Where is the future of UX and digital design? The answer to that question, in part, will be found in emerging technologies. We've all heard about VR and AR (virtual reality and augmented reality), but what does it mean for designers?
Today, we’ll explore what are relevant forms of emerging technologies, where you can place yourself in the new digital world and our power (and responsibility) with our creations in a wider context.
The phrase "emerging technology" has been used to describe new and exciting areas of study that are just beginning their development phase. These are emerging because they're still developing into what may become mainstream or common practice in society at large - although not yet fully understood by everyone.
We’re still in the early days of most of our recent technological advances (5G, hardware, software, visuals) and we as UX and digital designers are a big part of helping people ‘transition’ into its wider public awareness and adaptation.
The metaverse is a speculated iteration of the internet that allows people to engage in persistent online 3D virtual environments through their personal computing devices. In some limited form, these platforms already exist such as VR Chat and video games like Second Life which show us what's possible for this future vision about how we will interact with one another across our digital lives. Since the metaverse is heavily driven by a visual experience, this is something to be excited about if you love designing and creating visuals that interact with each other!
Augmented reality is an interactive experience of the real world where computer-generated information enhances what you see, hear and feel. Augmented reality is an interactive experience of the real world where anything you see, smell or hear will be enhanced by computer generated information.
A forefront of how the metaverse functions, this technology combines real world visuals, UX and sound, to amplify an ‘experience’ people can have within the physical space they’re in (or travelling to).
Virtual reality is a simulated experience that can be similar to or completely different from the real world. Applications of virtual reality include entertainment (gaming), education and even business - so there’s a real opportunity for this type of technology to enter the professional sector (B2B, B2C) and people like you will always be sought out for!
We can already see brands like Tom’s Shoes, Patron Spirits and Mcdonald’s utilise VR to create experiences for their audiences and increase their revenue for the business, for e.g. Mcdonald’s created Happy Meal Boxes that could easily fold into ‘VR headsets’. Simple in concept, but game-changing in execution.
Automation is the use of machines and software to do tasks automatically. AI (Artificial Intelligence), however, refers specifically to intelligent robots or systems that can think on their own for themselves but benefit from human input as well! In fact, humans like you and me are the designers of how these technologies react and interact with certain inputs.
Future thinking companies like Google, Baidu and Netflix are utilising the power of AI to amplify their audience’s experience when interacting with their product or service. A great example of this is Baidu’s tool called ‘Deep Voice’, which essentially helps you clone a voice within 3.7 seconds! Usually used to create a tool that reads books to you in the Author’s voice for example. Now if that isn’t innovative, I don’t know what is!
NFT and Digital Artwork (Non-fungible Token)
NFTs are a revolutionary new form of cryptocurrency that can be traded on the open market like traditional currencies. They provide an exciting way for artists and digital designers to sell their goods, as well as giving collectors more options when purchasing unique pieces.
We can see that there’s a lot of growth opportunity in this sector as lots and lots of events are being put in place to promote digitally-focused artists called NFT Galleries. One upcoming museum that will exclusively focus on promoting NFT art in a physical space is ‘The Museum of Art and Philosophy’. Who knows, your digital art could be in one of these spaces one day!
The truth is that design and emerging technologies will always go hand-in-hand, you can’t have one without the other - this should give you a feeling of ‘home’ as you’ll always have a place in it. Though this might be a very unfamiliar place, isn’t that what sparks creativity? Seeking the unknown and evoking curiosity in times of uncertainty?
You are a creator, and as we shape the future through UX and digital design, know that your creations also shape us (and the world around us). And that’s where we place ourselves in an ever-changing world, to understand that we have a responsibility (and opportunity) in how we affect those around us.
The digital world is changing rapidly, and with it comes new opportunities for creatives who are willing to take the plunge. Whether your goal is to help shape these tools into something more human-centred or simply find out which ones have the best career prospects so you can invest time learning them - we hope there is enough information here to spark some ideas in your journey!
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