Last week the New York Times ran a technology piece titled “A Vision of the Future From Those Like to Invent It” about the seismic lifestyle changes that software development will bring in coming years. As an Omaha software design and business process consultant, we geek out on this stuff hardcore. It’s interesting to look at how these technological advancements will impact the workplace.
Proactive and Real Time
The ability to transact work electronically is not a novel concept. Automating workflow not only reduces unnecessary steps, it creates a greater level of transparency and helps managers track project status quickly and easily. Clara Shih, founder and Chief Executive at Hearsay Social sees promise in “Implantable chips that monitor the number of steps we take, hours we sleep, all of our vital signs, blood chemistry and beyond. The chip data will be used to adjust our medications, offer suggestions to change our behavior and automatically send an ambulance…” This real time data allow for faster and better treatment of now preventable death. It will also reduce what is currently a heavy paper trail requiring the coordination of doctors, pharmacies, health care providers and patients. When writing code, software developers strive to eliminate redundancy and create clarity for users in their tasks and subsequent prioritization. Implanted sensors are a great metaphor for workflow. The sensors trigger work to flow through preset, defined steps and you won’t see critical stoppage because paper is sitting in a file on someone’s desk. Offices that eliminate paper through automation will see higher employee satisfaction as well. People will better understand what s on their plate.
Simple and Utilitarian
One of the most useful tech changes in the pipeline will be wireless charging solutions. In the not too distant future Susan Wojcicki, Head of Youtube, believes that all of our mobile devices will be able to wirelessly charge. This kind of application design and development will increase connectivity in developing countries and be vital for communication during catastrophic events (think Hurricane Sandy). This innovation may not necessarily be as sexy as wearing computers in the form of contact lenses to access all of your cloud data anywhere, anytime, but it will inevitably save lives. First Responders will be able to more quickly locate people in need of help and loved ones won’t remain in the dark. Unleashing our technology from the chains of wall power will be liberating.
Access to Learning and Education
Reid Hoffman, a VC at Greylock and co-founder of LinkedIn sees increased opportunity for new business and job creation. He sites the Khan Academy as a model for new on-line learning centers focused around professional and vocational schools that will be easily accessible. The creation and growth of these learning communities will make robust learning platforms available to those who might be working full time and unable to afford attending traditional brick and mortar institutions. Volano Solutions sees productivity applications demand increasing as well. Smaller businesses will become less dependent on whiteboards, excel and QuickBooks to manager their work. In a previous blog we explored the changes already occurring in technology education with the advent of code schools. It is fascinating to see a reevaluation of traditional learning institutions occurring as new innovation is sought.
January 19, 2021
Software development is a team-based endeavor because of the complexity involved in launching a new system. Gone are the days when one developer can be point on the whole back-office software stack. It now takes multiple specialized roles to (appropriately) fulfill the software delivery lifecycle. A typical software project requires: Leadership Product management Project management […]
January 13, 2021
One definition of rot is the process of deterioration. Something that decays over time. By this standard – software rots like food in the Nebraska heat. It’s true. If your software isn’t regularly updated, it deteriorates and breaks down. Consider this – software is written to work at a moment in time…but time marches on. […]
January 4, 2021
OMAHA, NE, January 4, 2021 – In late 2020, Volano Solutions announced it has changed its name to Volano Software and launched a new website: www.volanosoftware.com. The name change was made to more accurately reflect what the company does, and the website was designed to be more informative and user-friendly to clients and prospective clients […]
June 2, 2020
According to LinkedIn technology (software) has a higher overall turnover rate than retail. With that, it isn’t a matter of if, but a matter of when. Volano has engineered a culture of “by developers, for developers” and this helps our retention. In fact, most of the folks that work at Volano have been here +5 […]
June 2, 2020
It is hard enough to build a successful business, and few want to invest time and resources into worrying about an Intellectual Property Assignment. But alas, you must do your homework. Fortunately, we make it easy for Volano customers. When asked – “Who owns the software and IP for my project?” – it is an […]
May 28, 2020
Many of us remember the grade school game Telephone. It was funny to see how a simple message would get garbled as it was passed along from person to person. But it’s not as funny when that message is a critical business requirement that will be turned into software that will power your business. Yet, […]