Photo courtesy Eleven Wireless

By: Brittany Nicole La Hue

We’re about to say goodbye to 2014 – the year that brought us quadcopters, gigantic smartphones, new ways to share everything we see and do with our friends and a whole bunch of fuss about virtual reality and wearable tech. But 2015 is already shaping up to be even more creative, innovative and futuristic than 2014. Here are the newest trends in online privacy, healthcare and innovation that will make 2015 the coolest tech year ever.

Online Security

Photo courtesy Apple

In the wake of the Sony Entertainment “The Interview”-provoked hack, companies will have to beef up their defenses against cyber attacks. After all, no one wants that email snubbing an A-list star, the dirty little secrets of C-suite salaries or insider trade deals to be made public. Forrester Research predicts that 60% of all major brands will be hit by hackers in 2015. Huge companies like Sony, Target and Michael’s will likely start buying $100M+ cyber-insurance policies to protect their employees’ and customers’ sensitive data.

In addition, apps and services will need to adopt better encryption policies. Whatsapp offers end-to-end encryption. Ethereum, MaidSafe and Open-Root deliver everything from domain names to crowdfunding, contracts and intellectual property on a safe, decentralized network. And Indie Web, launching in 2015, promises customers a spyware-safe Internet.

Non-techies who don’t understand complicated encryption practices can rest safe with fingerprint and biometric scanners. Apple’s TouchID software led the way in 2014, and experts predict that in 2015, 15% of mobile devices will have a fingerprint scanner.

Here’s to Your Health

Photo courtesy Pebble

Fitness tracker wristbands like the Jawbone Up or the Fitbit were all over in 2014. Seriously, how many times did your friends brag about the number of steps they’d taken that day in 2014? Fitness bands won’t go away, but Gartner Analytics predicts that in 2015, half of all fitness band wearers will switch to a smartwatch. The wearables market is predicted to generate $7.14 billion in 2015 and sell 21 million smartwatches – and the long-awaited Apple Watch is scheduled for release in the spring.

Also predicted for the healthcare field – millions of people will begin interacting with hospitals, doctors and healthcare organizations digitally. Hospitals will begin to interact with patients via text and apps, offer wearables for remote health monitoring and perhaps even offer virtual care. All this data will help doctors diagnose and treat patients better, too – and this will all be implemented in 2015.

The Future is Now

Our fascination with 3D printers may get closer to home in 2015. Shipments of 3D printers are expected to grow 98% in 2015 and become more accessible to small businesses and consumers.

The Internet of Things may also become a way of life in 2015. Experts predict that 4.9 billion smart gadgets will be in use in 2015, from appliances to pill bottles to manufacturing equipment. Imagine accessing and controlling any object in your life via your smartphone – this is fast becoming reality.

Photo courtesy Nest

Which tech tend are you most excited for? Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments!