Now that we are learning and adapting to the working habits of the millennial generation, the world is turning its attention to the next generation coming up. Centennials, Generation Z, Post-Millennial – whatever you choose to call them, they are already arriving in the workforce. We’ve got a few predictions about what we see on the horizon for post-millennial modern workforce tools.
Mobile Technology for Training
The most evident tool will continue to be mobile technology. We’ve seen the rise of wearable technology in the past few years, from Google Glass to the Apple Watch and now Snapchat Spectacles. There are thousands of apps for the Apple Watch, some of which need to pair with an iPhone for full functionality. Snapchat Spectacles only record video for the moment, and only post to Snapchat, but who knows what the company has in store, judging by their creative use of facial mapping and geofilters. Google Glass has much more functionality to record photos and video, along with showing information on the Glass display, visible only to the wearer. The possibilities for integrated training with Glass-like display are exciting.
Virtual Reality (VR)
Another tool that extends the wearable example is the jump to Virtual Reality (VR) technology. Full headsets are available with visual and audio inputs and hand controllers, but small headsets also exist that use mobile phones as the screen, meaning that everyone potentially has a VR experience in their pocket. As with Glass, the training possibilities abound, from appliance repair to role playing situations, and the technology could even be used to hold sales demonstration meetings without having to gather a team in the same physical space.
Messaging & Communication
The messaging tools used by the Post-Millennial workforce will all need high levels of connectivity and communication that incorporate visual sharing, not necessarily just text. Speaking of text, a recent survey by Samanage asked e-mail users what they would rather use instead of email and a full 55% said text messaging. The next runner-up was chat clients (Slack, Gchat, HipChat) with only 18.8%. But visuals are wildly popular, with over 60% of people between 13-34 who own smartphones reporting that they use Snapchat. Any information sharing tool will need to incorporate the kind of annotative qualities that Snapchat brings, allowing comments and manipulations of the video or photos being sent.
We don’t know how exactly these tools will adapt to the modern workplace, but it’s clear that wearable, VR, and visual chat mediums have much more potential than just silly dog-face filters and immersive games. Post-millennials will drive the innovation and adoption of these technologies in the offices of the future, dragging the rest of us along for the ride.
What platforms and technologies are you using to modernize your workplace?
