Information systems have evolved at a rapid pace ever since their introduction in the 1950s. Today, devices that we can hold in one hand are more powerful than the computers used to land a man on the moon. The Internet has made the entire world accessible to us, allowing us to communicate and collaborate with each other like never before. In this chapter, we will examine current trends and look ahead to what is coming next.
# Global - The first trend to note is the continuing expansion of globalization. The use of the Internet is growing all over the world, and with it the use of digital devices.
# Social - Social media growth is another trend that continues. Facebook now has over one billion users. Besides Facebook, other social media sites are also seeing tremendous growth.
# Personal - Ever since the advent of Web 2.0 and e-commerce, users of information systems have expected to be able to modify their experiences to meet their personal tastes.
# Mobile - Perhaps the most impactful trend in digital technologies in the last decade has been the advent of mobile technologies. Beginning with the simple cell phone in the 1990s and evolving into the smart phones and tablets of today, the growth of mobile has been overwhelming.
# Wearable - Many of computing & mobile functions would be much better served if the technology was worn on, or even physically integrated into, our bodies. This technology is known as a “wearable.”
# Collaborative - As more of us use smartphones and wearables, it will be simpler than ever to share data with each other for mutual benefit. Some of this sharing can be done passively, such as reporting our location in order to update traffic statistics. Other data can be reported actively, such as adding our rating of a restaurant to a review site.
# Printable - One of the most amazing innovations to be developed recently is the 3-D printer. A 3-D printer allows you to print virtually any 3-D object based on a model of that object designed on a computer. 3-D printers work by creating layer upon layer of the model using malleable materials, such as different types of glass, metals, or even wax.
# Autonomous - A final trend that is emerging is an extension of the Internet of Things: autonomous robots and vehicles. By combining software, sensors, and location technologies, devices that can operate themselves to perform specific functions are being developed. These take the form of creations such as medical nanotechnology robots (Nanobots), self-driving cars, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
