Top ten disruptive technologies for 2008 to 2012, according to Gartner

• Multicore and hybrid processors
• Virtualisation and fabric computing
• Social networks and social software – because business IT applications will start to mirror the features found in popular consumer social software, such as Facebook and MySpace, as organisations look to improve employee collaboration and harness the community feedback of customers
• Cloud computing and cloud/web platforms
• Web mashups
• User Interface – According to Gartner, within the next five years, information will be presented via new user interfaces such as organic light-emitting displays, digital paper and billboards, holographic and 3D imaging and smart fabric.
• Ubiquitous computing
• Contextual computing
• Augmented reality
• Semantics

Gartner defines a disruptive technology as one that causes major change in ‘the accepted way of doing things’, including business models, processes, revenue streams, industry dynamics and consumer behaviour.