- Multicore and hybrid processors
- Virtualisation and fabric computing
- Social networks and social software
- Cloud computing and cloud/Web platforms
- Web mashups
- User Interface
- Ubiquitous computing
- Contextual computing
- Augmented reality
- Semantics
We're already trying to figure out how to deal with some of this stuff. Disruptive? Yes. Scary? Definitely. How does a CIO (or IT manager) deal with, embrace or hold off new technologies?
Virtualization is a great example. In our data centers we face the same problems most I.T. shops do: not enough power or cooling. Answer? Virtualization! We're virtualizing servers with technology built into IBM's AIX platform and also with VMWare.
The plus is that it's easier to get servers stood up, each server is cheaper and the utilization is much higher overall. This saves on both power and cooling which is the original problem. The downside is that servers are so easy to requisition that they proliferate like wildfire. Without strong change management processes it can get crazy. And the management tools for virtualized servers aren't mature enough yet. It's clear we're getting value out of virtualization, but is it worth the challenges it presents? I think so; I wish I were more sure.
Web mashups are another interesting one. Users are hurling their data out from the corporate firewall onto the Internet and using various web mashups to create interesting new apps. It's great for the end-user! But the I.T. professional is having fits with security, code management, etc.
All of these new technologies bring both promise and pain. The job of the CIO and the I.T. professional is to understand them and help our business partners see the potential and recognize the risks.
What a fun time to be in information technology!
