The good folks over at the Gartner Group have revealed the top 10 technologies that they believe will change the world over the next four years:

1. Multicore and hybrid processors
2. Virtualization and fabric computing
3. Social networks and social software
4. Cloud computing and cloud/Web platforms
5. Web mashups
6. User Interface
7. Ubiquitous computing
8. Contextual computing
9. Augmented reality
10. Semantics

Most of these, in my opinion, are obvious - in fact, many are here. One of the things that Gartner commented on deeply when revealing this list was that items 1-4 will usher in an era of no need for IT shops. I find this fascinating since IT shops have basically funded Gartner's ridiculous advice over the past two decades. "Biting the hand that feeds you" is the best way to describe this.

Software and Hardware are not getting more simplified and cloud computing does not remove the need of local support and programming talent. If Gartner ever worked a day in their life in an IT shop they would understand this. 

So, here's my prediction:

1. Gartner, Forrester, and all other IT Advice Houses lose relevance and disappear over the next 5 years.

*** This is my opinion and not the opinion of my employer ***

Prediction of metabolic networks using Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry data (PDF, 700kB)

Every once in a while I get questions from people about how complicated Life Science is...*very* would be a good answer...if not overly simplistic.

For me, a good reminder is to scan the current representations of Metabolic Pathways which typically show fairly elementary processes.
Given the constraints on price, the stress on patents and the decreasing pool of human resources that can be brought to bear on this problem, I think technology will be front and center on this endeavor.

http://www.gasbuddy.com/gb_gastemperaturemap.aspx

So, multitouch has some interesting applications, but all pale in comparison to playing a two-player version of Missile Command. The clone was installed by Steve Mason at the Obscura Digital production studios' massive 8'X4' multitouch wall—and as you can see in the video after the break, It looks like a good time, not to mention a decent workout.

http://www.bostondynamics.com/content/sec.php?section=BigDog

OK, this has nothing to do with visualization or Life Science, but I know great technology when I see it.

This is an amazing movie - check out the icy surface test at the middle of the movie.