2020 Tech Predictions

2020 Tech Predictions
Number	3687
Broadcast Date	DECEMBER 30, 2019
Episode Length	48:04
Hosts	Tom Merritt, Sarah Lane, Roger Chang
Guests	Scott Johnson, Jenn Cutter, Shannon Morse, Allison Sheridan

We’ve reached the end of 2019 and its time again for the DTNS gang to share their prognostication for what will go down in 2020 in the world of tech.

Guest

• Scott Johnson
  • Frogpants
• Jenn Cutter
  • OpenAlpha.tv
• Shannon Morse
  • Threatwire's Patreon
    • Hak5
• Allison Sheridan
  • The NosillaCast

Predictions

SARAH PREDICTIONS

• We see the first deep fake in question in a court case and experts will need to determine whether or not it’s real.
• We finally get a smart display eyeglass product and it will surprise and delight.

Google Glass failed, Snap Spectacles still very niche, and we have rumors Apple is hard at work on its own version.

Measure of success: The first mainstream (successful) augmented reality device for consumers will arrive (Someone sees it in the wild outside LA, SF and New York).

• BONUS: Baby Yoda gets a plushie and becomes the hottest selling toy of all time.

SCOTT PREDICTIONS

• VR market share will continue to grow for Oculus in particular, and they will have a smaller faster Quest II out in late 2020.
• Sony will have a strong launch for PS5 but they'll be forced to do more in services, streaming and PC ports to compete with MS thru 2020.

They will release services that rival xCloud and GamePass.

• We will be able to get a "permanent temporary" tattoo in 2020.

JENN PREDICTIONS

• This is the year esports investors and sponsors start really questioning their ROI.

Events get canceled, teams end, leagues consolidate or go full on belly up etc. (CS:GO might get smaller etc.)

• Google Stadia will do a bit better in 2020. Google will come up with (and successfully release two Stadia units, a critical Step 2 they frequently trip over) a new feature they haven't talked about yet.

In a best case scenario it'll be the legit kind of new feature, not just a new way to ruin software ownership. Something good enough Sony + Microsoft will wonder if they can cram it into their launches because borrowing features is why the upcoming tower xbox controller finally has a share button like the PS4.

• From this year's mandate letter by Prime Minister Trudeau to new Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault "Create new regulations for social media platforms, starting with a requirement that all platforms remove illegal content, including hate speech, within 24 hours or face significant penalties. This should include other online harms such as radicalization, incitement to violence, exploitation of children, or creation or distribution of terrorist propaganda."
  
  I predict our initial proposal, despite examples from EU, does end up laughable but we hopefully back off after everyone tears it apart.

SHANNON PREDICTIONS

• Ransomware will evolve and become harder to protect against. I think ransomware will still depend to a large scale on phishing tactics, but we'll start to see customized ransomware made for specific sectors.
• Legitimate hacks on connected election systems (i.e. voting machines) will be implemented during the election season, and recorded / investigated.
• Foldable screen phones will go down in price and we'll see a newly-released one on the market for as little as $1k.

ALLISON PREDICTIONS

• Amazon will get into wearables with a smart watch with Alexa. Don’t think it will be called Fire Watch, maybe Echo Watch?
• Apple will come out with a new health feature on Apple Watch that's not as amazing as blood sugar, but as more useful than the decibel measurement.

Measure of success: Example, Epilepsy.

• A guest on DTNS will say, “but VR is in early days...” as an excuse for why whatever tech was just announced isn’t taking off.

TOM PREDICTIONS

• Push for limits on Data Science. The GDPR is about collection but doesn't say anything about data processing and profiling, model transparency or holding data scientists accountable for the consequences of their work.
• Apple will buy a live streaming video service (DAZN, Fubo, Philo).

Links

• This episode on dailytechnewsshow.com
• Support DTNS on Patreon
• DTNS subreddit

Preceded by: "2019 Predictions Results Show"

2020 Tech Predictions

Followed by: "Best of 2019 GDI"