Written by Mark Hopkins, General Manager of Dell Technologies Ireland and Northern Ireland
2020 will be a milestone year in technology. The explosion in the growth of data and increasing computer power will result in emerging technologies becoming ever more evident in our everyday lives – from how we work and play, to how we do business in Northern Ireland.
Over the next year, AI and machine learning will turn our PCs into even smarter companions. They’ll have the ability to optimise power and battery life for our most productive moments. These devices will become increasingly self-sufficient with the ability to automatically repair, without needing to inform the owner. Biometrics will also become widespread in PC ranges. With this innovation, PCs know it’s you from the moment you gaze at the screen.
In 2020, we’ll also see a greater number of businesses in Northern Ireland deploy multicloud technology to manage both public and private clouds. In fact, IDC predicts that by 2021, 9 in 10 businesses worldwide will rely on a mix of private and public clouds together with legacy platforms to meet their infrastructure needs. To maintain and enhance trust in the cloud, security and data protection will become deeply integrated into new platforms. Bolting security measures onto cloud infrastructure will be a non-starter.
One of the biggest hurdles for IT decision makers driving transformation in Northern Ireland is resources. In 2020, flexible consumption and as-a-service options will accelerate rapidly as organisations seize the opportunity to transform into software-defined and cloud-enabled IT. Our recently released Dell Technologies on Demand offering is a reflection of this key trend.
5G promises to completely change the data game – bringing transmissions speeds up to 20 times faster than current 4G platforms. The near-instantaneous transfer of data and information will speed up the delivery of autonomous vehicle and smart cities. In 2020, focus will turn to the delivery of the hardware and infrastructure needed to support the delivery of 5G and the massive amounts of data that will move at speed.
Sustainable technology will also take centre stage, with organisations increasing looking to protect the plant. I believe we’ll see greater investments in reuse and recycling that promote a circular economy. Hardware will become smaller and more efficient and built with recycled and reclaimed goods.
I’m very excited about what the future holds and how our teams in Belfast, Limerick, Cork and Dublin can help businesses to take advantage of the changes that lie ahead.
Our newly opened Innovation Lab in Limerick provides a space where organisations can experience real-life examples of how AI, 5G and the Internet of Things are making Industry 4.0 and connected healthcare a reality.
This facility has enabled Northern Ireland’s leading university, Ulster University, to embrace the power of AI to improve patient outcomes and cultivate new start-ups. In October we deployed the first Dell Technologies AI Ready Solution that researchers at the university are using to detect early signs of diabetic foot disease, which empowers suffers to manage the condition without hospitalisation. New AI algorithms will also enable the Ulster University School of Engineering to develop self-monitoring at home via new healthcare sensor systems.
Teams in Cork are also working to bring together 5G and Edge Computing to help create next-generation products and services that will not only transform business but will help to save lives. Their research is already yielding positive results with the team using 5G, Edge Computing and Machine Learning to develop a new connected ambulance concept and stroke assessment application that help paramedics to make more timely decision making and improves the probability of better patient outcomes.
Through these facilities and skills of our team members, we can ensure businesses in Northern Ireland remains competitive in the next data-driven decade.
