What is Hot and What is Not in Technology

With web content and syndication growing at a rapid pace
locating information is becoming more of a struggle for web
surfers. The abundance of content has made filtering
critical to time management. As a result, content filtering
and solutions that help with content filtering will be
winners in 2007.

2. Pesonalized Search and Vertical Search will be a winner
in 2007

Search 2.0 will be all about filtering and personalized
search. Niche portals with targeted focus will play in
vertical search and authority sites will gain even more
traction.

3. Social Bookmarking and Social Networks

Social bookmarking is the new black. The collective voice
has not only gained momentum but it has also attracted the
most savvy web marketers. While there is still power of the
collective voice, social networks and social bookmarking
has gained attention, the masters behind these networks
will need to stay a step ahead of the spammers to stay in
the game. The danger is that the crowd, will become upset
that a small group is profiting from the collective voice.
The "crowd" will likely to manipulate the collective voice
in 2007.

4. RSS

RSS is about choice and users choosing the content they
wish to subscribe. RSS' adoption will reach significant
numbers and even the naysayers will be unable to ignore its
success in 2007.

5. iPod / iPhone / Video iPod / iTunes

Apple has found a sweet spot with its iPod and the iTunes
model. Expanding the types of content consumed and the use
of iPods and similar devices (ie. iPhone) will flourish.

6. Cyber Security

Privacy as we once knew it will never again exist. That
does not mean that webmasters should be come complacent
about security. Cyber security will be a necessity in 2007.

7. Going Green

Alternative energy and going green is in. Geothermal and
hydroelectric power are hot, heck there is little in this
field that is not heating up. Clean energy and alternative
hybrid sources will prosper in 2007.

8. PodSafe Music

Independent musicians who are willing to grant podcasters
licensing rights will garner the interest and attention of
the masses without having to go through a major record
label. Opportunities will be plentiful in the area of
podsafe music.

9. Videocasting - Video Podcasting

Software tools and technology have made videos accessible
to all. Independent artists, realtors, and sports
enthusiasts are flocking to this new medium. It is expected
that this growth will continue throughout the new year.

10. Online Real Estate

While the real estate market is cooling down selling homes
on the Internet is hot. Online Real Estate auctions on eBay
showed Realtors a new way to reach a larger audience. Home
buyers from across the country can use RSS and/or filtering
to monitor properties as they come on the market from
specific regions or zip codes.

Honorable Mentions

1. Web Services (Software as a Service) 2. Mobile Web 3.
International Web 4. Local Web 5. Podcast Quality 6. Video
Advertising

Top 10 Losers Predicted for 2007

1. Zune

Lets face it, the future of the Zune is in Apple's hands
more than it is in Microsoft's. The fact is, unless Apple
makes a huge misstep with the iPod, it is unlikely that
Microsoft's Zune will have any luck gaining significant
market share.

2. Software Patent

Microsofts attempt to patent RSS will fail miserably. In
fact software patents in general will suffer in 2007.

3. Websites that Infringe on Copyrights

Perhaps this is simply wishful thinking. Somehow,
somewhere, someone will crack down on flagrant website
copyright violations in 2007.

4. Video Conferencing

Video conferencing has chilled. Video is seen more as an
entertainment medium.

5. Social Wikis

Wikis are becoming victims of persistent individuals with
too much time on their hands. Credibility has and will
continue to suffer in 2007.

6. Journalistic Accountability

News and tabloid reporting are becoming more difficult to
separate, unfortunately journalsists with integrity will
continue to suffer as more citizen journalists and bloggers
fail to check sources and confirm stories.

7. YouTube in Court

YouTube has brought video to the masses. While technology
has made videos accessible Google has ignored the issue of
copyrights, Google's pockets are simply too deep, in 2007
they will be held accountable for hosting content that
violates western copyright laws.

8. Outsourcing

Customer service and privacy concerns have cooled big
business interest in outsourcing, this trend will continue
in 2007.

9. Privacy

Individual privacy will continue to suffer in 2007. Not a
lot can be said about this, the advent of the Internet has
meant that privacy will never again exist as we once knew
it.

10. Web Legislation

Attmepts to legislate the Internet ecosphere will fall flat.

While these are our predictions of what will be hot and
what will not be in 2007, we thought you would like to
review other web predictions for 2007.

Other Predictions 2007 Web Predictions -
http://www.readwriteweb.com/2007_web_predictions.php
Enterprise Architecture: More Predictions for 2007 -
http://duckdown.blogspot.com/2006/12/enterprise-architecture
-more.html Clicking into the Future, Predictions for 2007 -
http://www.sitepronews.com/archives/2006/dec/27prt.html
2006 Web Technology Trends -
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/2006_web_technology_tre
nds.php Soundbytes: 5 Music Predictions For 2007 -
http://www.kfoxtv.com/columnists/10574215/detail.html 2007:
A Storm is Brewing -
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/larry_elliott/2006/12/cr
ystal_ball_gazing.html Wish List for 2007 -
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=18656

Last Years Predictions How Did They Do? 2005 in Review,
2006 Technology Predictions -
http://www.small-business-software.net/2005-in-review.htm
Year of Opportunity -
http://www.sharewarepromotions.com/blog/200601.html#e1530
2006 Trends to Watch Part III: "RSS Inside" -
http://www.micropersuasion.com/2005/12/2006_trends_to__1.htm
l New Media Predictions -
http://www.masternewmedia.org/predictions/predictions_2006/n
ew_media_predictions_2006_from_Robin_Good_20051212.htm PC
Winners and Losers -
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,123923-page,1/article.html
Top 10 Web Predictions for 2006 -
http://www.conversionrater.com/index.php/2005/12/19/top-10-w
eb-predictions-for-2006/ Corante Network Thinks about 2006
-
http://web.corante.com/editorial/archives/2005/12/corante_ne
twork_thinks_about_2.php Scott Maxwell -
http://scottmaxwell.wordpress.com/2005/12/23/2005-is-almost-
over-now-whatpredictions-for-2006/ SEO Predictions -
http://www.stuntdubl.com/2005/12/27/seo-2006/ Worst Tech
Moments -
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,69918-0.html?tw=wn_to
phead_2 Big Stories in Search -
http://searchenginewatch.com/showPage.html?page=3574126
2006 SEO Predictions -
http://www.isedb.com/db/articles/1332 2006 Predictions for
the IP Communications Industry-
http://pulverblog.pulver.com/archives/006056.html

----------------------------------------------------
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll
http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing,
publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon
manages marketing for NotePage http://www.notepage.net a
wireless text messaging software company.