How technology will change travel in 2015

Travel takes us all over the world, but its key technology battles are happening in your pocket. Mobile use is booming. During 2014, Skyscanner flight searches from hand-held devices have grown by 152 per cent, according to the company. Mobiles will become ever more important, particularly as last-minute and in-destination booking booms.

Gone roaming

Of course, a mobile phone is useless if you can’t afford to use it. I have written regularly this year about roaming, including how to avoid charges with apps such as Roamer (Android, iOS; roamerapp.com). Roaming will continue to be an issue, but welcome changes may arrive for European travellers. In April, the European Parliament voted to end roaming charges within the EU by December 2015. Details are still to be confirmed. In the meantime, anyone on Three “can look forward to further additions of countries to the Feel at Home offer in 2015”, according to the company. Feel at Home allows customers to use their mobiles abroad with no extra roaming charges, and currently applies in 16 countries.

The convergence between phone and wallet will accelerate. It is not yet clear when Apple’s mobile payments system, Apple Pay, will come to Britain. However, Zapp is already working with banks and retailers to add a mobile payment capability to existing UK banking apps. Zapp’s service will launch in 2015.

Pay as you go

Some travel apps already have a built-in payment function, including taxi services such as Uber and Hailo and last-minute hotel service HotelTonight. Restaurant app OpenTable (Android, iOS;opentable.co.uk) is trialling payment direct from its app in several US cities, including New York and San Francisco. Set to launch in London, new restaurant app Reserve (iOS; reserve.com) also enables diners to settle their bill in-app. Paying with your phone will become more mainstream in 2015.

Wear it’s at

There is already plenty of buzz about “wearable technology”, particularly smart watches. The Apple Watch launches next spring, but Android Wear devices including the Motorola Moto 360 are already on sale. Travel apps will learn how to make best use of this new hardware. For example, clever itinerary management app TripCase (Android, iOS; tripcase.com) automatically notifies a connected watch if your flight is delayed, cancelled or even if the departure gate changes. One of my favourite apps, Rain Alarm (Android, iOS, Windows Phone; rain-alarm.com), also works smoothly with Android Wear. My watch simply vibrates when rain is heading my way. More travel apps will work in tandem with smart watches by this time next year.

^{The Apple Watch launches next spring}

Tech-in times

Another sure bet is that hotels will get increasingly tech-savvy. Guests can already check in from a phone with the Starwood SPG and Hilton HHonors apps, for example. Both hotel groups are rolling out mobile phone keys during 2015, so you will be able to walk straight to your room and enter with one tap of a phone. Starwood’s iOS app is even ready for check-in with an Apple Watch. Premier Inn’s new “tech hotel” brand, hub by Premier Inn (hubhotels.co.uk), is plans another 10 UK openings alongside its Covent Garden flagship hotel. As well as mobile booking, the hub app controls in-room climate and entertainment.

^{Premier Inn’s new “tech hotel” brand}

Joined-up thinking

Separate travel applications can work together thanks to a technology most travellers never see first-hand, the “application programming interface” or API. An API is a set of tools developers use to link complementary services. For example, in the US, Google Maps users can now book a restaurant table directly from the map thanks to an OpenTable API. Users can simply type “nearby pizza” in the Maps search box, read reviews and quickly book without jumping between apps. I can begin to book a taxi from inside the Citymapper transport navigation app (Android, iOS; citymapper.com) if I don’t fancy the public transport options. A quest is on to develop the “super app”, one that feels like a proper mobile travel assistant, so interest in travel APIs will grow in 2015.

No language barrier

We will also see innovations in some travel mainstays, including Skype. The Microsoft-owned service recently demonstrated its Skype Translator tool, which allows people speaking two different languages to talk to each other hearing simultaneous translation of the conversation. Right now it works on Windows machines between English and Spanish only, but more languages and platforms will surely follow. It’s not difficult to envisage how useful a version of that could be on holiday.

On the case

The suitcase has been around for a long time, but “smart luggage” will touch down in 2015. New York start-up Bluesmart (bluesmart.com) has successfully crowdfunded a carry-on suitcase that weighs itself, and which you can lock, unlock and track via GPS from (you guessed it) your smartphone.

So one lesson for travellers in 2015 is this: you had better not leave your phone at home – or lose it either. With everything from boarding passes and train tickets to bank cards and room keys stored on a handset, a pickpocket or mobile virus could seriously disrupt your trip. Apps such as Lookout (Android, iOS; lookout.com) scan downloads for viruses and other malware, and allow you to track or remotely wipe a phone if it is lost or stolen. In 2015, travelling with your mobile secured and close to hand will be one key to a hassle-free holiday.

Apple Watch and Other Technology to Look Forward to in 2015

In the world of technology, one of the biggest triumphs of the year was the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus and the frenzy ignited by the gigantic smartphones.

While the year may be coming to a close, there is plenty more exciting technology on the horizon for 2015 -- including perhaps the biggest mystery of all: The Apple watch.

We'll learn much more about what's in store for tech in 2015 when some of the top tech brands come together at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas from January 6-9 to debut new gadgets.

For now, here's a taste of some of what top tech talkers already on the radar for 2015.

Apple Watch

Apple has been teasing us with its first wearable, the Apple Watch, since it was unveiled at the same September event where the new iPhones made their world debuts.

The company hasn't announced a firm launch date for the device, other than "early 2015." In the interim, we've been treated to plenty of sexy shots of the watch, which uses the digital crown of the device for easy navigation.

The Apple Watch is expected to begin at a price point of $349.

Self-Driving Cars

Google's adorable and cartoon-like looking self-driving cars are expected hit the road in California in 2015, however it will still be a while before they'll hit the mass market.

The first real build of the Google self-driving car prototype was unwrapped just in time for Christmas, and the team behind the project says it is excited to zip through the streets of Northern California in the New Year.

"Our safety drivers will continue to oversee the vehicle for a while longer, using temporary manual controls as needed while we continue to test and learn," the team said in a Google Plus post.

Oculus

While there's no release date yet for the consumer version of the Oculus virtual reality headset, plenty of chatter has centered around 2015 being the year of virtual reality for the masses.

At the Web Summit in November, CEO Brendan Iribe said a consumer release is "months, not years away, but many months."

Facebook acquired Oculus for $2 billion in March and ever since then, attention around the virtual reality headsets has skyrocketed -- and not just in the gaming realm. It's being used for fitness classes, real estate tours and vacation experiences.

How you could become a victim of cyber-crime in 2015

Targeted attacks and sophisticated spam

The more we do and share online, the more vulnerable we may be to “targeted” attacks to steal our passwords and data. “It is possible that our willingness to share and shop online will let criminals become more selective about who they target,” suggests Stephen Bonner of KPMG.

“They won’t need to maintain the current ‘hit and hope’ approach of spear phishing, instead only attacking specific users and computers based on the data these give away about their owners.”

Meanwhile, you may see more spam emails in your inbox in 2015, as the technology used to send them becomes more sophisticated.

“Cybercriminals upping their game are perfecting their campaign abilities previously associated only with advanced, targeted attacks. These advanced tactics designed to evade most modern email security solutions are quickly becoming the new norm as more sophisticated email threats increase,” suggests WebSense.

“As a result, although spam volumes are decreasing, most users will begin to witness an increase in the amount of spam they receive in their inbox, because most email security measures will be incapable of detecting them in the Cloud scrubbing prior to passing to a user’s inbox.”

Banking and healthcare companies at risk

companies is the prospect of attacks on bigger companies in the private and public sector, with cybercriminals having specific goals in mind.

“Cybercriminals will go after bigger targets rather than home users as this can generate more profits for them. We will see more data breach incidents with banks, financial institutions, and customer data holders remaining to be attractive targets,” suggests Trend Micro.

“Weak security practices like not using two-factor authentication and chip-and-pin technology continue to persist in the banking sector. These practices will cause financially motivated threats to grow in scale throughout the coming year.”

Healthcare is also expected to be a target. “Companies operating in the sector are a privileged target because of the wealth of personal data they manage, and that represents a precious commodity in the criminal underground,” notes InfoSec Institute.

“Healthcare data are valuable because medical records can be used to commit several types of fraudulent activities or identity theft. Their value in the hacking underground is greater than stolen credit card data.”

WebSense’s Carl Leonard agrees. “The healthcare industry is a prime target for cybercriminals. With millions of patient records now in digital form, healthcare’s biggest security challenge in 2015 will be keeping personally identifiable information from falling through security cracks and into the hands of hackers.”

Ransomware on the rise

One of the most common forms of malware in 2014 was “ransomware” – cybercriminals trying to extort money from victims either by locking their devices and demanding a fee to release them, or by accusing them of various unpleasant crimes.

“Users should remain sceptical of any message accusing them of various crimes such as zoophilic behaviour and distributing child pornography,” claims BitDefender. “These threats may be part of ransomware campaigns and could also hit social networks.”

Symantec notes the growth of one particular strain of ransomware, Cryptolocker, which it claims accounted for 55% of all ransomware in October this year, encrypting people’s files then demanding money to unencrypt them.

“Holding encrypted files for ransom is not entirely new, but getting the ransom paid has previously proven problematic for the crooks. However recently ransomware makers have started leveraging online and electronic payment systems such as Bitcoins, Webmoney, Ukash, greendot (MoneyPak) to get around this challenge,” it explains.

“Crooks like the relative anonymity and convenience of electronic payments and these are already readily available, putting businesses and consumers at greater risk from losing data, files or memories.”

Mobile payments could be hot... for criminals

One of the big announcements for Apple in 2014 was the launch of its mobile payments service, Apple Pay. However, several security companies expect cybercriminals to make a concerted effort to crack it and rival services in 2015.

“Apple Pay is not alone in the market – other payment systems have or will be introduced by other companies and trade associations. Not all of these payment systems have been thoroughly tested to withstand real-world threats, and we may see attacks targeting mobile commerce in 2015,” claims Trend Micro.

“Apple Pay certainly addresses some of the weaknesses that have facilitated recent attacks on Point-of-Sale (PoS) systems. However, this should not be cause for complacency, since attackers will usually look for other weaknesses once an avenue of attack has been closed off,” adds Symantec.

For now, those weaknesses may come in other forms of payment, according to Sophos. “Cybercriminals will be looking for flaws in these systems, but the present designs have several positive security features. Expect cybercriminals to continue abusing traditional credit and debit cards for a significant period of time as they are the easier target for now,” it suggests.

How popular Apple Pay and rivals are will also be a factor. “Criminal hackers tend to attack popular platforms where the yield is likely high. If no one adopts Apple Pay, then no one will target it. However, if Apple Pay is as popular as Apple’s other traditional and mobile offerings, then we may be writing about Apple Pay hacks sooner rather than later,” claims Kaspersky.

The year in technology, and what to expect in 2015

It seems everything in the technological world was bigger and better in 2014, but what can we expect in 2015?

Phones get bigger

Apple's 4.7-inch iPhone 6 resting on the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus. Photo: Adam Turner

Initially dismissed as a fad, large-screened mobile phones are becoming the norm. Analysts thought Samsung had lost its marbles when it popped a 5.3-inch display on its 2011 Galaxy Note. This year's phones make that model look puny. Apple joined the phablet party with its 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, while Google and Nokia went one better with 6-inch offerings. The extra screen space is better for games, videos, and heavy web-browsing. Analysts predict the trend will continue.

Uber drives on

Photo: Bloomberg

The car-hailing company accelerated its rollout, irking taxi operators and posing tough questions for regulators worldwide. Its app-based services reached Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Geelong and the Gold Coast this year after launching in Sydney and Melbourne in 2013. It's met opposition from regulators concerned about the safety of its ride-sharing service, Uber X, which lets users book lifts in everyday cars. Uber ploughs on regardless and remains confident regulators will see the light.

Bitcoin at crossroads

Photo: Reuters

The pre-eminent cryptocurrency was dealt a severe blow in February when the biggest exchange, Tokyo-based Mt Gox, collapsed after a suspected cyber attack. Bitcoin's value plummeted and hasn't recovered. It's now trading at about half its January high of about $US800 ($A865.57). Analysts remain concerned about security and the lack of regulation, but Australian entrepreneurs are keeping the faith. To try to take it mainstream, one company began rolling out bitcoin ATMs and another has launched a bitcoin debit card.

Facebook wins friends

The world's premier social network bolstered its position of utter dominance. It has 1.35 billion monthly users at latest count, 64 per cent of whom use it daily. Third-quarter revenue grew 59 per cent from the same period in 2013 to reach $US3.2 billion ($A3.46 billion). Most of those dollars come from advertising to the mobile users marketers so dearly want to reach. Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg spooked investors with some wacky thoughts on future investments, but the business ends the year in excellent shape.

Glass half empty

This was meant to be the year Google took Glass, its pioneering head-mounted computer, mainstream. Instead, the company has gone quiet. The gadget has become a byword for intrusion, with the public uneasy that wearers could be covertly filming everything they see. Google has yet to put it on general sale, focusing instead on mobiles and smartwatches. App developers have likewise lost interest. Other companies such as Epson and Huawei are working on their own takes. If they can find a market for them, perhaps Google will revisit the technology.

What 2015 holds

Watch the watches

Smartwatches have been around for a while now. Samsung, LG, Sony and, most recently, Motorola, have all had a crack at the gadgets. But, bulky and geeky-looking, none has cracked the mainstream. That could change in 2015. The technology and software is improving and - crucially - they're beginning to look half decent. Apple's first attempt, revealed to much fanfare in September, is set to hit the market early in the year. The world's premier tech company has a knack for timing and rarely misreads the market, though it might take a couple of tweaks to get it right.

From a stream to a flood

Broadcast bosses can ignore it no longer: the future of TV is online, and 2015 is shaping as the tipping point. Netflix confirmed as much in November when it announced that it will launch inAustralia in March. Foxtel has already slashed subscription prices in anticipation. Channel Nine and Fairfax Media have announced their own service, called Stan, while Channel Seven is expected to reveal its plans soon. These are in addition to local streaming services such as QuickFlix and EzyFlix. It's scary for the incumbents, but good news for Australians crying out for more choice.

Virtual to become reality

Twenty years since its potential was first discussed, virtual reality is poised to hit the mainstream. Breakthroughs in 3D graphics and sensor technology have brought prices down to a palatable point for everyday consumers. Samsung and Google this year released impressive headsets that use smartphones for a screen. Next year, we can expect Sony's Project Morpheus, which will tie in with the PlayStation 4, and the pioneering Facebook-owned Oculus Rift. It raises new possibilities for immersive gaming and entertainment, but, like most new technologies, success will hinge on the appetite of app and game developers.

Payments go mobile

Tech companies haven't enjoyed much success in trying to nudge their way into in-store payments. That could begin to change in 2015 with the rollout of Apple Pay. Users will be able to store credit card information on new iPhones and tap-and-pay at registers, using the fingerprint scanner for verification. Early reviews from the US have praised the system's ease of use. Deloitte research suggests only about a third of Australians are prepared to use their phone as a payment device, but analysts suggest this percentage will grow. Trust is the biggest issue. The entry of a company of Apple's prestige could be a game changer.

Tablet withdrawal

Tablet growth slowed to 7.2 per cent this year - a dramatic fall from the 52.5 per cent of 2013, according to market-tracker IDC. There is little sign things will pick up in 2015. Tablets are being squeezed as phones get bigger. People also tend to hold onto them for a year or two longer than they do smartphones. iPad sales are predicted to flatline, with Windows and Android tablets faring slightly better. Apple left its iPad Mini practically unchanged this year, suggesting it could soon be shelved. Forrester researchers expect Apple to launch an iPad about the 13-inch mark to compete with hybrid laptop-tablets such as Microsoft's Surface Pro 3.

2015 Could Be the Year of the Hospital Hack

Health-care organizations often store medical records and other information insecurely.

Along with vast troves of credit card information and celebrity snapshots, hackers stole a record number of medical records from U.S. health-care facilities this year. In 2015, attacks targeting health data will become even more common, according to security researchers.

Carl Leonard, principal security analyst for Websense, says hackers are breaking into the computer networks of health-care facilities with increasing frequency and taking valuable personal information that is often secured improperly. In August, Websense researchers reported that over the previous 10 months they had observed a 600 percent increase in attacks on hospitals (See “Hackers Are Homing In on Hospitals”). Leonard’s group now predicts that in 2015 the health-care industry will see a “substantial increase” in thefts of data.

The cause of the uptick isn’t hard to diagnose. Medical organizations across the world are switching to electronic medical records, and computer security is not always a high enough priority during the process, says Leonard. Besides that, he says, easy and fast access to medical information often trumps security.

Various studies suggest that cyber-thieves have identified health data as a soft target. The Ponemon Institute, a U.S. privacy think tank, found that 40 percent of health-care organizations surveyed in 2014 reported being attacked by malware designed to steal data, up from 20 percent in 2010. The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, which tracks large computer security breaches, reports that nearly four million more records were stolen this year than in any previous year.

Credit card information is less valuable on the black market than it was several years ago, says Don Jackson, director of threat intelligence at the security firmPhishLabs. That market is flooded, and credit card information is becoming less useful without supporting identification information, he says.

Medical records, however, often contain both identification information, such as Social Security numbers, and financial information. This can be enough to build a near-complete picture of an individual. And such information can command hundreds of dollars from black-market customers wanting to impersonate someone for the purpose of accessing bank accounts or drug prescriptions.

Hackers now have “almost a big-data mentality,” Jackson says, in that they routinely deal with huge amounts of information and can draw correlations between disparate sets of stolen data to piece together whole identities.

New devices, including smartphones, tablets, and various medical devices, are being connected to health-care facilities networks at an increasing rate. This could introduce new vulnerabilities, says Leonard.