I figured I would follow suite with everyone making '05 predictions as well as come up with my own lists of "goals" I want to accomplish in the new year.


First the predictions, cause they are always a lot more fun.

Web Standards finally become main stream.
I know some of us have been talking about it for several years now, but it seems as if people are finally beginning to catch on and listen. Maybe it is due to newer, more standard compliant browsers, or it could just be clients are finally wanting sites that are accessible to ALL users and across multiple devices. Eeither way I am seeing more sites, not just Blogs, that are using a XHTML DocType. I think this will be something that continues on and picks up speed in '05.

More Flash App, Less Flash Sites
Flash always has, and always will, have its place on the net. But if my predictions are correct I think we will start to see more Flash Apps and less all Flash sites in the new year. All Flash Sites will still have a place for the entertainment industry (movies, bands, clubs, etc..) and portfolio sites, but I doubt we will see any new Information or e-commerce sites that rely fully on Flash. Instead I think Flash will be used more as interactive elements imbedded into pages (i.e. Video, Advertisements, Call Outs, Interactive Images, Forums, Polls, Graphs, Maps etc..). These elements will rely more on dynamic information so they continue to stay "up-to-date" as users browse the page or adapt to what the users is looking at/for. As more and more people continue to see the power of Flash as an application tool, I think we will RIAs continue to grow. Flex may have a place in all of this, but until the price comes down I doubt it will take off as MM is hoping.

Mobile Applications
With every mobile carrier and there sister merging with each other it looks as if 3G may finally be something we can use here in the states, instead of just read about. Mix this with the fact that smart phones are rising in popularity, and Wifi is even beginning to be included, you can see the beginning of a mobile epidemic. Even Apple might jump in.

Macromedia is talking more and more about the Flash Player on Devices, and I think this will only catch on more in the new year. So brush up on your Flash 4 Skills, or hope that MM comes out with a new version of their Mobile player (please). Cause Applications on devices is about to blow up!

Other
IE will finally die in browser popularity. Apple will release a cell phone along with a G5 Powerbook. Blogging will continue to grow, along with Podcasting. And there will be a few big things that none of us are talking about yet (I still haven't figured out what they are myself but will let you know as soon as I do...)

Now enough with what may happen, and let me focus for a few goals that I am going to set out to accomplish for myself.

Balance
I have been working on this for about a month now and although I still don't have it figured out 100%, but I am getting closer. I want to continue to find the perfect balance between all that I love... work, family, friends, and life in general!

Traveling
I am not getting any younger and there are still so many places that I haven't seen. So I think this year I am going to plan a couple more trips and take the time off to enjoy them.

Continue to make a name for myself
I have done pretty well for myself so far, but i still think there is a lot more I can do. Don't get this confused with me wanting to be famous or know by everyone, cause although the thought has crossed my mind, I don't think that is what I want (at this time). I just want to continue to improve at what I do. I want to continue to get my name out there by writing, teaching, talking, and just working in my industry.

Buy a place
I am tired of renting! It makes me sick to think of all the money that I toss out and don't get even a simple tax return for in the end. So this year will hopefully be the year that I buy my first place, be it a house, a condo, a loft, just something that I own.

Expand with Freelance
Again another goal that I am always working to achieve. I love what I do and love working on as many diverse projects as possible. So I want to continue this with my Freelance work. Maybe even add a few big name clients to my lists. I think this will continue to open up more and more as I "make a name for myself" or vice versa.

Move up at the company I work for
Again I have done pretty well at this point but there is always more to strive for. I want to continue to grow both at my company and with my company. I enjoy brining new things to the table, and I hope that in '05 some of my ideas help both my company and myself grow. I love the position I am at now, but as the company continues to grow I would like to continue to move up as well, have more of a team I "lead". I would also like to try and start to work from home more in '05. I have found over the past few months, with all my time off, that I am very productive working from the confines of my own home. Hopefully my bosses will see this and offer me the ability to telecommute several days a week!

Other
As always I want to continue to better myself as a person. Maybe find that special someone that I can settle down with. Make more money (who doesn't want that). And all in all be able to look back this time next year and be happy with all I have done and where I am at!

Well thanks to all of you that visit this site and have given me support in '04. It has been a great year with a lot of ups and downs. A lot has happened in my life since this time last year and I think as a result I am a much stronger and better person.

I hope you all have a very safe evening and a Happy New Years! Hopefully all your goals and predictions will come true and bring you lots of happiness and joy in the new year!