Answers to Information Technology Trends (Chapter 13):

1. Biggest Users: Reliable data on the absolute biggest users is difficult due to varying definitions and methodologies. However, China, India, and the United States consistently rank among the top countries in internet, social media, and mobile penetration.
2. Largest Internet Growth: The textbook doesn’t provide a specific country, but developing nations with rapidly growing economies often see the most significant internet user percentage increases.
3. Future Internet Connection: While mobile will remain dominant, fixed wireless access and satellite internet are potential future trends, especially in underserved areas.
4. Wearable Tech Applications:
   • Health and Fitness Tracking: Monitors vitals, activity levels, and sleep patterns.
   • Augmented Reality: Overlays information and visuals onto the real world for various purposes.
5. Collaborative Technology Applications:
   • Content Creation: Platforms like Wikipedia allow for crowdsourced knowledge gathering.
   • Transportation and Logistics: Waze (mentioned) provides real-time traffic updates based on user data.
6. Printable Technology Capabilities:
   • 3D Printing: Creates physical objects from digital models, used for prototyping, manufacturing, and customization.
   • Bioprinting: Creates tissues and organs for medical applications.
7. Advances in Findability: Smaller and cheaper sensors combined with improved wireless connectivity allow for real-time location tracking and identification of objects with RFID tags.
8. Enhanced Situational Awareness: Combining various data sources like traffic, weather, and public safety information provides a more comprehensive real-time picture of surroundings for better decision-making.
9. Nanobot: A microscopic robot designed to operate at the nanometer scale (billionths of a meter), with potential applications in medicine and nanotechnology.
10. UAV: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, also known as a drone, used for various purposes, including photography, surveillance, and delivery.

Applying Emerging Trends:

1. Business Opportunity and Market Size Research

Several emerging trends present significant opportunities. Here’s an example:

• Trend: Internet of Things (IoT)
• Opportunity: Develop and sell smart home devices or sensor-equipped products that integrate with an IoT platform for data collection and user control.

Market Size Estimation:

• Global smart home market size was valued at $278.8 billion in 2023 (Source: Fortune Business Insights)
• Projected to reach $571.5 billion by 2030 (CAGR of 10.2%)

2. Privacy Concerns with Collaborative Technologies

Privacy concerns with collaborative technologies like Waze include:

• Data Collection: Users share location data, potentially revealing habits and routines.
• Misuse of Data: Unscrupulous actors may exploit traffic data for targeted advertising or malicious purposes.
• Lack of Transparency: Users may not fully understand how their data is collected, used, or shared.

3. Competitive Advantage with IoT

Example: A clothing manufacturer can embed sensors in garments that track performance metrics like temperature control or breathability during workouts. This data allows for data-driven product development, improved comfort and performance, and a competitive advantage by offering a more personalized and technologically advanced product experience.