Emerging Trends in Technology. (Business Briefs).

During the economic slowdown, analysts at technology research and advisory firm Gartner Inc. say it's imperative that enterprises select technologies that support core business initiatives. To help in decision-making, analysts announced four emerging technology trends for the next decade:

1. Customer Self Service: By 2005, more than 70 percent of customer service interaction for information and remote transactions will be automated. "The non-technology factors driving this increased automation include strong return on investment, better customer reach and improved service quality. This will ultimately result in increased competitiveness and savings that can be passed on to customers," said Jackie Fenn, Gartner vice president and research fellow.

2. Web Services: By packaging business processes as software components, Web services will drive much of the evolving e-business landscape. Companies should start developing Web services capabilities now. But, "because this technology

is not yet mature or a proven success, they should not create mission-critical Web services projects until a clear case for revenue-generation opportunities can be made," advised Alexander Linden, Gartner research director.

3. Wearable Computers: By 2007, more than 60 percent of the U.S. population between ages 15 and 50 will carry or wear a wireless computing and communications device at least six hours a day. "The prevalence of 'wearables' will lead to commerce and service opportunities as significant as those resulting from the wired Web," said Fenn.

4. Tagging he World: By 2008, at least $90 billion of business-to-consumer (B2C) purchase decisions and $350 billion of business-to-business (B2B) purchase decisions will be based on tags containing information and opinions about purchasable items. The flood of information, products and services available today is spurring a focus on organizing and labeling choices to help buyers find, prioritize and select items, said Linden, adding: "The tagging industry will modify consumer buying behavior and drive new industries focused on advisory and market research services."