WRITTEN BY BLAKE MILLER, PARTNER AT THINK BIG PARTNERS
The start of a new year means so much more than new resolutions, a fresh start and a rejuvenated mind. In my opinion, 2012 means the birth of even more exciting Internet developments and innovations. From the birth of Smart Cities to the death of the QR Code, I believe that the Internet will undergo an extreme (and positive) transformation this year. How so? Take a look at my top 8 predictions for Internet trends in 2012:
1.
People will actually
start using the Internet to communicate. I know what you'er thinking: We already use Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. to interact with people. True, but these social media sites are just the tip of the iceberg. In 2012, I
believe voice calls over the Internet will actually become somewhat of the
norm, but not in the way you think. Look for phone apps that allow you to
bypass your carrier service and connect through WiFi. My wildcard bet?
Facebook's Messenger app adds voice calling and effectively becomes the Whitepages of the Internet.
2.
The Internet will
continue its transition to everything in our lives. Yes, the Internet is already
everywhere; laptops, PCS, iPads, smartphones, etc. But watch for appliances,
toys, cars, and even more to have Internet connectivity. Imagine a world
where you can check items into your fridge and when you are at the grocery
store, you can login in through your fridge app and see what you need.
3.
Government legislation. We
have already seen the start of this with the absolutely absurd legislation of
the SOPA Act.
Unfortunately, I don’t think this will be the end of the government
preventing innovation.
4.
Municipalities and cities becoming open source.
Also known as Smart Cities, we have already started to see cities open up their
data sets for entrepreneurs to use. Look for more cities to get “smart”
and companies like Screampoint
to take advantage of that mass amount of invaluable data.
5.
The infrastructure of the Internet will become a major focus.
Google Fiber anyone? Since the birth of the Internet, it has been a platform for apps. This includes everything from websites to what we consider apps
today. The app trend will continue, but I think generally it is in its
“mature state.” As we continue to create more data (I read somewhere
that more data has been created in the last three years than the previous
40,000...WOW!) we will need the infrastructure to transmit that. Enter the
Google Fiber project.
What would I bet on? That entrepreneurs will start to light whole cities with WiFi access...some of it free.
6.
Forgetting your wallet
home will not be a problem. Companies
like Square
and Google
have already started this trend in the middle of 2011. Just
recently, Dwolla announced Instant,
which allows you to borrow up to $500 with very small fees. As Dwolla grows
and merchants hop on board as a method to pay, you can make a purchase straight
from an app. If your not familiar with Dwolla, you really should be.
7.
Mobile hardware will
actually catch up to the capabilities of mobile software. Okay...so this is a pipe dream, but hopefully
there will be strides made. Can you imagine if battery life was increased
just 5 times what it currently is?
8.
Death to the QR Code! Alright, alright. This is another pipe dream for me and I
don’t think I’m alone. Why did Americans hop on an archaic technology?!
There are so many other ways to simplify!
Follow me! @BlakeMiller32
