ZDNet reports on Gartner's Top 10 Strategic Technology areas for 2011.

10 things: Handicapping Gartner's top technologies for 2011

By Larry Dignan | October 19, 2010, 6:26am PDT

Summary

Gartner outlined its top 10 technologies for 2011 that will give technology execs the most bang for their budgets. How many of these technologies will be a true hit?

Gartner on Tuesday outlined its top 10 technologies for 2011 that will give technology execs the most bang for their budgets. How many of these technologies will be a true hit?

Here is the 2010 vs 2011 list.

Note #4 and #5 - IT for Green and Reshaping the Data Center.

Does this mean there is a slowing in the interest in Green Data Centers?

I don't think so.

What this means is Gartner's revenue stream from sponsored research in this areas has dropped the topic out of the top 10.

The green data center hype should die down a bit which is good as much of the presentations were not worth people's time.

Greening the data center is a long term commitment, not a product category.

Greenpeace will help keep people focused on the environmental impact of data centers.

I would trade Greenpeace's environmental focus on 100% renewables data center energy vs. Gartner's sponsored research in Green IT to drive change in the industry.

The smart people/companies are figuring out how to work with environmental organizations. Could you imagine hiring Gartner to talk to Greenpeace? Now that would be a funny meeting to sit in.

Maybe Greenpeace should start protesting Gartner for not making 100% renewable energy a a corporate IT requirement in addition to going after Facebook. Let's see when Gartner changes its tune when government regulations mandate carbon reduction in IT.