# Domain Research Step 5: Technical Trends

<purpose>
Conduct comprehensive technical trends analysis identifying emerging technologies, digital transformation impacts, innovation patterns, and future technology projections using verified web search data.
</purpose>

<instructions>
1. Execute web searches for emerging technologies, digital transformation, and future outlook
2. Analyze and aggregate technology findings
3. Generate technical trends content with six subsections (Emerging Technologies, Digital Transformation, Innovation Patterns, Future Outlook, Implementation Opportunities, Challenges and Risks)
4. Add Recommendations section with three subsections (Technology Adoption, Innovation Roadmap, Risk Mitigation)
5. Include source citations for all technology information
6. Write content immediately to document
7. Present [C] continue option after content generation
8. Update frontmatter stepsCompleted to [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] before loading next step
</instructions>

<output>
Technical trends analysis sections containing:
- Emerging technologies and innovations with source citations
- Digital transformation trends and impacts with source citations
- Innovation patterns and disruption analysis with source citations
- Future outlook and projections with source citations
- Implementation opportunities and challenges with source citations
- Strategic recommendations for technology adoption, innovation roadmap, and risk mitigation
- All content appended to research document
</output>

## MANDATORY EXECUTION RULES (READ FIRST):

- 🛑 NEVER generate content without web search verification

- 📖 CRITICAL: ALWAYS read the complete step file before taking any action - partial understanding leads to incomplete decisions
- 🔄 CRITICAL: When loading next step with 'C', ensure the entire file is read and understood before proceeding
- ✅ Search the web to verify and supplement your knowledge with current facts
- 📋 YOU ARE A TECHNOLOGY ANALYST, not content generator
- 💬 FOCUS on emerging technologies and innovation patterns
- 🔍 WEB SEARCH REQUIRED - verify current facts against live sources
- 📝 WRITE CONTENT IMMEDIATELY TO DOCUMENT
- ✅ YOU MUST ALWAYS SPEAK OUTPUT In your Agent communication style with the config `{communication_language}`

## EXECUTION PROTOCOLS:

- 🎯 Show web search analysis before presenting findings
- ⚠️ Present [C] continue option after technical trends content generation
- 📝 WRITE TECHNICAL TRENDS ANALYSIS TO DOCUMENT IMMEDIATELY
- 💾 ONLY proceed when user chooses C (Continue)
- 📖 Update frontmatter `stepsCompleted: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]` before loading next step
- 🚫 FORBIDDEN to load next step until C is selected

## CONTEXT BOUNDARIES:

- Current document and frontmatter from previous steps are available
- **Research topic = "{{research_topic}}"** - established from initial discussion
- **Research goals = "{{research_goals}}"** - established from initial discussion
- Focus on emerging technologies and innovation patterns in the domain
- Web search capabilities with source verification are enabled

## YOUR TASK:

Conduct comprehensive technical trends analysis using current web data with emphasis on innovations and emerging technologies impacting {{research_topic}}.

## TECHNICAL TRENDS SEQUENCE:

### 1. Begin Technical Trends Analysis

Start with technology research approach:
"Now I'll conduct **technical trends and emerging technologies** analysis for **{{research_topic}}** using current data.

**Technical Trends Focus:**

- Emerging technologies and innovations
- Digital transformation impacts
- Automation and efficiency improvements
- New business models enabled by technology
- Future technology projections and roadmaps

**Let me search for current technology developments.**"

### 2. Web Search for Emerging Technologies

Search for current technology information:
Search the web: "{{research_topic}} emerging technologies innovations"

**Technology focus:**

- AI, machine learning, and automation impacts
- Digital transformation trends
- New technologies disrupting the industry
- Innovation patterns and breakthrough developments

### 3. Web Search for Digital Transformation

Search for current transformation trends:
Search the web: "{{research_topic}} digital transformation trends"

**Transformation focus:**

- Digital adoption trends and rates
- Business model evolution
- Customer experience innovations
- Operational efficiency improvements

### 4. Web Search for Future Outlook

Search for future projections:
Search the web: "{{research_topic}} future outlook trends"

**Future focus:**

- Technology roadmaps and projections
- Market evolution predictions
- Innovation pipelines and R&D trends
- Long-term industry transformation

### 5. Generate Technical Trends Content

**WRITE IMMEDIATELY TO DOCUMENT**

Prepare technical analysis with source citations:

#### Content Structure:

When saving to document, append these Level 2 and Level 3 sections:

```markdown
## Technical Trends and Innovation

### Emerging Technologies

[Emerging technologies analysis with source citations]
_Source: [URL]_

### Digital Transformation

[Digital transformation analysis with source citations]
_Source: [URL]_

### Innovation Patterns

[Innovation patterns analysis with source citations]
_Source: [URL]_

### Future Outlook

[Future outlook and projections with source citations]
_Source: [URL]_

### Implementation Opportunities

[Implementation opportunity analysis with source citations]
_Source: [URL]_

### Challenges and Risks

[Challenges and risks assessment with source citations]
_Source: [URL]_

## Recommendations

### Technology Adoption Strategy

[Technology adoption recommendations]

### Innovation Roadmap

[Innovation roadmap suggestions]

### Risk Mitigation

[Risk mitigation strategies]
```

### 6. Present Analysis and Complete Option

Show the generated technical analysis and present complete option:
"I've completed **technical trends and innovation analysis** for {{research_topic}}.

**Technical Highlights:**

- Emerging technologies and innovations identified
- Digital transformation trends mapped
- Future outlook and projections analyzed
- Implementation opportunities and challenges documented
- Practical recommendations provided

**Technical Trends Research Completed:**

- Emerging technologies and innovations identified
- Digital transformation trends mapped
- Future outlook and projections analyzed
- Implementation opportunities and challenges documented

**Ready to proceed to research synthesis and recommendations?**
[C] Continue - Save this to document and proceed to synthesis

### 7. Handle Continue Selection

#### If 'C' (Continue):

- **CONTENT ALREADY WRITTEN TO DOCUMENT**
- Update frontmatter: `stepsCompleted: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]`
- Load: `./step-06-research-synthesis.md`

## APPEND TO DOCUMENT:

Content is already written to document when generated in step 5. No additional append needed.

## SUCCESS METRICS:

✅ Emerging technologies identified with current data
✅ Digital transformation trends clearly documented
✅ Future outlook and projections analyzed
✅ Implementation opportunities and challenges mapped
✅ Strategic recommendations provided
✅ Content written immediately to document
✅ [C] continue option presented and handled correctly
✅ Proper routing to next step (research synthesis)
✅ Research goals alignment maintained

## FAILURE MODES:

❌ Relying solely on training data without web verification for current facts
❌ Missing critical emerging technologies in the domain
❌ Not providing practical implementation recommendations
❌ Not completing strategic recommendations
❌ Not presenting completion option for research workflow
❌ Appending content without user selecting 'C'

❌ **CRITICAL**: Reading only partial step file - leads to incomplete understanding and poor decisions
❌ **CRITICAL**: Proceeding with 'C' without fully reading and understanding the next step file
❌ **CRITICAL**: Making decisions without complete understanding of step requirements and protocols

## TECHNICAL RESEARCH PROTOCOLS:

- Search for cutting-edge technologies and innovations
- Identify disruption patterns and game-changers
- Research technology adoption timelines and barriers
- Consider regional technology variations
- Analyze competitive technological advantages

## RESEARCH WORKFLOW COMPLETION:

When 'C' is selected:

- All domain research steps completed
- Comprehensive research document generated
- All sections appended with source citations
- Research workflow status updated
- Final recommendations provided to user

## NEXT STEPS:

Research workflow complete. User may:

- Use the domain research to inform other workflows (PRD, architecture, etc.)
- Conduct additional research on specific topics if needed
- Move forward with product development based on research insights

Congratulations on completing comprehensive domain research! 🎉
