TECH: 5 Disruptive Trends To Watch

With this year closing, I wanted to point out several trends that are both disrupting business and presenting new opportunities. The current hotbed of activity and innovation occurring in business and technology is staggering.

1. Microcommerce

A micro purchase is valued at less than $5 or 5 euros and conducted electronically via many web commerce models. iTunes and GoogleAds are great examples of low cost models for conducting transactions. This is a shift from traditional commerce in that the lower cost structure encourages more participation and more diverse opportunities in the marketplace.

2. Collective Intelligence

The trend towards decentralized authority where the community participates together to develop content and make decisions. Wikis were one of the first and best example of this. The OpenSource community also thrives in its cooperative model.

3. Augmented Reality - Digital Information in Real-World Context

The consumer is beginning to see the value of context sensitive information (visual, audio, text) through the merging of wireless, internet, software services and device technologies. Whether you’re in the car, elevator or using your cell phone the amount of relevant information and value is vastly improved from just a few years ago. Also take note on the amount of applications being tested using data overlays on GoogleMaps. This is showing a new breed of applications that are location/geography based that are giving new value to old data sources.

4. Life Log Data Trails

All your personal information is increasingly being tracked (text messages, retail transaction details, location information, email, and call recordings). You are also voluntarily “living digital” with Blogs, Digital Photo Sharing, Podcasting and Social Network Sites. This is driving an explotion of useful information and also alot noise on the Web.

5. Business Transparency - New Core Competency

The operations, practices and policies of companies are increasingly becoming monitored, tracked and discussed in the public domain. The Michael Moore documentary style is also making this both entertainment and fueling the watch group phenomena. Enron has shown that at any time a company can be investigated causing complete involuntary transparency. More companies are proactively making their practices publicly disclosed.