Design technology trends in the future

Here are some of the trends we see and are leveraging to keep Autodesk and our customers on the cutting edge.

Infinite Computing is giving designers the power to design and create almost anything they can imagine. The “toolset” change of cloud computing—tremendous increases in computer processing, bandwidth, storage, affordability, and ubiquity—when combined with a “mindset” change that looks for new ways to use this power, adds up to infinite computing, which is profoundly changing the world of design. The old paradigm of “design-then-analyse” is transforming into one where we can use the cloud to analyze thousands of options in parallel, helping us create the best possible designs.
 
Real CAD: Computers that actually “Aid” design. Human-centered interfaces are making it easier for us to use computers, rather than having to adapt our work and workflows to the way computers are designed. Direct manipulation, ubiquitous sensors (accelerometers, touch screens, etc.), gesture- and voice-recognition paradigms, and even (yes) mind-reading advances are all making computers easier to use, and more valuable than ever before. In October 2012 Autodesk Research Group, University of Toronto and University of Alberta presented their research on the future of touch interaction and the Magic Finger, a proof-of-concept device that allows touch interactions to be carried out on any physical surface.  

Reality, Digitised is the blurring of the boundaries between the real world and the digital world, which is making it easier to pass data back and forth between these two realms. Reality capture techniques like laser point clouds and photogrammetry enable incredible visualisations, simulations, automatic modeling, augmented reality capabilities, and 3D printing/personal-manufacturing.

For example, in the future you’ll be able to scan your feet, buy a design from a shoe company, and 3D-print perfect, personalised shoes rather than having to buy whatever happens to be there at the store, or online.

The Network Effect: Everyone’s a Designer is the idea that a developing set of widely distributed, inexpensive tools for design and fabrication is inspiring design self-reliance (DIY/Do It Yourself Design) as well as design crowdsourcing (DIT/Do It Together Design). This trend is changing the worlds of design and manufacturing, and starting to affect the building industry as well.
 
Autodesk is tracking, and in some cases driving, these powerful trends, to ensure that our customers’ tools are always the best in the world.