The Next Big Thing in Science and Technology?

Some of our technical analysts have donned their Nostradamus of Tech outfits (think Gandalf, with added wires, apps, test tubes and Petri dishes) and have come up with the following predictions on what is likely to be the next big thing in science and technology : -

Apple Pay - like Paypal but better. Basically, use your phone to pay for stuff. Currently only in the US, but leaked documents at the end of 2014 show it is coming to UK and many other EU countries this year. Again, could be a game changer to rival contactless payment already provided by VISA and Mastercard. Peter Eyles, IT Technical Analyst

Quantum dot televisions - Electronics and display manufacturer LG presented at the CES technology exhibition in Las Vegas, its 4K ultra high-definition television displays that use quantum dot technology, an improved method for producing colour displays. Sounds familiar? That's probably because you read all about it on our website back in May last year! Get a refresher on this exciting new technology by reading Technical Analyst Katie Renouf's original article here.

Internet of Things - kept getting talked about at CES last week. Not sure whether this is going to be big just because people are talking about it or whether it is actually going to be big because people WANT to talk about it. Basically everything in your life will be connected to the Internet in some way. Expect to be able to switch on a light in your bedroom from the comfort of your desk (yes, seriously) Sandy Findlay, Channel Partner Manager

Windows 10 - due sometime this year. A big shift for Microsoft as the operating system is more in tune with the device you are using it on (PC, laptop, tablet, phablet, phone etc) rather than having separate operating systems for each device. Could finally be the push from Redmond to overthrow Android and the boys from Cupertino in the mobile market. Peter Eyles, IT Technical Analyst

A vaccine for malaria? In July 2014 GSK announced that they had submitted a regulatory application for its malaria vaccine candidate. This is the first step towards making this vaccine a reality in the fight against malaria (Scientists have been battling to develop a vaccine against malaria for over 30 years!) and a positive response from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) could mean a policy review from the WHO by the end of 2015. On top of this, in December 2014, a research collaboration, lead by St Jude Children's Research Hospital, announced the discovery and successful initial trials of a compound that tricks the immune system into destroying red blood cells that are infected with malaria, whilst leaving healthy cells unharmed. It also appears to suppress the development of drug resistant parasites. Charlie Burgess, Bioscience Technical Analyst

iBeacons - these nifty little gadgets track you via Bluetooth whenever you are in range, typically in a retail spaceso you walk past a clothing rail and your phone beeps to tell you that they have the dress in your size on the rail and its currently 40% off (this already is the case in some department stores in the US I believe). This could get bigger and bigger. Peter Eyles, IT Technical Analyst

Hoverboards & Hovercars: I don't know that this is my area of technical expertise, but I'm expecting hoverboards and hovercars to come out this year in 2015. Over the festive period I've been watching 'Back To The Future' which was made in 1985 and had useful things to say about 30 years time, also I'd been having one too many sherries, both of which sources assure me of the factualness of these predictions. David Ryan, Systems Developer