A recent report by Gartner Research has revealed 7 currently overlooked technologies that may see the light of day in the next five years.
“Only successful organizations prepare to confront the breakthroughs that leave a lasting impact, and so we must keep asking what if, to remain open to the possibilities that these breakthroughs may provide,” said David Yockelson, Vice President of Research at Gartner
CIOs should take the time to consider all possible “what-if” scenarios to avoid any shocks arising from social, behavioral, or technological breakthroughs,” Yockelson added.
Yockelson highlighted seven key disruptions that technology executives should consider in the next five years:
1. Metaverse Work Experiences
Gartner defines a metaverse as “the next level of interaction in the virtual and physical worlds.”
Today, organizations are harnessing metaverse technologies to provide better engagement, collaboration, and connection to their employees through better immersive workspaces in virtual offices and the use of internal metaverse experiences called intraverses.
Gartner predicts that fully virtual workspaces will account for 30% of the investment growth in metaverse technologies and will reimagine the office experience through 2027.
2. Flying cars
Flying autonomous vehicles, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are for carrying passengers, primarily over short distances in urban areas.
These include self-operating aircraft that are sometimes referred to as “flying cars” or passenger drones and are designed to operate without a human pilot. Several companies are working on new aircraft piloted by artificial intelligence and designed to create a faster, less expensive, safer, and lower carbon way to execute air travel, primarily in congested areas. The first flying taxi service is scheduled to launch in 2024.
Notwithstanding potential regulatory challenges, CIOs should assess what problems in transportation — moving people and cargo — might be solved by using these vehicles.
3. The Digital Human Economy
From medical care, customer service, and virtual influencers to HR training, the possible uses for digital humans are endless.
A digital human economy provides the opportunity for a new digital ecosystem, underpinned by technology that brings individuals and organizations together to innovate and interact in new ways.
Gartner predicts that by 2035, the digital human economy will become a $125-billion market and continue to grow.
4. The Decentralized Autonomous Organization
Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) represent a new type of organization model emerging in the IT services marketplace. Gartner defines a DAO as a digital entity, running on a blockchain, which can engage in business interactions with other DAOs, digital and human agents, and corporations, without conventional human management.
5. Wireless Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging
As it becomes available, wireless charging will make the most sense for fleet vehicles such as buses and taxis.
These vehicles can make effective use of dynamic charging to extend range, and reduce costs.
Therefore, residential installations will be the biggest market for wireless vehicle charging, as EV owners enjoy the modest convenience of not having to plug a cable in.
However, looking out beyond that time, Gartner expects that private housing estates and campus sites will overtake in-home installations by volume.
6. Graphene Replaces Silicon
During the next seven to 10 years, there is a huge potential for carbon-based field-effect transistors (FETs) to replace silicon in traditional transistors when they reach their minimum size limits.
One example is graphene, a one-atom-thick material of pure carbon, bonded together in a hexagonal honeycomb lattice.
Graphene could displace current silicon devices, especially for wireless communications, where these carbon-based FETs can carry a much higher current in a small area, enabling super quick processing.
7. Tech Becomes Disposable
What if the technology industry starts to mirror the fashion industry, with “throwaway” applications designed to be made, used, and disposed of quickly? While elements of business composability are already widely practiced, there are opportunities for CIOs to take it to the next level and prepare for the flexibility of disposable technology.
References: Gartner Research press release
