That level of fascination with the information and communication technology subsided after the crash of 2000, becoming something of a background noise as other, more pressing issues captured the social psyche.<\/p>\n
Now in 2009 and 2010, that has changed completely: consumer technology is more accessible, more powerful, more enticing than ever before. And it is the consumer who is driving the move to ubiquitous computing, where easy to use, awe-inspiringly powerful devices are delivering services and capabilities that quite simply, make life easier and richer.<\/p>\n
Consumers are set to be spoilt for choice, with an increasingly dazzling array of devices available to meet their needs, including hybrid devices that provide a combination of the best of netbooks with the best of tablets.<\/p>\n
And the capabilities of such devices continue to advance; perceptual computing will add to the ability of devices to introduce a level of intelligence to augment user experiences.<\/p>\n
The notion of Smart TV, which gained no traction when introduced in South Africa in the mid-2000s, is expected to make a strong comeback, with digital set-top box and other consumer electronics companies expected to enter the Smart TV market.<\/p>\n
Unsurprisingly, mobility and connectivity will be key for consumers in 2011; devices offering the full internet experience will be highly sought after. While consumer spending is expected to be cautious, the range of devices and capabilities are expected to exert considerable appeal, drawing buyers to trusted brands.<\/p>\n
More than ever, the consumer has a voice and currency in the corporation. In the year ahead, consumerisation of IT will continue as individuals bring personal devices into the workplace and use them for work. Tablets, smartphones and netbooks will increasingly find a place on their desks next to company-issued equipment. That will drive a blurring of consumer and enterprise devices as employees seek to use personal solutions for work productivity.<\/p>\n
Of course, with the consumer thrust, there are implications for business; virtualisation, anti-theft technology, remote management and security will be needed to support these devices as they move from home to work.<\/p>\n
Behind it all is processing power, which, for decades now, has continued to advance at an awe-inspiring pace, causing the inevitable questioning of the continued validity of the famous Moore’s Law which states that the number of transistors which can be placed on an integrated circuit doubles every two years.<\/p>\n
As 2011 approaches, Moore’s Law continues to hold: new innovations and manufacturing techniques which will enable billions of new devices with higher performance, more features and reduced power consumption will be introduced.<\/p>\n
Manufacturing processes are moving from 45 nanometres to 32 nanometres and right down to 22 nanometres. The smaller the process, the more transistors that can fit on an integrated circuit and the greater the resultant processing power.<\/p>\n
What’s more, as the devices powered by these processors become increasingly capable and easy to use, and as the cloud continues to advance, the consumer revolution will continue. Exciting new experiences await in 2011 and beyond, in which everything you want your technology to do just works.<\/p>\n