How the connected world is changing the locality of data

Cisco recently released their 2011 Connected World Technology Report. In the report, Cisco talks about how much social media, device freedom, and mobile work means to the next generation. Some key findings from the survey of 3000 college students – where do you land in terms of the findings? I am by no means a college student. Those days are long gone, but it’s interesting that I tend to agree with much of their thinking and practices:

Many respondents cite a mobile device as “the most important technology” in their lives (Agree)
Seven of 10 employees have “friended” their managers and coworkers on Facebook (Yep)
Two of five students have not bought a physical book (except textbooks) in two years (Nope – I still like old fashioned hard covers)
Most respondents have a Facebook account and check it at least once a day (Yep)
Half would rather lose their wallet or purse than their smartphone or mobile device. (No way)
More than two of five would accept a lower-paying job that had more flexibility with regard to device choice, social media access, and mobility than a higher-paying job with less flexibility. (No way – are you kidding me?)
At least one in four said the absence of remote access would influence their job decisions, such as leaving companies sooner rather than later, slacking off, or declining job offers outright. (I tend to agree with this)
Three out of 10 feel that once they begin working, it will be their right- more than a privilege -to be able to work remotely with a flexible schedule. (I don’t know about a right. You have the right not to take the job if the company doesn’t provide remote access!)

Included in the package are a couple infographics worth checking out. One in particular titled “Connected World Order” had some additional findings like:

2/3 would choose the internet over a car
55% say they cannot live without the internet
2/5 say the internet is more important than dating, hanging out with friends, partying, and listening to music
2/3 say an office is unnecessary for being productive

The other worth checking is “The New Workplace Currency” which talks about how it’s not just about salary anymore. Social media, consumerization of IT, and remote access are becoming just as important.

To me, the findings scream radical change in where data is stored and how it is accessed. With the next generation placing so much emphasis on social media, mobility, and a general integration of work and home life, the internet, and thus corporations’ utilization of the cloud will become more critical than ever in recruiting, hiring, and retaining top talent. At Needham & Company’s Fifth Annual HDD & Memory Conference on November 03, 2011, Seagate shared its projections for the connected world and how mobility is driving huge change in the locality of data. In the presentation, Seagate’s projections state that in 2010 62% of the storage was shipped into the client market (laptop, desktop, smartphones, tablets). By 2020 61% of the storage capacity will reside in various forms of the cloud, from public to private to personal.