Mobility and agility are the two key concepts for the new decade of
computing innovation. At the epicenter of this new enabled computing
trend is
cloud computing.
Virtualization
and its highly scaled big brother, cloud computing, will change our
technology-centered lives forever. These technologies will enable us to
do more; more communicating, more learning, more global business and
more computing with less — less money, less hardware, less data loss and
less hassle. During this decade, everything you do in the way of
technology will move to the data center, whether it's an on-premises
data center or a remote cloud architecture data center thousands of
miles away.
1. Mobile Computing
Ten trends for the next 10 years. An era of agile computing is upon us.
Keep an eye on these 10 server-oriented technology trends.
As more workers report to their virtual offices from remote locations, computer manufacturers must supply this new breed of
on-the-go
worker with sturdier products loaded with the ability to connect to,
and use, any available type of Internet connectivity. Mobile users look
for lightweight, durable, easy-to-use devices that "just work," with no
lengthy or complex configuration and setup. This agility will come from
these smart devices' ability to pull data from cloud-based applications.
Your applications, your data and even your computing environment
(formerly known as the operating system) will live comfortably in the
cloud to allow for maximum mobility.
2. Virtualization
By the end of this decade, virtualization technology will touch every
data center in the world. Companies of all sizes will either convert
their physical infrastructures to virtual hosts and guests or they'll
move to an entirely hosted virtual infrastructure. As more business
owners attempt to extend their technology refresh cycle,
virtualization's seductive money-saving promise brings new hope to
stressed budgets as we collectively pull out of the recession. The
global move to virtualization will also put pressure on computer
manufacturers to deliver greener hardware for less green.
3. Cloud Computing
Cloud computing, closely tied to virtualization and mobile computing,
is the technology that industry observers view as "marketing hype" or
old technology repackaged for contemporary consumption. Beyond the hype
and relabeling, savvy technology companies will leverage cloud computing
to present their products and services to a global audience at a
fraction of the cost of current offerings. Cloud computing also protects
online ventures with an "always on" philosophy, guaranteeing their
services will never suffer an outage. Entire business infrastructures
will migrate to the cloud during this new decade, making every company a
globally accessible one.
4. Web-based Applications
Heavy, locally installed applications will cease to exist by the end
of the decade. This move will occur ahead of the move to virtual
desktops. The future of client/server computing is server-based
applications
and client. Everything, including the client
software, will remain on a remote server. Your client device (e.g., cell
phone, computer, ebook reader) will call applications to itself much
like the X Terminals of yesteryear.
5. Libraries
By the end of this decade, printed material will all but disappear in
favor of its digital counterpart. Digitization of printed material will
be the swan song for libraries, as all but the most valuable printed
manuscripts will head to the world's recycling bins. Libraries, as we
know them, will cease operation and likely reopen as book museums where
schoolchildren will see how we used physical books back in the old days.
6. Open Source Migration
Why suffer under the weight of license fees when you can reclaim
those lost dollars with a move to open source software? Companies that
can't afford to throw away money on licensing fees will move to open
source software including Linux, Apache, Tomcat, PostgreSQL and MariaDB.
This decade will prove that the open source model works, and the
proprietary software model does not.
7. Virtual Desktops
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) has everyone's attention these
days and will continue to hold it for the next few years as businesses
move away from local desktop operating systems to virtual ones housed in
data centers. This concept ties into mobile computing, virtualization
and cloud computing. Desktops will likely reside in all three locations
(PC, data center, cloud) for a few more years, but the transition will
approach 100 percent non-local by the end of the decade. Moving away
from localized desktop computing will result in lowering maintenance
bills and alleviating much of the user error associated with desktop
operating systems.
8. Internet Everywhere
You've heard of the Internet haven't you? Do you remember when it was
known as The Information Superhighway and all of the discussions and
predictions about how it would change our lives forever? The future is
here and the predictions came true. The next step in the evolution of
the Internet is to have it available everywhere: supermarket, service
station, restaurant, bar, mall and automobile. Internet access will
exist everywhere by the end of this new decade. Every piece of
electronic gadgetry (yes, even your toaster) will have some sort of
Internet connectivity due in part to the move to IPv6.
9. Online Storage
Currently, online storage is still a geek thing with limited appeal.
So many of us have portable USB hard drives, flash drives and DVD
burners that online storage is more of a luxury than a necessity.
However, the approaching mobile computing tsunami will require you to
have access to your data on any device with which you're working. Even
the most portable storage device will prove unwieldy for the user who
needs her data without fumbling with an external hard drive and USB
cable. Much like cell phones and monthly minutes plans, new devices will
come bundled with an allotment of online storage space.
10. Telephony
As dependence on cell phones increases, manufacturers will create new
phones that will make the iPod look like a stone tool. They won't
resemble current phones in appearance or function. You'll have one
device that replaces your phone, your computer, your GPS and your ebook
reader. Yet another paradigm shift brought about by the magic of cloud
computing. Telephony, as we know it, will fall away into the cloud as
Communication as a Service (CaaS). Moving communications to the data
center with services such as Skype and other VoIP is a current reality,
and large-scale migrations will soon follow.
