Ten Game-Changing IT Technologies
July 2010
Randy Muller, Global Knowledge Instructor
In the past few years, there has been an explosion of new technologies to hit the marketplace. These technologies have had a huge impact on how we work, how we play and how we communicate. We can keep in touch with others and interact with computers in ways not even thought of a few years ago. Here is a look at some of the most prominent new technologies that have proven to be "Game Changers."
Tablet/iPad - If there is one device that has the potential to radically change how we perceive the use of computers and computing devices, it would be Apple's iPad. But before the iPad can lay claim to this title, it must first prove that it has the capacity and viability to replace laptops, net books, and tablets. One of the unique features of the iPad (for now at least) is the use of a touch-screen display. The iPad has the potential to finally advance the acceptance of the multi-touch screen and perhaps even push it ahead of the ubiquitous mouse interface in use for the past few decades.
What the iPad must do is prove that it is not a niche product used only by geeks and those who wish to be technology trend setters. The iPad also must overcome the fact that it lacks many commonly accepted features found on laptops including a physical keyboard, USB ports, and a Webcam. If Apple can do this, then the iPad will truly become an IT game-changing product. For the time being, however, many people see it more as a glorified iPhone or a substitute for Amazon's Kindle than as a true laptop replacement.
Cloud Computing - In its simplest state, cloud computing is the delivery of hardware and application services over the internet on demand. This is done as an alternative to hosting and maintaining your own servers and application software. In cloud computing, businesses only pay for the resources that they consume; think of your electricity bill, you only pay for what you use. Businesses that host services and applications in the cloud improve overall computer utilization rates, as servers are running at or near full capacity from clients connecting remotely. Cloud computing offers several models:
1. Software as a Service (SaaS) - Providing an application that clients can access through the internet.
2. Utility computing - Where storage and server computing power available when required
3. Web and Platform Services - Providing a platform where developers can create applications that can be accessed by clients through the internet. Instead of using your own server infrastructure, you use these remote servers. Microsoft's Azure platform provides just such an environment.
Unified Communications - We live in a highly connected world (perhaps too connected at times) with numerous communication technologies all competing for our attention. These disparate communications technologies were all developed and have grown into commonly accepted use separate from one another. In order to use these technologies, we may have had several accounts: one for conferencing, another for email, a third for instant messaging, and yet another for voicemail, and perhaps even other accounts. Each of these systems most likely had separate user names and passwords. In order for users to access them, they would have had to remember them (or write down). Network and telephony administrators had to keep these different systems working, sometimes with limited success and much difficulty.
Unified Communications combines these different systems together into a single communications platform. Now your telephony system can not only handle your voicemail, but send you an email letting you know that you have a voicemail. Conferencing is no more than a click away from a contact in an email. You can see if a colleague is available by checking their on-line presence. You can also receive IM's from outside clients on your internal IM system. A single communications platform - makes it easier for users to keep in contact with others and easier for administrators to maintain.
Virtualization - Virtualization the art and science of having a single physical server host several virtual server roles. The virtualization of server farms is accelerating as IT managers have to realize the economic benefits derived from having fewer physical boxes (electrical, cooling, deployment, green computing, and software deployment). There are several virtualization products including Microsoft's Hyper-V and VMware.
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) - Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (or Interface) is another method to provide centralized management and deployment of user virtual desktops. Users will require a constant connection to a network as they will access their own personal desktop remotely. This improves the user's desktop flexibility, gives IT staff an integrated management and assists with business continuity. Virtualization and cloud computing is where much of the IT infrastructure is headed.
Electronic Readers - Amazon's Kindle, Barnes and Noble's Nook, Sony's Reader, take your pick. They all have ability to store hundreds or even thousands of books and documents. The typical user will mainly use these devices to read books, newspapers or other such periodicals. The electronic readers with larger screens can be readily used for technical references. What makes these such alluring devices and a game changer for 2010 is their capacity, battery life and small footprint. Businesses could pass out electronic readers for meetings in-lieu of paper documents; reference material for a product could be accessed through an electronic reader. While these are not going to herald in the "paper-less office," it is changing how we read and maintain documents and books.
Smart Phones - There are three smart phone platforms that have the majority of the market share: Apple's iPhone, the BlackBerry and Google's Android. Smartphones represent the fastest growing market share for hand-held devices - everyone wants to have a smartphone (whether they actually use most of the features or apps for their smartphone is another matter). What is going to be the deciding factor amongst these smart phones for users is their ease of use, flexibility and apps (applications downloaded and installed on the phone to enhance their functionality and customization). Smart phone deployment and usage in the enterprise environment will be decided by such factors as security, email and messaging simplicity, document management, navigation and web conferencing. The smart phone is evolving and will continue to change how we view mobile communications and connectivity. In many parts of the world, people are dispensing with their landline (if they even had one) and only using a smartphone.
Social Networks and Networking - or the power of the Tweet. It is a serious mistake to underestimate the power of social networks (whether it be IMs, tweets or the "old school" email). Social networks have been used to help free people who have been incarcerated overseas, organize popular social and music events and even keep in touch with family and friends. Social networks have tremendous power and influence - far more than most people realize (and probably want to accept either). The "traditional" workplace is quickly changing - more people are working from home or from other locations and want and even need this contact. This does not mean the real-time interaction of the bricks-and-mortar work place environment have been lost - just changed. If you are curious - tweet a friend and ask.
People keep in contact through Facebook or other social sites, blurring the line between work and social boundaries. The use of Microsoft Office Communicator will allow users to have both business and personal contacts in one IM interface. Business and IT leaders will have to learn to use these as the in order to accelerate the business-decision process and maintain relevance with workers. Customers will expect immediate answers to questions and employees can accomplish more through these communications.
Touch Screen Computing - What comes to mind now when we think of touch-screen computing? The iPad, of course. There will be even more touch screen devices released this year as other manufacturers release products to compete with the iPad. In some cases, a gesture, not a touch or a mouse-click will control computers. New game consoles (Microsoft's Kinetic, where you are the controller) will be released this fall. They don't rely on the movement of a hand-held device, but gestures made towards the receiver. This type of technology will aid those with physical challenges as well as make for much smaller physical footprints required for computers.
Solid State Disks - The ubiquitous hard drive (and other storage devices for that matter) is undergoing radical changes these days. The capacity of hard drives is increasing, but the basic technology has not changed; you still have magnetic disks and motors. Solid state drives are reaching a capacity that makes them a viable option for most laptop users. The solid state drive is a large flash memory device that does not have any moving parts. This results in devices that use much less energy, run much cooler and faster, and are much lighter.
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