| The impact of tablets on computing, according to Gartner |
In a special report, titled "iPad and Beyond: What the Future of Computing Holds," Gartner analysts have attempted to fathom the true depth and impact, which devices like the iPad and other media tablets are effecting on the hardware industry, including the consequent changes on users expectations from computing devices.  Multitouch on the iPad and other media tablets, Gartner says, has liberated users from hardware interfaces such as the keyboard, the mouse / touchpad / trackball, etc. As media tablets become more commonplace, Gartner expects users to anticipate the convenience and simplicity of multitouch user interfaces when they interact with other computing devices, as standard."During the next five to 10 years, media tablets will instigate change in computing form factors; modular designs will enable tablets to take on new functions, becoming the cross-platform controller and brain for hybrid consumer electronics and computers," said Angela McIntyre, research director at Gartner. "Tablets will be substitutes for several of the consumer electronics consumers often carry with them. Thin-and-light mobile PCs with tablet-like features will become mainstream, pushing out some bulkier PC styles that have been the norm." PC and consumer electronics manufacturers are noticing the shift in consumer expectations, Gartner says, which is evident from their incorporation of features first popularized by the iPad into their own new product lineups. “Multitouch technology has become the de facto interface of high-end smartphones and media tablets, and will extend to additional consumer electronic devices and to PCs,” Gartner's statement said. "Other hybrid designs leverage the flexibility of tablets to become the brains of consumer electronic devices," Ms. McIntyre said. "One tablet can replace multiple dedicated electronics devices by connecting with different peripherals. Tablets docked in the dashboards of cars can replace dedicated navigation devices and in-car entertainment, and environmental controls. Wirelessly connect a blood pressure cuff, a bathroom scale and an oximeter to a tablet to create a home health monitor that can plot personal health trends and send the data to a doctor. Mount a tablet into a projector, and it becomes digital signage in a retail store or a device for streaming media via the Internet." Gartner clusters Interface technologies around five basic modalities – state of mind (of the user), human-computer hybrids, action detection, speech and biosensing. Of the interface modalities, action detection has been extensively used to this point because touch — for example, pressing a key, clicking a mouse or touching a screen — is the standard way to interact with computing endpoint devices, such as tablets, PCs and smartphones. As such, the analysts opine that the iPad has created a transformational change in how people interact with computers. "Alternative user interfaces, such as multitouch, are essential for extending the deployment of computing devices into new markets," Ms. McIntyre said. "Smartphones, tablets and tablet hybrids will become the first pathway to the Internet for many. The keyboard on PCs is a major barrier for those who have had no reason or opportunity to become facile with qwerty." Image: Courtesy Apple |
LISTS AND RESEARCH
-
Global Software Top 100 - Edition 2011
- The Global Software Top 100 is a list of the world's largest software companies, ranked by annual software revenues. The list is based upon revenue information of 10,000+ IT companies worldwide.
-
Software industry trends (2011)
- This research article (accompanying the Global Software Top 100) describes changes in the software industry playing field. It analyses trends and key players and forecasts future developments.
- Top hardware companies
- A list of the world's largest hardware companies.
- What happens in the hardware industry?
- Trends and analysis of the hardware industry and its key players.
- Top IT services companies
- A list of the world's largest IT services companies, ranked by annual services revenues. This link will take you to www.servicestop100.org.
- IT services companies: healthy growth
- What is happening in the IT services industry? Read this research publication to find out about trends and key players in the IT services industry.
- Top gaming companies (2010)
- Entertainment is good business, and gaming software companies are growing faster than the rest of the software industry. This research article discusses trends and key players in the gaming business.
- Top ERP companies
- A research publication about the world's leading players in enterprise software.
- Top security software companies
- A research publication discussing the world's leading publishers of security software: antivirus-, spamfiltering-, intrusion detection- and firewall software.
- The fastest growing software companies
- This research publication reveals the fastest growing software companies in the world.
-
CRM companies: a short list
- A short list of the leading software companies selling Customer Relationship Management software; aimed at IT managers looking to purchase CRM software.
- Top software companies in the US (2010)
- A list of the largest software companies in the United States, ranked by annual software revenues. 2010 Edition, posted 15 December 2010.
- U.S. software industry trends (2010)
- A research publication discussing the trends and the key players in the software industry in the United States. Posted 15 December 2010.
- Top companies in the world (not just software)
- A general list of the largest companies in the world, ranked by revenues. Not just software companies; in fact, there are no software companies in it...
- Top IT companies
- A list of the largest IT companies in the world, ranked by annual revenues. Includes hardware, software and services.
