Gartner Hype Cycle 2021: What is it?

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The Gartner Hype Cycle is a graphical representation of the maturity, adoption and social application of specific technologies. The cycle is used as a framework to understand and predict technology adoption and maturity. It is also used as a tool to identify over-hyped technologies that have not yet reached maturity.The Gartner Hype Cycle 2021 was released on October 6, 2020. It includes technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, blockchain, digital twins, quantum computing and edge computing.

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The Gartner Hype Cycle is an analytical framework created by IT research and advisory firm Gartner to help people understand the maturity, adoption, and social application of technology innovations. Each year Gartner releases the list of technologies they believe are emerging, peak in hype, and then enter a plateau of productivity.

The Gartner Hype Cycle for 2021 includes the following nine technology and service topics:

AI-Driven Development Platforms: This technology includes AI-driven platforms that support the development, deployment, and management of applications across a range of contexts.
Augmented Analytics: This technology uses intelligent automation, machine learning and natural language processing to prepare and analyze data.
Autonomous Things: This term refers to the use of self-driving, semi-autonomous and connected devices that interact with the physical world.
Digital Twins: This term refers to digital replicas of physical systems that provide data that can be used to analyze and predict performance.
Edge Computing: This term refers to the use of distributed computing resources located closer to the user to improve latency and bandwidth.
Hyperautomation: This term refers to the combination of automation technologies such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, robotic process automation and content management.
Privacy-Enhancing Technologies: This term refers to the use of technologies and processes to protect consumer data from unauthorized access, tampering or theft.
Quantum Computing: This term refers to the use of quantum algorithms and hardware to speed up computation and solve problems that are intractable on classical computers.
Technology Convergence: This term refers to the combination of various technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cloud computing to create more advanced applications than could be created independently.

It is important to note that the Gartner Hype Cycle is a changing framework; as the technology industry continues to evolve, the topics that appear on the Hype Cycle each year often change as well.

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The Gartner Hype Cycle is an annual research tool used to measure the maturity of emerging technologies. It is designed to identify patterns of hype and the expected timing for success. Each year, Gartner evaluates hundreds of technologies and assigns them to one of five phases predicting their progress and adoption:

Technology Trigger: A potential technology breakthrough generates hype and excitement.
Peak of Inflated Expectations: Early publicity creates unrealistic expectations.
Trough of Disillusionment: Interest wanes as expectations fail to be met.
Slope of Enlightenment: Second- and third-generation products appear and more practical applications of the technology become evident.
Plateau of Productivity: Mainstream adoption begins and benefits are realized.

Gartner’s Hype Cycle 2021 report provides an overview of key trends, technologies and the phases they are likely to move through. This year, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and digital twins are predicted to reach mainstream adoption within the next five years. Other emerging technologies that are expected to continue maturing include augmented reality, 5G and quantum computing. Additionally, the report looks at how these technologies will be used to drive digital transformation and how organizations should move away from the linear “waterfall” approach to an agile methodology.

You can read the full report on Gartner’s website here: https://www.gartner.com/en/information-technology/research/hype-cycle or find out more details about each technology in the 2021 Gartner Hype Cycle report: https://www.gartner.com/en/information-technology/research/the-gartner-hype-cycle-for-emerging-technologies-2021.