Disruptive Technologies For Next 5 Years

prostoalex writes "America's Network magazine, the publication serving to telecom industry, takes a look at the disruptive technologies over the next five years. Disruptive, naturally, for telecom industry. Virtual keyboards, DWDM, broadband connections using powerlines, wearable computers, free-space optics, low-power devices, UltraWideBand, voice over 802.11b and numerous others are discussed, as well as their potential for development over the next five years."

Comments

Disrupt business? Only if you're stupid.

[bigberk]

The technologies mentioned are, I think tremendously exciting! DWDM is something I've always thought of ever since I got into computer engineering; a natural use for fiber. And the electrical power line broadband --- this can truly extend broadband to the far reaches of the globe in areas where the power distribution system allows it.

But note the negative tone in the article - "Here are the technologies ... that are coming to disrupt your business". Am I misunderstanding the meaning of "disrupt"?

I think there's something wrong if our business leaders are looking at technology advancements as problems. Adapt, you stupid sh*ts! Get off your lazy asses, hire competent people in the new fields, and make a fortune.

There was an article in the December 2002 issue of IEEE Spectrum ("Paving the Last Mile With Glass") that talked about phone companies struggling to match cable companies in offering services via fiber optic connections in homes. Same idea. The phone companies that adapt to this technology advanacement remain. The others ("oooh no, it's disruptive, I'm scared!") disappear.

Re:Disrupt business? Only if you're stupid.

[athakur999]

"Disruptive technology" more or less means something that'll change the way business is done. It means, as you said, that companies will have to adapt and find new ways to make money. It doesn't mean anything negative.

Re:Disrupt business? Only if you're stupid.

[bstadil]

It means, as you said, that companies will have to adapt and find new ways to make money

Not really. The term was defined by Clayton Christensen from Harvard University. It has to do with technologies that initially is inferior to what the market "needs" but improves at a rate faster than that market. Eventually making it the dominant technology displacing what was there before. He uses disk drives as example. The book Innovators Dilemma is worth a read.