ACT celebrates 25 years of innovation and progress in technology. Since our start, we’ve seen huge changes in how we live and work. To mark this milestone, we’re looking at 25 key technology trends that have emerged throughout the years! From the internet to AI, these advances have changed industries and shaped our world. Let’s explore these game-changing developments together!
1999-2005: Dawn of the Digital Age
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the internet experienced explosive growth, transforming how people communicated, accessed information, and conducted business. This era saw the rise of the internet and e-commerce, the emergence of search engines and SEO, the launching of social media platforms, the growth of mobile phones and SMS, the introduction of Wi-Fi networks, and the creation of HD Flat Panel TVs.
- 1995: Microsoft’s releases their Windows 95 Operating System
- 1996: eBay reaches $1 million dollars in sales; Google is founded
- 1997: AOL Mail becomes the world’s largest email provider with 9 million subscribers
- 1998: The term “SEO” is popularized
- 1999: The first BlackBerry device is released
- 2001: Amazon becomes profitable
- 2003: Myspace is created and rapidly grows
- 2004: Facebook is founded; Wi-Fi gains popularity
- 2005: High-definition televisions replace standard-definition
2006-2010: Web 2.0 and Mobile Revolution
This section explores the transformative impact of Web 2.0 and the mobile revolution on the digital landscape. The rise of smartphones and mobile apps, cloud computing, social networking going mainstream, introduction of video streaming services, and tablets all fundamentally changed the way we interact with information and each other.
- 2006: Amazon launches Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), the first commercial cloud service
- 2007: Apple releases the original iPhone, Amazon releases the Kindle, and Netflix begins streaming services
- 2008: Hulu becomes publicly available; Facebook became an app
- 2010: The Instagram app was released; the first iPad was released
2011-2015: Connected World
The world we live in today is vastly different from the one that existed just a few decades ago. Thanks to technological advancements, we’re now hyperconnected in a way that was once unimaginable. This era consisted of the introduction of smart devices evolving, big data analytics, wearable technology, and mobile broadband.
- 2011: Connected TVs are called “Smart TVs”; Siri is introduced
- 2013: The Ring video doorbell is created
- 2014: Amazon releases Alexa alongside the Echo
- 2015: The Apple Watch is released
2016-2020: Immersive Technologies
The years between 2016 and 2020 marked a significant leap forward in virtual advancements. This includes the rise of smart headphones, blockchain and cryptocurrency, 5G networks, and autonomous vehicles.
- 2016: Apple releases AirPods; Bitcoin becomes legal currency in Japan
- 2017: Tesla Model 3 is introduced
- 2018: 5G networks become available in the USA
- 2020: Zoom becomes one of the world’s most downloaded mobile apps
2021-2024: AI Revolution
2021 through 2024 saw a surge in AI-generated content, quantum computing, XR technologies, and edge computing. These advancements transformed various industries and continue to shape our daily lives.
- 2021: Dall-E is released
- 2022: ChatGPT launches; Japan creates the first portable quantum computer
- 2024: Apple Vision Pro becomes available to the public
As we mark ACT’s 25th anniversary, it’s evident that our success is rooted in our ability to keep up with the rapid changes in technology. The top 25 tech trends we’ve covered have not only shaped the industry but have also pushed us to rethink how we do things. From the beginnings of search engines to cloud computing, ACT has always been at the forefront of technological progress. In the future, we’re dedicated to adapting to new trends, using new technologies, and continuing to meet our clients’ changing needs. Here’s to another 25 years of growth, innovation, and change!