After the dismal string of predictions for 2007, we ignore our track record and stick our neck out once again to forecast what’s in store in 2008.
But if you would first like to see how close to the mark we were last time, check out In with the new…
Social networks: These will either become even more embedded in everyday life or will suffer from a backlash. Businesses will continue to cultivate the networking, Web 2.0, user-generated content trend while the marketplace makes its mind up.
Google: Will develop its own browser. Or purchase Firefox instead. In the event of neither taking place, Google will enter into secret negotiations to buy a country.
Computers: Sales of desktops will decline and mobile converged device sales will soar. A new word is invented for the new breed of internet/camera/phone/tea-making devices.
Dial up: In 2008 dial-up goes the way of the 8-track recorder, vinyl roofs and shell suits. Screechy modem handshaking noises are sampled for phone ring tones.
Virtual life: The first legal marriage of two virtual reality avatars takes place. A horde of lawyers swarm around ready to pick up the pixels when it all goes pear shaped.
Web cam: A dog with a web cam strapped to its head becomes an unlikely star after launching a web TV channel. The 24 x 7 reality TV show is an instant hit with shots drinking out of puddles and rolling in mud being interspersed with long periods of inactivity in front of the fire. Some viewers are sceptical, however, about the enthusiasm he shows each time his owner gets ready to take him out for a walk. Claims of faking are met with accusations that the doubters are closet cat lovers.
Schools: Disruptive pupils are given laptops and told to do their schoolwork remotely.
Security: Life for many people enters the Dark Ages when hackers launch an attack on their broadband-enabled fridges and cars. Several hundred thousand households are forced to make homemade soup when two kilos of mushrooms turn up unexpectedly in their weekly supermarket home delivery. Others not so lucky find themselves locked out of the fridge and with cars that refuse point blank to start. Rogue elements of Weight Watchers are suspected of being behind the Denial of Service attacks on fridges and cars the length of the UK.
Sensational web: A breakthrough occurs and for the first time online food and drink stores are able to send users smells and tastes over the net via speakers and headsets. Other sites look into the possibility of deploying the technology to make their users’ experience more authentic. Concerns are expressed about all the extra bandwidth required and who should pick up the tab.
