Emerging Technologies 2020: Six Areas of Opportunity

The purpose of this study is to understand what the software engineering community perceives to be key emerging technologies. In this context, “emerging” describes a technology that has yet to mature but is undergoing a period of rapid innovation and change. Our perspective focused on technologies themselves (innovations in hardware and software) rather than related factors (such as processes and policies).

The six emerging technologies described here hold great promise and, in some cases, have already attracted the interest of the Department of Defense (DoD). By understanding these technologies and their intersection with DoD needs, we can create a research agenda that serves our sponsor’s mission.