Stepping on the Threshold of a New Decade

As we prepare to celebrate the start of a new year I can’t help but look back on the past 10 years and contemplate what the next year (and decade) has to offer. Many will not miss 2009, but the decade of the new millennium brought a new wave of technologies.

Standing at the threshold of 2010, I can’t help but wonder where our focus in technology will turn. In the past 10 years, we’ve had the fortune of many, many technology advances. Today, most everyone has a cell phone…and it seems most have traded a cell phone for a smart phone the likes of an iPhone or Blackberry. To “Google” is a common verb in many households. We’ve also seen the first generation of workers that were born in the computer age enter the workforce. Somewhat related, social networking firmly took root ala MySpace, Facebook. Similarly, professionally oriented sites added to the collective in the form of LinkedIn and Plaxo. In addition, many more people now have a Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail address…and not just folks that are technologically savvy. Technology is now easily accessible and readily used.

In many ways, we’ve had the opportunity to bask in the excess that technology has provided. Moving out of the global recession that has impacted people near and far, I can’t help but wonder if in the new decade we will resources more efficiently. It is an interesting exercise in thought to consider what could be done with what already exists.

I would be remiss in this missive without mentioning cloud computing. While cloud computing started well before 2009, cloud computing became a household term in 2009. Moving into 2010, I wonder if we will move beyond the hype to find real ways to effectively use the cloud on a broad scale…and the other technologies before us. While the term “green” may seem passé, it may be replaced by sustainability and efficiency. Thankfully, there are already undercurrents afoot with both. The possibilities that cloud and IT efficiencies bring will provide support for an evolutionary change in technology organizations. And this is only one area of possibilities. Many more exist…and will exist in the coming year and new decade.

As I think about the past year…and decade, I have much to be thankful for. Technology has served me well and provided me with a platform in which to build a career. I’ve met some very talented and wonderful people over the past year alone. While this past year has been challenging for many of us, I’m looking forward to 2010 and the possibilities that it offers to us all. Through our collective work, we can further our existing efforts and make a difference in the world we live in.

Here’s to a happy and prosperous 2010! Happy New Year!