Metavers
What is that ?
A concept of online virtual universe on which various technology companies are currently working, such as Meta (the new name of Facebook) and Roblox. Generally associated with virtual reality, the metaverse will allow, for example, watching a concert with friends, taking online courses, working, creating a personal space and buying clothes that your avatar can wear in each of these worlds.
Why be interested in it in 2022?
The metaverse is arguably the biggest tech trend to follow in 2022, as more and more companies try to ride the wave. Several virtual reality headsets are also expected in 2022, including an Apple model, which could multiply the gateways to these universes.
Play to earn money
What is that ?
the play-to-earnwhich could be translated as « playing to earn money », refers to video games where participants can resell the digital objects (such as a disguise for a character, or a multicolored gun) that they obtain in their course, to pocket real money.
Why be interested in it in 2022?
The concept is recent, but already, the publisher Square Enix (Final Fantasy, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy) confirmed its interest in it in a letter published earlier this year. More such announcements are expected in 2022.
matter
What is that ?
Buying a connected object for a smart home can be complex: the devices use different communication technologies (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, etc.) and cannot all be linked together. Matter (known as CHIP during its development) is a new standard implemented by major industry players (Amazon, Apple, Google, IKEA, Samsung, etc.) to ensure better interoperability of these objects. A Matter connected switch can therefore be connected to any Matter smart bulb, regardless of its manufacturer.
Why be interested in it in 2022?
The first Matter devices will hit the market this year. At CES in Las Vegas (formerly the Consumer Electronics Show) in early January, several manufacturers presented products compatible with this new standard, such as surveillance cameras and smart electrical outlets.
MNBC
What is that ?
Digital central bank currencies (MNBC) are virtual versions of common currencies that allow online or in-person payments without any transaction fees for the buyer or seller. And you don’t need a bank account to use it.
Why be interested in it in 2022?
Canada does not intend to launch a digital version of the loonie in the short term, but other countries intend to do so. China, for example, released Android and iOS apps earlier this year for paying with its digital yuan, which had been trialled since last year. Europe is also currently experimenting with a digital version of the euro.
Decentralized finance (Challenge)
What is that ?
Decentralized finance (decentralized finance in English, or Challenge) is a term covering financial services without intermediaries, which facilitate, for example, personal loans between users directly, without going through a bank.
Why be interested in it in 2022?
Decentralized finance has been popular for a few years now with cryptocurrency enthusiasts, but it is still little known to the general public. The recent democratization of blockchain-related technologies (such as NFTor non-fungible tokens) could be a game-changer in 2022.
Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO)
What is that ?
A decentralized autonomous organization (especially known by the English acronym CADfor decentralized autonomous organization) sees its governance rules written into a blockchain. A cooperative in the age of cryptocurrencies, of sorts.
Why be interested in it in 2022?
Some DAOs began to gain attention in late 2021, such as ConstitutionDAO, which had raised nearly $60 million from its members to purchase an original copy of the very first edition of the US Constitution. BlockbusterDAO is trying to revive the Blockbuster chain in order to set up a decentralized studio and viewing platform, where everyone would have a say in the creation of productions. In 2022, we can expect more such projects, and increased interest from regulators in these new organizations.
Passwordless (authentication without password)
What is that ?
Passwordless authentication (called passwordless in English) is a form of computer security allowing the identification of a user without the latter needing to memorize a code. The process uses other evidence to identify the person, such as possession of an object (a phone or a digital card, for example), biometric data or other. The solution is considered more secure than traditional passwords, since the latter are easy to compromise and used by hackers during computer attacks.
Why be interested in it in 2022?
Passwordless authentication has been heralded for several years, but it’s finally upon us. Microsoft has made it possible to remove your password from your account since the fall, and other companies, like Google, are expected to adopt the technology over the next few months or years.
Web3
What is that ?
Web 2.0 has transformed the Internet from a static technology to a participatory technology. Web3, on the other hand, wants to make it more decentralized, in order to give users back control of their data and to fight the big platforms, like Google, which have dictated the evolution of the Web for several years. The concept is particularly pushed by investors who have amassed fortunes with cryptocurrencies, and is often associated with blockchains.
Why be interested in it in 2022?
Web3 has grown in popularity in recent months, but the concept has also attracted critics, such as American entrepreneur Elon Musk, who called it a bullsh*t (which could politely be translated as “big anything”). For him, the idea is more marketing than reality. It’s hard to predict where Web3 will be in 2022, but it’s one of the key terms to watch this year.
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