While we follow trends as it relates to consumer technology on a year ‘round basis — we thought that we would kick-off the New Year with our top five ‘hot emerging trends and new business opportunities.’ Technology is changing the world. It is profoundly shaping who we are and what we do, and we are witnessing the growing relationship between technology innovation, well-being, productivity and jobs. Consequently, we are also witnessing how these relationships are affecting rapidly evolving social, political, cultural and economic structures — that underpin how individuals and organizations go about their daily lives and business.
Looking back, 2011 was marked by unpredictability, explosiveness, and revolutions – and we saw CE products, IT technology and social media as the key catalysts driving events that led to the Arab Spring and clash in civilizations. Ordinary citizens used Facebook and Twitter to rally and knock down dictators. We saw first-hand the devastation in Japan and elsewhere in the world, and the role of mobile devices and communications for alerts, remote services, reaching first responders and connecting relatives with their loved one’s or enabling relatives to discover each other’s fate.
On a macro trend level, in 2011 at press conferences as well as at other events and shows in the U.S. and abroad we heard technology company executives talk about practical applications for advancing their corporate social and environmental sustainability and innovation agendas. This included green, advancing energy efficiency and researching next generation energy alternatives. We also are inundated about great new broadband products – along with the increasingly perilous need for more spectrum.
Collaboration was another key trend that we saw particularly in the IT and biotech sectors. With rising R&D expenses during uncertain economic times – collaboration is about sharing the risks and financial burden – while also ensuring that there is product differentiation and plenty of profit for everyone. While certain sectors are experiencing the gains of sharing the investment burden through collaboration – perhaps there are lessons for the severe bi-partisan atmosphere engulfing Washington.
While many in the U.S are bemoaning the country’s decline and lessening of innovation, we are cautiously optimistic as we began identifying significant trends for 2012. We are at a juncture with the unfolding of ‘new norms’ — and where key sectors like education, energy, health care, IT, communications and media are all in transition.
So, what does all of these trends and observations portend for 2012? What products or categories are either a manifestation of a trend and the ‘next big thing’ – or what might be a blip on the screen, destined for a brief foray onto the public stage and then vanish into oblivion?
C4 Trends’ top picks are: Education, Fitness, Smart Medtech, Robotics, and Small Business. What was our selection criteria? At a top-line level we look to answer: What job is the product or service designed to do – and is the new product just a replacement or incremental change for its current function? What’s the increasing interrelationship between population segments with a product and a service in a converging world? Is there ‘innovation’ in the approach or functionality — and is it incremental or disruptive?
Check back each day this week for a more detailed article on each trend. Susan can be reached at susan@c4trends.com