Implications of trends for Australia and Ballarat

Technology Trends
Economic, business and social trends

Based on the trends for the worldwide ICT industry, we consider the implications for Australia and regional Australia in particular. The following tables draw from a number of sources but some have been adapted from a Commonwealth 'Foresight' study of the future of ICT in Australia.

Technology Trends

Table 3 - Summary of significant technology trends

*Technology trends*	*Implications for Australia and Ballarat*
Shift from information management to knowledge management. Growth of knowledge management including the development of the Semantic Web	ICT becoming more important but embedded in automated processes Potential for spin-out enterprises based on UB research in this area
ICT industry changing boundaries between ICT and other industries blurring becoming more pervasive but less visible as IT and CT converge	Opportunities arise particularly at intersection points with other industries Develop a focus for Ballarat around ICT use in industries where Ballarat has a competitive advantage Robotic production, mechanotronics
Development of computer games, and simulation technologies as well as virtual reality	New opportunities in a number of areas including computer games and game engines, virtual reality techniques in surgery and remote medicine, training in transport, factories, offices and for farming
Exponential growth in computing power and networking capability and storage capacity growing functionality and ubiquity of communications networks, access to data anywhere/anytime Development of quantum computing reducing the silicon limits of processing power Growing interdisciplinary nature of ICT	Opportunities for entrepreneurs and start-up enterprises Increased specialisation of software industry Scope for applied research in areas of world-class ICT research strengths, or the clear potential to develop them Training and education to include an increasing business process integration Diffusion of ICT enabled products and services into all service offerings in education, government, non profits and the private sector
Interoperability of systems, knowledge-based and intelligent systems	Competition by service providers no longer regionally based New businesses adhere to standards Opportunities for the development of intelligent systems
Growth of cyber fraud	Research opportunities Threat to e-commerce
Development of Grid computing and e-science	Less reliance on having huge computing power resident in a single location Access to ‘virtual’ teams by regionally based scientists Facilitation of global research groups – only need a few well connected players in Ballarat
Software provided ‘on demand’ via Internet	Globalisation of services markets. Decline of local retailers and vendors
Growth of online storage and processing	Opportunities to locate Server Farms

Economic, business and social trends

Table 4 - Summary of significant economic, business and social trends

*Economic, business and social trends*	*Implications for Australia and Ballarat*
Growth of ICT enabled social network sites	Opportunities for ICT start-ups Can enhance community networks and broaden their geographic and cultural scope
Rationalisation and consolidation of ICT businesses	Companies more footloose and mobile Continued scope for start-up enterprises
Intra-firm linkages by mergers and alliances and extensive global networks of niche players	Need for civic and regional links with other ICT clusters and participation in international trade missions
Commoditised products and services. Falling prices of ICT hardware and software. Chief Information Officers are looking for high value added from new systems	Limited opportunities in manufacturing. Declining margins. ICT industry continues its cyclical pattern – but in specific segments. Price competitiveness important
Market power shifts to consumers	Global competition. Regional advantages decline but regional disadvantages decline
Out-sourcing continues but growth declines. Off-shoring continues but growth declines	Importance of location as stable, good infrastructure, good support and ancillary industries
Decline of traditional media. Growth of online substitutes	New opportunities but possible loss of some local players
Generational shift in attitudes to ICT products and ICT in the work environment	Major shifts in markets and working patterns
Innovation or low cost is the key to growth	Build an innovative community of practice. Need to achieve better University – Industry relationships. Technology parks and precincts become the bridge
Polarisation of ICT skills markets into design, management of business processes and less skilled operators	Maintain and develop research based training and also TAFE skills training Create a local environment that encourages creative and high end ICT professionals
Different adoption rates by social class, gender and location	Recognise the problems and opportunities associated with diversity and provide social justice opportunities to marginalised
Rapid development and adoption of micro-processor driven sensors in all walks of life	Scope for innovative niches in the use and application of sensors in strategic regional industries