Emerging Technologies

Reconfigurable computing (RC) is an area of research that is poised for advancement and growth in the next few years. RC is the umbrella term that includes flexible, adaptable, field adjustable hardware and software. The number of applications where RC can play a pivotal role is significant. An online seminar of the subject compared RC to the popular toy – transformers. That should give you a good idea of what this is all about. Although, RC is much less in the physical aspect and much more from an operational perspective. At this point, RC is early in its technology evolution life-cycle. It is well into the basic research with a few ventures into the applied research stage. At this time rough ball-park estimates suggest the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) has just recently entered into the double digits through 2025 with a global market estimate topping $3.5 billion in the same time-frame. It should be noted that some put the estimate much higher, but give the current global situation, the lower figures seem more reasonable at this time.

INSIGHT: Consider the benefits for RC in hostile (remote) environment. One computer that reconfigures itself to support all of the various applications in exploring the moon or mars is a good example. It is more compact than multiple computers, reduces weight compared to multiple computers and decreases the overall cost of building and using multiple computers. Inter-applicability is the key attribute!

Currently there is an open, limited but growing amount of reconfigurable hardware and an even more limited amount of reconfigurable software. Some believe in the next few years we are likely to see an increasing amount of open source reconfigurable software, but I am skeptical. This innovation is projected to bring with it, significant value through a reduction in cost of change as well as increased adaptability.

INSIGHT: Consider the benefits to manufacturing when you have a base model that you can configure to meet your needs as they change! While the current state of this technology is limited, it will likely accelerate and grow in the next several years.

In the near-term, the commercial application space for RC is beginning to bloom with one of the hottest areas being the Internet of Things (IoT). Think about building one basic system and reconfiguring it for the seemingly endless IoT applications that are currently being discussed. Another robust applications space is in the area of sensors. All things considered we are in the early stages of what at this point looks to be another high growth emerging technology with significant amount of work for all of us.

Wishing all of you a HAPPY Holidays!

Are imaginations are being stretched. Stretching them are the introduction of new, advanced technologies that are emerging at a pace not seen before. We have entered a period where what was unthinkable a few short years ago is not only achievable, but becoming commercially available. Sometimes, even implemented and put into use!

The rapid rate of technological advancement is indisputable. The three biggest remaining questions are:

1. What industry or industries will these capabilities impact the most?
2. How will it affect the program and project management profession?
3. What should we as professionals do to respond to what is here today and coming tomorrow?

The answers to these questions are quite difficult to articulate. To do this, I am going to use an example. First let’s look at combining three rapidly advancing technologies - artificial intelligence, drones and advanced image processing. Believe it or not, there is a term that describes what appears to be in-front of us. It is called Singularity. One of the multiple meanings of the term ‘Singularity’ deals with a hypothetical point in time when artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies combine (in this case its drones and image collection and processing) and achieve a level of advancement that multiple factors undergo a significant and irreversible change.

Going back, as I mentioned in the opening, “Sometimes, even implemented and in use,” this is the case today. In the EU, where construction sites are collecting images (in some cases via drones and even palm sized drones for smaller size/indoor projects, those images are uploaded and use AI software that performs image recognition and assesses the progress and flags up delays or errors automatically. Remember my ‘Board Meeting” blog, how about showing the video and the system assesses the status, evaluates the progress, graphically highlights issues on the video and reports the results. Is this at the door-step of becoming an expectation, a requirement and part of project management?

As for question #2 - Are we entering the point where singularity is about to happen and the implications on program and project management will impact all of us? It certainly appears that way give the technology example. Finally, for question #3, we as professionals had better understand the new capabilities of multiple technologies that are emerging and combining to change operational models that have been in place for years and in some cases decades. In addition, we had better prepare for resistance to these changes.

Given this recent, high-impact technology offering, perhaps you might want to consider viewing a couple of past webinars 1) Cognition and Artificial Intelligence: A Growing Component in Multiple Projects and 2) Talent & Technology Symposium 2018: Drones – Coming to a Project Near You! – I have provided the links below. However, don’t stop there! Go on and evaluate emerging technologies on an on-going basis and adapt to this rapidly changing world of technology.

LINKS

1. Cognition and Artificial Intelligence: A Growing Component in Multiple Projects
https://www.projectmanagement.com/videos/513907/Cognition-and-Artificial-Intelligence--A-Growing-Component-in-Multiple-Projects

2. Talent & Technology Symposium 2018: Drones – Coming to a Project Near You!
https://www.projectmanagement.com/videos/497519/Talent---Technology-Symposium-2018--Drones---Coming-to-a-Project-Near-You-

Blockchain technology is older than many people think. It really sprung on the scene as a critical element of cryptocurrencies. Once cryptocurrencies began to grow and mature, the value of blockchain technology became evident. At that point, blockchain technology separated from its parent (cryptocurrency) took its own path along the technology lifecycle. It rapidly moved out of the basic research stage and into the applied research stage and jumped into the very early stage of product development and evolution. That is where blockchain technology stands today.

In simple terms, blockchain technology is defined as a decentralized, distributed ledger that can be used to record and document multiple aspects of digital assets, their use, interactions and their transactions. A blockchain is a shared, trusted, ledger, directory and/or transactional database of a network that is public or private. It is often used as a log of database(s) that can keep track of all changes and/or transactions taking place. It is cryptographically secured and is currently being integrated with quantum key encryption technology to increase its integrity.

INSIGHT: Recently, a blockchain webinar was delivered for professionals. During the question and answer period, a question was posed about a particular piece of blockchain functionality. The answer made it clear, they were not aware of that capability/application that is projected to be a substantial part of the global market. This is a clear illustration of how fast blockchain technology is advancing.

Markets and Markets projects that the global blockchain technology will hit $3.0 billion USD in 2020 and grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 67.3% in the next 5 years. That puts the 2025 global market value at $39.7 billion! Another HOT emerging technology to say the least! Some of the more common application areas are listed below:

• Secure sharing of sensitive data
• International Payments (direct and indirect)
• Cryptocurrency wallets and exchanges
• IoT operating systems and device tracking
• Secure device, personal and organizational identity management
• Money laundering defenses and tracking
• Supply chain and logistics management
• Voting systems security, integrity, authentication and tracking

There are many more applications, but that should give you a feel for just how broad the blockchain application space is at this time. The projected rapid growth and impact of blockchain technology has forward thinking business leaders as well as a few government regulators beginning to take steps and prepare for what is likely to come. So, the question we should be asking ourselves is, how prepared are we? Please go to the link below and answer my poll on blockchain! I am hoping the structure of the polling answers should help frame your thinking about this subject matter.

POLL LINK:  https://www.projectmanagement.com/polls/656257/Please-estimate-your-organizations-current-blockchain-technology-capabilities-

Another technology breakthrough just made the news. It is another one of those technologies you have to read the article two or three times to make sure you got it right. Near mid-August, ScienceDaily.com published a release by Washington University in St. Louis. Their release stated, "Red bricks -- some of the world's cheapest and most familiar building materials -- can be converted into energy storage units that can be charged to hold electricity, like a battery, according to new research."  They went on and divulged their 'proof-of-concept' that demonstrated a green LED being lighted by the energy stored in the brick. They also wrote, "In this work, we have developed a coating of the conducting polymer PEDOT, which is comprised of nanofibers that penetrate the inner porous network of a brick; a polymer coating remains trapped in a brick and serves as an ion sponge that stores and conducts electricity," D'Arcy said. Another important aspect of the brick/battery, it can charge to 3 volts in 10 seconds. Talk about emerging technologies that alter our existing mental models – this is one of the tops. Do you think that type of creativity can be the product of a course? If you haven’t already taken a moment, please complete my poll.

POLL LINK: https://www.projectmanagement.com/polls/636036/Can-creativity-be-taught-in-school-

The article also said that when you connect 50 bricks of the treated bricks, it would enable emergency lighting for five hours. Ok, so I did a bit of digging and found the typical number of bricks on the average house would be around 1,850 individual bricks. Using their data that means those emergency lights could be powered for over 180 hours. Please keep in mind this technology is in its very early stages of development. As it moves from the lab into commercial products, the efficiency will likely increase. This is another one of those emerging technologies that will be a bit disruptive. Think about how this could impact the construction industry - more brick structures and all the efforts to retrofit existing brick structures.

LINK: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200811120154.htm

Nanotechnology is the manipulation, creation, production and manufacturing of materials and or extremely small devices at the scale of atoms or small groups of atoms. Nanotechnology taps into the really strange properties and attributes of physics. Yes, once again, like quantum technology the weird world of physics. Nanotechnology emerged way back in the 1980s. It came to light shortly after the scanning tunneling microscope came into being and enabled nanotechnology research and development. The subject matter became quite popular when thought-leaders began to theorize its potential applications. It began to grow in public awareness in the early 2000s after the technology accelerated and a number of real-world uses came about. Today, the technology is advancing and beginning to mature with a number of players in this field. Market estimates, like most emerging technologies are quite broad. Most believe the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is in the double digits at least through 2025. The global market estimates have been put as high as nearly $100 billion USD by then.

Arguably the largest segment of the nanotechnology market is in nano-materials. Industry analysis shows applications of this segment include construction materials, materials for 3D printers, healthcare materials, layers of graphene, nano-rods, nano-wires and military products. For a bit closer look at an application, consider the use of nano-materials in the oil and gas extraction efforts. There are nanotechnology-enabled gas lift valves that are used in offshore operations and nano-particles are used to detect oil pipeline fractures. It is even being used in food processing as a protective barrier and mask different tastes/flavors. So, as you can see from use in food to use in pharmaceuticals to the creation of military goods, nanotechnology has quite a span of applications. Now consider the nanotechnology and biotechnology have started working together, the overall application is quite large. (Biotechnology will be the subject of an upcoming blog.)

INSIGHT:  While researching this blog I came across a few nanotechnology project manager positions that were available. Once again with the double digit CAGR, there are a number of project management positions that are likely to spring up and be available in the next few years.

There are several nanotechnology introductory courses available out on YouTube for any of you that may like to venture into this field or expand your professional expertise. After all, with the projected growth, the use of nanotechnology and its numerous applications are likely to become a part of many projects.

PLEASE participate in my nanotechnology poll: https://www.projectmanagement.com/polls/645327/How-comfortable-are-you-with-your-current-level-of-nanotechnology-knowledge-and-its-business-impact-