iPad, Android and Cloud Computing on the Gartner Hype Cycle

The world of technology is constantly innovating andIt was a logical step from the smartphone tsunami
releases new tech almost quarterly these days. A lotthat due to its limitations in size lend itself perfectly
of it doesn't even make it to the mainstream marketto innovation. The success of the mainstream launch
and quickly fade into the background and some areof the iPad for example just show how Steve Jobs
just a small fad. Google Wave for example wasfollowers might be willing to skip the stage of
massively hyped before its launch in early 2010, butThrough of Disillusionment and get enlightened right
does anyone that got an invitation use it anymore?from the get go.
For most of us the answer is no, but why is that andApple's approach to launching new products coupled
what went wrong?is the ability to build new innovations on core
To illustrate why some innovations fade away afterprinciples of previous success. Hence main features
a period of hype, Gartner's hype cycle shows afrom the iPod, iTunes and the iPhone are all
general trajectory of new tech adaptation in theincorporated into iPad except for maybe the ability to
market. Gartner devides the hype cycle in 5 stages:make voice calls, but that could have cannibalised the
Gartner's hype cycle stagesiPhone 4 launch in June 1 month after.
1. Technology Trigger: The point when tech is madeWhat's here to stay
public (e.g. via a keynote speech of Steve JobsThe era of speech recognition was in a Slope of
about new Apple gadgets) and early adopters areEnlightenment in 2009 and hence is a build in function
encouraged to test the technologyinto most smartphones in 2010. Long gone are the
2. Peak of Inflated Expectations. A stage when thedays were it was not worth our time trying as call
"bubble of hype" (v. benefits received) regarding useJoe would get interpreted as play 'hey joe' by Jimi
of the technology reaches its peakHendrix. Voice recognition software technology has
3. Trough of Disillusionment. After the bubble burstsbeen sufficiently adapted to the market needs and is
and people say, "I told you that was just a fad."now functional. although still far from perfect if you
4. Slope of Enlightenment. Is a period where thehave a noisy background.
innovation tech becomes sufficiently mature,What's up and coming?
standardized and adopted and starts generatingTech that hasn't quite hit the Peak of Inflated
mainstream market resultsExpectations yet, is on the rise and hopefully available
5. Plateau of Productivity. When benefits begin tofor us to test soon. Two innovations that stick out
flatten out and technology needs to either beare surface computing and augmented reality. In
reengineered or a new technology is needed to growsurface computing, the iPad is already there their
market sharemultitouch web browsing experience. Google Goggles
Hyped todaybrings Android powered phone some early
Cloud Computing and E-book reader reached theiraugmented reality features. Simply point your camera
peak of inflated expectation in 2009, which is why inaround your high street and get local information
2010 major Tech giants, such as Google's Cloud,about shops and restaurants right onto your screen
Apple's MobileMe and Microsoft's Windows Azure OSis pretty fascinating. This coupled with Google's image
were promoted so heavily in the cloud computingsearch to get your information about what this
services market. Similarly the market for e-readerspainting in your bosses office might be worth
was flooded since the start of 2010 with gadgetscertainly seems to be a worthwhile innovation for
such as Amazon's Kindle and Apple's iPad along withsearch.
numerous rumors about Android powered e-readers.