The trends of Information Technology

The trends of IT can recognize through changes in hardware, software, data and communication.

Hardware trends

At first, the main hardware concerns of data processing manager were machine efficiency and tracking new technological development. From 1980s, the trend of personal computer (PC) started. Now, the PCs trend is established. Client-server computing forms the underlying structure. Telco and handheld manufactures raise the trends of Mobile Computing. Telco will handle both voice and data. Wireless involving means people can work anytime-anywhere.

Software trends

Since 1960s, IS management discussed purchasing service from external provider. Then topics expanded to software development life cycle. During the 1990s, software buyers forced driven to open systems. ERP was a major trend in 1990. Like hardware, network centric software is becoming more popular. Web-service is another change in software. The Business Process Management Systems (BPMS) will become the future of software. Therefore, the process centric applications will be the next trend of software.

Data trends

In 1970s, database management systems became the technical solutions for managing data. With distributing data, in 1990s, the trend was expanding from to information resources. Data warehousing and mining had been discussed. Knowledge Management is of prior important in the new economy because of intangibles hold competitive value. Two major data issues now facing CIOs are security and privacy.

Communication trends

LAN and WAN appeared. Then, Internet helped people to search the Web, chat, send email, transfer files, etc. Internet’s protocols have become the standard for LANs and WANs. Wireless is the latest technology.