Each year, new technology comes about which affects all of us in our daily lives and in our workplaces.  According to the Pew Research Center, 68% of adults in the US currently own a smartphone, 45% own a tablet, and 87% use the internet. These days, software companies are shifting their focus more and more to  applications and programs that are compatible with mobile devices as part of their design suite.
2015 saw some major new developments in technology, and a lot of the new technology trends in 2016 will also affect librarians, libraries and their patrons. Many times, the new technology causes users to have to learn something new or adapt to a new form of technology or program.

Wearable technology has become more mainstream than ever before. Apple released the Apple Watch last year, bringing science fiction to life. Just before that, Google released the highly anticipated Google Glass, a form of wearable technology that is controllable merely through eye movement and voice commands (a new version of which is to be released in 2016).

In 2015, we also saw huge technological advancements in the automobile industry. Several companies have release their versions of self-driving cars, such as Google’s self-driving car project, or the flashier Tesla or Faraday.

2016 promises to bring us even more developments in the world of technology.

Some of the trends coming this year mentioned at the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) Convention and in publications were:
•    HDR TV
•    Virtual Reality goggles
•    The Internet of all things
•    More online streaming of video
•    Companion robots,
•    AI (artificial intelligence),
•    Longer life batteries and more efficient charging technology

In a recent report on 2016 and technology, Gartner mentioned some trends this year, including:
•    ambient user experiences
•    the information of everything,
•    advanced machine learning,
•    adaptive security architecture

And lastly, some trends affecting how we work:
•    Ability to work from anywhere on anything
•    Video content management
•    Smart machines and automation
•    Mobile computing and end-user computing merging
•    Mobile cloud computing
•    Wearable devices will have greater adoption
•    Digital enterprise
•    Build individual work style preferences into mobile strategy

With so many people going mobile and so many new advancements in technology, libraries need to think about what their mobile users need and how they can accommodate those needs. Some libraries, like the New York Public Libraries for example, are lending Wi-Fi hot spots to their patrons. These are portable devices that can provide internet service wherever they are, to users who may not have internet access of their own. Smartphones, computers, and other wifi- enabled devices can be connected, allowing them to complete basic tasks such as banking, applying to jobs, and school work.

3-D printers and maker spaces are also popular these days.  Media Labs and collaborative spaces where people can work together along with separate areas for solitary work and study are other ways that libraries can make their spaces inviting to their patrons.

2016 promises many exciting developments in the world of technology, for consumers at large and for library-goers in particular.  With those developments, it offers new ways for libraries to interact with their patrons, and to give them access to the information channels they need.

Written by: Barbara Maxwell and Tina Baker
Image by: photo-deti at Depositphotos.com