Major growth in Media, Technology & Telecom is forecast for the use of 3D printing in a variety of business applications, raising a host of data protection issues for IT professionals, according to a recent report in InformationWeek. IT workers will likely be called upon to address issues related to theft of intellectual property and to prevent counterfeit products from entering the market. For example, manufacturing companies may need to protect pictures and drawings of product designs to prevent unauthorized 3D printing of goods. Related IT tasks may include securing files and their transit over corporate networks, as well as limiting or blocking file sharing and the end user’s 3D printing of the files.
The recent launch of a wearable computing device by Apple could jumpstart the smartwatch category, creating new opportunities for software developers. The company launched a line of Apple Watches in nine countries in April 2015. Combining the functionality of a timepiece with communication capabilities and health-related applications, the devices will compete against offerings from LG, Pebble, Samsung, and Sony, among others. The burgeoning list of applications for the Apple Watch already includes business, home automation, music, news, sports, and travel apps, and the device’s long-awaited debut is expected to spur development efforts across the market. Good Technology, Microsoft, and Salesforce.com are among the companies developing collaboration, productivity, and sales apps for the Apple Watch, according to Network World. Game makers are also targeting the Apple Watch and other wearables, despite the challenge presented by the devices’ small screen size.
- Total US revenue for computer systems design and related services rose 6.2 percent in the second quarter of 2015 compared to the previous year.
- Total US revenue for software publishers rose 2.8 percent in the second quarter of 2015 compared to the previous year.
Posted by Dan Vermeire.
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