The top tech trends for 2015
Each year IT research company Gartner identifies the top technology trends that they predict will affect individuals, businesses and IT organisations over coming years. While all trends might not prove to be equally strong, it’s a good idea to be aware of them and adjust your future business decisions with them in mind.
Here’s the Gartner list for technology trends for 2015:
1: Computing everywhere
Gartner predicts that instead of focusing on the device, emphasis will be placed on integrating the use of mobile technology in various environments and contexts. Intelligent screens and connected devices will be present in a variety of shapes, sizes and interaction styles.
2: The Internet of things (IoT)
The IoT – the integrated combination of uniquely identifiable data streams within an existing Internet infrastructure – is predicted to have the potential to deliver added value to businesses. One example is technology that can detect problems in equipment before they turn into costly failures.
3: 3D printing
The technology is already a hot topic discussed amongst techs and wider society alike. So far the conversation has mainly focused on consumer 3D printing. Gartner predicts that this will shift, as enterprises are the ones that will really be able to add value by utilising it.
4: Advanced, Pervasive and Invisible Analytics
Gartner emphasises that every application will soon be analytical, as both structured and unstructured data will continue to be generated inside and outside of organisations. The IoT, combined with a greater acceptance of data gathering, ensures that analytics will continue to advance.
5: Context Rich Systems
Embedded intelligence that delivers information on the users, their location, history, preferences and more will be used as input into applications and systems designed to be responsive to surroundings. Gartner points out that context-aware security is already part of this trend and that it will continue to grow.
6: Smart Machines
Gartner predicts that the already existing prototypes of autonomous vehicles, advanced robots and virtual personal assistants will evolve rapidly, and bring on a new age of intelligent machine helpers. One example of smart machines already in operation is Rio Tinto’s use of autonomous trucks.
7: Cloud and Client Computing
Again, this is a trend that we’re already seeing but that will be taken to new levels in coming years. Merging cloud and mobile computing will promote centrally coordinated applications that can be delivered to any device and span multiple clients.
8: Software Defined Applications and Infrastructure
In order to deal with the rapidly changing demands of digital business, Gartner predicts that computing must to move from static to dynamic models. This means replacing hard coded, pre-defined elements with a more dynamic infrastructure.
9: Web-Scale IT
Web-Scale IT means using cloud models adapted by giants like Amazon or Facebook to enable handling of rapid growth efficiently and without having bottlenecks that require re-architecting. Gartner predicts that Web-Scale IT will be an architectural approach found operating in 50 per cent of global enterprises by 2017.
10: Security
Mitigation tools and risk assessment will become more sophisticated in coming years, as organisations realise that there is no way of creating an environment that is 100 per cent secure. One trend will see security built directly into applications.