3 Tech Trends & Products to Expect in 2023: The Metaverse, Artificial Intelligence & Digital Scents that attach to virtual reality headsets and releases scents based on triggers within the game/virtual environment.
The wheels of innovation never stop turning, particularly when it comes to digital technology. As it was last year, the year before that, and for as long as we can remember, 2023 will improve existing tech and introduce us to new things. Of course, it’s tough to predict exactly which innovations will make a mark. However, based on recent trends and the way technology is advancing, we should see something interesting in these three areas in 2023:
1. Metaverse Madness
The desire to digitize every aspect of life has been there for decades. Even before Oculus Rift took virtual reality technology to new levels, tech companies have been creating lifelike products. An example of this is the live casino at Paddy Power Games. By combining RFID sensors and webcams, developers have given players access to live dealers and digital betting options in games such as Crazy Time and Lightning Roulette.
Virtual reality hardware captures the same dynamic as live games, but, in 2023, we may see things become even more immersive. Even though the latest talk is that Mark Zuckerberg’s Metaverse project is losing steam, something else will take its place. That something could be digital twin systems. A digital twin system has three parts: physical, a virtual copy of the physical, and a communication link between the two. Apple’s bionic virtual meeting room is a digital twin system and we could see more products like this in the coming months.
2. Artificial Bots
Another tech trend that looks set to take hold in 2023 is artificial intelligence. ChatGPT went live to the general public in November 2022 and it’s likely to cause more waves in 2023. Chatbots are certainly going to become more prevalent thanks to the interest in ChatGPT.
However, we’re also likely to see artificial intelligence doing even more impressive things. One story that captured the imagination of tech fans in January 2023 was the revelation that scientists have created an artificial intelligence system that can make enzymes from scratch. If this technology can be perfected, we might not be far off from computers being able to make artificial lifeforms.
3. Digital Scent
It’s a longshot, but 2023 could be the year digital smells finally become a reality. The idea of “smell-O-vision” has long been a running joke in entertainment, but there are scientists who are actually trying to digitize scent. OVR Technology launched its Architecture of Scent® Platform in 2020. The hardware attaches to virtual reality headsets and releases scents based on triggers within the game/virtual environment.
Daniel Dombeck and Brad Radvansky took this a step further in 2021. Based on their research into spatial mapping of multisensory environments, they develop a system that can trigger odors in virtual reality settings based on a user’s movements. Essentially, when the hippocampus is triggered by certain sights and sounds, a familiar smell is released. This technology isn’t perfect, but it’s something that else could make strides in 2023 and keep the wheels of innovation turning.
These three trends are different levels of public awareness, but each could have a sizeable impact on various industries in the near future.
