1.
Computing everywhere: Cearley says the trend is not just
about applications but rather wearable systems, intelligent screens on walls
and the like. Microsoft, Google and Apple will fight over multiple aspects of
this technology. You will see more and more sensors that will generate even
more data and IT will have to know how to exploit this—think new ways to track
users and their interactions with your company—in an effective, positive way.
2.
The Internet of things: Yes this
one is getting old it seems, but there’s more to it than the hype. Here IT will
have to manage all of these devices and develop effective business models to
take advantage of them. Cearley said IT needs to get new projects going and to
embrace the “maker culture” so people in their organizations can come up with
new solutions to problems.
3.
3D Printing: Another item that has been on the
Gartner list for a couple years. But things are changing rapidly in this
environment. Cearley says 3D printing has hit a tipping point in terms of the
materials that can be used and price points of machines. It enables cost
reduction in many cases. IT needs to look at 3D printing and think about how it
can make your company more agile. Can it 3D printing drive innovation?
4.
Advanced, Pervasive and Invisible Analytics:
Security analytics are the heart of next generation security models. Cearley
said IT needs to look at building data reservoirs that can tie together
multiple repositories which can let IT see all manner of new information – such
as data usage patterns and what he called “meaningful anomalies” it can act on
quickly.
5.
Context-Rich Systems: This one has been a Gartner
favorite for a long time – and with good reason. The use of systems that
utilize “situational and environmental information about people, places and
things” in order to provide a service, is definitely on the rise. IT needs to
look at creating ever more intelligent user interfaces linking lots of
different apps and data.
6.
Smart Machines: This one is happening rapidly.
Cearley pointed to IBM’s Watson, which is “learning” to fight cancer, and a
mining company – Rio Tinto—which is using automated trucks in its mines.
Virtual sages, digital assistants and other special service software agents will
about in this world, he said.
7.
Cloud/Client Computing: This
trend was on last year’s list as well but Gartner says the need to develop
native apps in the cloud versus migrating existing apps is the current issue.
8.
Software-Defined Applications and Infrastructure: In order to get to the agility new environments demand we
cannot have hard codes and predefined networks, Cearley said. IT needs to be
able construct dynamic relationships. Software Defined technologies help on
that scale.
9.
Web-Scale IT: This trend remains pretty much the
same as last year. Gartner says Web-scale IT is a pattern of global-class
computing technologies that deliver the capabilities of large cloud
service providers. The likes of Amazon, Google and others are re-inventing the
way IT services can be delivered. Still requires a cultural IT shift to be
successful.
10. Risk-Based Security and Self-protection: Cearley said all roads to the digital future
success lead through security. Trends here include building applications that
are self-protecting.
Source : http://www.networkworld.com
