Here are some ICT trends for year 2019 picked from various sources (linked to sources) and edited by me:
General: From AI to Moore’s Law, the entire industry is deep in the throes of massive changes. The future will be characterized by smart devices delivering increasingly insightful digital services everywhere. While CPUs continue to evolve, performance is no longer limited to a single processor type or process geometry.
Business: There seems to be a clear evidence from this research that businesses are adopting and looking to capitalise on the benefits of Big Data, the Internet Of Things and Sensor technology for their mobile workforces.
Open source: 2019 Will Be the Year of Open Source in software and even in hardware. We saw more activity in open source than ever before in 2018. And the momentum isn’t likely to slow down in 2019.
Web is mobile: According to the statistics of FICORA, Ofcom, the PC has lost its place as the first device and platform for web browsing. Almost half of the web browses the web with a smart phone, which places a requirement on all online services from shops to news sites.
Multiple devices: As the number of different IT devices continues to grow, there are more and more devices in use at the same time.
Situations and tasks that utilize and use multiple devices together have become commonplace. We need to think how how user interfaces could better support multi-device sharing.
Artificial intelligence: It seems that AI Market Ramps Everywhere. The AI term creates hope for some, fear for others, and confusion for all. Artificial intelligence (AI) is what the Internet of Things was two years ago – overhyped and not very well understood. The obvious shift is the infusion of AI (and its subcategories, machine learning and deep learning) into different markets. It seems that you don’t need to be artificial intelligence wizard anymore to use some AI – at best, implementation can be picked up by GitHub without really understanding anything. AI Still Has Trust Issues for many. There are also views that now hot artificial intelligence is the bubble that broke out last in the 1990s because at present, artificial intelligence and man form a bad cyborg. You need to separate AI Hype From Reality because it seems to be a miraculous thing where almost nobody knows what it is.
AI chips: While GPUs are well-positioned in machine learning, data type flexibility and power efficiency are making FPGAs increasingly attractive. Today, selling custom chips for artificial intelligence is still a small business. Intel, the largest manufacturer of computer processors, has appraised the current market at $2.5 billion, one half of one percent of the estimated value of the 2018 global semiconductor market. At a press event at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show, Intel announced the Nervana Neural Network Processor (NNP-I), an AI chip for inference-based workloads that fits into a GPU-like form factor. Google and NXP advance artificial intelligence with the Edge TPU.
AI-driven development: AI-driven development looks at tools, technologies and best practices for embedding AI into applications and using AI to create AI-powered tools for the development process.
Huge data: It seems that It’s All About The Data. Data creation, management and processing always have been a winning business formula. It takes lots of data to train AI systems and IoT systems generate a lot of data.Data scientists now have increasing amounts of data to prepare, analyze and group — and from which to draw conclusions. The entire tech industry has changed in several fundamental ways over the past year due to the massive growth in data. Many data science tasks will be automated. Hardware and software are no longer the starting points for technology design. It’s now about data processing, flow and throughput.
Digital twins: A digital twin is a digital representation that mirrors a real-life object, process or system. Digital twins can also be linked to create twins of larger systems, such as a power plant or city. The idea of a digital twin is not new but is has become hot when AI and IoT were added to the mix.
Power consumption: Globally, ICT today consumes 8% of all electricity and doubles every year. I think we needs new semiconductor technologies and maybe also more optimized software that does more but consumes less power.
Memories: DRAM market growth stops in 2019. GDDR6 and HBM2 impacts system design. There is disparity between the different types of DRAM, from GDDR to HBM.
Faster storage: Apacer has CFexpress card, which supports PCIe and the new NVMe 1.3 protocol, transfers data at a rate of two gigabytes per second.
Heterogeneous architectures: Need for increased computing power requires new multi-processor architectures (hybrid processors). Heterogeneous design is changing the starting point for chip design so that integration is now more the real challenge rather than the processor core. Many ARM processors already use hybrid architecture. Intel has unveiled a new Foveros architecture that addresses the challenge of Arm processors.
Immersive technologies: Users can interact with the world with immersive technologies such as augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR) and virtual reality (VR). AR brings new possibilities. A smart space is a physical or digital environment in which humans and technology-enabled systems interact in increasingly open, connected, coordinated and intelligent ecosystems.
Open hardware: Can RISC-V – Linux of Microprocessors – Start an Open Hardware Renaissance? RISC-V is an open source processor command set that can be used with the same principles as Linux code. RISCV is now being firmly linked to Linux as the Linux Foundation and the RISC-V Foundation have agreed to work together to promote open code development and RISC-V deployment. For the first time, Arm architecture will be a serious challenger in millions, even billions of embedded devices. Companies like Hi-Five, NVIDIA and WDplan to release product with RISC-V in them. This year RISC-V does not compete with traditional CPUs on PCs. Also MIPS hardware architecture is opening up.
Containers: Is Kubernetes the new application server? If you thought there was a lot of chatter about Kubernetes in 2018, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
Software robotics: Software robotics becomes widely available. Robot Framework will be important on this.
Intel processors: Intel Announces Faster Processors Patched for Meltdown and Spectre, New Intel Architectures and Technologies Target Expanded Market Opportunities. Intel Demonstrates 10nm-based PCs, Data Center and Networking Systems, Next-Gen ‘Sunny Cove’ Architecture with AI and Crypto Acceleration, and 3D Logic Chip Packaging Technology. 5 Observations From Intel’s Event article says that mysterious locations, codenames and process delays are on the top of the list. Intel’s Foveros Lakefield technology for making smaller chips.
AMD processors: Ryzen mobile processors would begin showing up in ultrathin and gaming laptops by the end of the first quarter. AMD starts to use 7nm technology: Radeon VII GPU will be available and it is promised to be 27% to 62% faster, third-generation Ryzen desktop processor and second-generation EPYC server processor will be available starting later this year. AMD is challenging Intel in Chromebooks with A-Series CPUs and launching Ryzen Mobile 3000-Series chips with 2nd-generation Ryzen Mobile parts.
ARM processors: Taking aim at Intel, Qualcomm launches chip for business PCs. The Snapdragon 8cx series is Qualcomm’s first chip specifically designed for computers. Qualcomm’s pitch is that laptops using its chips will go days without needing to be plugged in, and will always be connected to the internet via cellular networks. The Snapdragon 8cx is also the world’s first 7-nanometer PC processor platform and promises superior performance for laptop. Intel’s position on laptops is very strong and Qualcomm has a big hill to get up if it really wants to challenge Intel’s PC side. Huawei Rolls 7nm ARM Server CPU Kunpeng 920 that is said to outperform ThunderX2, Ampere by 25%. Rumors are circulating that Apple will obsolete x86-based computers in favor of its own SoC-powered successors.
NVIDIA: RTX 2060 GPU was introduced. GeForce RTX™ graphics cards are powered by the Turing GPU architecture and the all-new RTX platform. This promises to give you up to 6X the performance of previous-generation graphics cards and brings the power of real-time ray tracing and AI to your favorite games. GeForce RTX 20 Series GPUs to gaming laptops.
Microsoft hardware: Microsoft reportedly working on Xbox and Windows webcams for 2019.
Windows security: Microsoft officially announces ‘Windows Sandbox’ for running applications in isolation.Microsoft’s coming ‘Windows Sandbox’ feature is a lightweight virtual machine that allow users to run potentially suspicious software in isolation. It could debut in Windows 10 19H1,
Storage: NVMe Hits a Tipping Point. A show dedicated to NVM Express (NVMe) next month solidifies an industry-wide sentiment that the host controller interface and storage protocol hit a tipping point in the last year. It is expected that we’re going to see the majority of new products coming out with NVMe. There are already relatively young NVM Express Over Fabrics (NVMe-oF) specification and even some hard disk enclosures using NVMe.
Fibre channel: Broadcom Nudges Fibre Channel to 64G using 64G optical modules (just starting to sample) and PCIe Gen 4 connections that are not yet generally available on x86 servers.
Faster PCIe:PCIe 4.0 is ready. The PCISIG organization has completed the new 4.0 version of the PCIe bus, and now the technology is expected to be deployed on the devices. It is possible to to get the full PCIe 4.0 speed with both copper and fiber. It seems that this year PCIe 4.0 comes to wider us for x86 servers.
FPGA: FPGA Graduates To First-Tier Status because FPGAs are better for certain types of computation than CPUs or GPUs.While GPUs are well-positioned in machine learning, data type flexibility and power efficiency are making FPGAs increasingly attractive.
Enterprise software:Legacy enterprise applications and software systems have a reputation for being clunky, expensive, and almost impossible to keep up to date. Rethink your enterprise software systems and consider whether cloud-based options like SaaS may better serve your needs. Office 365 is massively successful. AWS services are running the backend of thousands of major companies now. As internet connections and speeds increase, the cloud becomes more and more viable as it is more cost effective to centralize computer hardware reducing costs for companies and employee overhead.
Windows 10: Microsoft is building a Chromium-powered web browser that will replace Edge on Windows 10. Microsoft could be preparing to ditch the EdgeHTML layout engine of its unloved Edge browser in Windows 10 in favour of Chromium. Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is improved. Microsoft new Windows 10 reserves ~7GB of disk space for updates, apps, and more to ensure critical OS functions always have space.
Light Windows: Microsoft is working on Windows Lite, a super lightweight, instant on, always connected OS that runs only PWAs and UWP apps, to challenge Chrome OS. Microsoft’s ‘Centaurus’ device is yet another potential piece of its Chromebook-compete strategy.
Coding for Windows: Microsoft has released a public preview of Visual Studio 2019 for Windows and Mac. Microsoft open sources its most popular Windows UX frameworks and says the first preview of .NET Core 3.0 is now available — Microsoft is open sourcing WPF, Windows Forms and Win UI via GitHub.
Quantum computing: Quantum computing is a type of nonclassical computing that is based on the quantum state of subatomic particles that represent information as elements denoted as quantum bits or “qubits.” Quantum computers are an exponentially scalable and highly parallel computing model. They can work well on some specific tasks suitable for them, but are not suitable for most generic computing tasks we are used to.
Blockchain: Blockchain is a type of distributed ledger, an expanding chronologically ordered list of cryptographically signed, irrevocable transactional records shared by all participants in a network. It can work with untrusted parties without the need for a centralized party (i.e., a bank). Businesses should begin evaluating the technology to see if it fits their business or not. You need to separate Blockchain hype from Reality because it seems to be a potentially miraculous thing where almost nobody knows exactly what it is to what it is good for. Check this related Dilbert comic.
Related predictions and trends articles:
Gartner Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2019
Virtual reality implementation: observations and predictions
5 IT job trends to watch in 2019 – because success starts with talent
Digital transformation reality check: 10 trends
These are the 15 best US tech companies to work for in 2019, according to Glassdoor
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Tomi Engdahl says:
A beginner’s guide to system design
https://www.redhat.com/sysadmin/system-design
System design enables you to figure out how complex components come together to provide a solution.
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Navy Embracing Quicker Software Development Model to Leverage New HM&E Data Collection
By: Megan Eckstein
https://news.usni.org/2019/08/12/navy-embracing-quicker-software-development-model-to-leverage-new-hme-data-collection
Tomi Engdahl says:
Monads as a Programming Pattern
https://samgrayson.me/2019-08-06-monads-as-a-programming-pattern/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Walmart Removes Violent Video Game Signage, Still Sells Guns
https://www.vice.com/amp/en_us/article/pa7yk7/walmart-removes-violent-video-game-signage-still-sells-guns
The retailer is asking employees to take down signage and playable demos for violent video games, as well as hunting videos, in the wake of shootings at two of its stores.
Video games do not cause violence – but makers do need to think about it
https://amp.theguardian.com/games/2019/aug/07/video-games-do-not-cause-violence-but-makers-do-need-to-think-about-it
There is no compelling evidence that games cause real-life bloodshed, but the industry must address its attitude to guns and conflict, or risk being drowned out by fearmongers
Tomi Engdahl says:
GitHub Pages is a CI/CD pipeline
https://opensource.com/article/19/8/github-pages-cicd-pipeline
Integrating just a little bit of automation into your workflow can greatly improve your productivity and development velocity.
Tomi Engdahl says:
A World of Infinite Choice in Open Source Software
https://blog.sonatype.com/a-world-of-infinite-choice-in-open-source-software
Supply of Open Source is Massive
As the report indicates:
There are now more than 3.7 million unique Java open source software component releases in the Central Repository, 800,000 unique JavaScript packages in npm, 1.2 million unique Python component releases housed in the PyPI repository, and 1.6 million .NET component releases in the NuGet Gallery. There are also more than 2.2 million containerized applications housed in Docker Hub — up from 900,000 the previous year.
The massive supply of open source components grows with every new innovation and maintenance of previous parts. New versions enhance features, fix bugs, and patch security.
Tomi Engdahl says:
What Keeping Secrets Does To Your Brain
https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinecomaford/2019/07/29/what-keeping-secrets-does-to-your-brain/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/computing/hardware/descartes-labs-built-a-top-500-supercomputer-from-amazon-cloud
Tomi Engdahl says:
Julia: come for the syntax, stay for the speed
Researchers often find themselves coding algorithms in one programming language, only to have to rewrite them in a faster one. An up-and-coming language could be the answer.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02310-3?utm_source=fbk_nnc&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=naturenews&sf216633182=1
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.thomann.de/blog/fi/peli-soundtrackien-historia/
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Dark emerges from stealth with unique ‘deployless’ software model
https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/29/dark-emerges-from-stealth-with-unique-deployless-software-model/
Dark has been keeping its startup in the dark for the last couple of years while it has built a unique kind of platform it calls “deployless” software development. If you build your application in Dark’s language inside of Dark’s editor, the reward is you can deploy it automatically on Dark’s infrastructure on Google Cloud Platform without worrying about all of the typical underlying deployment tasks
Tomi Engdahl says:
Decades-Old Computer Science Conjecture Solved in Two Pages
By
ERICA KLARREICH
July 25, 2019
https://www.quantamagazine.org/mathematician-solves-computer-science-conjecture-in-two-pages-20190725/
The “sensitivity” conjecture stumped many top computer scientists, yet the new proof is so simple that one researcher summed it up in a single tweet.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.cnet.com/news/intel-fights-back-with-power-sipping-lakefield-chip-for-weird-new-pcs/
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What are the Happiest Jobs in Tech?
https://towardsdatascience.com/what-are-the-happiest-jobs-in-tech-4c4d33e065f0
Tomi Engdahl says:
Software Engineering Grads Lack the Skills Startups Need
https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-institute/ieee-member-news/software-engineering-grads-lack-the-skills-startups-need
Today’s software engineering programs teach students traditional skills tailored to large employers—subjects like software processes, software analysis, project management, and software management. But startups and next-gen technology companies expect a dynamic and in-depth understanding of the software ecosystem and its tools from new graduates. They want grads who can build scalable systems and program for large-scale, distributed, data-intensive systems that leverage cloud computing.
For example, a significant amount of time is spent studying and practicing strict adherence to software engineering processes. But organizations, especially technology-focused ones, use simplified, agile software processes. On the topic of software architecture, he says, the curriculum focuses more on documentation than application design
Students are taught formal testing methods such as static analysis, which checks code without actually running it. This helps them understand how to test software programs, but it doesn’t address the testing of distributed systems, web services, and infrastructure resiliency.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nvidia and VMware team up to make GPU virtualization easier
https://tcrn.ch/326elzr
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Emil Protalinski / VentureBeat:
Microsoft says it supports the addition of its proprietary exFAT file system to the Linux kernel and expects the Linux community to submit a conformant version — Microsoft today announced it is supporting the addition of its exFAT file system to the Linux kernel.
Microsoft wants its exFAT file system in the Linux kernel
https://venturebeat.com/2019/08/28/microsoft-wants-its-exfat-file-system-in-the-linux-kernel/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Are you on the DevOps train?
https://www.nitor.com/en/are-you-devops-train
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Mocking and Dependency Injection: TDD’s Hardest Problems
https://www.ranorex.com/blog/tdds-hardest-problems/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Microsoft’s only gone and published the exFAT spec, now supports popping it in the Linux kernel
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/08/28/microsoft_exfat_spec_linux_kernel/
exFAT heading towards Open Invention Network’s Linux System Definition
Tomi Engdahl says:
The End of Agile
https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognitiveworld/2019/08/23/the-end-of-agile/
Why Agile’s Future Is Bright
https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2019/08/25/why-the-future-of-agile-is-bright/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Dylan Martin / CRN:
AMD exec says EPYC server chip’s Secure Encrypted Virtualization, which uses an embedded Arm secure coprocessor, resulted from AMDs work on Xbox and PlayStation
AMD’s Xbox, PlayStation Work Led To A Big Security Feature In EPYC
https://www.crn.com/news/components-peripherals/amd-s-xbox-playstation-work-led-to-a-big-security-feature-in-epyc
‘We had 16 keys in a cryptographic isolation on a game console, and that’s one of the principal reasons they’ve never been hacked, even though they’re physically in the hands of a lot of people that would love to hack it,’ AMD exec Forrest Norrod tells CRN of how a virtualization security feature in EPYC came to be.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Tom Warren / The Verge:
Microsoft starts testing a more desktop-like Windows 10 tablet mode for 2-in-1 convertible PCs, and a cloud download option to reset and restore Windows 10 PCs
Microsoft unveils new tablet experience for Windows 10
Aimed at 2-in-1 devices
https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/29/20839655/microsoft-new-tablet-experience-windows-10-convertible-hardware-desktop
In the new tablet experience, the desktop will remain in full view, with the task bar icons visible and increased spacing between them. If enabled, the search box will collapse into an icon, and the touch keyboard will appear when you tap on a text field. File Explorer will also switch to a touch-optimized layout.
Microsoft already dropped a large amount of its Windows 8 tablet features that worked well on hybrid devices, and this tweak bring us back to the days of minimal Windows 7 touch improvements. These changes are only being made for 2-in-1 devices, so dedicated Windows 10 tablets will continue to have the full tablet experience that exists in the operating system. Microsoft is looking for feedback either way, and Windows tablet fans will definitely be ready to jump in and test these changes.
Tomi Engdahl says:
A dozen ways to learn Python
These resources will get you started and well on your way to proficiency with Python.
https://opensource.com/article/19/8/dozen-ways-learn-python
Tomi Engdahl says:
Implementing edge computing, DevOps like car racing, and more industry trends
https://opensource.com/article/19/8/implementing-edge-more-industry-trends
Tomi Engdahl says:
DevOps: Beware 3 paths to the dark side
https://enterprisersproject.com/article/2019/7/devops-mistakes-how-avoid
Three common mistakes can lead your team into the dark side of DevOps – where nothing goes right and everybody blames each other. Here’s how to avoid them
Tomi Engdahl says:
VMware is bringing VMs and containers together, taking advantage of Heptio acquisition
https://techcrunch.com/2019/08/26/vmware-is-bringing-vms-and-containers-together-taking-advantage-of-heptio-acquisition/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Q&A: This Autocompletion Tool Aims to Supercharge Your Coding
https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/computing/software/qa-this-autocompletion-tool-aims-to-supercharge-your-coding
Machine learning can already help you write emails faster by suggesting quick responses or finishing your sentences. But what if the concept behind Google’s Smart Compose could also help software developers be more productive?
Tomi Engdahl says:
Node-OS
The first operating system powered by node.js and npm
https://node-os.com/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sending Data Using Sound with Chirp and Arduino
https://blog.hackster.io/sending-data-using-sound-with-chirp-and-arduino-f7bce243b460
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://towardsdatascience.com/what-are-the-happiest-jobs-in-tech-4c4d33e065f0
Tomi Engdahl says:
Things I Learnt from a Senior Software Engineer
https://neilkakkar.com/things-I-learnt-from-a-senior-dev.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Quality Of Code Doesn’t Matter Much In Open Source Contributions: Study
https://fossbytes.com/quality-of-code-doesnt-matter-open-source-contributions/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Goodbye soft skills, hello core skills: Why IT must rebrand this critical competency
https://enterprisersproject.com/article/2019/8/why-soft-skills-core-to-IT
Labeling skills as soft undervalues them. To prioritize skills such as communication, IT leaders must call them what they are in the digital era: Core.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Why support open source? Strategies from around the world
https://opensource.com/article/19/8/open-source-large-series
A new series on open source strategy digs into using open source investments to support the overall mission.
Tomi Engdahl says:
“Pelaaminen on monille keino elää vaihtoehtotodellisuudessa” – Tonislav Hristov teki elokuvan roolipelaamisesta
https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2019/08/30/pelaaminen-on-monille-keino-elaa-vaihtoehtotodellisuudessa-tonislav-hristov
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10921448
Tomi Engdahl says:
Maths and tech specialists need Hippocratic oath, says academic
Exclusive: Hannah Fry says ethical pledge needed in tech fields that will shape future
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/aug/16/mathematicians-need-doctor-style-hippocratic-oath-says-academic-hannah-fry
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/03/calc-exe-is-now-open-source-theres-surprising-depth-in-its-ancient-code/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://github.com/microsoft/terminal
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://techcrunch.com/2019/08/19/minecraft-to-get-big-lighting-shadow-and-color-upgrades-through-nvidia-ray-tracing/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Openwashing Report: It’s Getting Worse, Fast. Everything is Apparently ‘Open’ Now Even Though It’s Actually Proprietary.
http://techrights.org/2019/08/18/everything-is-cheaply-open/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://opensource.com/article/19/8/webassembly-speed-code-reuse
Tomi Engdahl says:
The cloud isn’t killing open source software
How the cloud motivates open source businesses to evolve quickly.
https://opensource.com/article/19/8/open-source-licensing
Tomi Engdahl says:
The pros and cons of infrastructure-as-code
IaC has a lot of pros, but someone needs to warn us about the cons before we get started.
https://www.redhat.com/sysadmin/pros-and-cons-infrastructure-code
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.statista.com/chart/19058/how-many-websites-are-there/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Build a distributed NoSQL database with Apache Cassandra
Set up a basic three-node Cassandra cluster from scratch with some extra bits for replication and future expansion.
https://opensource.com/article/19/8/how-set-apache-cassandra-cluster
Tomi Engdahl says:
The infrastructure is code: A story of COBOL and Go
COBOL remains the dominant language of mainframes. What can Go learn from its history to dominate the cloud?
https://opensource.com/article/19/8/command-line-heroes-cobol-golang
Tomi Engdahl says:
Learn sorting algorithm with Kronk. Via https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgrammerHumor/comments/cyrlvp/learn_sorting_algorithm_with_kronk/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google’s internal code review guidelines are now open source
(Discussion on HN – http://bit.ly/2ZD9Kbh)
Google’s Engineering Practices documentation
How to do a code review
https://google.github.io/eng-practices/review/reviewer/