from electric roller skates to skateboards, hoverboards, one wheelers, unicycles, and electric mountain bikes.

Thanks to celebrity endorsements and YouTube influencers, these things are quickly making their way to regular homes. Not only do these technologies rely less on gasoline, but they are affordable and fun to ride. In 2016 we can expect them taking over the consumer markets.