The Future Direction of IT 2020 vision

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The Future Direction of IT (2020 vision?)

• by
• Peter Flory

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Today
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Tomorrow
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Coming soon to a PC near you

• Object orientation and components- data and
  functions combined, reusable objects now
  mainstream!
• Neural networks- interconnected artificial
  neurons (computers/programs)
• Artificial intelligence- Yes, some computers can
  actually learn
• Genetic programs- survival of the fittest
  applied to computer programs
• Quantum computing- superposition and
  entanglement, not just on and off
• Biological computing- enzymes and DNA instead of
  silicon chips
• Nanotechnology- entire devices smaller than a
  pinhead
• Are you ready for a brave new world?

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Some predictions of 10 years ago

• By 2010 I anticipate chips implanted in our
  skin. I wont have to carry keys for my car or
  houseDr Peter Cochrane, Chief Technologist, BT
• By 2040 well have created machines as conscious
  as humansProfessor Igor Alexander, Imperial
  College London
• By 2050 human beings will be relegated to a role
  similar to that of the domestic catparaphrased
  from Professor Kevin Warwick, Reading University

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Some who got it wrong!

• Computers in the future may weigh no more than
  1.5 tonsPopular Mechanics magazine, 1949
• I think theres a world market for about 5
  computers Tom Watson, chairman of IBM, 1952
• There is no reason for any individual to have a
  computer in his home Ken Olson, president of
  DEC, 1977
• 640K ought to be enough for anybodyBill Gates,
  1981
• We dont see Windows as a long-term graphical
  interface for the massesLotus development
  official, 1989
• The Internet will collapse in 1996 Bob
  Metcalfe, the inventor of Ethernet, 1995

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SO . now lets get real and come back to the
present!

• Everything we will discuss is being done by
  someone in the NfP sector
• Are you doing it all?

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What we will cover

• Technology
• Green IT
• CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
• Outsourcing
• Systems Integration
• The web
• Clever stuff
• Summary

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Technology
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Technology

• Everything is getting smaller
• Virtualisation
• Communications are getting faster (and easier)
• Broadband, wireless networks and VOIP are
  commonplace
• Video conferencing and webinars
• Mobile devices, SMS and MMS
• Which means
• You can work from anywhere. Why go into the
  office?
• You can save time and money
• You can communicate with supporters anytime,
  anywhere

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Green IT

• There are far more computers in the world than
  human beings and they are increasing
  exponentially
• The Earths resources are being used up at a
  staggering rate (they will run out!)
• Optimise use of resources
• Minimise use of energy
• The need to recycle
• Which means
• It will save you money
• It will help save the world!

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CRM

• Your best future customers are your current
  customers
• 360 degree view of a customers interactions with
  you
• Relationship management (in both senses)
• Real CRM includes contact management,
  marketing, sales, service, integration plus
  analytics that feed back into marketing(Do any
  of the NfP database suppliers understand that? I
  dont think so!)
• Which means
• More focussed communications
• More effective service
• Better ROI
• Happier customers

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Outsourcing

• Hardware and network support
• SaaS (Software as a Service)
• The latest iteration of outsourcing remember
  computer bureaux and then ASPs (Application
  Service Providers?)
• It is becoming more prevalent
• Even Microsoft are doing it!
• Which means
• You pay for what you need/use
• Less work for you
• Less worry for you
• Cheaper (is it?)
• More secure (is it?)
• Beware the DPA

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Systems Integration

• One all singing all dancing database versus best
  of breed software?
• Integration is easier than ever before
• Microsoft .NET
• SQL Server
• There is a wealth of software out there
• Recent examples texting, table planning
• Which means
• Why re-invent the wheel?
• Easier to get what you want
• Lower costs

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The Web

• People expect to do everything on the web now
• CRM and CMS in one system?
• Websites and databases are merging (are they?)
• The Facebook phenomenon, Twitter, Flickr, etc
• Interactive webinars (are conferences like this
  out of date?)
• And soon the Semantic Web
• Which means
• You have to provide the facilities
• Less work for you people enter their own data
• Easier to spread your message
• Loss of control?

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Clever stuff

• Pareto and RFV
• Analytics and Predictive analytics
• Data warehouses
• Cubes
• Which means
• You know more about your customers
• So you can serve them better
• But it isnt easy!

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Summary (of practical stuff)

• Technology -Moores Law and the connected world
• Why go into the office?
• Green IT
• Make better use of your resources
• CRM Holistic view and relationships
• Serve your customers better
• Outsourcing
• Let someone else do the work
• Systems Integration
• Why re-invent the wheel?
• The web
• The world is getting smaller
• Clever stuff
• A big brother scenario?
• Keep up or die!!

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And by 2020 and beyond?

• Computer augmentation - Everyone will be a cyborg
• Not just a wired world but a wireless world
  with instant access to any information and
  complete and instant connectivity to anyone and
  everyone
• Complete loss of privacy as we all become part of
  a single social organism
• Welcome to world of ants!

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Comments and Questions
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And if you need any helpwho are you going to
call?
Peter Flory Tel [phone] Mobile 07860
451 830 E-mail peter_at_athena.org.uk