As technology changes, so does the engineering industry. We’ve seen amazing advances in consumer technology, business intelligence, in machine learning and in the internet of things, all of which are quickly shifting how engineers think about their work. To stay ahead of the curve in this industry, it’s important to stay in the know and to keep learning about the trends advancing the industry. Here’s a peek into what technology trends are influencing the engineering industry in 2018.

1. Industrial IoT

Industrial IoT is recognized as the most widely adopted use case for edge computing. The needs and requirements of the modern industrial systems are clear drivers in the success and growth of these technologies. Many describe this digital transformation as a fourth Industrial Revolution. And engineers in the current age need to be aware of how IoT is changing their workplace and the businesses of the future.

2. Machine Learning

Machine learning and, on an even deeper level, Deep Learning, are two trends that are making big waves in an industry already primed for transformation. Machine learning is widely used in datacenters, and deep learning is being explored as a tool to reduce the amount of data propagated back to data centers. Applications such as image, video and audio recognition are already being deployed for a variety of verticals, to help engineers and networks analyze a wealth of information quickly and more effectively.

3. Digital Currency

From Bitcoin to Ethereum, Litecoin to Dash, digital currencies have quickly become commonly traded currencies. And despite fluctuations in value, they are forecast to continue to grow in use and value. This will result in a growing need for cybersecurity to protect trades, and enable other technologies including storage, cloud computing and the Internet of Things. Everything is connected, so even if you find yourself in a position that has little-to-nothing to do with digital currencies, understanding how they are shifting the market is important.

4. Blockchain

Peer-to-peer computing (including the rise of Bitcoin) has driven the growth of blockchain technology, which, in turn, is changing engineering. It’s clear that an increase in companies delivering blockchain products is on the horizon, but even existing IT heavyweights are entering the market, too. So, as an engineer, it’s important to know how Blockchain could impact your products and your market.

5. AR/VR

Gaming AR and VR gadgets have come on to the scene in a big way, but it’s not just fun and games that this technology can provide. User interfaces are changing. Think about how 3D projections and movement detection might influence your work. As more individuals start using these devices, more information about those individuals is being collected. This inevitably will lead to interesting changes in terms of privacy and cyber security, as well. But the technology itself is still being developed and will change how work is done now and in the near future.

For more thoughts on the latest technology trends driving change in the engineering industry, contact the team at Verum Technical.