5 tech trends that will change the world in 2017

From the never-ending stream of bad news to a brutal election that seemed like it would never end to the dozens of celebrities -- including a few in the tech world -- that passed on, it was a tough year. But 2016 also had its share of important technological breakthroughs that changed how we live, work, and play. Virtual reality made a big comeback in 2016 and is sure to get even hotter this year. Virtual assistants moved out of our cell phones and into our homes, and smart home technologies may have finally broken through to the mainstream after years of trying. So what do we expect in the new year?