Trends
A trend is a general direction into which something is changing, developing, or
veering toward. The term may also mean a fashion or craze, i.e., a fad. The verb
'to trend' means to develop or change in a general direction.
Technology trend awareness as a skill refers to being mindful of
the technology that is recently becoming popular and is readily accepted in the
market or industry. Ideal technology trend awareness skills would mean a
person's ability to either correspond to the industry-wide technology adoption or
surpass it.
Some Emerging Trends in Information Technology for 2020
AI (artificial intelligence)
Artificial intelligence holds significant potential for businesses. AI is
poised as a tool of choice for businesses and solution providers. As
is often seen with social media, AI, combined with machine
learning, can be a powerful combination. Businesses can use AI to
achieve cost-saving benefits, streamline workflows, enable more
efficient communications, improve customer satisfaction, and
provide insight into purchasing behavior.
Blockchain
the blockchain is an information system that holds promise for
supply chain management, enabling transparency into the origin
and journey of materials from origin to product. Blockchain
technology will also allow for better record management, providing
a snapshot of any record from its origination. This could be used to
verify orders, purchases, returns, receipt of product, you name it.
Drones
Drones are helping to transform certain verticals, giving an edge
over competitors and offering a technologically powered physical
connection between businesses and end users. The remote
capabilities of drones coupled with AI applications are transforming
business in the industrial, public safety, construction, and insurance
sectors, just to name a few.
Edge Computing
Edge computing is a decentralized model which places computing
nodes closer to the source of interaction. Gartner defines edge
computing as a model where “information processing and content
collection and delivery are placed closer to the sources,
repositories and consumers of this information.” This model
optimizes technological interactions and reduces latency at the
point of origin to enable more effective and real-time data
consumption. Edge computing is quickly becoming the most
efficient path for localized interactions.
3D Printing
The ability to customize a product according to personalized
specifications will allow businesses to provide nearly limitless
possibilities. In recent years, providing this kind of customization
required either significant reprogramming or manual intervention.
With 3D printing, personalization is now one more task that can be
automated. 3D printing also enables the use of various materials
that offer cost-saving and environmentally sustainable benefits.
5G
The speeds accomplished with 5G greatly outpace those seen with
previous networks. 5G offers the supporting foundation that
businesses can leverage to embrace emerging technologies. When
unencumbered by latency issues, businesses can provide greater
capabilities and service. Reaching consumer bases via mobile
devices and smartphones will soar to new heights as the IT
infrastructure for 5G expands and becomes more pervasive.
three major new information system trends.
Information system: an integrated set of components for collecting,
storing, and processing data and for providing information, knowledge,
and digital products.
Three activities produce information organizations need
Input: Captures raw data from organization or external environment
Processing: Converts raw data into meaningful form
Output: Transfers processed information to people or activities that
use it.
Some New Technology trends for 2021
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has already received a lot of buzz in the
past decade, but it continues to be one of the new technology
trends because of its notable effects on how we live, work and play
are only in the early stages. AI is already known for its superiority in
image and speech recognition, navigation apps, smartphone
personal assistants, ride-sharing apps and so much more.
Machine Learning the subset of AI, is also being deployed in all
kinds of industries, creating a huge demand for skilled
professionals. Forrester predicts AI, machine learning, and
automation will create 9 percent of new U.S. jobs by 2025, jobs
including robot monitoring professionals, data scientists,
automation specialists, and content curators.
Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
Like AI and Machine Learning, Robotic Process Automation, or
RPA, is another technology that is automating jobs. RPA is the use
of software to automate business processes such as interpreting
applications, processing transactions, dealing with data, and even
replying to emails. RPA automates repetitive tasks that people used
to do.
Although Forrester Research estimates RPA automation will
threaten the livelihood of 230 million or more knowledge workers, or
approximately 9 percent of the global workforce, RPA is also
creating new jobs while altering existing jobs. McKinsey finds
that less than 5 percent of occupations can be totally automated,
but about 60 percent can be partially automated.
Cyber Security
Cyber security might not seem like an emerging technology, given
that it has been around for a while, but it is evolving just as other
technologies are. That’s in part because threats are constantly new.
The malevolent hackers who are trying to illegally access data are
not going to give up any time soon, and they will continue to find
ways to get through even the toughest security measures. It’s also
in part because new technology is being adapted to enhance
security. As long as we have hackers, cybersecurity will remain a
trending technology because it will constantly evolve to defend
against those hackers.
Internet of Things (IoT)
Another promising new technology trend is IoT. Many “things” are
now being built with WiFi connectivity, meaning they can be
connected to the Internet—and to each other. Hence, the Internet
of Things, or IoT. The Internet of Things is the future, and has
already enabled devices, home appliances, cars and much more to
be connected to and exchange data over the Internet.
As consumers, we’re already using and benefitting from IoT. We
can lock our doors remotely if we forget to when we leave for work
and preheat our ovens on our way home from work, all while
tracking our fitness on our Fitbits. However, businesses also have
much to gain now and in the near future. The IoT can enable better
safety, efficiency and decision making for businesses as data is
collected and analyzed. It can enable predictive maintenance,
speed up medical care, improve customer service, and offer
benefits we haven’t even imagined yet.
Issues and Challenges
IT Issues: These are minor disruptions to everyday operations that may or may not have
significant consequences. These types of issues might not seem like they are
immediately affecting your business, but they can (and probably will) if they are ignored
long enough.
Some of the Biggest issues IT faces today
New Security treat
The security threats facing IT managers are numerous and
include hackers using AI to try to crash websites and intranets,
ransomware that can cripple company devices, and fraudsters
who seek to access accounts and steal identities. Other dangers
include unauthorized downloads of shadow IT from the cloud,
and disgruntled users who want to damage systems or obtain
sensitive corporate information. Implementing fool-proof systems
to ensure that users comply and that systems are monitored and
secure is an ongoing challenge.
Data Protection
Data protection is the process of safeguarding important
information from corruption, compromise or loss. The importance
of data protection increases as the amount of data created and
stored continues to grow at unprecedented rates
Skills Gap
A skills gap is the difference between skills that employers want
or need, and skills their workforce offer. Conducting a skills
gap analysis helps you identify skills you need to meet your
business goals. It can also inform your employee development and
hiring programs.
Multi-cloud Security
Multi-cloud security is a comprehensive cloud security solution
that protects and prevents enterprise and customer data, assets
and applications from advanced security threats and cyberattacks
across multiple cloud infrastructures and environments.
Lack of Agility
IT agility, then, is a measurement of how efficiently the IT
infrastructure of an organization can respond to external stimuli.
This can mean how effectively it embraces the pressure to change
or how successfully it creates a new opportunity.
lacked of agility in meeting changing consumer demands at most
were mostly challenging and complex in terms of deployment and
administration, while remaining un-adapted to meet changing
needs of corporate end-users and executives
Outsourcing Risk
the most common and serious risks associated
with outsourcing are those that affect operations and transactions,
the confidentiality of information, business continuity, and
regulatory compliance, according to Hoogmoed.
Outsourcing Risk is the risk that engaging a third party, or
another Group entity (intra-group outsourcing), to provide IT
systems or related services adversely impacts the institution's
performance and risk management.
Some issues that the consumer face.
I’m unable to log in
I’ve got the dreaded blue screen of death!
I deleted some important files!
I just closed my document without saving
My computer is running too slowly!
My computer just shut down unexpectedly!
I can’t print anything!
My internet is really slow!
I keep losing access to the wireless network!
My computer does not recognize my USB device!
Privacy
Data privacy, also called information privacy, is the aspect of information
technology (IT) that deals with the ability an organization or individual has to
determine what data in a computer system can be shared with third parties.
Internet privacy refers to the vast range of technologies, protocols and concepts
related to giving individual users or other parties more privacy protections in their
use of the global Internet.
Internet privacy takes many forms, including mandatory privacy statements on
websites, data sharing controls, data transparency initiatives and more.
Internet privacy and anonymity are paramount to users, especially as e-
commerce continues to gain traction. Privacy violations and threat risks are
standard considerations for any website under development
People are currently more prone to privacy invasion due to the development of
the internet. Once an individual post something on the web, it stays on the web.
Pictures, phone numbers, social security numbers, emails, work information,
anything needed for fraud can be found on the web or through a company.
Human beings value their privacy and the protection of their personal sphere of
life. But recent advances in information technology threaten privacy and have
reduced the amount of control over personal data and open up the possibility of a
range of negative consequences as a result of access to personal data.
The Internet changed how privacy is handled because of mass exposure.
The Internet opened up communication channels that we had never used before
and transferred information at speed, across multitude of outlets. There was no
layer built into the Internet for security or personal identity.
Some Biggest threat to Privacy in 2020
Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks are when someone contacts you via email, text
message, or social media in an attempt to extract sensitive
information from you. These messages may appear to come from
someone you know or a business that you’re familiar with, but this is
a tactic that these hackers use.
Cybercrime Syndicate
Organized crime, is no longer in the hands of mobsters and drug
lords. Cybercrime syndicates, groups of hackers, are now big-time
threats. Russian involvement in the 2016 U.S. presidential election
is one example of the influence that hackers can have on major
world processes.
Facial Recognition
Facial recognition technology is making its way into our lives in
more and more places all the time.
Kashmir Hill recently wrote a story for The New York Times about
Clearview AI, which runs a facial recognition app. Clearview has
collected a large database of more than three billion images from
places like Facebook and YouTube and uses that information to
identify people in other images. The company has begun selling its
technology to law enforcement agencies around the United States.
