2022 is already upon us! A new year means new trends developments in technology, website and app development.
What will these trends and developments look like and what are the trends for 2022? In this article, we preview what you can expect next year.
Metaverse
We begin this thread with the “metaverse. The metaverse is actually a kind of digital 3D universe, which consists of a combination of multiple digital worlds. Here you can think of virtual spaces, but also social networks, (business) meetings, websites and basically everything that is available through today’s Internet. All this together forms a virtual universe: the metaverse.
The hype around the metaverse has been fueled since the name change from Facebook to Meta, at the end of October 2021. With this name change, the giant tech company signals that it sees great future in metaverse developments.
The possibilities within this virtual world will be endless. Ranging from social networking, entertainment, gaming, fitness, business, educational and commercial opportunities. Because of the high expectations, it is important to think about the opportunities available to your organization yourself in a timely manner.
In addition to Meta (formerly Facebook, that is), Microsoft is also busy with developments within the metaverse. This includes virtual meetings through Microsoft Teams, where you can enter the virtual world with a 3D avatar and participate in a meeting.
The goal of the metaverse and these virtual meetings is to create a real sense of presence. This should replace video calling with colleagues with ‘real’ presence in the same virtual space
Although some things are currently already possible within the virtual world, it may be some time before it all really gets there. Still, partly because of the high stakes of tech giants, it is not unlikely that the metaverse will have made its appearance before you realize it.
Web 3.0
In addition to the metaverse, Web 3.0 is another major technological development. But, what exactly is Web 3.0?
A brief explanation, starting with Web 1.0. This first version of the Internet included publishing in particular, with users viewing information but not yet actively publishing and sharing it themselves.
This changed with Web 2.0, the version we are now largely in. Web 2.0 is a communication tool where users can consume information and create their own. In this case, the users themselves are an active and important part. Social platforms such as Facebook and Airbnb are good examples of Web 2.0
Web 3.0 takes another step further. Whereas Web 2.0 is centralized and shaped by large organizations and platforms, Web 3.0 is a decentralized and interactive network. Web 3.0 can be seen as an open source network in which anyone can participate, without the presence of a third party. Communication in this case goes directly from user to user and not through a platform or central server.
Because Web 3.0 is decentralized and therefore not dependent on a central server, in theory it cannot go offline. In addition, as a decentralized network, the Web 3.0 is a lot more secure and reliable, including in terms of privacy.
The number of developments around Web 3.0 and the increasing amount in startups that are working on it has grown tremendously recently. Web 3.0 is therefore expected to play a major role in the near future.
Digital accessibility
The importance of digital accessibility anno 2022 is not something new, but it is even more important than ever. Especially given the increasingly rapid and impactful developments of digitization, such as the rise of the metaverse.
Consequently, more and more organizations are seeing the importance of digital accessibility. It is expected that this trend will continue to develop in the coming year.
Customizable apps and websites
Customization, aka adaptability of apps and websites, goes hand in hand with accessibility. Consider customizing the layout of a page, with a “dark mode,” for example. Useful for protecting your eyes from the bright white light at night, or just because it’s your preference.
Either way, accessibility means a better experience for everyone, and the customizability of an app or website definitely adds value here. Customizable websites also respond to users’ wants and needs because, after all, it allows them to customize the page or app themselves.
More and more apps and websites offer the ability to customize settings and layout to personal preference. Adaptability is thus a major theme for 2022.
Organic SEO more important
Search engine optimization, also known as SEO, is one of the oldest and most valuable forms of online marketing and indispensable for any website. Whereas in previous years it was sometimes possible to get higher in the search engines with handy tricks or hacks, today it is increasingly difficult.
Algorithms are getting smarter, focusing more on content and relevance rather than just keywords. This means that organic SEO becomes even more important.
The goal of organic SEO is to focus on content with real added value. When people submit a query, the most important thing for a search engine is to generate a concrete and clear answer for it as quickly as possible. Especially given that artificial intelligence is playing an increasing role in this. Which means searches are becoming increasingly targeted.
However, this is not quite true yet for Web sites built with the JavaScript programming language. Search engines, unlike websites built with HTML, have more difficulty finding search queries. This is because the way JavaScript is rendered is very different compared to HTML. Fortunately, there are tips and tricks to optimize your JavaScript website’s SEO score.
User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) even more important
User Experience (UI)
and the User Interface (UI) play an important role in terms of organic SEO. This is because a well-functioning, fast website with a clear appearance is indexed higher in the search engines.
User experience has a major impact on ranking in search results. Here, in particular, the Core Web Vitals very important. So make sure these are in order. In fact, slow and underperforming websites are judged harshly for this.
It’s no coincidence, then, that website design is becoming simpler and simpler. The trend in this area can be described as “less is more,” and for good reason. Especially considering that simply designed websites with short load times and fast response times rank well in the search engines.
Preference for apps over websites continues to grow
In addition to a well-functioning, fast and reliable websites, having an app is increasingly important. The preference for apps over websites among users continues to grow, making an app actually indispensable.
Yet this does not immediately mean that a completely new native or hybrid app needs to be developed. After all, you can also choose a Progressive Web App (PWA).. What is important, however, is to respond to this trend and thus to consumer needs.
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