Technology has come a long way. Today, a smartphone has more power than the computers used to launch mankind to the moon, and we are not stopping. The ultimate question is, what is in store? Are there emerging trends in the computer network development industry?
Let us find out what tech giants are working on and how these new developments are going to affect computer networks.
WiFi Version 6
Also called WiFi 6, this was first released in 2019, and we expect a massive adoption in 2020.
What is it? The new WiFi technology is an upgrade that will improve the efficiency of how we connect over the airwaves. WiFi is now the primary method of connecting devices to routers and internet service providers (ISP).
If the WiFi technology cannot catch up with the traffic that goes on the airwaves, it causes a slow communication between the device and the ISP. Currently, the fastest that we can go is 2.4GHz. With the advent of WiFi 6, the speed can go as fast as 6GHz.
Gigahertz (GHz) is a measurement of a cycle of electronic frequencies. In computer terms, it is clock rate or clock speed. Think of it as a wheel: if a wheel turns faster, it can take you farther in less time.
The same thing is true for WiFi. If it can run faster, then it can process more information in a shorter period of time and give you more data. The faster it is, the faster your internet connection will be.
What this means is that you can access video slot games faster, browse the internet faster, and have a better overall online experience.
The 5G Technology
Several carriers rolled out the 5G technology in 2019. By 2020, we can expect this to be the standard. All devices like smartphones, tablets, routers and laptops will also upgrade the hardware and software to recognize this new internet technology.
The “G” here means Generation, so 5G is the fifth generation of wireless technology. This technology has something to do with how fast the internet towers can deliver data to people.
Look at it this way: if a pizza delivery man uses a bicycle, then he is using a 1G technology or equipment. Another pizza company may use a scooter, which is like 3G technology. But if a pizza delivery company uses a Ducati, then that is the equivalent of 5G.
In this analogy, you will get your pizza faster because your delivery person uses a motorcycle that has all the bells and whistle. With 5G technology, you should be able to download an entire movie in seconds. That is right, seconds, not minutes.
This technology will have a significant impact on the gaming industry, as streaming will be faster, and players will have a much better experience: no more lag times and no more lost opportunities because of connection failure.
Machine Learning
We have all heard of Artificial Intelligence(AI). It is not a new concept. In fact, companies like Google and Facebook use AI to match your profile with the ads they serve. This is why if you type a search term in Google, Facebook will know that and serve you an advertisement related to that search.
Machine learning keeps on advancing, and while they are mainly used to profile users such as you, companies are also hell bent on using this to identify potential security threats. Users, their devices and their patterns of behaviour will belong to clusters or groups, and any outlier can raise a red flag.
In the gaming world, this will work wonders, as this technology will also serve you the games you might like. Today, the gaming industry has not yet reached the same AI sophistication that Google and Facebook has. Just imagine if you are playing a slot machine that has some unique characteristics, and once you get tired of it, the AI can recommend games with similar traits. If you love 5X3 grids, the system will recommend that. If you like slots with wilds, then the machine will recommend that, too.
Summary
While there are other network technology cooking in the pot, these are the three that will have a direct impact on user experience. By 2020, players will have access to faster WiFi routers, faster cellular networks with 5G technology and better AI systems that can make game searching faster and less stressful.
While these three technologies already exist, it is only a question of deployment or roll out. Before 5G can happen, the internet service providers have to do a massive upgrade on their towers. Needless to say, users also have to upgrade their WiFi systems to be able to get the service, and so do gaming companies.
But what is going to be the cost? We can only surmise that. As we know by now, new technology is expensive, but shall be within reach in a few years.
