Do you remember what the internet of the past looked like? Static webpages that took an age to load, blurry JPG images and lots of garishly colored text and backgrounds, those were the days!
Well, the internet of 2035 will look as different from today’s internet as today’s internet looks from that.
In the twenty-plus years that it has dominated our lives, the internet has evolved to become more immersive, accessible, user-friendly and social. Although it’s difficult for anyone to predict anything as far as ten years into the future, one thing I’m sure of is that this evolution will continue.
Ten years ago, if you’d asked someone what the internet is, they would have been pretty sure it revolved around web pages viewed on a computer screen. Today, the online experience is built around apps, devices, streaming services and virtual worlds. Thanks to advances in augmented reality (AR), we even see it encroaching into the real world.
So, gazing into my long-distance crystal ball, here are five of the trends that I believe will define what it means to be “online” as we head toward the year 2035. And – spoiler alert – yes, there will probably still be cat memes.
Reality? What’s That?
Over the next decade, we are only going to see the internet get more immersive and capable of filling more of our day-to-day needs. Whether that be working, relaxing, playing, shopping or socializing with friends. By 2035, the concept of “being offline” probably won’t mean a lot. Even if we aren’t staring at a screen (an interface that’s becoming less common), we’re interacting with virtual and online environments through data flowing to us via a myriad of devices, possibly even including chips implanted into our brains.
It’s no wonder that by this point, the distinction between the real, physical world and the digital, connected world is practically non-existent. Augmented reality interfaces will bring digital information to life in front of our eyes, overlaying computer-generated imagery no matter where we are or what we are doing. And the concept of logging or signing in to a virtual space will seem wildly outdated, as machines automatically authenticate us using biometrics without us even noticing. This will put to bed the idea that’s persisted for a few decades of humans becoming increasingly screen-bound, isolating inside darkened rooms or existing in virtual reality, Ready Player One style. The internet and the virtual world will be all around us, entwined with the real world – which is perhaps an even scarier concept!
An End To Ecosystems?
So Meta (formerly Facebook)’s attempt to annex the emerging virtual domain that we once referred to as “the metaverse” (although I never liked that term myself) seems to have stalled. In 2024, users want virtual worlds – not walled-in virtual gardens – and in 2035, that won’t be any different. Rather than be tied into any particular ecosystem – be that iPhones or Android, Xbox or Playstation – users will expect cross-platform compatibility and seamless connectivity, no matter what hardware or operating system is chugging away behind the scenes.
This means, for example, that users will be able to take their avatar from Fortnite, along with the trophies and rewards they’ve gained, and effortlessly manifest them into Roblox. For a slightly more grown-up example, think of your Slack or Zoom conversations and contacts seamlessly integrating into MS Teams – or whatever equivalent of these tools we’re all using in 10 years’ time.
This might all be facilitated by a move towards open, decentralized ecosystems – perhaps built on blockchain technology – as more of us become aware of the dangers of giving companies like Google, Microsoft and Apple ownership of our online lives and identities.
Virtual Healthcare
It is becoming increasingly common for us to go online to receive medical care or treatment. Contributing factors include the coronavirus pandemic, aging populations and the worldwide shortage of medical professionals.
All of this will mean that online healthcare will be a big part of our lives by 2035. Patients and healthcare providers will meet less frequently but be more closely connected than ever, thanks to the wealth of data that will be collected by devices we wear and even cameras in our homes (watching for declining activity levels in elderly people or falls in the home, for example.) Many more of us will experience time as patients in a virtual hospital, where we will be closely monitored and receive personalized care in the comfort of our homes.
At the same time, all of this data will be used to build increasingly sophisticated digital twins of our bodies, meaning that treatment will be personalized and targeted at our specific conditions. Questions around healthcare data and who owns the information about our condition and wellbeing will be more prescient than ever, but solutions based on blockchain and decentralized record keeping may help us retain control and stewardship.
One major benefit will be that we are no longer tied to receiving care from experts in our locality or making long and costly journeys to be treated by experts around the world. And VR or AR will mean we can be treated online for many of our pain management, mental wellness or physiotherapeutic needs.
Virtual Economies And Digital Ownership
By 2035, virtual products and goods will be just as desirable and in demand as the most limited edition sneakers or VIP Taylor Swift tickets are today. And why shouldn’t they be? To the teenagers of tomorrow, bragging rights will apply to possessions in the digital domain as much as they do in the physical.
From virtual real estate to digital certificates and collectibles, these assets will hold real-world value, creating new economies and transforming online business, gaming and socializing. This will foster the development of new business models, providing virtual goods and services as well as access to online events like virtual concerts and experiences. The creator economy that we are already seeing develop around platforms like Roblox will be a bigger part of our lives. Much of this will be thanks to the democratization of digital creativity enabled by generative AI and emerging low-code/no-code tools. This has the potential to increase access to opportunity, allowing individuals from diverse social and economic backgrounds to participate in building the future of online experience.
