Ask HN: Predictions for 2021?

#1

Post by rvz » Thu, Dec 31, 2020, 4:26 PM UTC

What are your predictions for 2021? It's clear that 2020 was somewhat of a false start into this decade and has arguably completely changed everyone's lives for the long term. (If not permanently).

This time, it seems that my crystal ball is lacking inspiration for 2021 due to the uncertainty caused by this year.

Re: Ask HN: Predictions for 2021?

#2

Post by emteycz » Thu, Dec 31, 2020, 5:33 PM UTC

I disagree it was a false start. This year turned everything over, so much that people (around me) seriously consider calling it year 0 - and not just the techies. I think this year accelerated biomedical research many times, and changed the risk proposition a lot. Now it's risky to not research and progress.

Re: Ask HN: Predictions for 2021?

#3

Post by AnimalMuppet » Thu, Dec 31, 2020, 6:17 PM UTC

Covid will be the breakthrough for working from home. It will continue even after Covid is no longer a factor.

Joe Biden will be inaugurated on January 20, 2021. There will be some violence on or just after January 6 (certification of electoral college votes) and January 20, but it will be minor. Trump will rage and sulk, but Twitter will cancel his account on January 21 for violation of terms of service.

Re: Ask HN: Predictions for 2021?

#4

Post by ArtWomb » Thu, Dec 31, 2020, 6:38 PM UTC

PICO-8 fantasy console had a breakout year. I think we will see more "off-Broadway" style game dev. Awakened by an explosion in powerful new SoC boardss. Panic's Play.Date handheld portable could be the next "little" thing ;)

Re: Ask HN: Predictions for 2021?

#5

Post by tsjq » Thu, Dec 31, 2020, 7:00 PM UTC

China will get into bigger skirmishes with neighbouring countries.

India might experience one or two major terrorist attacks.

Trump will be more desperate and loud.

Amazon Prime / Netflix might bring in pay-per-view / pay-per-hour options.

Re: Ask HN: Predictions for 2021?

#6

Post by ericb » Thu, Dec 31, 2020, 7:24 PM UTC

By the end of the year, we'll have started a new roaring 20's. People are pent-up--eager to travel, excited to be with friends, vacation, go to bars, party, see movies. Pent-up demand will help kick-start the economy.

Work from home is normalized. Commercial real estate prices will drop as companies pare-down their office space. Wework has better prospects than ever.

Travel stocks and in person events go crazy.

A renaissance for Ruby on Rails. Old fashioned SPA's are overbought/oversold, the pendulum will swing to the middle for many use-cases.

New security practices are developed, deployed, and become commonplace in the enterprise. I'd invest in this area if I had a way. Maybe honeypots, tripwires, or something new. Whatever can be sold as an antidote to the SolarWinds debacle, irony of security products as a vector aside.

Deepfakes start to surface in the public consciousness in a way they haven't so far. None of this is good.

Looking under Trump's rug gets ugly--Democrats are faced with seeming to "hunt" a political opponent, or letting some really bad stuff go.

Re: Ask HN: Predictions for 2021?

#7

Post by wolco2 » Thu, Dec 31, 2020, 7:28 PM UTC

Netflix stock will drop by half.

The singleton will be rediscovered and frameworks, languages and religions will form around the concept.

Re: Ask HN: Predictions for 2021?

#8

Post by tracer4201 » Thu, Dec 31, 2020, 7:45 PM UTC

India’s Hindu populism will go further right.

As the vaccine rolls out in the U.S., we should slowly see at least a short term economic boost as spending increases, potentially increasing inflation.

Housing prices will continue to rise with less and less inventory, especially for single family homes.