We all have phone applications we rely on daily. For some, it’s social media channels or email. For others, checking the weather is a must. And for others yet, it’s banking, food delivery, ride share, or fitness tracking. Needless to say, our dependency on software designed specifically for mobile devices keeps Canadian app developers busy.
While phone applications have existed since the addictive game Snake debuted in the 1990s, the smartphone took things to the next level. So, where are apps going next? Here are three trends that illustrate the evolution of applications and how you can launch a career in this market.
Three 2024 Mobile App Trends
The Internet of Things (IoT): A collective network of connected devices and technology that facilitates communication between devices and the cloud, IoT has integrated everyday "things" with the internet. So, what role does IoT play in advancing apps? Think of your smartphone as a universal remote. With IoT, mobile applications become centralized control hubs for various devices. One common example you will be familiar with is smart thermostats, which integrate HVAC IoT sensors and IoT sensor networks to monitor and regulate temperature and humidity levels more effectively. It’s the reason you can set the temperature in your home via an app to a comfortable 22 degrees before you arrive. Mobile apps powered by IoT add new dimensions of functionality, automation, and user engagement.
Beacon Technology: Beacons are small, wireless devices that connect and transmit information to smart devices, making location-based searching easier and more accurate. In applications, this technology is being used to send data like advertisements and notifications to smartphones. For example, your favourite clothing store may install beacons onsite that connect with your phone via Bluetooth if you have the retailer’s app. You may then receive beacon-based notifications with coupons and special offers related to your proximity to certain products. How’s that for user engagement?
Augmented Reality (AR): Do you remember catching Pokémon on your phone a few years ago? This was Google’s first attempt at using AR in apps, and it’s come a long way since. Today, apps with AR allow you to encounter lifelike and interactive elements while providing practical solutions to problems. For example, AR is now being used to help people with turn-by-turn directions in real time. With Google’s "Live View," you just point the device’s camera at buildings and street signs, and the app can figure out exactly where you are. Another example is IKEA Place, which virtually places objects in real-world scenes, so you can really see what that couch will look like in your home and how it will fit.
A Mobile App Development Program That Prepares You to Innovate
Now that you’re familiar with some of 2024’s mobile app trends, you may be wondering how to enter this market, which Grandview Research estimated to be valued at $187.58 billion in 2021. The applications market is expected to rise at a compound annual growth rate of 13.4 per cent from 2022 to 2030.
If you’ve already completed a diploma or degree in computer science or computer programming, you can launch your developer or tester career in just two semesters. Centennial College’s Mobile Applications Development program focuses on both Google Android and Apple iOS devices. Beyond foundational courses, it also covers advanced topics such as web and enterprise technologies, user interface (UI), user experience (UX), emerging technologies, and more. You’ve just read about three emerging technologies, so you’re already ahead of the game.
The Careers of Canadian App Developers
Once you graduate from Centennial College, you will join a budding Canadian industry. Statista predicts a projected Canadian apps market volume of nearly $11 million (USD) by 2027. Because you will have trained on both Android and iPhone, you will be able to strategize, code, and establish their apps across the App Store and Google Play. Business of Apps also reports "there is a strong focus on UI elements from Canadian app developers that enable a user’s progress within an app, devise a scalable architecture, and provide key post-launch technical support."
By: Izabela Shubair