Tech support where IT underpins work and life Viewpoint careers advice blog

Tech support â€" where IT underpins work and life Smartphones, tablets and wearable devices are having the game-changing effect on the world of work that personal computers had thirty years ago. While today’s technological shift is nothing new, it’s more important than ever to equip your people with the skills they need to develop, use and interact with this technology, whatever sector you work in. Devices and desires It’s increasingly clear that a career in technology  doesn’t necessarily mean a career in a technology business. Trendwatchers predict that a key area of growth in 2015 will be wearables, hearables and nearables â€" devices that interact with us, our smartphones and our environment to enhance our everyday life. Smart glasses and watches have been the most publicised wearables to date, from top technologists such as Apple and Samsung, as well as sports giants such as Nike. But other businesses are pushing the technology envelope too, and some examples of wearable tech are blurring the line between function and fashion. Wearable clothing includes garments with integrated solar panels for charging a smartphone while outdoors, or the smart T-shirts (launching later in the year from Ralph Lauren), which tap into the growing trend for health-conscious self-monitoring (more on that later). Meanwhile, the collaboration between high technology and haute couture, according to Fortune, is already well underway. High-tech healthcare But nowhere does technology have a more vital role to play than in the healthcare profession. While tech-enabled clothing and accessories might seem to focus on first-world problems such as monitoring your workout heart rate or synching with your sleep patterns, there are other technologies that can literally save lives. Researchers at Google are working on a contact lens that alerts diabetics to changes in their blood sugar levels and adjusts the required doses of insulin accordingly, sensors can detect the onset of a user’s epileptic seizure, and the independently controlled robotic walking device launched last year by Rex Bionics could one day change the lives of wheelchair users. These developments highlight a real need to upskill the healthcare industry and its professionals, in order to take full advantage of new solutions and keep pace with tech-savvy patients. Telemedicine means that patients can enjoy 24/7 access to medical advice, but it also requires doctors to change the way they approach and examine their patients. Thanks to online record-keeping and wearable technology, they can access far more information about a patient, but the usual examination routine is disrupted. The dissemination of information about healthcare has been democratised through the internet â€" sites like doctors.com, patient.co.uk and nhs.uk mean that people are better informed, better equipped to self-diagnose, and more demanding of a collaborative approach by their doctor. However, they have also led to an increase in the numbers of ‘worried well’ (or even hypochondriacs) making inaccurate self-diagnoses thanks to the unregulated nature of this content. This poses an additional challenge for doctors, who must learn to adjust their online ‘bedside manner’ to deal with these patients. From the operating theatre to the catwalk, there isn’t a workplace that is not being saturated by waves of technical innovation. Thankfully, candidates are entering the job market with increasingly competitive IT skills, although that doesn’t mean there are enough to go around. STEM skills are still in short supply, and will be for a number of years. As the influence of technology grows among an ever-wider number of roles and industries, the competition for tomorrow’s top technology talent is going to become fiercer than ever. If you enjoyed this blog then you might also enjoy some of the following: Why on demand talent marketplaces should consolidate now 2016: The year of the digital diviners Data is the new currency of recruitment The fruits of knowledge One thing is clear about digital transformation Digital destruction: Could Fintech kill banking jobs? How to lead from afar Why talented Chinese graduates are aiming high in Dubai Join our LinkedIn Group Join our LinkedIn Group to share your thoughts and stay up-to-date with the latest on business, employment and recruitment news in the IT industry. Join our Group