After a year that made the terms WFH (work from home) and metaverse instantly recognizable for many people, there are a new set of technological trends headed this way for 2022.
Here's a selection of how technology may change lives in the coming year:
Meatless meat
Meat alternatives have become common in an increasing number of United States households, thanks in part to Beyond Meat and Impossible Food plant-based products that come far closer to the texture and flavor of beef or pork.
As the products have improved and the prices edged downward, demand has been boosted by concern about the environment: Raising animals for food is responsible for a whopping 14.5% of human-linked greenhouse gas emissions, according to United Nations data.
The global market for plant-based meats is expected to be worth $35 billion in 2027 – up from $13.5 billion in 2020 – thanks in part to expansion beyond the U.S., according to a report from Research and Markets.
"2022 will be the crowning year of food made from plant-based proteins," said David Bchiri, president of U.S. consulting firm Fabernovel. "The products are mature and good. They're going to become mainstream," he added.
'Web 3.0' and crypto
The internet's first phase was the creation of websites and blogs, which allowed the emergence of companies like Yahoo, eBay or Amazon.
The next iteration was Web 2.0, defined by social media and user-generated content on sites like Facebook and YouTube.
These platforms "get the money and control it, they let you on their platform," summarized Benedict Evans, an independent analyst specializing in Silicon Valley.
So, is Web 3.0 coming?
In this iteration, "users, creators and developers would have stakes and votes" in a platform in much the way a cooperative works, Evans said on his "Another Podcast."
Such a revolutionary step could be made possible by blockchain technology, where computer programs run on networks of thousands or millions of computers.
So far, blockchain has enabled the rise of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, and more recently, the unique digital objects such as drawings or animations called NFTs (non-fungible tokens).
"We talk a lot about decentralized finance, but I think that in 2022 we will see more localized use cases, which will enter everyday life," said Bchiri.
As highly-volatile digital currencies like bitcoin have hit record high values in 2021, a huge range of players have entered the game, including versions launched by the cities of Miami and New York.
Ransomware, everywhere
The spike toward record ransomware attacks and data leaks in 2021 looks likely to spill over into the coming year.
Cyber-extortion heists break into a victim's network to encrypt data, then demand a ransom, typically paid via cryptocurrency in exchange to unlock it.
A confluence of factors has fueled the trend, including the booming value of cryptocurrencies, victims' willingness to pay and the difficulty authorities have in catching attackers.
Cybersecurity company SonicWall wrote in late October, "With 495 million ransomware attacks logged by the company this year to date, 2021 will be the most costly and dangerous year on record."
"When I think about 2022, the thing that's top of mind for me and for my colleagues continues to be ransomware. It's simply too lucrative," wrote Sandra Joyce, executive vice president and head of global intelligence at cybersecurity firm Mandiant.
Big Tech regulation?
It's difficult to say if 2022 is the year Big Tech will finally be hit with significant new rules, but a series of regulatory and legal threats launched in 2021 will provoke major battles.
In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust lawsuit against Facebook represents a genuine threat to the social media giant, though a court has already dismissed the case once.
More lawsuits and a federal investigation – and maybe even finally new laws – are possible in the wake of the damning whistleblower leaks showing Facebook executives knew its sites could cause harm.
Some critics say the firm's major push into realizing the metaverse – a virtual reality version of the internet – is an effort to change the subject after years of criticism.
Apple dodged a bullet in 2021 when a U.S. federal court said Fortnite maker Epic Games failed to show the iPhone giant held an illegal monopoly, but the firm was still ordered to loosen control over its App Store. Both sides have appealed.
New regulations may come sooner in the European Union as it pushes through new laws, such as the Digital Services Act which would create much stricter oversight of harmful and illegal content on platforms like Facebook.