I am going to do something that I have not done until now: count and reel in several articles the ten trends that a company like Ericcson has unraveled in a spectacular report , in my opinion, which it defines as ‘The Internet of Senses’, and which does not It is more than the technological consumption trends that can be seen at the end of the next two decades, around the year 2030.
The report I refer to presents information based on the aforementioned Swedish company’s consumer trends program, and the quantitative results are based on an online survey of residents in Bangkok, Delhi, Jakarta, Johannesburg, London, Mexico City, Moscow , New York, San Francisco, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, Stockholm, Sydney and Tokyo, held in October 2019.
The sample is made up of at least 500 respondents in each city, between 15 and 69 years of age and who are currently regular users of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) or virtual assistants , or who intend to to use these technologies in the future. In proportion, they represent only 46 million citizens of the 248 million who live in the surveyed metropolitan areas, only a small fraction of consumers globally. The profile of early adopters of the respondents, however, makes the resulting data important when exploring expectations about technology for the next decade.
And what are those ten trends in technology consumption that Ericsson talks about, or rather the early adopters asked?
The first one indicates that the human brain will be the user interface. This is believed by 59% of consumers, who indicate that we can see the navigation routes in virtual reality glasses simply by thinking about the destination, for example.
The second of the trends pointed out by the Ericsson study is to imitate the voice. Yes, this is indicated by 67% of the people who have responded to the study, who consider that with the help of a microphone it is possible to imitate the voice of any person with such precision that even the relatives themselves could be deceived.
And the third trend? The flavor you want. Almost half of consumers predict the appearance of an oral device that digitally enhances any food so it can taste their favorite dish.
The digital aroma is the fourth. 6 out of 10 consumers hope to be able to digitally visit forests or fields and perceive the natural aromas of those places. The fifth is called by Ericsson as ‘Total Touch’. More than 6 in 10 respondents await the arrival of smartphones capable of conveying the shape and texture of the icons and digital buttons they press.
Merged reality is the sixth trend. 70% predict the emergence of virtual reality game worlds indistinguishable from physical reality by 2030. The “fake news” could have their days numbered thanks to the seventh of the trends: ‘Verified as real’. Most respondents foresee the emergence of news services that include extensive fact-checking in ten years.
The penultimate is that privacy will no longer be a problem for half of the technology consumers questioned, as they hope that privacy issues will be fully resolved thanks to security, so that they can enjoy the benefits of a world based on information. And the last one is ‘Connected Sustainability’. 6 out of 10 respondents believe that services based on the internet of the senses will make society more sustainable from an environmental point of view.
You are sitting in your kitchen. As you think about an Arabian Nights themed dinner, your surroundings begin to change. Arabesque music plays softly, simple kitchen tiles begin to take on bright patterns, and the smell of fragrant lamb stew reaches your nostrils. You then turn your gaze to the table, which is now covered with a rustic woven cotton tablecloth, flowers, lighted candles and decorated plates that you touch and replace. On the chairs there are avatars of your friends with access to the calendar so you just think: “create invitation”. As the calendars begin to fill up, ingredients from a digital store arrive at your table that allows you to verify their freshness and taste the flavor of a new yogurt sauce. Since two guests are vegetarians, you also try a plant-based stew before placing your order.
Science fiction? Now perhaps yes, but in a few years this vision of Ericsson can become a reality with the convergence of all the aforementioned technologies. Today, they say in the Swedish company, technology mainly interacts with two senses, sight and sound. Therefore, his vision is that advanced technology will enable a complete internet of the senses by 2025 , and will include the ability to digitally communicate thoughts by 2030.
