Technology not only shapes the lives of individuals but that of a nation as well. Whether at home or at work, technology can be life-altering as it adds comfort to our lives and hours to our days. While 'connected' home appliances enable and empower personal spaces, smart technology boosts productivity and efficiency in professional environment as well. All these, when combined, make for a dynamic economy in a nation that is embracing positive changes to boost growth.
2015 was the year when wearable technology came of age and the Internet of Things (IoT) made its presence felt. As things stand today, 2016 promises to be the year when the IoT 'connected' story develops further. The other new kid on the block, in the mobile communication space, will be VoLTE.
In fact, if one takes a minute to ponder, all that seemed to be fantasy and a figment of someone's imagination on reel life seems to be coming to life for real. Today we have machines that are intuitive and learn and act with very little or no human contact, we have products that we can interact with at the tap of a button, we can wear technology that tells us how fit we are, and much more.
Manufacturers are constantly developing innovative and futuristic products. Today consumers can operate their washing machines, their music systems, their refrigerators via their smartphones. Imagine your house coming alive with your favorite music as soon as you unlock your front door? Imagine using your TV to skype; chat; mail, or play?
Health enthusiasts can today wear a band that monitors the heart rate, the number of step one walks in a day, and blood pressure at regular intervals, at the very least.
Technology today is empowering consumers more than ever before. A washing machine takes its orders from you the load is washed as per your specifications before you reach home, your air conditioner has the room at a temperature you are most comfortable with. And that is not all. Smart technology makes it possible to sync one's fridge to a call-center through a smart phone to help diagnose and solve any problem the refrigerator may have, quickly and correctly. Innovative technology allows air-conditioners to be energy efficient and keep the mosquitos away. Trends like robots, autonomous vehicles, virtual personal assistants (VPAs) and smart advisors - that act in an autonomous manner are set to take the consumer space by storm. Multi utility gadgets that help save space and yet maximize utility are the ones that will leave an impact in 2016, like Door-in-Door refrigerators, that not only save space but have numerous features and are energy efficient.
With consumers spending more time gazing the screens of laptops, televisions and smartphones display has come a long way, and achieved brilliance as never before. OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) is one such technology that making waves and becoming increasingly popular. It provides a rich and immersive viewing experience, setting the bar high for display manufactures. The unique amalgamation of 4K technology with OLED has taken viewing experience to another level and will continue to do so in 2016.
In the mobile communications space, we have moved from feature phone to smartphones with internet to 4G. And the new talk of the town include VoLTE (Voice Over LTE) and VoWiFi (Voice Over Wi-Fi) enabled devices which allow faster transmission of data and voice. Based on IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, with specific profile for control and media planes of voice service, this technology allows users to speak over high-speed data networks and is sure to be the buzzword in 2016.
What's also being touted as a 2016 tech trend is Retina Scanning Security, given the need for privacy and security of all the data our handheld devices hold. Pin-based, pattern-based and invisible tap code-based security have been doing the rounds from some time with each having its own benefits. However, the latest buzzword in security are fingerprint scanners and iris scanners on smartphones. They will defiantly be among the most talked about tech trends in 2016.
What makes this an exciting time for tech developers and tech aficionados is the vast opportunity for evolution across the sector. With the continuous increase of disposable income, aspirational buying is on the rise and advancement of technology in consumer durables is being embraced by those wanting to upscale in life. With rising GDP, the purchasing power of people with higher propensity to consume with preference for sophisticated brands provides constant impetus to upward growth of these segment. This, of course, also means that there is a healthy competition between leading brands.
The growth of the consumer consumption is not likely to ebb any time soon in India thanks to the constantly growing market space. However, products that will succeed for sure include those that adapt green technologies, are efficient both in terms of saving power and saving time for consumers, and make a lifestyle statement.
Guest Author
The author is head corporate marketing at LG India - LG Electronics India
