New Tech Forecast Report Released

The Business Software Alliance (BSA) today released a CEO opinion survey and white paper on the future of technology entitled, Enabling Tomorrow's Innovations.

The research predicts that several innovative technologies will gain widespread adoption over the next 10 years, estimating:

-- 65 percent of the world's billion-plus Web users will be able to access the Internet from a wireless device;

-- The number of people playing games online will swell to 100 million;

-- The number of converged cell phone-PDAs will jump from 4 million to 80 million; and

-- Local wireless hotspots will grow from 20,000 to 140,000.

Predictions from the research estimate that productivity improvements in the next five years could yield up to $140 billion in annual cost savings to industries. Additionally, efforts to make the Internet safe for all commercial transactions would help Internet commerce grow a full six times, expanding from $1 trillion last year to nearly $6 trillion by 2006.

Noting that there are challenges to reaping the full potential of some future innovations, the study concludes with a "call to action," which identifies five concrete steps necessary to promote next-generation technologies and the benefits they will drive:

1. Invest in Innovation - Public and private investment in research accelerates the development process and speeds the benefits to businesses and consumers.

2. Protect Intellectual Property - Without such protection, investors won't invest and software developers and computer makers won't be able to create cutting-edge products.

3. Focus on Users - This means creating easy-to-use, secure and reliable software that can be optimized to a particular business environment.

4. Advance Business Models as Well as Technology - Business models must continue to be adjusted, advanced and evolved. New delivery, development and deployment techniques promise new choices and options for businesses and consumers alike.

5. Invest in Skilled Workforce - Fully reaping the benefits of innovation will require a world class education system, access to the best minds and the ability to attract and retain skilled workers through compensation linked to company performance.

Download the report here.