A few weeks ago we talked about an interesting report from Ericsson that talked about the consumer technology trends that will be with us in 2030. Due to lack of space, I was not able to elaborate on some of them, and I promised to return to the load to explain some of the most striking with some detail, such as the possibility of touching anything, anywhere, completely digitally, or the million dollar question: will we know in ten years to differentiate the true from the false?
Anyone who has played Mario Kart can attest that a vibrating controller adds so much more to the experience. However, those who have tried the virtual reality (VR) version of an arcade could agree that it takes everything to a higher level, playing inside a fake car that moves in sync with the game to create the impression of a vehicle. moving. “ Digital touch is poised to grow far beyond the noise of the video game controller or the haptic feedback of today’s virtual reality systems. In the future, people will think of digital touch as something that affects their entire body and not just their hands, ”says the cited study.
Digital sensations
The ability to feel digital textures could go far beyond the limits of a smartphone screen. In fact, 6 out of 10 respondents to the report think that nerve-stimulating bracelets so that any digital object can be felt will be available by 2030. We could digitally feel anything from something simple like a ball to someone else’s skin. person. The applications of touch technology could be almost limitless. Also 6 out of 10 think that these bracelets will convey the sensation of weight and movement so that the digital objects they touch appear completely real.
Why stop at the narrow boundaries established by physical touch? We might even be able to feel things beyond the human senses. 59% foresee portable devices that will allow us to sense the approaching weather, such as storms, rain or heat waves. Literally in no time we might be able to touch the sky.
How to distinguish fact from fiction
But when technology can mimic and manipulate our senses, how will we know what is real and what is false? Half of consumers believe that by 2030 the internet of the senses could advance to the point where physical and digital realities have merged into one for practical purposes. When the digital world is perceived to be as real as the physical world, what will happen to our perception of what is real versus what is false? Today, a similar debate revolves around fake news. By 2030, they could be a thing of the past, with half of those surveyed saying that news services with extensive verification processes will be the most popular. In addition, 4 out of 10 foresee an increase in the popularity of online photos with the guarantee that they are not edited.
In a world full of avatars, being verified as human could be a real turning point and perhaps lays the foundation for exclusive social media platforms or services that guarantee only authentic representations. For example, 4 out of 10 predict that social networks with a no-bot guarantee will become more popular. Up to 43% foresee video calling services that only transmit verified and unmodified human faces. This trend is further accentuated when it comes to dating services, with 46% expecting fact-only sites to be more popular by 2030. It will be interesting to see if this will include initial statements of cosmetic operations, such as facelifts! !
Consumption ‘on line’
Naturally, this also translates to the world of physical goods. Today, for example, customers buy fair trade and eco-labeled food to ensure that the production of their items is responsible and sustainable. Counterfeit products are now also mass-produced around the world – a practice that could be counteracted with new technologies. Half of the consumers surveyed think that online stores with digital products that are guaranteed not to have been tampered with in any way will be popular in 2030. Consequently, almost the same percentage expect brands whose point of sale is to provide goods and services with “verified truth” become popular.
