Technology trends in 2012 will focus on making connections

Success for the technology industry in 2012 will hinge on one thing — making connections — reports Joe Mullich in today’s “Enterprise Technology” special section in The Wall Street Journal. Advances in technology will affect how consumers interact with companies, speak different languages to communicate and uncover the hidden meanings in “big data.”
Mullich spoke with numerous industry leaders to define important trends for the new year. Among the most critical: Removing language barriers is becoming more important than ever, according to Louis F. Provenzano Jr., president and CEO of Language Line Services, the largest over-the-phone interpretation services company in the world. One in five legal American residents speaks a language other than English at home, he states in the article. His company recently announced a deal with AT&T to provide live mobile interpretations.
Other trends in 2012 will include major growth in the digital signage market, an increasing shift to cloud computing, greater usage of mobile payment platforms and a shift to virtual call assistance features. Mullich notes that IT departments will become more useful than ever in helping companies ramp up innovation.