Web innovation and technology trends are at least as unpredictable as anything else, perhaps more so. Still, some trends are shaping up already, a few of which have been percolating for a year or more. There will be technological advances, attitude shifts and various convergences of devices, websites, personal tech and smart applications. The following themes and focuses, among many others, certainly – will be in the news in 2011.Websites -Websites in 2011 will continue to feature lots of white space but with bold typography and surprising color schemes. More than ever, websites will reflect all the other elements of the company brand standards. The usage of bold, dynamic images will be employed to attract and invite visitors in. Huge images create a visual impact that the visitor’s won’t soon forget. In 2011, web designers will find themselves more comfortable using these visual statements in their design to convey the site’s tone.Social Media -Facebook will continue to dominate. With financial support from Goldman-Sachs, there is absolutely no doubt that the continued dominance of Facebook will continue with more and more businesses looking to expand their web presence by having a Facebook page. Another emerging trend will be the usage of Meta Tools that can publish to several social sites. Almost all newly popular social tools support Facebook, Twitter, Linkdln etc. Some of the tools, such as Amplify, Sendible and Sprout Social, tackle the problem of reaching all of your contacts, friends and followers across several different platforms.Web Search -Consistent change is the one constant for Google in 2011. As Google looks to expand their revenue sources and continue to further monetize search, more changes are bound to follow. Competition for Google always comes and goes, but this year there are some legitimate alternatives to consider. Bing, Yandex and DuckDuckGo are all signifiers of a much broader need as people don’t want to be forced to use Google. Blekko, an advanced search engine will be used more and more by professionals and SEO practicioners.Blogging -Miniblogging service Tumblr has rapidly become one of the biggest social sites, outgrowing its mnain competitor WordPress.com. Also it’s easier to use and has a sleeker web design than both Blogger and WordPress. Spam, security issues and constant hacking attacks are common on WordPress. In 2010, the introduction of Google Buzz continued to blur the line between blogging and social media use. It would seem as though content sharing and blogging have finally merged.Personal Tech -Constant connectivity will become mainstream. With terms like “MiFi” entering our vernacular and proliferation of 4G networks, along with integrated wireless data, the notion of “online everywhere” has arrived. These factors, combined with the introduction of touch-friendly tablet computers and the continued usage of netbooks, are ushering in a new era of computing without mice or keyboards. Smart phone user numbers will continue to increase in unison with ubiquitous connectivity. More and more applications will continue to become available to smart phone users. The theme of connectivity will continue in new ways. Smart phones will be able to control household appliances, integrate with your car’s CPU and connect with your household appliances. Soon, you’ll be able to run the dishwasher and finish drying your clothing – without actually being at home.Technology and its associated products and services are being released faster, this is a trend that is unlikely to reverse itself anytime soon. Remain compatible and collaborative by staying informed of new innovations and product updates. Technology continues to afford all of us the ability to connect with each other and access information with greater frequency.
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