In 2015, it’s likely that the effects of the Sony Pictures hack will reverberate throughout the enterprise IT world. “I think people will become even more aware of the importance of looking after customer data now because of issues of privacy and reputation. If there’s any sort of breach with that kind of data, it will really hurt your company,” said Williams. “Customers will vote with their feet, and even if you don’t suffer a direct financial loss as a result of a breach, the loss of customer confidence will make itself felt on the bottom line in time.”
WEARABLES
By next spring, the first Apple watches will be on the wrists of consumers around the world. It will be the most significant development to date in the emergence of wearable technology, as the marketing machine behind Apple thrusts it into the public consciousness. Wearables, and the development of them, are likely to be one of the defining tech trends of 2015 and beyond, and not just for the consumer market — for businesses it is a trend that could also have significant implications.
According to new research from Gartner, by 2018 more than 25 million head-mounted displays (HMDs) will have been sold as immersive devices. Virtual worlds, Gartner believes, will have gone mainstream and interest in HMD devices, which power virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and other smart glass apps, will be such that by 2018 the technology behind them will be used in a variety of consumer and business scenarios.
“HMDs are more popular now than at any point in the past,” said Brian Blau, research director at Gartner. “Prior to 2014, HMDs were mainly found in specialty applications such as industrial design or military training and simulation, where HMD technology is well-developed. However even with a long history of HMD development, broad adoption in the consumer market has yet to take hold. That situation will change as soon as HMDs are offered as stylish, consumer-grade video eyeglasses. This will eventually drive adoption when paired with compelling virtual worlds and augmented real-world content.”
One thing we stress at the start of every year is that people are the weak link. You can get too caught up in the technology solutions that are out there, forgetting that everything falls apart if you don’t have proper training and policies for the people using the computers, Dermot Williams, Threatscape
While most people still associate wearables with the consumer market, when it comes to the enterprise there are many legitimate uses for this type of technology — think warehouse inventory staff or even surgeons in operating rooms, both of whom would benefit from not needing to carry around a tablet or smart phone.
“Historically, smart phones and tablets found their way into use in a lot of industries because there was no wearable technology that could do the job,” said Dan Cui, vice president for business development with Vuzix, the New York-based wearable technology specialists. “Take logistics applications. Companies have been using cell phones and tablets for years but they need hands-free ability in order to improve safety. If you’re in a warehouse you don’t want to be walking around with a tablet in your hand trying to do an inventory of boxes. How much better is it to have the computer on your head and have both your hands free to pick up and manipulate the objects that you need to? That’s a much safer environment.”
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