Looking back over the last ten years of technology developments there have been some clear stand out hits, so in this article we’ll look at ten in particular which have made a massive impact to our everyday lives, including Broadband, USB, Google, and Music Downloads.

Broadband

Ten years ago we were still using modems, five years ago I was still using a modem and only in recent years has Broadband coverage moved to a position where the majority of people can get at least some bandwidth – and as a result we are demanding ever increasing web services leading to the need for more bandwidth. Fibre To The Home remains a long way off and whatever happened to WiMax? Oh well, remember when 14.4KB was plenty? At least we don’t have to wait and listen at the modem squealing whilst we try and connect.

Apple iPod

The iPod arrived in 2001, heralding the way for a range of products including the Shuffle, Nano, Touch and of course the iPhone. iTunes paved the way for downloadable music (see below) which in turn led to the rise of application stores. Personally, I don’t have an iPod but I still believe we have a lot to thank Apple for, if only other devices such as the Microsoft Zune or Creative Zen could rise to the challenge.

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

Ok, so USB started much earlier than 2000 but over the last ten years USB has become the de-facto method for connecting devices, and more recently for charging devices on the go. Sure, FireWire gave it a go but didn’t catch on as well with the popular devices as much as USB did. Even though you may still find the odd serial, or even Infrared, connection the essential cable to keep around is a USB one, if only they would decide what the end bit looked like, there is Type A, Type B, mini A USB, mini B USB, micro A-B USB, and Micro-B – how about just one connector format next time round?

Blogging

Without Blogging you probably wouldn’t even be reading this and many a person with a voice in the online world would still be locked away in the back room turning the wheels. Blogging levelled the playing field for people to stand up and have a view on all matters. There are currently well over 100 million blogs in existence  with thousands of new blogs created every day, I dare you to count them all. Let’s not forget that Blogging set the scene for micro-blogging services such as Twitter and other social networking services.

Windows XP

It seems 2001 was a busy year for technology that has stood the test of time. As I type this I am still using Windows XP (albeit Service Pack 3), and whilst Windows 7 may finally win the hearts and minds of many, Windows XP remains as viable today as it did long ago. A true successor to Windows 3, Windows XP that other version (Windows Me – remember it?) to become the dominant operating systems in business and the home.

Google

It’s hard to imagine Google has only been with us for a relatively short period of time and yet the Internet powerhouse, who pioneered Search, continues to grow from strength to strength and continually expands its diverse product set. As well as search we have Mail, Maps, Calendar, Blogger, Picasa, Apps, Wave and even a browser in the form of Chrome, and possibly soon even an operating system – what will the next ten years bring in the Google story?

Netbook

A relatively new addition to the technology trend but the rise of the Netbook has changed expectations of what a computing device is all about and opened up the demand for lifestyle and complementary computing products such as the mobile internet tablet. No longer is faster performance or cramming in superfluous technology a unique selling point. In the consumer led world we are task and goal based and need services and software foremost.

Bluetooth

Early Bluetooth implementations struggled a bit, but it found its footing with Bluetooth 2.0 and has since become a commonly accepted way to transfer information between devices. Even my little kids know what Bluetooth is all about and how to get pictures from a phone to the printer. No doubt Bluetooth headsets where the early pioneers for the technology but other Bluetooth profiles have emerged to managed direct transfer, keyboards, mice, dial-up networking, and printing.

Nintendo Game Boy Advance

The original Game Boy, released back in 1989, was a joy to behold with its killer feature being the built-in game of Tetris – it even had a go at Color in 1998 with limited success. But the Game Boy Advance, released in 2001, and the DS in 2004, and now the DSi since 2008 have become hugely popular leading to a slew of me too handheld gaming consoles. One could speculate that the Game Boy opened up the consumer imagination to mobile devices and entertainment on the go, and as such, potentially acted as an early precursor to the future innovations such as the iPod and the PSP.

Music Downloads

Sites such as Amazon started the ecommerce ball rolling but it was music downloads and streaming technologies, powered by sites such as iTunes, Napster, and Spotify that paved the way for internet shopping, application stores, online gaming, widget stores, and subscription services. The original music download phenomenon clearly demonstrated to entertainment providers and distribution companies they could actually make a profit with clicks and mortar technology.

Ten Technology Hits Of The Decade from Jason Slater Technology Blog.