Big Ideas 2021: Areas full of cool projects for developers and investors

We’ve done the investigation and identified the industries that will be actively developing over the next few decades

Global changes have made all shiver: investors, businessmen, developers, teachers, doctors, and everyone else. Which industries are worth investing in? What brand-new projects await developers? What mysterious innovations wait for people? How much will bitcoin cost?

We at SweetSoft done the investigation and identified the industries that will be actively developing over the next few decades (based on ARK Investment Research).

Deep Learning

The most common types of conversational computing are chatbots and digital assistants

So, the first and the most impressive area is “Deep learning” — a form of artificial intelligence (AI), uses data to write software. Yes, quality code can be written by machines. But Deep Learning is not a super new technology, because we have been using it for many years:

• facial recognition in social networks,
• Google search,
• advertising.

Is that good or bad? Let’s find out

Experts expect significant economic profits from such industries:

• Conversational Computers Powered by AI. The most common types of conversational computing are the chatbots (Fandango, Sephora) and digital assistants (Amazon’s Alexa, Microsoft’s Cortana, and Apple’s Siri).
• Self-Driving Cars (Tesla Model S, Cadillac CT6, Nissan Rogue, BMW X7, Infiniti QX50)
• Consumer Apps (TikTok, which uses deep learning for video recommendations, has dropped Snapchat and Pinterest). The most popular apps in 2020 were Uber, Postmates, Drizly, Zomato.

Over two decades the Internet added $13 trillion to equity market capitalizations globally. Deep learning has created $2 trillion in market capitalization as of 2020.

When should developers start getting nervous?

Deep learning is very effective in machine vision and speech recognition. But when it comes to speech tone analysis or a problem prediction — human understanding and comprehension are still needed. So, it is wise for developers to make research analyses and understand the principles of DL before using it in their work.

The Re-Invention of the Data Center

Accelerators, dominated by GPUs, will become the dominant processors for new workloads

Data centers are going through a revolution. More inexpensive, quicker, and more power-efficient processors are starting to displace Intel — which traditionally had captured over 90% of all processor revenue. Accelerators, dominated by GPUs, will become the dominant processors for new workloads, growing 21% at an annual rate to $41 billion by 2030.

Almost all software developers write code on Intel’s x86 PCs running Windows or Mac operating systems.

• Apple plans to transition Macs from x86 to ARM-based central processing units (CPUs) over the next two years.
• Microsoft is doubling down on its efforts to support Windows on ARM processors.

ARM & RISC-V Could Become The New Processor Standards By 2030ARM and RISC-V are likely to displace Intel’s x86 in the cloud. Together they could grow 45% per year to reach $19 billion in CPU revenue and $100 billion in server revenue by 2030.

How do programmers respond?

We believe that PCs and servers adopting ARM processors will create the first ecosystem with sufficient scale, tooling, and assistance to challenge Intel’s x86.

GPUs, Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) will continue to rule the market for the next years, changing the world of gaming and other software development areas.

The future is about the corner, so programmers can analyze the expected changes in their fields today.

Virtual Worlds: Video Games, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality

AR & VR markets will grow at a 59% compound annual rate during the next five years

A few hot facts that speak to the huge role of computer games in our life:

• The average time spent playing video games will increase from 1.1 hours per person per day to 1.5 hours during the next five years.
• Revenue from virtual worlds will compound 17% annually from $180 billion today to $390 billion by 2025.
• The monetization of gaming will increase: during the next five years, the cost per hour of playing video games is likely to increase by 20%.
• Self-isolation has made video games a “home resort”, and this trend will increase.

Augmented reality helps companies such as Snapchat, Facebook stay engaging. The most popular AR tools during 2020 were:

• ASOS — the virtual catwalk.
• Gucci — try new shoes.
• Ikea Place.
• Dulux Visualizer.
• Magnum and Benefit — pop up.
• Toyota — vehicle demo.
• Modiface on Amazon.
• Adidas — more virtual sneakers.
• YouTube — Beauty Try-On.
• VF — virtual mannequins.

Thus, the AR & VR markets will grow at a 59% compound annual rate during the next five years, from $3 billion to $28 billion in 2025.

Challenge for developers

What else they could add to the reality? We expect a special AR boom in education. Remote learning has revealed weaknesses that need to be bridged to preserve the quality of education. Laboratory works in physics, chemistry, anatomy, biology, astronomy will become much more informative with visualization.

The ability to conduct experiments using an iPad, to study DNA, or to dissect a frog allows to nurture future talented scientists.

Digital Wallets

Square’s Cash App and PayPal’s Venmo each amassed roughly 60 million active users organically in the last 7 and 10 years

Digital wallets are beginning to enter the full traditional financial market. Today anyone could use the most needed financial technologies such as money transfers, brokerage, lending, currency exchange in his phone.

Square’s Cash App and PayPal’s Venmo each amassed roughly 60 million active users organically in the last 7 and 10 years. We are confident that this number will grow next decade.

Challenge for developers

An attractive idea is an App in which a person can change bitcoins or other virtual money into real money. Or identify stores and cafes where you can pay with bitcoins. Don’t thank😊

Bitcoin’s Fundamentals

JP Morgan adds major cryptocurrency exchanges Coinbase and Gemini as banking clients

In the next five years, we may see the legitimization of bitcoin as an alternative to cash.

Some food for thought:

• If all S&P 500 companies were to allocate 1% of their cash to bitcoin,1 its price could increase by approximately $40,000.
• JP Morgan adds major cryptocurrency exchanges Coinbase and Gemini as banking clients.
• Singapore’s largest bank, DBS, announces plans to launch a cryptocurrency exchange.
• Kraken becomes the first cryptocurrency exchange to charter a US bank.
• Insurance giant MassMutual invests $100 million into bitcoin.

We think bitcoin owners are jumping with pleasure right now.

A bit of a prediction from SweetSoft

Since bitcoin is supposed to be legal — it will need the same goodies as other currencies. Online converters, online banking, mobile applications for quick currency conversion to bitcoin and back. Developers can work ahead and plan future code right now.

With such a proactive mindset, you will get as many benefits as those who invested thousands of dollars in bitcoin years ago.

Electric Vehicles (EVs)

EV is revolutionizing the way we travel

According to the forecasts, EV sales should increase from 2.2 million in 2020 to 40 million units in 2025. It might be worth exploring their range this weekend:) Women will probably want to see how the color of the new EV matches the color of their shoes. Hey, AR guys, did you take an order?

Challenges for IT-folks

EV is revolutionizing the way we travel. Today’s drivers plan their routes based on modern logistics principles. Now travelers regard whether there is an electric or EV service station, or maybe even the level of cleanliness of the air near the hotel.

Today, people choose their electric cars for their driving style, region, and road peculiarities. Maybe it seems so crazy, but it would be cool to create an app that matches the electric car to your health or appearance.

Automation

Soon robots will help us cook, clean, and deliver a lot of different goods

The robots are coming…to help you and create jobs. Soon robots will help us cook, clean, and deliver a lot of different goods, allowing entrepreneurs to monetize time for laundromats, restaurants, delivery services, etc. Automation could add $1.2 trillion, to US GDP during the next five years. We believe many families will soon have multifunctional robots that each morning make croissants, iron ties, and then take the kids to school.

People always want more

The automation of production and everyday life leads to more human expectations. The demand for robots that not only clean the house but also talk to the owner about Goethe, How I Met Your Mother, or play cards is not far off. As many shows as many possibilities. Don’t yawn, programmers.

Autonomous Ride-Hailing

Enterprise value for autonomous platform operators could scale to 3.8T by 2025

Autonomous ride-hailing platforms will generate more than $1 trillion in profits per year by 2030. It means you can save on your taxi rides.

Moreover, we can observe the development of three independent directions:

• Tesla’s camera-based approach.
• Alphabet’s Waymo whit LiDAR and HD mapping.
• Baidu’s Apollo with infrastructure sensors.

Place your bets, gentlemen. Platform providers, or companies that own the autonomous technology stack, should garner the lion’s share of autonomous ride-hailing profits.

Some fascinating calculation

Auto manufacturers with successful electric vehicle platforms, partnered with autonomous technology providers, could generate roughly $250 billion in earnings annually by 2030.

Fleet owners that own, house, and maintain autonomous ride-hailing vehicles could generate roughly $70 billion in earnings annually by 2030.

Enterprise value for autonomous platform operators could scale to 3.8T by 2025.

Logically, the dev-specialists who will update the web and mobile software for taxi services will also get their solid dividends.

Drone Delivery

Drones will totally replace humans in delivering food, packages, and online shopping

There are high expectations for drones: next few years drones will deliver our packages, food, and even people quicker and more conveniently than ever before. Drones will reduce travel time, shipping costs, and save lives. Such good guys. We imagine soon they’ll be walking the dogs in the morning instead of the happy owners.

The future begins today

Drones will totally replace humans in delivering food, packages, and online shopping. Maybe even in a city-to-city delivery. Drones make transportation cheaper, do not pollute the air, and give a lot of work to developers, who will need to update the delivery services apps.

Orbital Aerospace

The economic transformation is associated with the reduction of flight duration from 10+ hours to 2+ hours

The space plans are like this:

• The orbital aerospace opportunity — including satellite connectivity and hypersonic flight — will exceed $370 billion annually.
• The economic transformation is associated with the reduction of flight duration from 10+ hours to 2+ hours.
• Global Internet.
• The market for connected planes, trains, and motor vehicles is likely to reach $36 billion in 2025.

Who was looking for a place under the sun?

Governments globally are likely to add further to the demand for space services. In total, the satellite connectivity market could approach $100 billion annually over the medium term.

So, in a few years, we’ll be planting potatoes on Mars.

3D Printing

3D printing can revolutionize manufacturing, growing to $120 billion in 2025

3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing that builds objects layer-by-layer, as opposed to traditional subtractive manufacturing that removes material from larger blocks. It reduces the time between design and production, turns power to designers, and decreases the cost of traditional manufacturing. 3D printing can revolutionize manufacturing, growing to $120 billion in 2025.

How to use 3D printing during a pandemic?

• Ventilator Valves.
• Mask Connectors.
• Emergency Respiration Device.
• Non-Invasive Mask.
• Nasopharyngeal Swabs.
• Face Masks and Filters etc.

3D printing is accelerating innovation thanks to low-costs and rapid prototyping. If somebody broke your heart, we guess you can 3D print it again.

Where can you find 3D printers in the future?

Anywhere: in construction, in automotive and aerospace, in electronics (creation of a graphene battery with an unlimited life span), in the pharmaceutical industry, and even in the kitchen.

Food 3D printers are especially interesting for the possibility of making food for astronauts. Who knows, maybe soon we will eat 3D burgers. I wonder if they could add 3D tune fish to them.

Long-Read Sequencing

Long-Read Sequencing will be able to save many more children and adults

Next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) is the driving force behind the genomic revolution. What will it do for society?

• More accurate diagnosis of genomic diseases.
• Early diagnosis of common hereditary neurological diseases.
• The precision of the rarest genetic detection will increase.

It gives hope

The technology of this kind is encouraging because in the future scientists will be able to save many more children and adults.

Multi-Cancer Screening

Based on a single blood test, multi-cancer screening can detect dozens of early-stage cancers

Consist of Hereditary Cancer Testing, Molecular Prognostic Testing, Somatic, and Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) Testing.

Innovative technologies have pushed the cost of multi-cancer screening down from $30,000 in 2015 to $1,500 today and it should drop another 80%+ to $250 in 2025.

Based on a single blood test, multi-cancer screening can detect dozens of early-stage cancers.

Machine-learning algorithms have surfaced DNA methylation as a novel and highly sensitive biomarker for earlier cancer detection. This will not only identify the disease in its earliest stages but also reduce the cost of research.

Good news for mankind

Cheaper treatment means more people will be able to get better. Affordable prices help us take care of our families and ourselves without going into debt or credit.

Cell and Gene Therapy: Generation 2

The world is changing: leisure time, treatment, work, investment, use of technology

The second generation should move to:

• gene editing.
• increasing the total addressable market for oncology therapeutics by more than 20-fold.
• facilitating therapies at earlier stages of cancer and reduce costs by an order of magnitude.

Unreasonable predictions

Perhaps soon development companies such SweetSoft will be asked to write the perfect code to embed in someone’s genotype. We are always ready for any unexpected requirements.

To conclude

Frankly speaking, we are intrigued and look forward to new challenges for our development team. After all, no matter how advanced artificial intelligence is. It won’t be great without a good old human developer.

The world is changing: leisure time, treatment, work, investment, use of technology. However, even despite such global changes, we advise you to remain calm and rational. It is worth weighing the risks when choosing areas for investment and relies not only on popular opinion but also on intuition.

As for the necessity of development, good specialists are always needed. AI will not be able to carefully assess website usability, demand change, identify customer pains, etc. Therefore, at all times, a good team of developers is the key to success. Contact us, we will discuss your projects and choose cool professionals for you.