Top 24 Tech Predictions (Continued Page 2)

Reprint Granted From:
constructionexec.com

Big data, BIM, augmented reality, drones…what else does 2015 hold for construction technology? Ten construction technology experts offer their predictions of what to expect this year.

JOHN CHANEY, CEO & CO-FOUNDER, DEXTER + CHANEY

Cloud computing and mobile data will move decisively past the early adoption stage in the construction industry and into the mainstream. The innovations in 2015 will be driven in large part by the new way these technologies are put to use by contractors. Look for:

- new mobile apps developed by enterprise software developers that integrate seamlessly with their software systems;

- better software tools for managing workflow throughout construction operations, connecting the field to the office and alerting people when the ball is in their court to move work forward; and

- new tools that create and distribute business intelligence in an active, rather than passive, way (i.e., software tools will start providing real-time and predictive information to folks on the job instead of static reports after the work is complete).

JERKER HELLSTRÖM, CEO, HANDHELD GROUP

Larger Displays Even for Rugged Mobile Computers. Screen size is the “$64,000 question” in the rugged computer segment -– a major consideration for all users but it is also linked to the application and how data and information are presented, both in terms of how it is captured and how it is communicated to the end user. Expect a stronger demand for maximum screen real estate in the smallest, lightest possible form.

 

Higher IP Ratings. Mobile computers across all market segments are increasingly being manufactured, and marketed, as more durable, more rugged and with higher IP ratings (ingress protection against water and dust). The construction industry demands durable devices that can be ”knocked around” a bit. While some devices are advertised as having an IP68 rating, this means nothing unless the manufacturer specifies the submerged time and depth. Expect a continued upward “IP rating creep,” but also an invigorating discussion about the definition and value of IP ratings and the tests carried out on mobile computers.

Increasing Interest in Android. 2015 will be the year when the industry truly embraces Android. The rapid growth of Android consumer phones has standardized the Android user behavior and generated a spillover effect to the industrial sector. There is an increase in industrial software being developed for Android, boosted by the first generation industrial Android devices. Also, Android can take advantage of powerful multicore CPUs in a way Windows Embedded Handheld has not been able to.

JAMES BENHAM, PUBLIC SPEAKER AND PRESIDENT, JBKNOWLEDGE

The first wearable devices that are truly usable in the field will be available.

The first virtual reality headsets will hit the market and explode in utilization by real estate developers and business development staff.

The move to mobile first and pure cloud solutions is going to accelerate, with several new construction technology firms entering the market in 2015.

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