Dec 28, 2016 12:27 PM EST By Chris Brandt, UniversityHerald Reporter

In order to predict what's going to be tech trend next year, it is best to look at the prevalent trends this year. The year 2016, has ushered in new developments in technology and these trends will continue be more sophisticated next year. More so, these machines will be more connected allowing more ease of use. Let's look at some of the most prevalent tech trends in 2016 and where they are going next year.

Virtual Reality

One of the most prevalent technology in 2016 was virtual reality. However, the hype that surrounded it has overshadowed what it could really deliver resulting in a lot of disillusionment. The classic example of this was in the area of games and mobile applications which saw a surge this year. After the disillusionment, virtual reality applications will be more stabilized in 2017.

Augmented Reality

Virtual reality's cousin has gained quite the attention this year - thanks to Pokemon GO. So far, AR's attraction is mostly recreational and limited in games. So far, there are already concepts developed around the use of AR, such as in the area of vehicle safety. The real potential of AR, however, would be in providing us with a new and improved means of accessing information and services, which was demonstrated in Google Glass and Microsoft's HoloLens. Therefore, 2017 will see us integrating AR in our daily tasks, such as checking emails or finding the best route possible. While doing these tasks, all the information is delivered into our eyes while doing other tasks.

Internet of Things

The Internet of Things will dominate 2017 as more and more devices - from phones to coffee makers - become connected. The reason for its popularity is our desire to be constantly connected. Just imagine all the physical devices you use connected with each other. As technology advances next year, 2017 will be the year where you will be able to request your coffeemaker at home to brew some coffee for you while you're driving on your way home.

Such connectivity is already seen in Cloud Robotics where robots share information in the cloud enabling other robots in the same network to analyze data and confirm it. Moreover, these interconnected robots will be able to teach each other new skills and potentially increase intelligence and inter-connectivity.

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