Principal Consultant for Webbmedia Group Amy Webb speaks about the most recent tech trends and how they can be beneficial for journalists.

Top Ten

Trend No. 1: 2D Barcodes

These barcodes store data and can be reinterpreted with certain mobile phones, like the iPhone. Once scanned, the phone's browser automatically directs to a URL. For example, this can help journalism if newspapers want to use 2D barcodes in their advertisements which offer exclusive coupons for the readers.

Trend No. 2: WiMax and MobileBroadband

With these applications, you'll be able to remotely assign, edit, plan full multimedia stories with little to no lag time. The Kindle device enables users to carry around books of information with them within the palm of their hand.

Trend No. 3: Geobrowsing

You can upload the Where application to your phone, which acts as a personal map, letting you know exactly what is around you. It also has a friend feature and if your friends upload Where, you can view where they are in relation to you.

Trend No. 4: Cloud Computing

You can report or publish for everywhere using Amazon's Web Service, Apple's MobileMe, Fortress Integrated Technologies, etc. You can use these web services to enable and enhance your applications in a fast and efficient way.

Trend No. 5: WebOS

By downloading Google's Chrome Browser, you are automatically making your web searches faster, safer and easier. You can easily access your favorite web pages through thumbnails, get suggestions for other pages and store more documents without the extra cost of external software.

Trend No. 6: Visual Search

When searching for images on Google and you only want faces to appear, append your search to &image type=face. With Google Image Labeler, you can view the same set of images, compare results and over time improves search return. With Riya, Snaptell and MiDomi are all search engines that can help you find specific images.

Trend No. 7: Lifestreaming

Twitter, Twitter, Twitter. For people who think that Twitter will never grow, you're wrong. Its increased by 485% over the past 7 months. Twitter allows you to keep in constant contact with others and get up to the minutes updates using your mobile device. And ever wonder what a certain someone is up to online? Sign up for Spokeo to track Amazon purchases, flickr photos, MySpace messages and more.

Trend No. 8: Ubiquitous Video

Video-on-demand is so popular now that Everyzing.com was created specifically to give you updates on all types of news reports with both video and audio. With constant use, it gives suggestions to other stories and reports.

Trend No. 9: Semantic Web

The internet provides overwhelming sources of information, that it can sometimes be hard to find the specifics. Now there are applications to organize your browser to provide faster searches and suggestions. AdaptiveBlue, Google's Twine and ClearForest are some examples of the many applications you can choose from.

Trend No. 10: Multi-screen Journalism

Picture the iPhone, but on your whole computer screen. That's right, Apple is designing a new multi-touch Mac for even faster and more efficient computer usage and we know everyone can't wait for that.

View all of Amy Webb's technology insights.

Lauren Veneziani