Emerging Technology Trends
Filed under: consumer, gadgets and gizmos, innovation, lifestyle, networks, technology
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) – held at the beginning of each year in Las Vegas – is not just about gadgets. It’s also about what technological trends are hot today – and how those trends might change the way we live and work tomorrow.
I visited the Show in January and based on this firsthand experience thought I’d share my top 10 tech trends for 2011 and beyond.
- Tablets. The iPad and the T-Touch Tab are not alone. There were 96 new tablet announcements at CES, with features such as integration into home networking and multimedia services. There were even tablets where you could write on the screen using a special pen.
- Connected home. Smart and connected TVs were the most talked about trend at CES – making your TV a networked hub for your home.
- Smartphones. The focus has moved to lower power consumption and increased battery life, as well as thinner devices and tougher front glass.
- User interfaces. Gesture and speech recognition have taken off in a big way, both for use with gaming services such as Xbox and for use in automobiles.
- LTE handsets. We all know how advanced the Next G wireless network is. The next generation of wireless networks is LTE, and I saw the first handset that has been designed to operate on an LTE network.
- 3D for the home is becoming a reality. There were 3D televisions, 3D mobile handsets, 3D projection displays and cameras and camcorders that could record in 3D. Importantly, there was also collaboration on creating 3D content and 3D libraries.
- Android operating systems. For Android users, there are some exciting developments with new operating systems for tablets called Gingerbread and Honeycomb and a new operating system for both tablets and smartphones called Ice Cream.
- Automotive technologies. New products and services are being developed to keep us connected in our cars – including infotainment services and driver assistance.
- Mobile video conferencing. Smartphones and tablets are now coming out with forward-facing cameras, allowing users to use their handheld devices for video conferencing at home, at work and on the road.
- “4G” mobile network. In Vegas, some international mobile carriers were starting to refer to their wireless networks as 4G, due to increased speed.
What do these trends tell us?
Undoubtedly, there are exciting times ahead. Next generation technologies are changing the ways in which we communicate, as well as how we live and work.
What struck me most is how much the future belongs to the customer, and how everything – from tablets to 3D TV to mobile video conferencing to the connected home – comes back to networks.
To deliver, next generation technologies need the reliability, security and scalability that only next generation networks can provide.
Customer demand and expectations are escalating rapidly – and those data demands and service expectations have to be met.
I’d be interested to hear your views.
David.
When are you planning to sell Telstra’s mobile business?
Just hurry up and launch the Atrix, PLEASE
i imported an android based 16gb Archos 101 tablet a couple of months ago and love it.
I can’t live without my archos and iphone.
3d tv will have to wait and offer more to entice me.
ultimately, gadget crazies like me are looking for security and scalability. we dont want to keep ugprading our hardware so the first tablet that
looking forward to a true “4g” network.
I think that wireless devices using the Next G network gives us a very exciting future. I recently bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab and to be able to have fast and reliable internet access on the go, on a screen that is big enough to read properly is something that is going to become a “must have”.
I use mine for things that I previously wouldn’t have even dreamed of.
David, having experienced CES for the second time, I agree with your observations. The most lasting impression I have from the show is that with a robust network, a customer never needs to be alone. Integration of the home, integration of the car, integration of the handset, and integration of the gaming console and television – the dreams of technologists are being delivered now.
The advances made in just a few years have set a high standard for the next wave.
Our delivery of this vision is key.
We can have the fastest network in the world forever and a day, but if our products aren’t of the highest industrial design and user interface (eg iphone) it is all wasted. Don’t just design these new products for the network, design them for the user.
In vehicle telematics (trend
holds the potential to increase the number of mobile data users by 10M- with appropriate wireless connectivity now being introduced into the vehicle, there is an exciting opportunity for Telstra to developed relationships with vehicle manufacturers to deliver compelling customer centric content and ensure creation of “win win” business models.
More proof how behind in the technology times Telstra (and their directors) are…There’s a 4G wireless network in Australia yet no mention? This was launched early last year. Nice to know that “Australia’s number 1″ telecommunications provider knows nothing about this.
I agree the first 5 areas look big for customers. My kids say 3D (point 6) is way over-rated. They prefer HD 2D. Mobile video conferencing (point 9) has limited appeal to customers based on next G handset experience. Current legislation to ban all mobile use in cars will impact what a customer wants in the mobile space. Thanks for sharing.
You talk about reliability yet in the real world Telstra certainly aren’t delivering this in the mobility arena.
I have a lot of your USB “ultimate” devices and the service is not reliable or consistent.
To sell it as better than Optus and other competitors is no longer good enough!
I wonder if the customer expectations that are “escalating rapidly”, will continue to include the “Dependable Usability” we have been growing used to (eg; iPhone). I imagine if the new device frenzy continues we will start to see the bugs that plagued us return due to the short development cycles.
David, are there any plans to increase the 100m/bit cable extreme foot print further than Melbourne? Also, Do you plan to increase the line sync speeds of your road side cabnets above ADSL1 speed after the back haul upgrade project has been completed?
Just read ur article
You were asking what do we think and our thoughts,here it is.
I do have few questions would like to ask.
After CES,all those announcement of new devices and the deployment
of “4g” networks in US, Why is it Telstra still won’t name it’s network a
HSPA+ network,everybody knows whats the network is already capable of.
Whats big T’s next step? Just want to wait and announce to be the 1st
4g LTE Networks in Australia?
We are so device hungry,especially after the CES,yes,when are we
getting the moto atrix? We should eh? Same 3G band as At&t,should be
pretty convenient,yeah? And Please,please we need some high end
devices, theres only 1 hspa+ compatible devices in aus market
currently and it is still exclusive to Vodafone? What a shame and waste, The
thing is what can we do, If say I want a new high end android device for
tomorrow. i have to go and buy my own HTC inspire online ?
Pls keep let us know.
Customer demand and expectations are escalating rapidly – and those data demands and service expectations have to be met.
I’d be interested to hear your views.
David.
Hi David,whilst I share whole heartily with your excitement with regards to communication and directions,and recognize how essential technology and the information highway impacts us all, I have yet to hear from you, as are your many wireless customers, with their children relying on your leadership to meet their basic needs, studies and research etc, hearing from you as to why nothing yet has been done to provide a half decent data allowance for the money they pay, currently a very poor excuse of 12GB, then shape to a stone age and primitive 64kbps dial up shaping speed, (useless in todays demands)most would have been happy for a top wireless family data of around 20GB with at least a 225kbps shaping speed, we can all wonder and look forward to new technology, but wireless users are screaming out,
“how about in the now”!
Its very good to see the FUTURE of communications etc BUT the MAJOR question is.
Is Australia’s communication network ready.
A lot think the future is wireless but isn’t it a limited resource. It also does have security issues.
Australia is so different. Are we field testing new ideas or just buying off the shelf from overseas.
I hope this is not the case. We need to build up understanding here so that future problems can be looked at.
The previous success of PMG to Telstra was due to the intensive work done to make sure products were right for Australian conditions. It had massive success.
An issue was identified in the 1960′s that you needed a level of staff between the field tradesmen and the degree qualified mangers. A level called sub-professional was introduced. It gave PMG to Telstra much success.
The only problem is over a number of years a lot of these have been classed as surplus. Have we lost too many in this area and it is affecting service that Telstra provides. e.g. I read about issues of Telstra emergency generators running short of fuel during the cyclone. In an area which is a cyclone area I thought the size of fuel storage would be a major design issue.
Talk about CES the major item in Australia in the next few years is the NBN, how will the future showing at the CES work with the NBN. Will the new network on the NBN be an ADVANCE PRODUCT for AUSTRALIA or will it bring MAJOR ISSUES.
1. It needs power at least at the customer end. I do not like the suggested solution and it will fail. Just look at QUEENSLAND and the time power has been off. You need a phone line that does not depend on local power. It is an essential service.
2. The equipment in the street “Distribution Hub’s etc”. The power used is it backed up in case of main’s power failure?
3. Is the Fibre waterproof and the cabinet’s waterproof.
4. The landline phone service will it be using VOIP and is there protection against ECHO,DELAY & cyber hacking of calls.
5. How SECURE will our security alarm connections be on the NBN.
6. Where will the FUTURE COMMUNICATIONS of AUSTRALIA (NBN) be controlled from?
I know the NBN will not belong to TELSTRA but it will affect all the services that is provided from the present copper network and new services which Telstra has planned in this area.
Are you looking at the capacity requirements of the new directions. e.g.
(a) Size of data streams etc.
(b) Is video calling on a larger scale coming.
(c) Is Full High Definition Television distribution coming on a larger scale.
Are you looking at Data distribution between states and overseas? Looking at new methods of data distribution etc.
* I noticed just over a week ago how data downloads from overseas was affected by the time of day of download not my local ADSL connection.
Will the NETWORK CONNECTIONS provide service into the future with the new services coming.
The CES give an indication of the future. Telstra needs to fully look at the directions communications is going and with understanding and experience of Australia’s setup analyse the future, field test and act so Telstra is ready to provide the best future communications when customers need it.
You need to be PREACTIVE. ( Have everthing done and ready before it is required. e.g. Like the Nth Qld people knew the cyclone was coming and prepared there homes, and got food and put themselves where they could survive. )
PROACTIVE I FOUND does not work. Reason is the work is identified and placed in an area to be looked after by a PROJECT MANAGER. They just PROJECT MANAGE the various JOBS. Also extra work that is not needed is added which result in higher resource usage. But the issue is they lack understanding and experience of the work and time limitations. The problem fails before the work is done. I have seen it happen. That is why I changed the action I talk about from PROACTIVE to PREACTIVE because of the fantastic success I obtained by changes I introduced to the process.
How does “4G” compare to Telstra’s NextG?
You can write on the screen of iPad and iPhone. I have apps that I use to capture signatures for photo releases. You just write with your finger. Works well.
Likewise Apple TV has integrated photos and videos from computers and iphones for sometime. Yesterday at Apple is tomorrow somewhere else.
My view is that voice will disappear, to be replaced by data (of which, voice will be a subset).
So plans will increasingly become data centric.
I wonder too, if the plans will emerge that are effectively “unlimited”, but subject to a fair use policy.
And the data consumption will grow tremendously, with things like mobile video utilising significantly more bandwidth.
My only real issue is the interface. I find many smartphone screens to be small, and often the button presses to be not pleasing from a tactile sense.
While an open standard is good for users, its hard to ignore Apples walled garden approach from the perspective of revenue generation. Its all about the services. It doesnt matter how brilliant a bit of technology is – if you cant do what you want with it, then it fails.
I can see that our homes will be transformed with all these new connected devices which means that wifi connectivity will become a big issue for our customers within the home. Currently our wireless home gateway devices on cable are not up to the standard required as they are not high end wireless devices capable of supporting these services. Telstra needs to carefully reassess its product offerings to ensure that we supply the best wireless enabled products to our customers. These products need to be robust, reliable and easy to use. The days of selecting our wireless cable modems based cost are over and we need to start looking at quality products.
I worked on 3G with NTTDocomo in Japan and I doubt if like NTTDocomo Telstra engages itself to be part of new developments. I guess we know about it when go to the shows like CES. 8 years what I see we are behind where NTTDocomo is.
hello chris can i get ur mobile #…tnz
I’ve been to the CES quite a few times and for the past few years there has been plenty of hype about convergence, all these devices we use everyday were meant to end up being rolled up into one or two ‘do everything’ devices, I guess that could be thought partially correct where you see smartphones etc that are more capable than ever, I think the reality though is that each device is trying to be the one device in our lives but we’re not giving in so easily so what we are ending up with now is many devices that need connectivity to be as functional as intended
In the home this is pretty easy to deal with, anything that can’t be cabled directly can generally be made wireless and fully functional, a decent home gateway can handle this easily and a single internet feed can handle all these devices
For the mobile devices though we start to scutinise and try and justify expense to make the devices fully functional, we need the same type of single feed approach, give us a single account with pooled data and a small cost per service to have multiple devices, an example of what I mean is say perhaps an account with 5GB of data per month, maybe $30, want 3 different devices to access this data add 2 extra SIM’s to the account at an extra $5 per month each (whatever the numbers are), no matter which device is used all have access to the one account, calls, data, whatever, even if existing deals could have another SIM(s) attached to the account/available credit for a nominal fee I think a lot of people would start adding services to their accounts and getting more use out of the devices they have now.
We are going to see more and more connectivity in different devices and some innovation is needed to be able to meet the market and get people using devices to their full potential, Telstra is well placed to be able to do something like this, providing it is truly ready to change its old ways that is, so far there has been a really big turnaround from the Telstra of old, quite a lot of what has happened so far has been reactionary though (still good to see), what’s needed now is more innovative thinking to take things to another level
Hi Kevin,
A few people have asked about this. Telstra’s NextG network is a form of 3G technology (UMTS). Selected areas are currently capable of speeds up to 20Mbit/s. This is the announcement from last year.
http://www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/media-centre/announcements/world-first-mobile-broadband-boost-puts-australia-on-top-of-the-world.xml
You can see if your area is covered by 20Mbit/s service below, and you will require a 20Mbit/s capable device, usually branded \Ultimate\ by Telstra. Zoom the map all the way in, if it turns blue, you are likley covered.
http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/networks/coverage/broadband.html
As for \4G\, the speeds are hysterically fast, BUT, that is for GENUINE 4G. A couple of lines from our good friend wikipedia should help clear this up.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4g
\4G stands for the fourth generation of cellular wireless standards. It is a successor to 3G and 2G families of standards. Speed requirements for 4G service set the peak download speed at 100 Mbit/s for high mobility communication (such as from trains and cars) and 1 Gbit/s for low mobility communication (such as pedestrians and stationary users).[1]\
Yup, you read it right, 1Gbit/s download! So if there is 4G in Australia, (Troy commented on this above) then we don’t even need an NBN right? Not so fast (pun intended). It depends on your defenition. Just LTE or WiMax does not a 4G network make. More wikipedia…
\Pre-4G technologies such as mobile WiMAX and first-release 3G Long term evolution (LTE) have been on the market since 2006[2] and 2009[3][4][5] respectively, and are often branded as 4G. The current versions of these technologies did not fulfill the original ITU-R requirements of data rates approximately up to 1 Gbit/s for 4G systems. Marketing materials use 4G as a description for Mobile-WiMAX and LTE in their current forms.\
Hope that helps.
You know this makes people hate you and leave – so why be so nasty?
http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2011/02/telstra-switching-to-per-minute-billing-for-postpaid-plans/
I am currently a 3 user just waiting for Telstra to announce/launch it’s next line-up of top-tier Android phones and tablets (ideally with an option to share data or get a combined data pack) before switching to Telstra.
I love the sound of the Atrix but I must confess I am also tempted by more vanilla android options because I get the feeling that the docking features of the Atrix will mean that Motorola would be less keen to upgrade to newer versions of Android as this would be a more expensive option from a programming standpoint. The installation of custom roms, which is the usual solution, would likely result in a lot of loss of function so the user would be stuck in an apple-like cage, as nice a cage as that may be. I’d much prefer something like the Optimus to be an option.
As for tablets.. bring on some honeycomb goodness asap
But let me highlight again, combined phone and tablet data plans would be an absolute killer feature for Telstra. If I could get, say, a 5 gb data pack between the phone and tablet, I’d love to snap that up.
Thankyou for being the first to provide facts rather than grab at straws and pass on biased unfounded opinions.
Can I just have the current technology fixed? I am trying to become a Telstra customer and get a landline installed for 3 weeks, which Telstra has contracted out to Silcar Communication who have then contracted it out again. They were meant to install this on the 4th July but I got no confirmation so called Silcar on the 6th and was told they didn’t know but would get the contractor to call me back, which never occured. I called again on the 7th July and was told they would definitely install it on the 9th, so far it hasn’t happened and I have no faith that Silcar can actually deliver this.
Got any ideas David?