We're starting to see a flurry of innovative user interface devices. Touch was just the beginning, we now have finger tracking, muscle flex detection, Kinect, Google Glass etc - some convergence of these technologies could result in an über-interface.
Another big area to consider is how we're going to deal with the avalanche of information that we're slowly all coming under. I use Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, HN, Instagram etc and I want ways to bring all of the relevant news to the surface. Technology that understands my interests and can help me to find not just what has become popular but also to discover interesting things that others haven't yet and share it with them whilst still respecting my privacy.
These are just what I'm personally excited about, but I think what we're really starting to see now is compartmentalisation and niche areas with high-specificity each getting their focus groups, not simply a case of "lowest-hanging fruit" - although there is a lot of that as more and more people get involved in trying to be a part of 'the next big thing'. It's more likely to be YOUR next big thing as opposed to THE next big thing.
So there is no longer that one overarching emergent technology anymore simply because the democratisation of all the previous technologies is enabling more and more people to focus on the finer details, improving their little corner of the sandbox.
To get involved, pick a niche that you're interested in and see if the skills you already have can be adapted in any way to mesh with any new technologies. Or look for problems that may not yet have been found and work to solve them. One of these could become your next big thing.
Another big area to consider is how we're going to deal with the avalanche of information that we're slowly all coming under. I use Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, HN, Instagram etc and I want ways to bring all of the relevant news to the surface. Technology that understands my interests and can help me to find not just what has become popular but also to discover interesting things that others haven't yet and share it with them whilst still respecting my privacy.
These are just what I'm personally excited about, but I think what we're really starting to see now is compartmentalisation and niche areas with high-specificity each getting their focus groups, not simply a case of "lowest-hanging fruit" - although there is a lot of that as more and more people get involved in trying to be a part of 'the next big thing'. It's more likely to be YOUR next big thing as opposed to THE next big thing.
So there is no longer that one overarching emergent technology anymore simply because the democratisation of all the previous technologies is enabling more and more people to focus on the finer details, improving their little corner of the sandbox.
To get involved, pick a niche that you're interested in and see if the skills you already have can be adapted in any way to mesh with any new technologies. Or look for problems that may not yet have been found and work to solve them. One of these could become your next big thing.