5 Innovations That Will Change the Way Businesses Use Computers

20 Aug 5 Innovations That Will Change the Way Businesses Use Computers

There is no denying that a slew of technological advancements are changing the way businesses use technology in a way that hasn’t been seen since the introduction of PCs to the workplace. Here are our guesses about the five technologies that will reshape your office, and the way we all do business.

1. Touch-Screens

It’s very easy to underestimate the impact of having touch-enabled screens on laptops until you’ve used one. The minute you swipe away a file using the mouse to select where you want to go next, and enter in a string of text with the keyboard is the minute you realize that things are a lot different. Touch screens have been around for a while, but have generally suffered from poor performance and expensive components. As the price of touchscreens decreases while the quality rapidly increases, we will be seeing much more touch technology in use in the office. Once the technology is a little more common, it won’t be long until touch-centric apps replace many common mouse/keyboard applications of today.

2. Hybrid Mobile Devices

We’re already starting to see these, and it won’t be long until they’re much more common and much more business-friendly. The idea is to have one device that can actually work as two devices — a tablet and a laptop or traditional desktop. Sometimes, the two devices are inseparable, like tablet computers whose screen flips over. More likely, though, we will see more devices where a tablet can plug in to stationary base that will add power, battery life, and full PC functionality. This flexibility will radically change the way we think of the mobile workforce.

3. Full Collaboration

Being able to collaborate with coworkers and teammates on the same file at the same time used to be a feature that was only found in high-end and specialized software. Now, it’s found in desktop word processing and cloud-based drawing apps. The drive towards collaboration in the same document at the same time between distant employees can reshape the way you set up your office by allowing remote workers to really be part of the team. More collaboration will free you to hire the best team possible, not the closest team possible.

USACI offers GoToMeeting – a simple, cost-effective and easy to manage tool that allows you to meet from anywhere on any device.

4. Wearable Technology

Wearable technology is still in its infancy, but it’s already making waves. Devices like the rumorediWatch and Google Glass will change the way people have access to information, and can go a long way towards radically restructuring your office. Glass especially has huge ramifications, allowing you to get information on whatever you’re looking at or talking about right in front of you in real time.

5. Last-Mile Fiber

This may not be nearly as new or as exciting as some of the other ones we’ve talked about, but it’s also one that can do the most to disrupt the way business is done. Last-mile fiber promises to bring internet speeds like most people have never seen before to most American homes and businesses. While it’s still a little way off, it has huge potential when it gets here. Just ask Kansas City — a year after being picked by Google to be their pilot city for Google Fiber, it has transformed from a sleepy Midwestern town known for banking and insurance to a hotbed of technology startups and innovation.