Technology of 2011 in Review
Posted on Wed, Dec 21, 2011
Technology over the last couple decades has
been expanding faster then a marshmallow peep in a microwave. Ok, maybe not quite that fast, but in a similar fashion.
Since this year is coming to a close, I thought it would be appropriate to highlight a few noteworthy events and developments that helped shape the technological landscape in 2011.
Social Media
One of the hottest topics this year was social media. There was rarely a moment that it was not mentioned in casual conversation, online or by general media headlines. The newsworthy events included the release of Goggle+, the growing influence of Twitter, and Facebook’s unveiling of “Timeline” and their battle with the F.T.C. over privacy issues.
Governments all around the world are taking notice too. Egypt turned off all internet access to the public for days due to social media’s power. Even the U.S. government had its own issues dealing with social media and national security.
Medical
Advances in the arena of medical technology came from all sides. With the push for Electronic Healthcare Records, existing systems started integrating new features, such as voice recognition and made advancements in interface usability and functionality.
Great strides were taken during 2011 in the development of medical robotics. Toyota merged as a front runner with their devices for moving patients and wearable robotic walking assistants.
Healthcare has even gone remote. Telehealth is a growing trend. Heart monitors and other portable devices are being used by patients at home and data is sent to health providers in real time.
With the collaboration of Cisco and UnitedHealth Group, telehealth is being put into practice on a grander scale. This past year, they teamed up with Walgreens to start providing Cisco employees medical services via Cisco’s LifeConnections health center, providing their North Carolina campus access to health providers in California.
Cloud Computing
It is not just another techie buzz word, but rather a legitimate option for many companies as software, storage and development platforms. Utilizing the internet’s strengths have become common this past year as companies and individuals realized the importance of mobility across all facets of business.
Computers
Hewlett-Packard had a turbulent year with almost giving up on its PC division and then with the changing of the guard. The new CEO, Meg Whitman, is doing her best to keep HP on pace with the changing world of computers.
Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, left an undeniable mark on the post-PC world. His death in October was mourned by many. His leadership helped to make Apple into one of the leading companies in the world with the iPad 2 leading the tablet computer market and the iPhone 4s fast on its way to becoming the most popular iPhone thus far.
The Android platform proved to be a contender, making its way in even more phones and tablets. It ended the year releasing its version 4.0, AKA Ice Cream Sandwich.
Stay up to date on the latest technology news and trends! Subscribe to our IT Blog now by providing your email in the field on the top right.