Golden Years of IT

Past, Present and Future

Altaf Rehmani

altafr@redbytes.in

Major turning Points in Tech1936 – Alan turing’s Turing machine1960s-70s – Mainframe and Mini computers1969 – Seeds of Networking and evolution of Internet begins1971 – Advent of Microprocessor Technology1980 – Internet Technology (no consumers)1984 – 1991: GNU , linux open sourced1984 – Macintosh and GUI1993 –Windows , First Web browser released1995 –Search, Visual Basic, Java2000 – Broadband reaching consumers, seeds of Ajax. 2001-2003: ipod and iTunes

2004 – Facebook formed, Flickr launched, web 2.0 term used. 2005 – Blogging gets noted. Youtube started. Seeds of social media2006 – Facebook opened for everyone with email, twitter launched. 2009 – Year of Social network2010 – Mobile Internet

Technology Trends

Web 2.0• xml + Javascript lead the technology front • Participative web• Engagement , community, user generated

content• Rich User experience via fast , in place refreshes• Blogs, wiki, tweets, sharing, liking• Rich content is the king. People pay for content. • People pay for premium content• More ways to access information

Social Media

• Connecting and sharing with friends

• Connecting to a network

• Search getting tagged by humans

• Sharing Photos, videos and thoughts

• Consuming user generated content via multiple channels

• Liking , recommending and spreading through networks virally

Social Media

Cloud computing

2006 – Amazon web services

2007 – Google , IBM started research projects on cc

2008 – Gartner sees opportunity for cloud computing for enterprises

2010 – Microsoft bets big on cloud computing

Cloud computing

Mobile Internet (Devices)

Always ON Access, Super fast boot time, Near Zero Latency, Day long battery Life

Mobile Internet (Devices)

Mobile Internet (smart apps)When consumers are empowered by internet usage can change quicklyMobile is about data, no longer voice

Mobile user in india for eg: growing at a unprecedented pace – 650 million by 2010 and slated to reach almost a billion by 2013.

Cheaper data rates + more value added services + smart apps + prices of phones coming down

Mobile Internet (smart apps)Zip car (car rentals using geo location services)Shop Savvy ( get the best price using web and local stores, price alerts)

Gilt offers invitation only deep discount salesImmediate gratification of digital content deliverySMS based apps in India – multi billion $ industry

Mobile notificationsMobile coupons

Mobile Internet• by revenue

•

What Mobile apps next ?

Smart Computing• Machine-machine networking tech.

• Smart homes - mobile apps for monitoring and internet for keeping owners in the loop

• Smart traffic - Data analysis to avoid congestion and study patterns

• Search becomes more relevant, capable and intelligent as more structure and meta data comes to data online.

Business Intelligence

• Lots of Data everywhere

• Web, more and more programmable

• Machines, objects, web self- describing

• How do you make sense of data?

• Tools, techniques, companies ?

Possible Future trends

• More Advertising moving Online gradually

• Personalization will be big and relevant

• Areas of your interest finding you

• TV apps coming soon near you

• Augmented reality applications mainstream

• Gaming, multiplayer, social and enterprise

• Virtual reality and Learning through Gaming

• Wearable Tech

Newer business models• Virtual goods

• Desktop internet: ads + ecommerce

• Mobile internet: SMS, premium content (wallpapers, ringtones, games, apps etc)

• Mobile payments

• Why paying? Ease of use+small price tags + reduced piracy+storefronts + personalisation

• Transaction based , via various devices

• Aggregate and structure info in one place

Challenges

• Hackers, stolen identities, Cyberwars

• Financial information theft

• Reputational damage

• Privacy and legal issues

• Piracy

• Surveillance issues

• Are you really in control ?

Did you know?

What does this mean to you?- (my Point of view)

• Change is the only constant. Embrace it.• Exciting possibilities, Lots of options, Exponential growth

• Easier to reach an audience. Challenge to connect with it. • New devices, concepts , technologies level the playing field• Shorter Product lifecycles, centralized marketplaces.

• Be an excellent Problem solver, able to think creatively• Be detailed, yet understand the big picture

Career strategies• Capability building (40 yr career span)• Work on your value system• Be a Team player• Think Positive. Think Success.

• Excel in Articulating. Writing. Story telling. Persuasive story telling. • Choose the mix of networks to keep you balanced, grounded and

motivated.

• There is nothing called Failure, but Education for your next success• Life is what you make it. Not always Fair.• Manage , deal with system , pressure and family

Suggested Action points • Write down your goals. Dream big. • List down your strengths and weaknesses• Build relationships. Work on your network . Review. Take Action.• Take risks early if unsure of your calling

• Settle for one expertise, but be a generalist. • Learn. Unlearn. Repeat• Practice simplifying for others.• Network. Network. Network.

• Soft skills training• Start a blog• Work on a open source project. Give back to community• Join a social cause and do voluntary work

Summary

Golden Years of IT are yet to come.

How will you shine to make a difference?

info@redbytes.in

Credits

Mary Meeker Internet Trends 2010

Wikipedia, RWweb, GigaOM, salesforce

My friends, colleagues @ redbytes

Got an Idea? info@redbytes.in