It's the time of year for predictions, and The Irish Times has cornered six technologists of various hues to answer four questions as each looks forward into 2009. And just for fun, we've also asked them to name the device or service they expect to be using most in the coming year.
David O'Meara
David O'Meara is managing director at Havok, the special effects software and services provider for game and film-makers that is now owned by Intel
1. What do you see as the top challenge in your own business or sector in 2009?
To be a critical part of developing the greatest games and movies in 2009. To launch a new product, which will bring our portfolio to six products, up from one product just three years ago. We also want to grow our business in Asia by 30 per cent.We are already the largest Irish indigenous exporter of software to Asia. We also want to finalise the location and begin recruitment for our seventh development team. We are currently looking at a number of locations worldwide to facilitate this.
2. Either broadly across the tech sector or within your market sector, where is the opportunity going to be in 2009?
This current economic situation provides a once in a lifetime opportunity to grow market share. Customers want to do business with the best providers. The best will get stronger and grow market share. The weaker providers will disappear.
3. In your view, what is the personal technology item to keep an eye on in 2009? And that you are most likely to use yourself?
Use" and "keep an eye on" are two different matters. I use lots of technology and will try many products.3D cinema will roll out in 2009. Monsters Vs Aliens (above) from Dreamworks will be a major movie in 3D and there are 10 other movies due to be released. I had previews recently at Dreamworks in LA and it really had the wow factor
4. A company other than your own to watch for in 2009? And why?
I will watch two types of companies - those growing market share in this economic situation and some start ups, particularly in California, involved in tracking and interfacing with human emotions to drive behaviour in various activities including videogaming. In Ireland, watch Ryanair. While they are not a tech company, they will show you how to grow market share.
John Hartnett
John Hartnett is the Silicon Valley-based Irish chief executive of solar cell manufacturer G24i and also chairman of the Irish Technology Leadership Group; former executive with Palm
1. What do you see as the top challenge in your own business or sector in 2009?
2009 will certainly be a challenging and uncertain year for every business and, for many, survival may in fact be the challenge. Our own challenge will be focus - "relentless focus" on launching our breakthrough Dye Sensitized Thin Film (DSTF) solar technology.
2. Either broadly across the tech sector or within your market sector, where is the opportunity going to be in 2009?
Renewable energy will be the shining light of 2009 that will lead the way through to the other side. US president-elect Obama is promising to spend $150 billion on renewable energy over the next decade and he is planning to derive 10 per cent of the nation's electricity from renewable energy by 2012, up from 2 per cent today. This starts in 2009 and will be a big opportunity.
3. In your view, what is the personal technology item to keep an eye on in 2009? And that you are most likely to use yourself?
I love my latest Slingbox, and being a world traveller, I find it solves one of my greatest problems of being able to watch Munster rugby anywhere I go. Watching Quinny score a try while I'm in Taiwan is a joy.
4. A company other than your own to watch for in 2009? And why?
I am a big Apple fan and their "i" success has been unstoppable with iTunes, iPod, iPhone, iMac - this will not stop even if Steve has a hormone imbalance.
Helen Ryan
Helen Ryan, is chief executive at Galway-based medical technologies company Creganna
1. What do you see as the top challenge in your own business or sector in 2009?
The top challenge for 2009 will be to keep growing at the rates we have seen in recent
years. A key driver of our growth is new customer projects that incorporate our products or services. There are some indicators that a number of companies are slowing the pace of projects due to funding constraints and this, in turn, may slow our growth rate. Our challenge will be to find a larger number of opportunities to balance the pace of implementation.
2. Either broadly across the tech sector or within your market sector, where is the opportunity going to be in 2009?
The opportunity in our market continues to be in moving medical treatments to less invasive solutions. These solutions have the potential to reduce the overall cost of healthcare which is rising at a rate that is not sustainable in the medium or long term
3. In your view, what is the personal technology item to keep an eye on in 2009? And that you are most likely to use yourself?
My vote goes to Guitar Hero for X-Box, when at home, and for DS when travelling. I believe this is a fantastic extension of personal gaming technology that has mass appeal. It is hard to take yourself too seriously as you are booed off stage by a video audience after a lousy rendition of Eye of the Tiger!
4. A company other than your own to watch for in 2009? And why?
Proxy Biomedical is a medical technology company to watch. It has developed novel
biomaterial technology that has applications across a large range of medical areas. The large range of potential applications opens up great business opportunities.
Richard Cooke
Richard Cooke is chief executive at digital medical solutions provider Lincor which last year won the Deloitte Fast 50 award for the fastest-growing technology firms
1. What do you see as the top challenge in your own business or sector in 2009?
Sustaining our growth rate and scaling the business profitably as we expand into new
markets.
2. Either broadly across the tech sector or within your market sector, where is the opportunity going to be in 2009?
In summary - outside Ireland. It is easier for me to comment about developments within our own market in healthcare in terms of IT solutions which increase efficiency and patient safety . Right now, we continue to see major opportunities in a number of European countries, Canada and the Gulf. In general, products or services that can demonstrate cost reductions with a clear return on investment or those available on a pay-as-you-use basis should do well. Arguably the requirement for innovation in a recession is greater not less.
3. In your view, what is the personal technology item to keep an eye on in 2009? And that you are most likely to use yourself?
Recently I got a Nokia smartphone so that I could get get e-mails on my phone when travelling To be honest, I have found it very clumsy and difficult to use as the keyboard and screen are just too small and make its use as a phone almost unusable. I plan to switch to an Apple iPhone as, from what I have seen, its touchscreen and user interface are so easy to use.
4. A company other than your own to watch for in 2009? And why?
In technology, its is difficult to single out any one company although I continue to be impressed with innovations from Google. As a general trend there is ongoing convergence between media types and devices. In our own market in healthcare, we are beginning to see the some very interesting opportunities emerging for telemedecine whereby technology can be used to monitor patients remotely in their homes for assisted living or so their stay in hospital is kept to a minimum. The benefits for everyone involved, both financial and otherwise, are compelling.
Chris Horn
Chris Horn is co-founder and vice-chairman of Iona Technologies. He is also chairman of Unicef Ireland and of the Science Gallery at Trinity College, Dublin
1. What do you see as the top challenge in your own business or sector in 2009?
Surviving the downturn. Even standing still and just defending last year's revenues and profits may be a challenge for most of us. Warding off unwelcome overtures by possible bottom feeders and aggressive opportunistic investors, who see great opportunities in the medium term for those companies today who have weak balance sheets and are struggling to survive.
2. Either broadly across the tech sector or within your market sector, where is the opportunity going to be in 2009?
Roll-ups. Buying good technology and people who have an inadequate capital backing to execute their business plan. The corollary of my answer to question 1!
3. In your view, what is the personal technology item to keep an eye on in 2009? And that you are most likely to use yourself?
Has to be the ATM machine! Am I still solvent? Is my bank still solvent?
4. A company other than your own to watch for in 2009? And why?
The Irish Times of course. Can its business model survive the current market? Can balanced analysis and opinion overcome the unadulterated newsfeeds served up by other papers and which are in any case already more efficiently available on the web? Can a portfolio of journalists located across the globe give a wiser and more perceptive Irish perspective than naked news-trash?
Dermot Berkery
Dermot Berkery is general partner at venture capital group, Delta Partners
1. What do you see as the top challenge in your own business or sector in 2009?
Consumers and businesses will be on a buyers' strike in 2009. Many technology companies that are on the cusp of ramping up sales will suffer.
2. Either broadly across the tech sector or within your market sector, where is the opportunity going to be in 2009?
A new year's prediction. In 2014, we will probably look back on 2009 as a vintage year for starting and investing in new technology companies. Lots of entrepreneurial people will be surprised to find themselves on the job market. The next 18-24 months will be a good time to be buried in product development.
3. In your view, what is the personal technology item to keep an eye on in 2009? And that you are most likely to use yourself?
I am going to cheat here and talk about two items. The first I have and the second I will probably get in 2009. Jawbone. This is a Bluetooth headset with a difference - it works, even with intense background noise. The raw technology was developed for the US military to filter out battlefield noise. Check it out on www.jawbone.com. It's great. Slingbox. All my American friends rave about their Slingboxes which allow them to view their home TV offering through a remote broadband connection - great for travel. Recently available in Ireland, I believe.
4. A company other than your own to watch for in 2009? And why?
Unfortunately in 2009, the empire of Google will ride the wave of continued buoyant internet advertising. Buy the stock - it's cheap.
