Earlier today, Ericsson’s ConsumerLab released the 5th edition of its annual trend report [pdf]. The report indicates consumers believe artificial intelligence will soon enable interaction with objects without needing a smartphone screen. Indeed, half of all smartphone users expect smartphones to become things of the past within the next five years.
These are the top 10 trends identified in the report:
- The Lifestyle Network Effect. Four out of five people now experience an effect where the benefits gained from online services increases as more people use them. Globally, one in three consumers already participates in various forms of the sharing economy.
- Streaming Natives. Teenagers watch more YouTube video content daily than other age groups. Forty-six percent of 16-19 year-olds spend an hour or more on YouTube every day.
- AI Ends The Screen Age. Artificial intelligence will enable interaction with objects without the need for a smartphone screen. One in two smartphone users think smartphones will be a thing of the past within the next five years.
- Virtual Gets Real. Consumers want virtual technology for everyday activities such as watching sports and making video calls. Forty-four percent even want to print their own food.
- Sensing Homes. Fifty-five percent of smartphone owners believe bricks used to build homes could include sensors that monitor mold, leakage and electricity issues within the next five years. As a result, the concept of smart homes may need to be rethought from the ground up.
- Smart Commuters. Commuters want to use their time meaningfully and not feel like passive objects in transit. Eighty-six percent would use personalized commuting services if they were available.
- Emergency Chat. Social networks may become the preferred way to contact emergency services. Six out of 10 consumers are also interested in a disaster information app.
- Internables. Internal sensors that measure well-being in our bodies may become the new wearables. Eight out of 10 consumers would like to use technology to enhance sensory perceptions and cognitive abilities such as vision, memory and hearing.
- Everything Gets Hacked. Most smartphone users believe hacking and viruses will continue to be an issue. As a positive side-effect, one in five say they have greater trust in an organization that was hacked but then solved the problem.
- Netizen Journalists. Consumers share more information than ever and believe it increases their influence on society. More than a third believe blowing the whistle on a corrupt company online has greater impact than going to the police.
What opportunities are being created by these trends? How will existing businesses be transformed?
Ericsson identifies three important underlying shifts:
- All consumer trends involve the internet – many aspects of our physical lives are merging with our online habits;
- Early adopters are less important – as the speed of technology adoption increases, mass-market use becomes the norm much quicker thanĀ before;
- Consumers have more influence – only a few years ago, the focus was on how the internet is influencing consumers, now consumers are using the internet to influence what goes on around them.
The report provides insights from various studies conducted by Ericsson ConsumerLab over the course of the past year. Ericsson ConsumerLab interviews 100,000 individuals each year in more than 40 countries and 15 megacities, statistically representing the views of 1.1Ā billion people. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, hundreds of hours are spent with consumers from different cultures. Ericsson ConsumerLab has analysts in all of the regions where Ericsson operates, giving it a global understanding of the ICT market and emerging business models.
Ericsson will be returning once again to The 2016 Canadian Telecom Summit, taking place June 6-8, 2016 in Toronto. Will you be there too?