Requirements Analysis: The Next Generation

One technological advance that will influence future requirements processes is ubiquitous computing. Technologies will be far more integrated into the fabric of our every day lives, from our homes to our cars to even our clothes and jewelry. It's likely to mean that scoping new computer-based applications-differentiating them from other applications and everyday tasks such as preparing meals, cleaning, and exercising-will be even more challenging. Requirements will be the equivalent of items in to-do lists that evolve as new requirements emerge and exist ing ones are met by software or other means. In 20 years, getting software will be almost as commonplace as shopping for food is today. Stakeholders will think less about requirements and more about choices and decisions to make. They'll record, blog, and annotate as well as type their requirements, based on everyday experiences with their physical and digital environments. They'll directly communicate their requirements to potential service providers in virtual communities operating as self-contained marketplaces of trusted partners, following super-agile processes.