First there was the Internet (a connected network of information). Then there was IoT, the Internet of Things (hardware devices connected to the network). Perhaps the next evolution is the Internet of Us – network-connected aspects of our human physiology. This future looks more and more likely, given the ongoing advancements in voice and biometric applications.

In 2011, Marc Andreessen, co-author of the first widely used web browser (since turned venture capitalist) famously proclaimed that "software is eating the world," observing that global economies were shifting from being hardware-based to software-based. Fast forward just a few years, and this saying already requires an update: Platforms are eating the world.

Augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and the full spectrum of technologies that combine real and virtual worlds create intriguing possibilities for travel, tourism and hospitality. Over the last half decade, companies within and outside of travel have experimented with virtual objects and immersive experiences. The hardware and methods for delivering these experiences continue to develop, but a range of indicators suggest we are nearing an inflection point. While AR and VR largely have been treated as novelties to date, changes are coming that will put these technologies at the core of web development.