Smart machines, platforms and human-centric tech tipped as top trends

Smart dust, 4D printing and brain-computer interfaces are some of the most attention-grabbing technologies featuring in Gartner's latest Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies. The forecast reveals three major technology trends set to be the highest priority for organizations looking to compete in the digital world. Emerging technologies are revolutionizing the concepts of how platforms are defined and used, Gartner says. The report notes, "The shift from technical infrastructure to ecosystem-enabling platforms is laying the foundations for entirely new business models that are forming the bridge between humans and technology. Within these dynamic ecosystems, organizations must proactively understand and redefine their strategy to create platform-based business models, and to exploit internal and external algorithms in order to generate value."