Predictions for 2012

Global Focus Begins a Shift from Kinetic Conflict to Information, Economic, IPR, Technology and Innovation Wars

Kinetic Conflict Begins shift from Boots on Ground to SEALS and Special Operations Forces Supported by Around-the-Clock Sensors and the Unblinking Eyes of UAVs

Conflict and Physical Wars Give Way to Formal and Ad-Hoc Diplomacy Enabled by the Electronic Communication, Collaboration and Advent of Social eMedia.

Intelligence Gathering Shifts from Clandestine Operations and Deployment to Open Source Listening, Collection and Incisive Analysis

A New Paradigm Known as Global Coopetition Begins. This is a Combination of Cooperation, Collaboration, Information Sharing and Fierce Competition -- The New Economic War

For the Next 20-Years, Debtor Nations’ Theme is Austerity while Lender Nations Become the New Consumers and Continue as Dominant Sellers of Goods to Debtor Nations

In the Developed World, Social Demographic Construct Begins a Shift from a [Top -10%; Middle -70%; Bottom-20%] Model to a [Top-20% and a Bottom-80%] Construct as Measured by Individuals’ Liquid Wealth, Income and Debt (Not Per Capita GDP)

On the Federal IT Front, the $80b Federal IT Budget Will Stay Nearly Constant. However, Expenditure Categories will Get Significantly Repurposed. Under the New Repurposed Model, Private Clouds, Data Center Consolidation, Cyber Operations, Cyber Security and Mobility Will Take a Larger Budget Share

On the Technology Front, Data Centers and Servers Farms Give Way to Consumer, Utility and Enterprise “Clouds”

Clouds (Private and Public) Become the Backbone of All Data, Applications and Services Consumed at the Edge by Diverse Array of End-Users Ranging From the Military to Students to SMBs to Retail Consumers

Desktops and Laptops Give Way to Thin Client Mobility Devices like eReaders, Smart Devices, 4G Phones and Tablets. TV, Video and Radio Begin a Rapid Shift to These Distribution Mediums

$50-$100 Thin Client Mobility Devices will Begin to Proliferate. These New Un-tethered Devices will Access all Content and Services via Global Clouds. Kindle Fire is the First Step in this Direction.

Asymmetric On-Line eLearning and Real-Time but Non-Expository Education Delivered via Cloud Services begin to Take-Off. School and Educational Books Start to go Electronic and Delivered via Clouds Such as Amazon, iCloud and Google

Mobile OS Wars (i.e. Apple’s iOS vs. the Android) Give Way to Usability, Personalization and Consumer-Rated Utility/Value of Applications on these Mobility Devices

Money Goes Digital – Your Phone Beings to Become Your Wallet

Voice, Finger Print and Retina Scans (Biometric Identifiers) Begin to Take Over Passwords and Signatures

Google+ Aided by a Diverse, Well Integrated and Mobility-Optimized Suite of Google Apps will Begin to Take Off