Leading organizations predict tech trends for 2013

Many once seemingly far-fetched concepts have become the technology of today. Scientists and engineers are continually developing technology that may make a place for itself in our daily lives. There is no limit to what people aspire to achieve.

Each year Gartner, Inc., the world's leading information technology and advisory company, holds its Gartner Symposium/ITxpo. This is an international gathering of CIOs and senior IT executives. The event delivers independent and objective content and provides access to the latest solutions from key technology providers. The ITxpo as well as the Hong Kong Electronics Fair provide insight as to where technology is heading and what consumers, business owners and IT professionals can expect for the upcoming year. Attracting thousands of attendees, these events help to shape the future of technological offerings.

Here are some of the technologies and trends people might see in the coming year, according to Gartner, Inc.

Mobile Devices

In 2013, mobile phones are poised to overtake PCs as the most common Web access devices worldwide. By 2015, more than 80 percent of the handsets sold in mature markets will be smartphones. However, only 20 percent of those handsets are likely to be Windows phones. Estimates suggest that media tablet shipments will reach around 50 percent of laptop shipments by 2015, and Windows 8 will likely be in third place behind Google's Android and Apple iOS operating systems. Because operating systems and platforms will expand beyond the monopoly once held by Windows, enterprises will need to support a greater variety. The implications for IT is that the era of PC dominance will be replaced with a new era where Windows is just one of a variety of environments IT will need to support.

Personal Cloud

The personal cloud will gradually replace the PC as the location where individuals keep their personal content, access their services and personal preferences and center their digital lives. In essence, personal cloud computing means having every piece of data you need for every aspect of your life at your fingertips and ready for use. Data must be mobile, transferable and instantly accessible. It also needs to be in sync to provide real-time access to files, photos and whatever else is being stored. Users will see the cloud as a portable, always-available place where they go for all of their digital needs. In this world no one platform, technology or vendor will dominate and diversity and mobile device management will be imperative. The personal cloud shifts the focus from the client device to cloud-based services delivered across multiple devices.

The Internet of Things

The Internet of Things, or IoT, is a concept that describes how the Internet will expand to physical items, such as consumer devices. That means elements of IoT will be included in other items besides handheld devices, such as mobile phones and tablets. Cellular technology and ability to access the Internet will appear in everything from wristwatches to smartposters to home entertainment systems. The IoT will enable a wide range of new applications and services while raising many new challenges. The public has already seen inklings of this technology in gaming systems and television sets that enable Internet connectivity. Expect these trends to expand. Rather than boasting even-bigger screen sizes and Ultra-HD capabilities, newer TVs are expected to all come with built-in broadband connections and smart, streaming media features.

Integrated Systems

Consumers will be looking for a more cohesive system that is integrated rather than a bunch of dissimilar parts having to work together somehow. Driving this trend is the consumer's desire for lower cost, simplicity and greater security. The trend could be played out in different ways. Appliances may combine hardware and software with services. Cloud-based marketplaces will be key, and there will be brokerage companies set up to help facilitate purchases and use of capabilities from multiple vendors. In the mobile world, vendors including Apple, Google and Microsoft will enable control between devices through different apps.

Consumers and IT professionals can expect to see a few key trends emerging this year and expanding in the months to come. Leading the way are integration and a move away from device-centered usage. Consumers can expect electronics firms to be focused on making gadgets smarter and easier to use.