While some may see this relative indifference as the inevitable result of a maturing IT industry, or even as a sign that IT no longer matters, a closer look reveals just the opposite. Enterprise IT has never been more interesting, and technology is now driving business transformation controversies that dwarf the vendor squabbles of the past. Consider the following 10 IT stories that are playing out across much of the developed world.

1. Governments are debating if and how they should move toward a new generation of identification cards and cross-linked databases. For better or worse, both could be powerful new platforms for societal security and control.

2. The health care industry is struggling to develop the standards and cooperation needed to automate medical records processing. Few paths offer more hope for better care and more effective cost control.

3. The insurance industry is looking at the same sorts of health records and debating whether to use individual information to price insurance coverage based on family history, genetic proclivities, driving habits or other personal traits and behavior.

4. The pharmaceutical industry is considering moving away from its increasingly problematic one-size-fits-all drug manufacturing approach to developing products that are customized to the needs of smaller groups or even individuals.