Once again the New Media Consortium and EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative consider key emerging technologies in their annual Horizon Report.
Predictions include the increasing use of mobile broadband. The report estimates that over the next two to three years :
“Mobile broadband, fully-featured internet, touch screen interfaces, remotely upgradable software, and high-quality displays will become as common as cameras are today”.
Also highlighted is the emergence of innovative data mash-ups which
“Help us reach new conclusions or discern new relationships by uniting large amounts of data in a manageable way”
On the further horizon (four to five years) are developments in collective intellenge and social operating systems which will further harness the power of the crowd:
“The first social
operating system tools, only just emerging now, understand who we know, how we know them, and how deep
our relationships actually are.”
This report also contains a look back at the last 5 years and reflects on how accurate their predictions have been. Seven metatrends are identified:
“These seven metatrends include the evolving
approaches to communication between humans
and machines; the collective sharing and generation
of knowledge; computing in three dimensions;
connecting people via the network; games as
pedagogical platforms; the shifting of content
production to users; and the evolution of a ubiquitous
platform.”
I’ve also noticed a massive boom in the use of commercial mobile broadband on mobile broadband genie. The development of technologies such as femtocells are likely to aid the uptake of mobile internet, and the public are definately becomming more savvy with mobile devices
Just look at the iPhone, BlackBerry Storm or any of HTC’s devices. All connected to the web with 3G mobile broadband.
I reckon mobile broadband is the future – in Spain they’ve been testing with 330mbps mobile broadband, and the Swedes are deploying a 4G network currently.
The speed of mobile broadband is developing faster compared to normal landline broadband… perhaps we will all be using mobile broadband in the future; even at home.
Whilst the use of mobile broadband is going to increase, I disagree that it could be used in place of home broadband in the future. There are issues such as overall capacity to solve first.
Whilst there’s no doubting its popularity (we have seen a big rise in mobile broadband related searches), I don’t see it as a replacement for fixed-line. It is however fantastic addition for users wanting wireless and hassle-free broadband access. For those on the move, it is great especially when your staying in hotels that charge a fortune for internet access!