Tech execs' boldest predictions for 2017 and beyond

Self-healing software? Ubiquitous wearables? We asked senior-level IT pros to predict what’s in store for information technology. Here's that they had to say.

By Tracy Mayor, Senior Features Editor, Computerworld | PT

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Here we go!

What's coming down the pike for information technology in 2017 and beyond?

As part of our Tech Forecast 2017 survey of 196 senior technology professionals, we asked respondents to name their "boldest, most out-on-a-limb prediction for IT in the next five years."

Read on for a selection of their responses (hint: bots, self-driving cars and 25-petabyte SSDs are all in the mix). And don't miss our free download: Complete results of the Tech Forecast survey.

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Self-driving cars

Further reading:

GM to be the first to deploy self-driving cars on Michigan roads

Alphabet's self-driving car may keep the steering wheel after all

Intel to invest $250M in self-driving cars

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3D printing

Further reading:

3D printer owners rate the best 14 machines

Harvard's 3D-printed heart on a chip could lead to personalized medicine breakthroughs

Researchers demo 3D-printed, shape-shifting objects

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Desktop of the future

Further reading:

Why would anyone invest in a VDI startup? Maybe because enterprise IT is so bad

Citrix wins VDI shootout

Ubuntu Mate, Windows 10 and macOS Sierra: A marriage of 3 OSs

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SSDs go big

Further reading:

SSD adoption in laptops exceeds expectations

Mingis on Tech: From superfast SSDs to Bluetooth locks and solar shingles

Samsung’s massive 15TB SSD can be yours -- for about $10K

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IoT ascendant

Further reading:

Is your IT staff ready for IoT?

DDoS attack shows dangers of IoT 'running rampant'

Internet of things: Early adopters share 4 key takeaways

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Help desk 2.0

Further reading:

Is your service center too dependent on technology?

University of California hires India-based IT outsourcer, lays off tech workers

IT service desk suites: The features users love and hate

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IT gets strategic . . . at last

Further reading:

Tech Forecast 2017: IT sharpens its focus

Ready for action: 6 big ideas in digital transformation

Global IT challenges: Privacy, standardization, transformation top the list

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Data center shifts

Further reading:

Is 2016 the year of the software-defined data center?

SDN pioneers gain visibility, control over bandwidth

Encryption is the foundation of the new data center

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CIO uh oh?

Further reading:

The CIO is becoming the HVAC guy

The latest in IT services? CIO hired guns

Why few want to be the CIO anymore

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Biometrics in, passwords out

Further reading:

Biometrics is the new cool -- LogMeOnce goes password free

How it works: Iris scanning improves smartphone security

Ta-ta to passwords and PINs; faces and fingerprints to rule the future

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Office adieu?

Further reading:

IT workers to management: NOW can we telecommute?

Video pays off in the enterprise

Surefire ways to enhance meetings for remote teams

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Machine learning pays off

Further reading:

How machine learning will take off in the cloud

Artificial intelligence in the enterprise: It’s on

Your business should demand more from machine learning

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Wearables go wide

Further reading:

Wearables in the enterprise? Yes, really!

Why wearables will replace your smartphone

The dying technologies of 2016

Read the entire Tech Forecast 2017 special report:

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