Comcast improves Tech Team Efficiency

It is quite possibly the dream of homeowners to acquire a service for their home, and have it working at an optimum level for as long as they have it. Aside from the joy that kind of service would provide, it would also mean that there would never be a need to seek out tech support to remedy a problem. Unfortunately, such a “reality” is too good to be true, as every now and then, for one reason or another, the service or the equipment utilized to deliver it experiences difficulties.

 

 

The interruption of a service – regardless of the duration – will always bring about some level of frustration, so for service providers, it is of high importance that their tech team is as efficient as can be. Comcast is one service provider in particular that is investing in their staff to ensure that they are able to competently resolve any issues that their subscribers may have, and they have recently made additional improvements.

 

 

The right tools now includes iTools

 

 

Just over a week ago, it was announced that Comcast upgraded the tool kit of all their tech support team by equipping them with iPhones. Possessing all the relevant software to help them get the job done, the old saying, “a poor workman always blames his tools” is something subscribers shouldn’t ever have to worry about. Here is a look at some of the ways in which this development will help to improve their work:

 

 

 

 

Efficiency

 

Understandably, this technology has helped technicians to improve their productivity when making a visit. One of the biggest talking points is the “whole home check” feature that is now available. With a simple click of a button on an iPhone, a technician will be able to determine the status of all the equipment running a Comcast service within the house, which is more time efficient than the traditional process of manually checking each of them with varying tools.

 

 

Providing real time analysis and insight

 

 

This is quite possibly the benefit that subscribers will appreciate the most, and here’s why. With the iPhone, techs are now in a position to show subscribers just how certain products offered by Comcast work. This relates specifically to all their mobile applications (apps).

 

 

As it is now, there are over 10 apps that subscribers can access to enhance the overall experience of a Comcast service, ranging from the My Account app that can be used to perform functions such as paying bills, to the Xfinity TV Go app that helps them to stay on top of all their favorite video content wherever they are. The mobile devices that the techs carry are equipped with every app, so for the subscriber, discovering how to download and operate them is easy to learn.

 

 

Keep them in the “know”

 

 

With the use of the iPhones, all the relevant information needed by the techs is now being streamlined. They have the ability to access their daily appointment schedule, access the customer information (and update it where necessary) as well as map their most efficient route to their next location. The last mentioned advantage is of importance, as it coincides with another development Comcast announced not too long ago in relation to their technical team.

 

 

Understanding the value of their customer’s time

 

 

Making an upgrade to their My Account app, Comcast unveiled a feature that will enable homeowners to track the movement of their technician in real time. This helps subscribers to know exactly what’s going on, eliminating the need for them to sit and wait for the tech’s arrival when their time could be otherwise utilized.

 

 

 

 

With the technology, subscribers will receive an alert when the support is 30 minutes away from their residence, and they will be able to track their progress on a map until the very minute they arrive. It should be noted that this was initially a “dry run” launch, but having gone months into the trial it is expected that all official release of the technology may not be too far off.

 

            

One Ultimate Goal

 

With all the efforts Comcast is making to improve the efficiency of the technical support team, it all leads to them achieving one goal – improving customer experience. For any organization, keeping the customers happy has to be a primary objective (for reasons such as customer retention) and ensuring that the staff is equipped to remedy whatever issues exist is a great way to do so.

 

 

 

 

Comcast improves Tech Team Efficiency

The Not So Promising 2015 Mid-Season TV Premieres

At the start of the Fall 2014-2015 TV season, there were a lot of TV series that critics were sure would experience huge success, and others that were destined for a disappointing end. Having recently taken a peak at a couple mid-season premieres that are expected to do well, take a look at those we aren’t too excited about:

 

 

Galavant

 

Unlike the other shows that will be mentioned in this list, there is one that has already aired its pilot episode – Galavant, on ABC. The series stars Joshua Sasse as a warrior who embarks on a quest to repair his tarnished reputation. Though the medieval musical is intended to be a mid-season fill in for Once Upon A Time, but it hasn’t been able to attract a following anywhere close to that fairytale production.

 

Galavant opened with a relatively commendable 7.4 million live viewers on January 4, but the numbers fell considerably as it could only muster 4.1 million the following week. One of the proposed reasons for this is the lack of interest that it generates. It is intended to be a comedy, but having seen a few episodes thus far, the jokes can be described as corny at best. In fact, there are some who have taken the stance that the series is actually boring.

 

 

Galavant

 

 

iZombie

 

It is oftentimes difficult (and somewhat unfair) to write off a TV series before it has even aired its pilot episode, but every now and then it would seem that there is one that doesn’t give itself much of a chance. One show that fits such a billing is the upcoming iZombie, to be aired on The CW. It is a loose adaptation of a comic book of the same name.

 

As it is now, there doesn’t appear to be anything of note about this production. The title is quite possibly one of the worst of the past few years, and the plot isn’t too exciting either. Rose McIver stars as Olivia “Liv” Moore, an aspiring and ambitious medical professional who attends a party that ends up being her “wrong place at the wrong time” moment, as it turns out to be a zombie feeding ground. Having become part zombie as a result, the only way that Liv can survive is to eat brains – has there even been a bigger cliché? Working at the coroner’s office, she is in luck, but in a twist discovers that she is able to acquire the memories of the individual whose brain she eats. This uniquely gained insight she uses to help solve homicides.

 

Why a network would agree to air such a show is a mystery, but maybe the executives at The CW have seen something in it that is yet to be revealed. Hopefully when the series premieres, all the viewers will see it too… whatever “it” is.

 

Airing two episodes a week, Galavant is scheduled to air the finale of its eight-episode premiere season before the month is out, but had it been any different it is likely that there would be some queuing it for early cancellation.

 

 

Weird Loners

Weird Loners

 

Here is an entry that can rival iZombie with a bad series name and plot, Fox’s Weird Loners. This probably takes the cake where “not so promising” is concerned, as the network was only willing to pick up the series for six episodes almost a full year ago, and as we move closer to the end of the first month in 2015, there is still no date set for its premiere.

 

Weird Loners features four individuals living in a townhouse in New York who aren’t the biggest fans of relationships. That’s pretty much it as far as premises go. Naturally, they are all going to have their varying personalities and characteristics, but there is nothing to indicate that this is going to be a good watch. Notably, there isn’t even a proper trailer that TV lovers can watch to spark their interest – which is indication enough that the expectations aren’t all that high.

 

 

One Big Happy

 

 

The final mention on this list is the soon to be aired NBC comedy entitled One Big Happy. This sitcom could turn out to be pretty good, but for now it’s in the “not so promising” category because there appears to be too much drama in this sitcom.

 

Nick Zano and Elisha Cuthbert star as a gay and a lesbian who decide to have a baby together. By itself that may be fine, but things become a lot more complicated when Nick’s character gets a girlfriend – Kelly Brook. The success of One Big Happy will come down to the on screen chemistry of the main characters, as well as how the writers present this interesting scenario. Similar to Weird Loners, with so little being said of this production at this stage, we really can’t say for sure what will happen.

 

 

 

The Not So Promising 2015 Mid-Season TV Premieres

Unconventional Gadgets from the CES 2015

The 2015 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show took place last week (January 6-9), and as expected, patrons were excited about all the new tech being showcased. This included all the wearables that are scheduled to hit the market throughout the year, 4K and 8K TVs and of course, the upgrades to the features of smart phones.

 

 

Also on show, however, were a lot of tech gadgets that can best be described as unconventional. Don’t take my word for it though, read through the list below and judge for yourself:

 

 

Belty

 

Before we get into the details, anyone want to take a guess at what this gadget is? Too easy? Agreed. Headlining this list of unconventional gadgets showcased at the CES 2015 is Belty (yes, the name needs some work), a smart belt designed by French company Emiota.

 

Though putting a whole new spin on the term “wearable”, Belty is actually a pretty cool piece of tech. Not only is this device able to measure the waistline of the person wearing it, but it can also tighten or loosen itself as required – for instance providing a little more room after a five course meal. Being equipped with an accelerometer and gyroscope, it acts as a fitness tracker showing the wearer’s activity data throughout the day, and in the event of too much inactivity, it can also provide a gentle nudge that the wearer needs to get it going.

 

 

The Belty

 

 

Dancing Queen

 

 

For many individuals who are thinking about going to the gym or exercising, their primary objective is generally to lose their unwanted belly fat. Thinking about it and actually doing it, however, are two very different things. One of the more common excuses is not being able to make the time, but with the Dancing Queen that is thrown out the window.

 

 

Coming to the US from Taiwan, the Dancing Queen is a massager like no other – the individual just sits and feels as the base vibrates while moving in a twist motion, shaping and trimming the waistline. The movement might make it a bit difficult to use the seat while enjoying a show on TV, but this is a pretty creative way to get back into those favorite pair of jeans.

 

 

Panasonic Smart Mirror

 

 

It may not be as conversational as the magic mirror in the Snow White adaptations, but the Panasonic smart mirror is certainly playing a role in expanding the “Internet of Things” phenomenon. At the CES 2015, this ingenious piece of tech was easily one of the more unconventional, but is likely to become one of the more useful.

 

 

 

 

The Panasonic smart mirror has the ability to scan an individual’s face and portray that image above the reflection that the mirror would give naturally. Subsequently, it can check everything from the individual’s wrinkles to the translucency of their skin, and make product recommendations that will help to improve or enhance the present condition.

 

In addition to this, the mirror also makes it possible for the individual to try a series of makeup options, which is much more time efficient than actually applying the various products just to remove them and repeat the process. These are being targeted towards department stores and similar establishments.

 

 

Raticator

 

 

Every homeowner will acknowledge that having pests and rodents on site makes them more than a little uncomfortable, and it can be argued that rats are the most hated of that lot. For those who are looking to get rid of them in a more modern way, the Raticator may just be the gadget they’ve been longing for. As far as unconventional goes, the name is right up there with its functionality.

 

The tunnel-shaped mousetrap uses infrared beams to determine when a rodent has entered, and subsequently delivers enough volts of electricity to exterminate it. Adding to the connected world, a text message is sent after each conquest is complete. Despite its guarantees to get the job done, there are a few who are skeptical about the gadget, mainly for its inability to differentiate “friend” from “foe”. Therefore, if you have a small kitten or puppy that wanders inside, it will not escape the wrath of the Raticator, so be intrigued with caution.

 

 

 

 

Pacif-i

 

For one reason or another, babies tend to get a bit restless, and this makes it difficult to execute certain tasks such as taking their temperature. With the Pacif-i, parents and guardians can now acquire this information with greater ease and with something that babies love – their pacifier.

 

With a built-in temperature sensor, caregivers can always get an accurate reading of how the baby is doing on their smart phone via the corresponding app. Other notable features of the gadget are a proximity sensor and a buzzer alarm that help to show where baby and gadget are at all times.

 

 

 

 

Unconventional Gadgets from the CES 2015

Comcast Service Help Advance Health Care

Traditionally, when individuals are engaged in discussions of having an efficient and reliable network within an organization, the health care industry is not often one of the most referenced. In reality, however, it could be argued that they are among those that need it the most. Over the past few years, professionals and entities related to health care have been utilizing technology to improve the overall efficiency of their service, and a recent venture undertaken by the Cooper University Health Care is an indication that such a trend is certain to continue. Referred to as a leading health care provider in the southern New Jersey region, they have gone about advancing their patient services with the acquisition of Comcast Business’ Ethernet service.

 

 

At the Top of Their Game

 

As mentioned earlier, Cooper University Health Care is considered to be one of the premier providers in their field, with an average of 500,000 outpatient visits and 26,500 hospital visits each year. Though operating in a totally different sector – telecommunications – delivering world-class service is just as important to those at Comcast, and it is for this reason that they are so highly ranked in their field.

 

Referring directly to their Ethernet service, it is important to note that Comcast was dubbed the first provider in the world to offer Carrier Ethernet 2.0 Certification from the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF), and was also listed as the fastest growing Ethernet provider for the year 2013.  Throughout 2014, states such as Texas, Washington, Vermont and New York were just a few that experienced the expansion of Comcast’s Ethernet expansion, so it is almost certain that the growth is ongoing.

 

 

A Much Welcomed Service

 

Running at an optimum level is important for any business and any industry, but it is arguably even more important within the heath care sector.

 

 

“Our Comcast Ethernet services enable us to deliver a reliable network infrastructure to our doctors, nurses and staff, which lets them focus on their patients and providing the critical medical care that the local community has come to expect from us.” He went on to add, “Patients do not want to go to a doctor’s office and be told they can’t be seen because the computer system is down, so the network plays a crucial role in healthcare IT in ensuring clinicians always have access to EMRs, imaging and other patient information when and where needed,” Jayashree Raman, Vice President and Chief Information Officer said.

 

 

At present, the network is connecting locations such as outpatient offices to the lab and imaging facilities, the medical campuses and the hospitals.

 

 

Provided Ethernet Services

 

Notably, there is a range of services that entities can acquire to satisfy the demands of their network. The Cooper University Health Care is utilizing a number of those services:

 

 

• There is an Ethernet Dedicated Internet line that is providing the Cooper University Hospital with up to 200 Mbps (mega-bits per second) of Internet.

 

• The Cooper University Health Care constitutes a total of 43 locations. The Ethernet Network Service is utilized to link all facilities at data transference speeds ranging from 10 to 600 Mbps. Notably, with two service connections installed at each site, there are a total of 86 connections being run.

 

• With an Ethernet Virtual Private Line located at the main campus, remote sites are being connected to the network via a 1-gigabit per second connection. Notably, as a result of the scalability of the technology, it is more than possible to add even more remote locations to the network as time goes on.

 

 

 

Bill Stemper, President of Comcast Business.

Work Not Going Unnoticed

 

While it may be true that there are a number of entities putting the services of Comcast to good use, this one in particular has attracted the attention of many. At the 2014 Ethernet Excellence Awards hosted by the MEF last November, the project undertaken at Cooper University was awarded with the honor of Best Application of the Year in Health based on the patient-focused benefits it provides, as well as the design and scale of the network. For those who have not experienced the technology first hand, this should provide some sort of indication as to its overall efficiency.

 

It should be noted, also, that there were a number of other awards received by Comcast Business at the ceremony. Among the lot, one that stood out was Bill Stemper – President of Comcast Business – being awarded the Ethernet Industry Person of the Year. To just about anyone, this would give the impression that he – and his team by extension – are undertaking some efficient work.

 

 

Cooper University Health Care is one entity that can speak to the reliability and efficiency of their Ethernet service. It would be of little surprise if more and more success stories are highlighted about the product as businesses go about acquiring it to advance their own products and services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comcast Service Help Advance Health Care

Most Anticipated CES 2015 Innovations

For the tech world, there is arguably no single event that is more anticipated than the annual Consumer Electronics Show. Throughout its duration, hundreds of thousands of individuals gather to witness the latest that exhibitors (developers, programmers, and similar professionals in the industry) have conceptualized for sale on the market.

 

 

The 2015 edition began yesterday (January 6), and is scheduled to run until Friday (January 9). There will be quite a number of innovations being showcased throughout the four days, but here is a look at some of the most anticipated innovations that will be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show 2015:

 

 

Tech to make homes smarter…

 

Growing up and watching episodes of The Jetsons would generally bring about that “wouldn’t it be cool if…” frame of mind, and while it may not yet be time for us to live in the sky, we are certainly closer to that “reality” as far as the home is concerned. Over the past few years, there has been the launch of innovations that make the home smarter – and by extension make the execution of certain activities easier – and that trend continues.

 

The Netatmo Welcome camera works with smartphone devices, and will recognize the faces of a house’s occupants.

 

One of the more interesting products being discussed is the Netatmo Welcome. This surveillance camera has a 130-degree field of view, offers night vision, and is able to broadcast in full HD (High-Definition) to Android and iOS devices, but none of these are its true selling point. The gadget is designed to recognize the faces of all who are within the house, showing their names under a snapshot of their face on the main page of the app. Whenever an unfamiliar face is spotted, their image is displayed with a question mark, and alerts will be transmitted of their movements. Understandably, the technology is expected to be upgraded and get better over time, but even the current functionalities of the system seem top notch.

 

 

… and smarter cars too

 

 

Having a smart and (Internet) connected home is one of the growing desires of individuals all over, and so is their interest in having a smart and connected car. At the CES 2015, the innovations in the automobile industry are predicted to be the best they have ever been.

 

From Audi, to Mercedes-Benz, to BMW and more, automakers will be wowing the audience which technologies such as the driverless car. It is reported that Audi representatives travelled from San Francisco to Los Angeles (some 550 miles) in their driverless car, and showed off its features made possible through its Audi Tablet and Android Auto system on the event’s opening day. Mercedes also gave patrons a look at their futuristic model – the F 015.

 

 

The Mercedes F 015

 

 

As expressed by its CEO Dieter Zetsche, “Cars will turn into mobile homes in the very best sense of the word”, and this is just about true for their creation as it is designed to provide immense comfort during a commute. In fact, the interior is designed to facilitate everything except actual driving – with seats that can be maneuvered to face each other, and touch displays all around that facilitate interaction with the vehicle. It may not be time for one of these cars to be parked outside every corner shop, but they certainly have many longing to have one of them parked in their driveway.

 

 

The “reality” we’ve all been waiting for

 

 

For those who were in awe of the concept of virtual reality that became a big talking point in the 1990’s, this CES is quite possibly a dream come true. For a while now, companies such as the Oculus VR have been investing a lot of time and money into making virtual reality something that consumers all over can enjoy, and the CES 2015 is the perfect setting to see how close they’ve come.

 

 

By all indications, there could be a number of VR products hitting the market throughout the year. Oculus VR is poised to release its Oculus Rift some time this year. Another entity – Razer – is setting the wheels in motion for their Open-Source Virtual Reality (OSVR) with a Hacker Dev Kit that will make it possible for the technology to be utilized by third party programmers in any number of ways they please. The gaming sector in particular is expected to thrive with the release of the gadgets that we’ve been longing for.

 

 

 

 

Should the market take to VR as it is being predicted, the technology will see a boom similar to that of wearable tech when it appeared – everyone will be eager to get their hands on one, or in this case, get one on their head.

 

 

 

Most Anticipated CES 2015 Innovations

Midseason TV Premieres We Are Eager To See

The New Year generally brings about a time for setting resolutions, and wondering how long before you break one or all of them. In addition to this, however, it also marks the return of shows that went on a break in December, and the premiere of a few others.

 

Here is a look at some of the most anticipated shows of this week’s midseason premieres:

 

 

Sleepy Hollow

 

For the past season and a half, fans of the Fox-aired drama series Sleepy Hollow have been captivated by the efforts of Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison) and “Leftenant” Abbie Mills (and their associates) in their fight against Moloch. Having been unsuccessful in preventing his arrival from the demon underworld, fans were eager to see the chaos that he would rain down on the town of Sleepy Hollow, but the midseason finale last December quickly put that to rest. In a surprising twist, Moloch was seemingly killed by one of his own – the Horseman of War, who also happens to be Ichabod’s son.

 

 

Tom Mison as Ichabod Crane in “Sleepy Hollow”.

Aside from simply being fans of the show, more than anything else viewers are anxious to see where the show will lead. Does killing Moloch mean that Ichabod’s son Jeremy is now on the good side? Is it that there’s some other previously unmentioned evil incarnate that will try to take over? What’s the point of the show if there isn’t a war to fight? Hopefully the premiere will begin to answer these questions.

 

 

Forever

 

Everyone’s favorite TV immortal – Dr. Henry Morgan (Ioan Gruffudd) – returns to screens across the US in the increasingly popular ABC drama series, Forever. For the last few months, TV lovers have been witnessing the genius of the medical examiner who utilizes his skills to help the New York Police Department close tough murder cases, while working to fully understand his own inability to die.

 

 

Forever went on a midseason break on December 9, airing its 11^th episode – Skinny Dipper – that left fans wanting more. In that episode, Dr. Morgan wass being framed for murder by his “stalker” – another immortal – and he comes close to revealing his secret to his NYPD partner Detective Jo Martinez (Alana de la Garza). Determined to “take it to his grave”, he manages to work around it, and after successfully solving the case and clearing his name, his stalker reveals himself.  It will be interesting to see how Dr. Morgan goes about his usual routine now, faced with the reality that ousting him would also likely lead to his own detriment.

 

 

 

Marvel’s Agent Carter

 

While there are shows returning from their midseason break, there are also a few that will be airing their first episodes throughout the week. One of the top candidates in this list is Marvel’s Agent Carter. The upcoming series is a spin-off of the Captain America film series, starring Hayley Atwell who reprises her role as Peggy Carter in the films. Like Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., this series will be aired on ABC.

 

Viewers love to see women displaying strength and commanding respect – particularly in a male-dominated field – and with the series being set in the 1940’s, this is exactly the case for Peggy. Still coming to terms with the “death” of Steve Rogers/Captain America, she is faced with balancing her responsibilities as an officer with the Strategic Scientific Reserve and working for the brilliant scientist Howard Stark on covert assignments. Despite her determination to be a “one woman show”, Peggy will have to learn to co-exist with Edwin Jarvis (played by James D’Arcy), Stark’s butler who is tasked with helping her to complete her mission.

 

Hayley Atwell stars as the titular Agent Peggy Carter.

 

 

The Big Bang Theory

 

After being gone for close to a month, fans of The Big Bang Theory will certainly feel that they have waited long enough for their favorite comedy series to return. Throughout the many years (the series is now in its eighth season) viewers have been watching the socially challenged group of scientists grow, and that will take an even bigger step forward as they all anticipate Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Penny’s (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting) wedding. Hopefully, they won’t have to wait much longer for that following the show’s resumption.

 

This aside, TBBT fans will still be looking forward to their usual dose of snide remarks from Sheldon (Jim Parsons), and his developing relationship with Amy (Mayim Bialik).

 

 

Empire

 

Rounding off our list of most anticipated shows of the week is another debutant – Empire – that is set to air on Fox. While the premise of the series seems to be intriguing, it can easily be argued that the primary reason individuals are eager about it is because they want to see Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard at work. Both have an impressive list of movie roles and recognition (including Academy Award nominations) in their repertoire, and it will be interesting to see how they showcase their talents throughout a TV series.

 

“Empire” boasts Academy Award nominees Taraji P. Henson and Terence Howard.

The show is centered on Howard who plays Luscious Lyon, a hip-hop mogul and CEO of Empire Entertainment. Having discovered that he may have less than three years to live, he is looking to one of his three sons to take over. In addition to this, however, he also has to deal with his ex-wife Cookie (played by Henson) who is fresh out of prison and looking for her stake in the business.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Midseason TV Premieres We Are Eager To See

Predictions for the 2015 Tech Landscape

The technology industry continues to grow from strength to strength, and it can hardly be argued that it is now at the center of just about everything imaginable. The year 2014 had a number of major announcements, such as the expansion of the “Internet of Things” phenomenon, and increased popularity of wearable tech, but with the arrival of a new year people are already looking towards the next big thing.

 

 

Here’s a look at some of the possible tech innovations that will dominate 2015:

 

 

Drones will rule the sky… kind of

 

 

The level of interest and appeal in drones grew gradually over the course of 2014, and by all indications this will experience a vast boom in the coming year. From commercial use to leisure, we may just find that there are more and more unmanned aerial vehicles buzzing above our heads in the near future.

 

If it’s anything to go by, a recently held event in Los Angeles was a sign of things to come. On December 13, entities from across the world converged in one of America’s most popular cities for the LA Drone Expo – the first ever staging of an event of this nature – to share their ideas and expertise on these (very) cool tech gadgets. This industry is relatively untapped, but by all indications the same won’t be said in another 12 months.

 

 

Fitness will Fuel Wearables

 

 

There was the launch of the iPhone 6 (and iPhone 6 Plus), there was the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S5, but as far as consistent headline making goes, there was arguably nothing bigger in the tech industry than wearable devices. Such was the popularity of the industry that there were even questions being asked as to whether or not there were too many wearable devices on the market.

 

Products from companies such as Fitbit, Jawbone and Garmin have been able to attract large numbers of individuals who have become more interested (and invested) in achieving and maintaining their fitness and a healthy lifestyle overall.  There are a number of gadgets that fall into the category – smart watches for instance – but there can be no denying that fitness bands have contributed greatly to the industry to date, and they will continue to do so.

 

 

4K to dominate the big (and small) screens

 

 

From as far back as 2013, there were reports that predicted that 4K TVs were going to be a big hit when the market gets a hold of them, and as manufacturers continue to run them on the assembly line those predictions are likely to be fully realized in 2015. 4K Ultra HD TVs are designed to deliver a picture quality four times that of the (now popular) 1080p Full HD resolution, and given how pristine those images are, curiosity alone could see consumers flocking towards them.

 

 

Notably, 4K is not only big among TVs, as there are no less than 10 smart phones that are able to record content with this level of quality, and it would appear as though this is to be the standard for the display screens as well. There should be little surprise if the sales of 4K-supported devices are all the rave in 2015.

 

 

Increased use of 3D Printers

 

 

There was a time when 3D printing was considered to be nothing more than a really good idea, but now it is on course to shape (and make) the future. Understandably, the devices started out being quite pricey, but as the number of 3D printers available on the market continues to increase grow then that cost will lessen.

 

 

While it may not yet be time for there to be a 3D printer in every household – though this could be a very real possibility in the future – it is expected that the use of gadgets will increase. All notable industries are expected to be influenced by the technology, but real estate and health care are likely to be the biggest beneficiaries. Some reports state that there have already been 3D houses printed, while there is one particular partnership in place for the printing of organs for transplant.

 

 

Virtual reality will finally arrive

 

 

For years – decades actually – people have been longing for virtual reality to burst unto the scene, and the coming year presents as big a chance as any for this to happen. The gaming industry is arguably the most excited about VR, but there are a quite a few who will be eager to develop their own uses of the head-mounted devices that are going to be propelling the technology.

 

 

The Facebook-acquired Oculus VR is arguably the leading company in the sector, and it is expected that they will release their product – the Oculus Rift – in 2015. They have also teamed up with Samsung to create the Gear VR Innovator while there are a number of other entities working to make their own VR gadgets available to the masses. Provided that 2015 is in fact the year that such devices hit the market, it is hard to imagine that people will be able to resist. Who wouldn’t be excited about the prospect of fully submersing themselves in an alternate reality?

 

 

 

Predictions for the 2015 Tech Landscape