'Augmented humanity' to be the next big channel opportunity - IDC
The 'Fourth Platform' will consist of 'injectables' and robotic exoskeletons, claims IDC
"Injectable" technology, robotic exoskeletons and augmented memories could be some of the hot products the channel will sell in the 2020s and 2030s, according to IDC.
Earlier today, the analyst unveiled its predictions for next year - in which it claims more and more CEOs will come from tech backgrounds - reflecting the importance of digital to businesses across the board. It also took a longer-term view into the 2020s and 2030s.
The current trend taking the technology industry by storm is the so-called Third Platform - big data, cloud, IoT and digital transformation. The Fourth Platform will be a lot more personal, according to IDC's chief analyst for Europe Phil Carter.
"If you think about the transition, we've gone from technology in our offices in our homes in the form of PCs, to technology in our pockets in the form of smartphones, to technology on our bodies, in the form of smart devices and wearables," he said. "Now we think we will see tech integrated with our bodies. So effectively we - me and you - become the fourth platform.
"In Europe, we think this notion of augmented humanity offering will start to becomes mainstream in the 2020s. It's a longer-term view but we do see some of the examples coming through on the horizon. We've identified six areas this might play out in terms of the types of ways these technologies might augment the human body.
"Augmented mobility - robotic exoskeletons which allow paralysed people to walk; augmented biostructure for nerve regeneration; augmented memory and recognition - linked to the artificial intelligence and cognitive space; augmented sensing and embedded or injectable technology as well. All of these are starting to take shape and pilots are starting to come through."
Carter said the life sciences and consumer space are obvious places that the Fourth Platform will begin. When asked by CRN if there is a channel opportunity for the futuristic tech, Carter said:
"Businesses can leverage it. How people interact with technology as part of business processes will be augmented by these technologies. You can already see that as part of the use of augmented technologies. You can then see how that will play out in the Fourth Platform world."
The 'augmented' trend is making its way into the business space at the moment, with Microsoft's augmented reality tool HoloLens hitting the market.
Dan Scarfe (pictured), founder of New Signature, said his firm is currently working with the technology, and added that he is excited for future developments in the space.
"[With HoloLens], we're still at the point of pitching to customers. We've still not got live projects but I can see huge applications for that. Just being able to interact with our computers over voice - something as simple as that is still fairly new. There's a phenomenal opportunity around that," he said.
"With augmented reality, I still think we've barely scratched the surface of where it is going. It's got about 15 years before that matures. Beyond that, who knows? Whatever new advances there are, there's always an opportunity for the channel to respond to business users. The consumer play will be highly commoditised, but there is an opportunity in the business space. It's the responsibility of the channel to figure out how to take [technologies] and package them up in a way to deliver value to whatever field they might be in."