Author: Jim O Brien/CEO

CEO and expert in transport and Mobile tech. A fan 20 years, mobile consultant, Nokia Mobile expert, Former Nokia/Microsoft VIP,Multiple forum tech supporter with worldwide top ranking,Working in the background on mobile technology, Weekly radio show, Featured on the RTE consumer show, Cavan TV and on TRT WORLD. Award winning Technology reviewer and blogger. Security and logisitcs Professional.

Moshi Twilight – Sleeping experts work with Goldie Hawn to combat children’s anxiety in the time of crisis. #Kids #Moshi

Moshi Twilight – the #1 sleep and mindfulness app for kids has partnered once again with Hollywood legend Goldie Hawn to launch a new ‘Brain Break’ to help families around the world improve the mental wellbeing of their kids and reduce anxiety during worrying times.

 Put together by the BAFTA award-winning Moshi team, Goldie’s Brain Break is an important resource that can be used by parents to help stabilise emotional thinking and help kids refocus when there is a need to bring balance and reduce family stress.  Recorded with the Moshi team, this Brain Break is a short wind-down exercise – set to calming music – that takes heightened emotions down to a sense of calm.  

Anxiety in children is continuously on the rise, affecting 30% of children and adolescents, yet 80% never get help according to Child Mind Institute. As world events create more uncertainty and stress, this growing issue affects millions of families around the world, especially during this unprecedented crisis.

 

Sleep expert and psychologist, Dr Azizi Seixas, who works alongside the Moshi team, says:

 

“Feelings can be overwhelming sometimes, especially for children who haven’t learned how to react and respond to them. Managing emotions, even more so during stressful situations, can be difficult regardless of age. This is especially true when routines are disrupted. Routines play a key role in promoting feelings of safety and security in children and when boundaries are broken they can feel more vulnerable and unsettled.”

 

As part of her philanthropic work, Goldie Hawn is actively committed to empowering children and families through acts of mindfulness, and has also lent her voice to a Moshi bedtime story, “Goldie the Mindful Moshling”, which has already been listened to millions of times by kids around the world.

 

Goldie shared the news of the launch of her Brain Break in the Moshi app with her 2.1M Instagram followers, saying: 

“In these times of uncertainty and fear, it is important to calm your brain to help reduce stress and anxiety. Please enjoy this Brain Break with your child and your family every day. Please visit @twilightmoshi to get this free Brain Break (and a really fun sleep story I narrated) on their app.”

CEO of Moshi Twilight, Ian Chambers said:

“School closures, self-isolation and quarantine is unfortunately becoming an unavoidable part of our everyday vocabulary and behaviour, and even as adults, the feelings associated with this are overwhelming.  We hope that Goldie’s Brain Break will help families achieve a sense of calm during moments of stress and anxiety.

 

“Against a backdrop of uncertainty, we are thrilled to be able to give this to families around the world for free via the Moshi app.”

Goldie’s Brain Break is free to use on iOS, Android and Amazon Fire and is now part of the Moshi Twilight app that has played over 75 million stories since launch. The Moshi Twilight app also includes: Moshi Stories, Guided Meditations, Moshi Moments, Music and Sounds to help kids wind down, relax, de-stress and sleep.

Ms Hawn concludes: “All children in the world are our most precious resource for a happier, healthier tomorrow. They deserve all we can give them to thrive and succeed in this sometimes challenging world.”

Review – The Urbanista Athens Sport True Wireless earbuds. #Tech #TrueWireless #UrbanistaLife

Urbanista have been busy of late with new products and they are certainly most welcome,from testing them the last few years they remain consistent with delivery of great quality Audio products and the new Athens Sport geared towards the more active people are no different.

Recently we tested their new True Wireless Paris earbuds with the stem design and they have been great and deliver on all aspects at the price point they come in at and they also look good too and come in a range of colours,check the review of the Urbnanista Paris and then if you need a new speaker to go along with it that also gives a great punch for its size check that out Sydney speaker review.

There are a few differences here with the Athens which are geared towards the more fitness type and the first thing is there is no wireless charging which is a bit disappointing coming from the Paris I recently tested but they do come with USB-C and a really nice matt Black finished charging case which looks really well and these buds have a totally different design language than the previous ones which we tested.

 

These come with built in wings to keep them in your ear and they are not going to budge with a nice secure with also offering some good noise isolation too and no stem, they remain flush with the ears and do not stick out or look abnormal like some earbuds can. They look well but only come in the one colour for now but it is nice.

The controls here are great and simple to use with a rubber finish to boot,again different to the touch sensitive are on the Paris you would find there perhaps easier to control blindly,they have a nice clicky feel and have a light that spans the circle on them which looks cool in the charge case.

Controls are the same as the Paris for those wondering…

TURN OFF VOICE ASSISTANT – Touch the R logo twice.

ANSWER A CALL – Touch the logo twice on the right (R) or
left (L) earphone.
END A CALL – Touch the logo twice on the right (R) or left (L)
earphone.
REJECT A CALL – Touch and hold the logo on the right (R) or left
(L) earphone for 2 seconds
PLAY MUSIC – Touch the logo twice on the left (L) earphone
PAUSE MUSIC – Touch the logo twice on the left (L) earphone
ADJUST THE VOLUME (+) – Touch the logo once on the right (R)
earphone
ADJUST THE VOLUME (-) – Touch the logo once on the left (L)
earphone.
SKIP A TRACK FORWARD – Touch the logo on the right (R)
earphone for 2 seconds.
SKIP A TRACK BACKWARD – Touch the logo on the left (L)
earphone for 2 seconds.
The Audio is what you are hear for and I am happy to report it is clean, it is a bit brighter than the Paris and not the same level as bass on my testing but overall balanced,clean,bright good separation and instruments clearly heard, they do offer a better seal in my opinion than the Paris giving you a better overall experience and testing my usual Netflix and You Tube they do very well there with direction and no lag latency which of course is a bonus.
Overall if you want the same as the Paris but a but brighter with a better seal isolating the outside world a bit better,these are the ones to go for especially if you are the more active person, In a quite environment you will notice the difference between the two if you have a pair of the Paris and enjoy the listening experience.
Need a job in IT or tech? Click the image below.
Key features
IP67 waterproof rating
8 hours per charge
Total Playtime: 32 hours
Slim charging case with 3 charges
Stereo phone calls
Bluetooth 5.0
Volume and music controls
Voice control (Siri, Google Now)
Compatible with Android and iOS
USB Type C

COVID-19 Pandemic Impact: Production of Smartphones Will Fall as Much as 30% in the First Half of 2020

The Coronavirus outbreak is expected to lead to a huge reduction in the production of smartphones, potentially falling by as much as 30% in the first half of 2020, states global tech market advisory firm, ABI Research.

“The ripples from China will be felt globally,” says David McQueen, 5G Devices Research Director at ABI Research. With China located at the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, the resultant impact has been disastrous for the global mobile device market, which has subsequently witnessed mass disruption to its production lines and a stalling of related supply chains caused by labor shortages and inactive logistics. As China is also the world’s manufacturing center for most of these device types, and one of its biggest markets, the sector has been hit hardest by delayed shipments and a weakened development of next-generation products.

“Significantly, in the short term, there will be an adverse effect on 5G devices. No sooner had 5G smartphones started to gain some traction and break into the market in significant numbers, than the outbreak will now trigger a suppression of its near-term growth, pushing out the development and introduction of affordable 5G phones,” McQueen explains. This move to lower price tiers was expected to become a key driver for boosting 5G smartphone shipments in 2020, but the desired impact will now be lessened throughout the year due to the outbreak. Shipment volumes for 5G smartphones in 2020 will be much lower than previously expected, slowed by a stagnant supply chain and crippled demand. “Undoubtedly, the market will also be faced with numerous disruptions and delays, most notably the launch of Apple’s first 5G iPhones that are due to appear in September 2020.”

In the longer term, expectations are that the outbreak will gradually come under control by end of 2Q 2020, but it will take some time thereafter for consumer confidence to return and for the device sector to recover.“Importantly, with such a large proportion of the world’s mobile device market relying on China for manufacturing and component supply, which is contending with disruption on a massive scale, it has become clear that many in the chain were woefully unprepared to react quickly,”  McQueen points out.

It is not clear what the full extent or lasting effect that COVID-19 will have on the mobile device ecosystem, but in the short- to medium-term, it will heavily impact the smartphone market. “Aside from taking its toll on both demand and the supply chain, it will particularly affect the industry’s eagerness to drive 5G to lower price points in 2020, seriously blunting its growth potential,” says McQueen.

McQueen recommends that “vendors and suppliers fully understand their exposure to all those along the chain, identifying and evaluating all risks related to issues like capacity management and market demand, enabling them to react accordingly and mitigate the impact of any future market disruptions.”

For a clearer picture of the current and future ramifications of COVID-19 across technologies and verticals, including  5G devices, Smartphones, and Wearables, download the whitepaper Taking Stock of COVID-19: The Short- and Long-Term Ramifications on Technology and End Markets.

Smartbox Transforms Customer Experiences with Nutanix. #Nutanix #Smartbox #IT #Cloud #Retail

Nutanix , a leader in enterprise cloud computing, announced today that Smartbox Group, a leading European retailer of gift experiences, expanded its relationship with the company to support its digital modernization project. Smartbox leverages Nutanix software to modernize its IT infrastructure, streamline operations, and reduce costs in order to delight customers with tailored, real-time experiences.

 

A seamless omnichannel customer experience is now a must have for retailers, as customers expect online shopping experiences that draw from their digital behavior and are tailored to them. This requires real time data analysis, across multiple sources as well as a modern technology infrastructure that is automated, secure, supports the use of artificial intelligence, and, is most importantly, always available.

 

Providing gift boxes, gift experiences, and memories for clients across Europe, Smartbox serves 11 countries, distributing nearly 6.5 million gift experiences annually, as well as its unique brand of gift boxes to 10,000 major outlets through retail partners and online stores. The sheer scale of its operations and its many webstores demand constant uptime, scalability during seasonal peak times, flexibility in development, and tailored experiences to its customers.

 

“Our previous systems were just not able to support our business vision and something drastic had to be done if we were going to be able to continue to support our business expansion across Europe and ensure customer fulfilment,” said Paul Cash, Director IT Operations at Smartbox. “Nutanix, more than any other partner, has allowed us to get more out of our IT infrastructure, so it can add value to the business. Its solutions have enabled us to take back control of our environment and allowed us to focus on innovation first rather than maintaining a legacy infrastructure.”

 

With a keen understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the retail industry, the Smartbox team invested in a hyperconverged environment that marries the best of its on-premise IT systems with public cloud services, to be more nimble and quickly adjust to customers’ needs. Its base requirements included the need for full visibility across all IT assets and services, advanced data analytics, the ability to control cloud usage, and scale out DevOps.

 

To support this shift, in the last 18 months Smartbox has adopted Nutanix AHV, which has both allowed it to reduce its datacenter footprint and provided it with enhanced flexibility. Additionally, the company has moved some elastic workloads, like its eCommerce storefront to AWS. The overall environment supports hybrid cloud computing, with seamless connectivity between its Nutanix-powered datacenter and its public cloud environment. The IT infrastructure now better caters to its development teams and is stable enough to run its web services and all core backend applications.

 

“Hybrid Cloud continues to gain momentum as organisations yearn for more flexibility and choice in preparation for moving to a multi-cloud operating model.  Dublin based Smartbox Group is taking advantage of our consumer grade software and methodologies which deliver simplicity, choice and security as it deploys Nutanix.

Smartbox was the first Nutanix customer in Europe and it took a leap of faith with us 8 years ago when we were a small company with a big vision.  Smartbox is the European leader in gift experiences and operates in 11 countries. Nutanix has helped Smartbox to achieve phenomenal growth through its software which includes a virtualisation platform with real-time analytics on multi-cloud cost and security for both on-premises and public clouds. Expanding our relationship with Smartbox is an exciting step in cementing Ireland at the forefront of the global cloud economy”, said, Fergal O’Sullivan, Country Manager & Regional Director at Nutanix.

 

Smartbox is also using Beam to keep public cloud costs in check – which at times was 15 to 20% higher than budgeted prior to the deployment. With Beam, the IT team can now utilize a cost based  model to show the department the actual footprint and cost and of running application environments and the IT they consume.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Additionally, Nutanix Era has helped Smartbox simplify databases and management solutions across many environments, while Prism Pro supports automated infrastructure management, all to drive more flexibility.

 

“Retailers need the flexibility to change the course of their business at a drop of a hat. Whether to cater for seasonal fluctuations, to scale up or down for a sale, or to add digital services – automation and adaptability are what stands between failure and success,” said Dom Poloniecki, General Manager, Sales, Western Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa region, Nutanix. “Smartbox has really got the mix between public and private cloud right, it not only understands the costs of its on- and off-premise infrastructure but is able to prove the value of IT to the business and ensure that each department is responsible for its own costs. Smartbox is not just keeping the lights on – it is delighting its customers and creating greater loyalty.”

 

Looking ahead, the company plans to leverage its Nutanix software investment tools to deliver self-provisioning of IT resources across the business. It is working to create an environment where its developers are able to spin up changes to its sites, add promotional offerings, and create new products, without having to wait for IT to approve requests. Smartbox believes this will allow it to more proactively act on business opportunities and more easily adapt to customers’ needs.

Review – The Aukey RGB bedside lamp with touch control. #Aukey #Tech #RGB

If you are looking for a clean piece of kit to refresh the mood in your house this is one to try out and it is not expensive either it does not also require and use of smartphones either and is a simple to use touched based product.

The lamp is 360 degrees with a silver ring around the base which can be touched anywhere to control the lights settings which includes modes and colour settings,there is a power on/off switch underneath the light so overall it is pretty simple to use with really nice lighting effects in your room or wherever you might want to place it.

Simplicity is key here with the base being a brushed metal finish with a white plastic topping and is very robust too so this will take a few knows should you happen to knock it over. What is nice for this lamp is you can leave it just sitting there and let it run through the cycle or you can set a colour you desire and you can higher or lower its intensity by just tapping the silver area on the bottom, it is a clean light with no tech knowledge required to change the look of your bedroom or sitting room with a really nice effect.

 

  • 360°Touch Control Base: Switch on the lamp, you could tap anywhere on the touch control surface (silver area) to light up or off the lamp / change modes / select a color / adjust brightness
  • Warm White Light & Color Changing RGB: There are 3 brightness in warm white light mode, and the dimmest light is suitable as a night lamp. Besides, in RGB mode, you could also choose to cycle the colors or pause on any color
  • 2600mAh Built-in Battery: Charging for 4 hours via USB cable, the lamp could offer 15 hours to continuous use in dim light, efficient enough so as to accompany your family all night
  • Best Companion: Compact design, space-saving, ideal for various occasions. Unique atmosphere lamp for romantic dinners; elegant night lamp for good sleep
  • Package Contents: AUKEY LT-ST21 Mini Touch Control LED Lamp, Micro-USB Cable, User Manual, 24-Month Product Replacement Warranty and Friendly Customer Service

BUY HERE 

AVer Europe CAM520 camera certified for Google Hangouts Meet #AVer

AVer Europe has announced its bestselling CAM520 professional plug-n-play camera has received certification for Google Hangouts Meet hardware, providing automatic updates, syncing and flexibility for users.

The CAM520 has received the certification following testing of its quality, reliability and interoperability in Google’s partner lab. Creating a seamless communications experience, this partnership between Google and AVer Europe enables users to start chat conversations or video calls, make phone calls using Wi-Fi or data, send text messages with Google Voice or Project Fi, and automatically sync devices across their network.

Support for Google Hangouts Meet hardware begins with Chrome 70 update and offers more flexibility to a conference room and ensures that the CAM520 is always up to date with the latest software from Google, reducing any delays or potential barriers within video conferencing.

The AVer CAM520 is a professional grade yet user-friendly PTZ camera that is perfect for mid to large conference rooms. With 12X optical zoom, fast auto-focus functions, HD 1080p and smooth pan, tilt, zoom capabilities, the CAM520 results in uninterrupted sharp images for an outstanding video communication experience. It can capture the smallest details with absolute clarity. The built-in USB interface is compatible with any desktop or laptop and can be used with various meeting and video apps, making video conferencing as simple as plugging in a single cable.

Rene Buhay, AVer Europe Vice President of Sales & Marketing, comments: “We are proud to partner with Google to enhance the Hangout experience with the AVer CAM520. It makes communicating even easier!”

Mark Grady, Head of Meeting Room Channel & Sales – EMEA at Google, comments: “We’re delighted to work with AVer to continue to make the Google video conferencing experience around Hangouts Meet Hardware a great one for our users.”

The AVer CAM520 comes in a silver casing, with a three-year warranty and a two-year extension automatically upon successful completion of registration.

AVer CAM520 MSRP: £799 ex VAT

Product Specifications: https://communication.avereurope.com/model/cam520

Dating App “The League” Launches in Dublin, Encourages Remote Dating Via Video. #Dating #Apps #TheLeague

The League, Dublin’s newest mobile dating app, officially launches today, providing isolated singles new ways to make connections from the safety of their own home.

The League, which operates a freemium model, is offering Dublin users two weeks of free Member status to give everyone access to its unique video features including League Live. Simply message #isoDate to the in-app Concierge to activate the free membership. The offer will run until social distancing measures are redacted.

League Live allows singles to connect through three live video speed dates, two minutes each, in just six minutes total. The twice weekly League Live sessions take place on Wednesdays and Sundays at 9pm local time. The app also features a video chat function that enables users call each other without exchanging numbers; and supports 10-second video profile images to help improve match rates.

Created in 2015, The League is known for its high-achieving community of users. Using data from both Facebook and LinkedIn to fuel its algorithm, it offers users complete privacy from friends and colleagues, more context about potential matches, and a curated community of professional singles seeking an ambitious and driven partner.

“The world is changing underneath us and in today’s climate, being able to connect safely and responsibly is more important than ever.” says Amanda Bradford, Founder & CEO of The League “We made the decision to support more global cities and accelerate the roll-out of our video features to encourage singles to continue dating – with no need to leave your home, or even exchange numbers.”

The League currently operates in 76 cities worldwide, including 12 additional cities launching today: Manchester, Oxford, Edinburgh, and Birmingham (United Kingdom); Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa and Kingston (Canada); Lyon and Marseille (France); and Brisbane and Perth (Australia).

The League is available to download on iOS and Android.

Tech to make working from home a happier and healthier experience. #Tech #WorkFromHome

With the majority of us now working remotely here is some ideas rounded up to make the home office more bearable. Whether it’s creating the optimal desk set up to help with productivity or suggestions of things to do during regular breaks to help keep you energised and focused, these tools should be considered.

Twelve South Curve

Price: £54.99

Available from: www.amazon.co.uk

Many people suffer from neck pain caused by poor posture and too many hours spent looking down at a screen. Having a good laptop stand like the Twelve South Curve will make working instantly more comfortable and healthier. Stylish with an improved ergonomic design, the Curve means users no longer have to hunch over and tilt their heads downwards towards a screen. They can elevate their MacBook to a more comfortable height, relieving neck and shoulder strain in the process. Whether you want to use your MacBook as a second screen or add a keyboard and mouse and use if more like a desktop, the Curve is the perfect option.

Groov-e Apollo  

See our review

Price: £29.99 Available from: www.groov-e.co.uk

 

Having the right lighting when working can make all the difference. Not only can it reduce eye strain but it can boost productivity levels and invigorate you. The Groov-e Apollo is a stylish desk lamp packed with all the latest features to make work life easier. Not only is it a flexible lamp with three LED light modes, it also features wireless charging which means no more hunting around for chargers as users can simply place their mobile device on the base to charge instantly. What’s more users can connect to the Apollo via Bluetooth to hear their favourite tunes around the room using its 3W speaker. USB powered, users can take the Apollo and plug in wherever they are working.

Groov-e Zen

Price: £54.99 Available from: www.groov-e.co.uk

The Groov-e Zen Active Noise Cancelling headphones are perfect for those working from home and wanting to block out some of the ambient sound in order to concentrate. Whether it’s a partner working in the same space or kids playing in the next room, the Zen headphones will make it easier to work. With over 10-hours of wireless playback the Zen headphones are ideal for taking calls or listening to music when connected to a Bluetooth device.

Twelve South HiRise Wireless

Price: £79.99 Available from: www.amazon.co.uk

See our review

If you’re looking for a desktop charger to stay fully powered while working in the home office then the Twelve South HiRise Wireless is the perfect choice. Not only is it an upright desktop stand for mobile phones, keeping your device charged while holding it in position for Skype and FaceTime calls, messages and calendar alerts, it’s also a wireless charging pad for AirPods and a USB-C portable wireless charger for travel. All this in one stylish chrome and leather package.

Evernote

Price: From free – Available from: https://evernote.com

Evernote allows you to work from home easily offering users a number of packages to either work solo or collaborate with teams. Evernote lets users save notes, ideas, lists and reminders which can be accessed via app when needed. Evernote Business offers Spaces which allows for teams to manage projects, deadline, clients and meetings with ease.

Activ5

Price: £129.99

Available from: Amazon.co.uk, Harrods and Smartech Selfridges See our review

It’s not all about work when working from home, it’s also important to focus on mind and body health and take breaks throughout the day. Studies show that physical activity not only improves your physical health but your mental health and productivity as well. You could get outside and go for a walk or run, do a free online exercise or even use a device such as the Activ5 which can be used for five minutes in the morning, afternoon and evening for an effective workout.

Dubbed ‘a tiny gym in your pocket’ Activ5 is a portable fitness device that enables anyone with a smartphone to exercise anywhere, anytime.  Activ5 helps to:

-Tone and strengthen muscles with results showing that users can increase strength by 30% in just 6 weeks

-Personalise 100+ exercises to your fitness level, track progress and exercise while playing games

-Do full body isometric exercises and workouts – 5 minutes of isometric exercise can be the equivalent of 25-minutes of gym machine exercises

-Track results on the companion Activ5 app, available on iOS and Android

Senstroke

Price: £145

Available from: www.senstroke.com

There’s plenty of research that says we work better by taking short breaks in between bursts of activity. Rather than just grabbing a cup of tea and watching You Tube for 10 minutes why not play a musical instrument – it’s the perfect way to unwind.  Senstroke is the first connected solution that allows you to play drums anywhere. Perfect for seasoned drummers or even those who’ve never played before, simply attach the Senstroke Bluetooth sensors to the included drumsticks and begin playing on any surface – a desk, cushion or even on your knees.

The Senstroke app features a new learning mode that is perfect for beginners allowing them to have in-app lessons as they play with a drum track that scrolls across the screen to aid learning. Quick and easy to use, drummers can choose between a pre-configured drum layout to get going straight away or customise it to suit their needs.

Tech Trends 2020 – Human Experience Platforms, Disruptive Architecture, and Trust Are Redefining the Enterprise

The convergence of enterprise technology trends will continue to profoundly transform all businesses and unlock potential for innovation, Deloitte’s 2020 Tech Trends report reveals.

The 11th annual report on technology trends captures the intersection of digital technologies, human experiences, and increasingly sophisticated analytics and artificial intelligence technologies in the modern enterprise. The report explores digital twins, the new role technology architects play in business outcomes, and affective computing-driven “human experience platforms” that are redefining the way humans and machines interact. Tech Trends 2020 also shares key insights and prescriptive advice for business and technology leaders so they can better understand what technologies will disrupt their businesses during the next 18 – 24 months.

“Technology is the number-one differentiator for businesses today and that will only accelerate in the years to come as even more powerful innovations take hold,” said Simon Murphy, Business Operations Partner Lead for Deloitte Ireland and Deloitte North South Europe. “The most successful businesses today are combining cutting-edge technologies like machine learning and IoT with disruptive IT architecture and supercharged talent to create entirely new ways of working – and they already see the benefits.”

And with organisations needing to adapt and respond quickly to ongoing technology disruption, Deloitte expects to see more IT and finance leaders working together to develop new flexible approaches for funding innovation in a way that allows the organisation to be agile.

The report’s five trends of focus for 2020 include:

  • Digital Twins – Bridging the physical and digital: As digital twin technology allows businesses to create increasingly sophisticated virtual models to optimise processes, products, and services, organisations will integrate IoT, machine learning, advanced computing infrastructure, and more to unlock entirely new business models.
  • Architecture Awakens: Systems architecture will become a strategic priority as organisations redefine the architect role to be more nimble, responsive, and collaborative. Architects will work across the business and work creatively with non-technical project teams – forming a competitive differentiator in the digital economy.
  • Ethical Technology and Trust: Organisations in every geography are realising that their embrace of technology is an opportunity to gain – or lose – trust, and with it, customers’ business and brand loyalty. CIOs will emphasise ethical tech in the coming years – and create processes to help solve ethical dilemmas related to disruptive technologies.
  • Human Experience Platforms: To address the lack of connection humans often experience with daily digital interactions, a growing number of organisations are injecting emotional intelligence into their systems. These include AI capabilities such as machine learning and voice and facial recognition, which can better detect and appropriately respond to human emotions. The net result is emotionally intelligent human experiences that leverage connections between people, systems, data, and products.
  • Finance and the Future of IT: As enterprises become more agile, financial operations will need to support new modes of working. That means CIOs and CFOs will need to explore how a new, flexible approach to enterprise finance¾across budgeting, contracting, capital planning, and more¾can redefine the future of tech innovation.

The report also provides a view of 11 years of tracking the trends with insight into how trends evolve into table stakes over time, an update on the symbiotic benefits derived from the macro technology forces that serve as the foundation for business transformation, and a look at “what’s next” beyond the near term.

“Technology is constantly in motion. Executives should take tomorrow’s cues from today’s trends. ‘Horizon next’ technologies are evolving out of today’s core trends, sometimes in unexpected ways, giving rise to new opportunities,” said Murphy.

“The trends of 2020 will disrupt entire industries and redefine business as we know it in the next decade, even as digital innovation becomes the norm for organisations of all sizes,” added Murphy. “Some of these trends may not come to fruition exactly as envisioned, but the technologies underpinning them will fundamentally change the way we work.”