Gartner’s Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies report gives us an evaluation of a range of technologies that either have the potential to, or are already, transforming the way organizations do business. It is a careful analysis of how business views each technology, and once it makes its way through the entire cycle its either consigned to the scrapheap or becomes an accepted part of the business tech landscape (think Windows, Office, Smartphones, etc.).

The report covers dozens of far out technologies ranging from robots to 3D bio-printing systems to ‘software-defined anything’, but one of the biggest technological advances in recent years, Big Data, demands a closer look.

According to Gartner, Big Data has now (2014) officially passed the “peak of inflated expectations”, and is now on a one-way trip to the “trough of disillusionment”. Gartner says it’s done so rather rapidly, because we already have consistency in the way we approach this technology, and because most new advances are additive rather than revolutionary. In 2014 Gartner estimated it would take 5-10 years for Big Data to reach the “plateau of productivity.”

Gartner Hype Cycle: Interpreting Technology Hype
When new technologies make bold promises, how do you discern the hype from what’s commercially viable? And when will such claims pay off, if at all? Gartner Hype Cycles provide a graphic representation of the maturity and adoption of technologies and applications, and how they are potentially relevant to solving real business problems and exploiting new opportunities. Gartner Hype Cycle methodology gives you a view of how a technology or application will evolve over time, providing a sound source of insight to manage its deployment within the context of your specific business goals.  –Gartner.com