IT Support

Future Trends in IT

Computers now impact on our lives more than they ever have before. Almost a quarter of the UK’s mobile users now have smartphones and other mobile devices, such as the iPad, have seen a huge surge in sales with future trends due to increase.

The growth of 3G networks and wi-fi hotspots has also opened up access to the internet that didn’t previously exist.

People are now pulling out their mobiles to do a spot of e-shopping while commuting to work and downloading e-books to read while on the train.

Globally over 200 million have taken advantage of these technologies to check out a friend’s status on Facebook, using a mobile app.

Consumers have also been seduced by the iPad’s, and other tablets’, intuitive use and ability to instantly boot-up. Its unobtrusive presence in the boardroom has also made it a useful tool for business.

Accountancy firm Deloitte has even gone as far as to predict sales of these mobile computers will outstrip traditional PCs in 2011.  The benefit of mobile computing has caused some commentators to get carried away and predict the death of the PC.

However, most analysts envisage tablets and smartphones complementing rather than replacing the traditional computer.

Deloitte is actually predicting the sales of desktops, laptops and netbooks will go up 15 per cent this year.

Google may also have a big part to say in the future of computing debate, as it launches the Chromebook in June.

Developed by both Acer and Samsung, the Chromebook is built around the idea of instant connectivity to the web – it will also be able to boot-up in eight seconds.

Unlike traditional laptops which get slower as more applications are uploaded, the Chromebooks is designed to get faster as applications will be constantly updated over the internet.

Key to the future of all these new computing devices however, is access to the worldwide web.

Thankfully connectivity is getting faster.  We have been promised the roll out of 4G mobile networks over the next couple of years which, we are told, will give mobiles superfast broadband speeds.

The increasing availability of wi-fi internet hotspots is however, already filling that role in the short term regardless.

BT and the government have also pledged to deliver all UK’s domestic households superfast broadband by 2015. Homes receiving fibre optic to their premises – roughly a quarter of those in accessible areas – will get download speeds of up to 100mb.

This infrastructure could pave the way for internet TV and even the merger of televisions and computers.

It is now realistic to suggest that could be five or six computers in the typical home within the next few years.

The next step for computing could now be the replacement of the wallet and purse with the smartphone.

Near Field Communication (NFC) has already given mobiles the ability to buy products in a similar way that swipe credit cards currently work. It is yet to be seen if this will be made widely available.

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