5 technologies that Rock and why things will change

Recessions suck- but they give smaller, more nimble companies the ability to shine when they might have been absorbed by a larger company in better times. For example, the recession in the early 90's gave companies like Yahoo, Google, etc. the opportunity to leapfrog ahead of companies like AOL and Compuserve.

So here's my predictions for the next big winners:
1. wireless technology- wireless application developers, network providers, and mesh networking will revolutionize the communications- meaning entertainment, information, web and communications all rolled into one on one or many connected devices. We'll no longer think of a device as a connection to a system, but of a device as part of a system.


2. embedded technology- smaller chips and embedded software will allow more and more mundane everyday objects to convey more information. Shoes will warn of friction-related blisters before they occur, shirts will measure heart rate, etc. Chances are, if its an important measurement, someone right now is figuring out a way to get it with embedded tech.


3. 3D Printers- Three dimensional printers, already in development and production will allow companies to roll-out with prototypes quickly, but longer term use of the systems will eventually blur the lines between what is a prototype and what is simply a useful one-off device.


4. Nanotech- not just new fibers and new materials, but new mini-machines with gears, and pistons, and tiny nano-devices created to build tiny devices. These tiny devices will give us the ability to eventually use the technology itself the capability to to make things smaller


5. The development kit. technology already builds on technology- but soon we'll no longer need to start at square one to get to the end result. Think of kids using lego mindstorms to build "robots" or this year's college students using the research from last year's class to move a project forward. Eventually people will think it is totally natural to create software without knowing a program language, or to build a car without knowing everything about aerodynamics, fuel efficiency, etc. They will use tools produced by others, to produce tools and products for others to use.


Although each of these things seem isolated, I see them as part of a system that will revolutionize the way things are done. No longer will chips be designed by techs in a sterile building wearing white suits, but in a rented warehouse by a couple of weekend hacks. For a brief moment in time, the little development shops, and hacker groups will be able to produce high-level tech while keeping costs down.

So if you are involved in one of these technologies, get to work, stop waiting for the gov to bail you out, build something and give your neighbor a job.