the Internet of Things . The cloud as the center for the Internet of Things enabled elasticity on demand , infinite expansion , greater economies of scale and lower costs . The elasticity option let key organizations ’ users scale quickly at lower cost points by letting big-data applications increase and decrease capacity as needed . The elastic intelligent cloud is a virtual intelligent center of a network of clouds worldwide where huge sites are mirrored in many places for anytime anywhere access / process expansion / contraction .
The Next Technology Wave Fifty years ago there were no job classifications for mobile app developers or career paths called data analytic engineers , front-end design engineers , genomic editing engineers or cyber encryption engineers , but now they are some of the most coveted careers and skill sets in the world . In April 2016 , more than 1 billion cell-phone users gained the capability to encrypt their IMCD communication with Open Whisper System new encryption protocols .
In the past , organ transplants were considered a limited research endeavor , but technological innovations have transformed the field . Today tens of thousands of human Going Forward organs are transplanted every year , but the gap between the number of people who need a new organ and the availability factor continues to widen . A few years ago researchers began to focus on two primary directions : stem cells and growing replacements organs in other animals . Both approaches have been fraught with difficulties and slow progress .
In the past , societies of people around the world organized themselves into nations and countries located on various continents of planet earth . Today , technology allows societies to organize on other matrices ; i . e . interest , language , beliefs , passion , expertise , customs , planets , exoplanets , galaxy , etc . This has empowered , promoted , and enabled collaboration globally on ideas and possibilities that in many cases were never thought of before or deemed unnecessary or thought impossible or forbidden based on legal , moral , ethical , cultural , and religious grounds . The Uber launch is an example of this empowerment . In a world and society where people are constantly on the move , how we travel around mega-cities is an important factor . The Uber launch team had to rethink urban transportation models and find a better way for residents in mega-cities to move around , work , and thrive .
And then there ’ s inter-planet and inter-galaxy travel . Since astronomers first discovered planets beyond earth ’ s solar system in early 1996 , more than 3,400 exoplanets have been documented . A third example is astronomers are now planning to launch the James Webb Space Telescope in 2018 to determine which exoplanets might be home to extraterrestrial life . Plans are also being developed for travel to Mars and the next closest galaxy to Mars .
Today , we live in a world driven by mobile apps where people are at least as likely to interact with businesses through an app as in person . Thriving in this environment is no easy feat as it requires delivering quality at high speeds with an enhanced and value-added user experience . Security concerns will continue to be critical , but navigating the ever-changing world of thematic shifts can yield value and customer loyalty . While campuses cannot know with certainty what the future holds , they can develop a vision of key possibilities and challenges relevant for campus
2025 such as the following :
• Cloud-based Internet of Things for center and edge intelligent mobile computing
• Transparency and social media
• Disasters and emergencies
• Dynamic leadership of campus and academic associations
• Social , ethical , religious and moral issues
• VR and AI integration into the curriculum , administration , and institution management
• Cybersecurity of the Internet of Things in 2016 and beyond
• Technology initiatives will increasingly be launched and leveraged as a service
• A world where everything is recorded and every word or suggestion analyzed
• Campus mobile-computing professionals will work directly with researchers , administrators , key management and boards of control to leverage and enhance commodity systems rather than re-invent the wheel .
• Campus technology will gradually shift to a model of service integration with vendors and other external researchers .
• Successful collaboration will transcend institution cultures when testbed projects are successful or fall short of expectations .
• Knowing and understanding your collaborators , customers , peers , detractors and vendors will be key to success .
Finally , on a scale of 1 of 10 , how would you rate your campus ’ culture and ability to develop a campuswide 2025 vision assimilating global emerging trends and technologies ?
James S . Cross , PhD , is a former ACUTA president and a contributing editor to the ACUTA Journal . Jim retired from Longwood University several years ago . He can sometimes be reached at jscross22 @ gmail . com .
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26 Winter 2017 ACUTA Journal