Going mobile in 2015 and 2016
Industry analysis looks ahead for opportunity
A Gartner researcher has outlined his thoughts on what could be the top 10 mobile technologies and capabilities in the next two years.
Nick Jones, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner, wrote in a blog post that IT staff will need to master an even wider range of technologies and skills in the mobility arena.
HTML5, multiarchitecture development, advanced mobile user experience design, precision location-sensing, wearable devices, the Internet of Things, more mobile devices, long-term evolution cellular, metrics, and enterprise mobility management were all mentioned.
"[For example] Knowing an individual's location to within a few metres is a key enabler of the delivery of highly relevant contextual information and services," Jones wrote.
"Apps exploiting precise indoor location currently use technologies such as Wi-Fi, imaging, ultrasonic beacons and geomagnetics. In 2014, Gartner expects growth in the use of wireless beacons using the new Bluetooth Smart standard. In the longer term, technologies such as smart lighting will also become important."
He said precise indoor location sensing, combined with mobile apps, will enable even more personalised services and information.
On top of that, most organisations will need app development tools that support three key platforms – Android, iOS and Windows – as well as three application architectures: native, hybrid and mobile web. This means a complex balancing of technical and non-technical issues and features, Jones said.
Meanwhile, the fragmented nature of HTML5 would pose implementation and security risk at the same time as it became essential to boost mobile app portability, he said. And designers would have to work harder on challenges such as partial user attention and interruption, as well as creating more inspiring, exceptional user experiences.
"Leading consumer apps are setting high standards for user interface design, and all organisations must master new skills and work with new partners to meet growing user expectations," noted Jones.
Taken together, Gartner's predictions paint a picture of a more complex web of connections, incorporating an increasing number and broadening range of devices into personal area networking.
"These gadgets will communicate with mobile apps to deliver information in new ways and enable a wide range of products," said Jones. "Emerging Wi-Fi standards such as 802.11ac (Waves 1 and 2), 11ad, 11aq and 11ah will increase Wi-Fi performance, make Wi-Fi more relevant to applications such as telemetry, and enable Wi-Fi to provide new services."