NFC tops Gartner's Hype Cycle

Research firm Gartner has placed NFC payments at the peak of the 'Inflated Expectations' curve in its 2011 Emerging Technologies Hype Cycle, reports NFC News.

According to Gatner, the Hype Cycle graph has been used since 1995 to highlight the common pattern of 'over-enthusiasm, disillusionment and eventual realism' that accompanies each new technology and innovation.

“Themes from this year's Emerging Technologies Hype Cycle include ongoing interest and activity in social media, cloud computing and mobile,” says Jackie Fenn, VP and fellow at Gartner.

“Mobile technologies continue to be part of most of our clients' short- and long-range plans and are present on this Hype Cycle in the form of media tablets, NFC payments, quick response (QR)/colour codes, mobile application stores and location-aware applications.”

In social media, social analytics, activity streams and a new entry for group buying are close to a peak, showing the era of sky-high valuations for Web 2.0 start-ups is not yet over, says Business Standard.

Private cloud computing has taken over from general cloud computing, while cloud/Web platforms have fallen to the 'Trough of Disillusionment'.

Mobile technologies continue to be part of most clients' short- and long-term plans and are present on the hype cycle as media tablets, near-field communications payments, quick response/colour codes, mobile application stores and location-aware applications.