The number of smartphones in the world is constantly growing. According to the GSMA's annual State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2023 (SOMIC) report, 54% of the world's population - about 4.3 billion people - own smartphones. Along with this, the importance of apps is growing: they are no longer just tools and are becoming an integral part of many people's lives, shaping modern ways of interacting with the world. Let's take a look at how new technologies are changing apps and affecting us.
Medicine
With the advent of new technologies, the usual approach to medicine is changing. The global mobile health market is also growing rapidly: it was valued at $80.61 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach over $269.31 billion by 2032. This growth shows how apps are increasing in importance in today's world. They help track health, analyze data, make diagnoses, and increase accessibility to specialized services.
The use of telemedicine increases the accessibility of health care services for people with low mobility and people living in remote areas. The Rock Health survey indicates that in 2021, 72% of respondents have used telemedicine at some point in their lives, and in 2022 it will be 80%. This growth indicates the increasing importance of telemedicine. In addition, the use of such applications relieves pressure on healthcare facilities: according to Sage Growth Partners, more than 50% of healthcare providers agree that telemedicine allows patients to avoid emergency room visits.
Apps not only collect data but also help interpret and analyze it. Thanks to artificial intelligence and machine learning, more accurate diagnoses can be made and optimal treatment can be prescribed. For example, the SkinVision app uses artificial intelligence to detect skin cancer. It applies machine learning algorithms to analyze images of moles and skin lesions and determines with 95% accuracy whether they are cancerous. The future of such apps is focused on more accurate and personalized diagnosis and treatment methods, increasing the accessibility and accuracy of health care.
Mobile applications will play a significant role in healthcare. Their use will save facilities resources and professionals' time, improving the quality and accuracy of care. They will become a tool not only for doctors but also for ordinary users, helping to detect and treat various diseases in time.
Education
Modern technologies are changing the tools and approaches to learning. Apps play an important role in these transformations. They generated $7 billion in revenue in 2022 and this revenue is expected to grow at an average rate of 8.9% through 2030. Learning apps, equipped with innovative solutions, aim to make education more accessible, engaging, and tailored to each student's individual needs. Adaptive learning makes it possible to take into account everyone's individual needs, learning styles, and proficiency levels. The growing importance of this method is evidenced by a study by Spherical Insights: the global adaptive learning market is valued at $2.51 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow to $8.63 in 2030.
Virtual and augmented reality are taking the learning process to the next level with innovative visualization capabilities and new levels of interaction. According to a Harvard Business Review study, virtual reality training improved surgical outcomes by 230% over traditional methods. The use of such tools addresses skill shortages by immersing learners in an appropriate environment. Mobile applications that leverage virtual reality can be used to create online tours, simulations, and demonstrations of complex concepts, increasing engagement and understanding. At the same time, such platforms offer portable learning that can be accessed anytime and anywhere.
Thanks to modern technology, learning formats such as micro-courses that help solve specific problems quickly have become common. Smartphone apps are actively helping their development. According to RPS Research, they improve memorization of information by 80%. In addition, Shift Learning research has shown that knowledge transfer with their help is 17% more effective compared to other methods. Education apps are radically transforming the methods and approaches to learning. They will not only make it more accessible and interesting, but also adapt it to the individual needs of each student. Modern technology will bring a new level of immersive, adaptable and effective learning environments, making learning more impactful, engaging and accessible.
Work
Mobile apps are also changing business and working relationships. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, remote working has started to become the norm for many companies, causing changes in how processes are organized. Research shows that the global workplace transformation market will grow from $18.9 billion in 2022 to $69.9 billion by 2030, with an expected compound annual growth rate of 17.7% over this period. A significant part of this change is digital workplace transformation - changes in how organizations adopt technological advances.
Remote work, despite its advantages, has a number of disadvantages. One of them is communication and productivity issues. Remote work software offers tools for task tracking, virtual collaboration, and video conferencing, enabling effective collaboration even from a distance. A study by Harvard Business Review found that companies that use mobile apps for employees working remotely saw an average productivity increase of 30%.
Advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning are opening up new prospects for business applications. A survey conducted by Deloitte showed that the benefits of artificial intelligence in the work environment will be improving products and services, optimizing internal and external processes, helping to make better decisions, and automating tasks. Modern algorithms make it possible to predict trends, and analytical tools provide deeper insights into data. Applications using these technologies will help streamline work and promote more flexible and efficient ways of managing business and career development, saving time and money for companies.
Changes in the work environment herald a promising future for both mobile apps and people. According to Straits Research, the global digital workplace market was valued at $25.9 billion in 2022. It is expected to reach $155.1 billion by 2031. This growth demonstrates the need for innovation and its importance. Smartphone programs can solve communication and productivity problems, help streamline processes and save time without limiting employee mobility.
The future of mobile applications promises significant changes in various areas of activity, far beyond those discussed in this article. Innovations such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, augmented reality or personalization approaches are harbingers of a future where smartphone applications will become an integral part of the daily experience, enriching and improving our lives.