Tech Predictions for 2012

As we enter a new year it’s easy to look back and wonder about what we could have done better or differently, but it is a lot more fun to guess about what is coming in the year to come. The following are some predictions about the computer industry and how it will affect businesses in the next year. Please read this with the same attitude of fun I am using to write it.

Don’t Ask Google (or Jeeves) Ask Your Friends

Social networks will come up with better ways for us to ask our friends and followers for advice. With so many people using social tools we will get answers back almost as quickly as Google can sever them up (faster than the blink of an eye) and they will be more valuable because they come from our friends. Social search is also going to drastically change the face of SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

This same force will add to social shopping. More and more you will find that you can buy anything right from a social network. BTW, Amazon is a social network and will add to that status in 2012.

Facebook Needs Google

Competition is good and healthy and both Facebook and Google need each other. Both companies and some of the other social media players will drive the others to innovate. There are good things and bad things about both platforms and with each trying to beat the other one we will get a better overall product, or just one that changes a lot.

All of these changes will impact the way businesses use social media. It is vital that businesses keep up with changing technologies but you have to have a plan. Unless you can afford a full time social media person or an onsite social media guru (we can offer this service for less than you think).

2012 Campaign Season Will Change Social Media

Starting with the Dean campaign social media has been significantly impacted by presidential campaigns. This year we will see more social giving not only from Presidential campaigns but for other offices. We will see new tools developed as part of the campaigns and those that work will be employed by other organizations changing the face of the social Internet.

Get Your Head (Data) in the Cloud

More data will go to the cloud and more software will be available as a service in the cloud. Google is going to make Google Apps dramatically better in response to Office 365. With more use of the cloud data will be easier to get to and we will become less reliant on needing to carry around a computer with us.

All You Need is Mobile

For most applications all you will need is your phone. This is 2012/2013 prediction but with new micro projectors and ports that will allow us to connect our phones to other computers we will find that we only need to carry our phone and connect to something else. Watch for business oriented hotels to have phone docking stations by Q4 2012.

Government

The United States Government and other governments around the world will continue to assault the open architecture of the Internet. As governments look to prevent and defend against cyber terrorism/war they will seek control of the Internet’s infrastructure. Legislation that demands security is one thing, legislation that puts the control of the Internet into the hands of the government is another and you will hear from me often as we need to lobby vigorously against government control of the Internet.

The other side of that coin is that ISPs like Century Link and Comcast that control the access to the Internet must be required to exhibit neutrality. These companies will continue to try and force users to use their tools (phone service rather than Skype) and the FCC will need to look out for consumers in order to insure the open use of the Internet. Net Neutrality will be big in 2012.

Ending....

The truth is we don’t know what will happen in 2012 and with theories of Armageddon abound who knows if we will even make it out of 2012 alive.

What we do know is that like every other year there will be ups and there will be downs. Businesses need to evaluate the right time to enter markets and how to get the most done with the least IT costs. Stay tuned as we try and share the information to help you do that.