Tech Trends 2020

The advent of 5G is among the trends tech workers need to watch in 2020, suggests Eolas Recruitment.

5G

We think that 2020 will be the year when applications that require high speed Internet (like video conferencing, distance learning, multi-user gaming, Internet of Things, smart cars, homes and cities, and augmented reality) start to really drive demand for 5G in Ireland. The advent of 5G smartphones will accelerate this trend so we expect to see strong demand for mobile developers who can create 5G apps along with security specialists who can develop solutions to protect them.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

From farmyards to fintechs, businesses in many different sectors are realising that the benefits of machine learning and artificial intelligence lie not just in cost-cutting or streamlining processes, but also in stimulating innovation, enhancing service quality, supporting product development and improving the bottom line

Machine learning is already well-established in e-commerce and retail where it assists with tasks like dynamic pricing or recommending content based on a user’s previous search history. In financial services, it helps identify anomalies and flags potentially fraudulent transactions. In call centres, it drives the chatbots and messengers that assist with customer queries.

However, it’s AI that has been grabbing the headlines in recent times with many of the most exciting developments taking place in the healthcare sector. In Australia, a dementia support organisation is using AI to identify pain in patients who are no longer able to express their discomfort. In the UK and US, recent reports highlighted how an artificial intelligence program developed by Google Health could improve breast cancer detection in mammograms. At NUI Galway, an SFI-funded project is using game-based technology to train AI to spot humans in water. Airports are beginning to look at the potential of facial recognition technology in areas like passport control where it could do away with the need for boarding passes. In our own industry, recruitment, AI may in future be used to create candidate profiles with algorithms that analyse online and social media activity.

Admittedly, there is a lot of hype about AI and ML, however there is also plenty of evidence that the companies embracing these technologies are outperforming their peers. IDA Ireland predicts 2020 could be the year that AI as a Service (AIaaS) “explodes onto the market” as companies seeking to capitalize on AI for their data-driven decision making, look to AIaaS as a means to adopt these technologies quickly and cost effectively.

Given the levels of interest and activity in ML and AI across many different sectors, it’s not surprising that opportunities in this area topped the list in LinkedIn’s recent Emerging Jobs report. This reflects Eolas Recruitment’s experience on the ground where we are seeing strong demand for AI and ML developers at the moment.

Human Computer Interaction

HCI is another area that we think will have an impact in the coming months. At Google, HCI research contributed to the design of Search, Gmail, Docs, Maps, Chrome, Android, and YouTube. Elsewhere, HCI applications are being developed in areas like predictive and intelligent user interface technologies and software that can be used to analyse attention signals, create interactive reading experiences and enhance usability and user experience. Examples of roles that require HCI skills include UX/UI developers, information architects, visual designers, usability analysis and product designers.

Gaming and eSports

The rise of Ireland’s gaming and eSports industry was one of the trends we highlighted last year. We are still seeing strong demand for developers and software engineers in this sector and, with the advent of 5G, this is likely to intensify in the coming months. Games testers, quality controllers and project managers are also highly sought after. There are also good roles in related areas such as animation, editing, production and special effects.

Quantum Computing

Will 2020 be the year quantum computing makes a breakthrough in the commercial world? There’s certainly a lot of talk about it and it looks like Ireland won’t be found wanting when the time comes if the results of the latest BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition are anything to judge by. A 17-year old Dublin student who developed a series of digital tools for use in quantum computing scooped the top prize this year.

And finally …

While not a tech trend as such, the impact that Brexit will have on the tech sector is definitely on our watch list this year. At the time of writing, the next phase of negotiations between the UK and the EU is about to get underway but as yet there is no indication of what the future relationship will be. It is likely that, whatever the outcome of the negotiations, there will be major changes on the agenda for many businesses in the tech sector. We expect that this will create opportunities for IT workers with relevant skills, particularly in areas such as project management, data and security.

As always, we encourage you to contact Eolas Recruitment for information on upcoming opportunities and advice on securing the best roles.

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