5 big technology trends for 2013

1. Mobile Devices

Mobile phones will overtake PCs as the most common device for Web access worldwide.

Some IT departments need only support mobile devices for specific professional whose duties require mobility. The others remain in traditional computers. But the rise of mobile devices signals the end of Windows as a unique corporate platform.

“By 2015, shipments of tablets will reach around 50% of laptop shipments and Windows will probably be third on the preference of the people behind Android and iOS from Apple,” says David Cearley, a Gartner analyst. “As a result, participation in the Microsoft client platform (PC, tablet, smartphone) will probably be reduced to 60% and may fall to 50%.”

2. Personal cloud replaces the notion of personal computer

The cloud will house all aspects of a person’s life. For being a model as large and able to marshal infinite resources “any platform, technology or vendor will dominate it,” indicates the research institute. This also means that IT has to support almost everything.

3. Cloud computing

As cloud adoption grows, IT departments will have to create “cloud services” to serve as a focal point to manage access to external services.

4. Big Data strategy

Big Data projects are becoming more economical for businesses, thanks in part to the servers and low cost CPUs. Big Data strategies, Gartner analyst believes, will cause users to no longer run isolated projects. Companies will incorporate the analysis of massive data in more activities they perform.

5. Computing memory (in-memory)

In-memory computing, says Gartner analyst, can be transformational. It allows activities that consume hours to be performed in minutes or seconds. The in-memory computing will become a dominant platform in the next year or two, as more and more users search queries in real time.