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By definition, technology is always evolving faster than any expert can keep up with it, no matter how much of a techie they are. But right now, in 2007, the pace of change feels more rapid than ever.

Stop running along side the technology train to tie your shoe laces and you will never catch up again.

Around us, consumer technology products are evolving, converging and spawning new gadgets like mad. Simply keeping up with the main developments is an exhausting (not to mention expensive) process. Still, that doesn’t stop us trying

If you have listened to an eleven year old conversation you will be familiar with: Telly 2.0, green gadgets, Blu-ray and HD DVD convergence, virtual reality, touchscreens, mobile social networking, Bluetooth audio, DRM-free music, and Wi-Fi personal media players but it is quite likely that they are just words with little meaning.

Telly 2.0
Right now, online TV is still a relatively niche activity in terms of who’s actually watching services like Joost, Babelgum and VeohTV. But don’t be fooled into thinking this is just entertainment for geeks – the big broadcasters are all making preparations to launch into the Telly 2.0 world, either in partnership with these startups, or with their own initiatives.

Green gadgets
Consumer tech firms are finally taking responsibility for the effect their products have on the environment, and your children are being encouraged to do the same. So whether it’s using less harmful elements in their gadgets, or making it easier for us to dispose of them in an eco-friendly way, green gadgets is an increasingly important area.

Blu-ray and HD DVD convergence
Any idea which format out of Blu-ray and HD DVD is winning the home entertainment war? Join the club. BOTH sides claim they’re on top, but the fact is that most consumers are keeping their wallets in their pockets until it’s clear which is telling the truth. For that reason, attempts to merge the two – either in universal players or dual-format discs – will be high-profile in the coming months.

Virtual Reality
Second Life isn’t the only virtual world in town any more – it’s now got a bunch of competitors all promising users a slick and accessible virtual experience. Meanwhile, Sony is ready to weigh into the market with its Home world for PS3. The second half of 2007 will show which worlds are likely to survive and prosper, and what role brands are likely to play within them

Touchscreens
It’s only a couple of weeks since Americans got their thumbs on Apple’s iPhone, but it’s already being talked of as a turning point for the mobile industry – the point where tactile user interfaces proved their worth. But it’s not just mobile phones that are getting touchy in 2007 – digital cameras, personal media players and smart tables are all here already, with more on the way

Mobile social networking
As the world ditches MySpace for Facebook, all the big social networking sites are casting their eyes towards mobile users. MySpace, Bebo and Facebook have all got mobile sites, albeit with different strategies. Meanwhile, there’s a host of startups looking to beat them to the punch with their own blends of profiles, photos and messaging.

Bluetooth audio
In not too long, people will look back fondly on the days when we needed wires to connect our headphones with our music-playing devices. Bluetooth audio is an increasingly standard feature in MP3 players and mobile phones, while standalone speakers and adapters for home hi-fis are making it easier to run your home music from a handheld device without needing to plug it in.

DRM-free music
Why won’t your iTunes downloads play on your mobile phone? DRM. Why won’t your mobile downloads play on your iPod? DRM. What are music fans sick of? You guessed it. Yet there’s a big trend within the music industry towards selling DRM-free songs, in the hope that the sales increase will outweigh the feared explosion in file-sharing. DRM-free music is good news for music fans, it just remains to be seen what the ramifications are for artists and record labels, not something many children care about.

Wi-Fi personal media players
Soon, when you buy a high-end PMP, you’ll expect it to have Wi-Fi. The question is what you’ll do with it. Two uses immediately present themselves – downloading and/or streaming music via a Wi-Fi hotspot, and sharing songs or videos with friends, assuming their device can talk to your device. Wi-Fi PMPs throw up a host of issues for rights-owners on the latter front though – the next six months will see some solutions to your children’s problems.

Perfect Christmas presents for techno children.

Latest iPod
Apple’s upcoming iPod will make its debut this November and will feature the latest in touchscreen technology, it has been reported. Apple is also apparently working hard to make sure that the planned November launch of the new iPod will still happen.
It is heavily rumoured that the latest iPod’s will have state of the art wireless capabilities.
This is in a long line of innovative ideas from Apple in the last few years. The last gadget off of the production line was the much reported iPhone which saw record sales on launch.
If you want to pre-order the new iPod, then you can do so online at the Apple store, and whilst you are there you can check out all the features on the iPhone.
It will be some time before you will be able to buy a cheap new iPod or iPhone, so it is important they are well insured.