By Dan Nessel – www.daddoes.com
Technology seems to move so quickly, it feels like if we blink we might miss the release of the newest gadget! With the calendar getting ready to flip from 2012 to 2013, now it seems like a good time to look back at the top technology trends of 2012.
The Tablet Was The Technology Star of 2012
There is no question that 2012 will go down as the year of the tablet. It used to be when someone said tablet, they really meant iPad, but 2012 saw an explosion in new tablets. In addition to the iPad you now have options like the Amazon Kindle Fire HD, Microsoft Surface, Samsung Galaxy, iPad Mini, Google Nexus 7, Google Nexus 10, The Barnes & Noble Nook and many more. In addition, we saw the release of roughly 15 tablets made specifically for kids.
Need further proof that tablets are the hot technology of 2012? The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) asked consumers what they most wanted for the 2012 Holiday Season and tablets were the clear winner with 8.3% of respondents wanting a tablet. Just to give some perspective, 4.8% wanted money and 4.5% wanted peace and happiness!
Technology Everywhere, Capturing Data All The Time
In 2012, technology continued to enter more and more aspects of our lives. Toys now have video cameras that stream video to a mobile device. Our cameras stream photos directly to the cloud. Health and Fitness gadgets can now track our heart rate, blood pressure, pulse, sleep patterns, what we eat…and upload it all to the cloud for instant reports on any device. Everything from our cars to our clothes can now be equipped with technology to record and analyze everything we do.
Technology Is Connecting Generations
This trend is somewhat counterintuitive. The classic image of kids texting away at their cell phones while their grandparents try to have a conversation with them, is clearly not socially connected. On the other hand, as grandparents have gotten more tech savvy, they now have more ways to connect with the grandkids.
Video calling devices like the Biscotti allow grandparents to “see” and talk to the grandkids, even if they are thousands of miles away. Photo and video sharing sites and services allow the grandparents to stay in the loop with the kids. Even intergenerational online video games like Wizard101 encourage kids and their parents and grandparents to play together.
The cutting edge devices of a year ago are now much easier to use and more accessible to non-techy everyday people, like parents and grandparents. In 2012, we started to see more families, across all generations, socially connect with technology – which is a welcome change!
What Technology Will We Be Talking About in 2013?
The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) kicks off January 8, 2013 and I will be there searching for the new, the interesting and the fun in the world of technology. In my next column we will take a sneak peek at some of the technologies that may shape our lives in 2013.
