Five trends that will shape the future of connectivity

THE CONNECTED CONSUMER  2030

A new wave of tech trends is set to impact our lives over the next decade.

APPLE HAS COLLABORATED WITH THE NEW MUSEUM TO LAUNCH A SERIES OF AUGMENTED REALITY (AR) EXPERIENCES CREATED BY LEADING CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS

From brain-controlled smart assistants to disease-detecting mirrors, connectivity and smart technology will fundamentally change our experience of the world by 2030, according to a new report by Vodafone Smart Tech, The Connected Consumer 2030.

trends that will drive the future of connectivity, helping us navigate the impacts of climate change, depleting natural resources and ageing populations.

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HEALTHCARE AT HOME

The COVID-19 pandemic is driving a new era of connected healthcare – and this is set to explode over the next few years.

Bathroom mirrors could be fitted with sensors that check for blood flow and changes in skin colour, while smart speakers could automatically request a prescription when they detect coughs and sneezes.

Wearable devices could measure things like hydration levels and blood pressure to spot potential health issues.

Voice assistants have introduced even the least tech-savvy among us to the world of home automation in recent years. But what if we could control our devices with just our thoughts?

NO NEED FOR SCREENS

Within the next decade, brain-computer interfaces could be used to detect the signals sent automatically from the brain to the mouth when we "say" words in our heads.

This opens up the possibility of a future without screens, allowing users to silently communicate with their devices through their brain.

CONNECTIVITY FOR CLIMATE ACTION

GUALLART ARCHITECTS HAVE ENVISAGED A SELF-SUFFICIENT FUTURE CITY THAT CAN ADAPT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF HEALTH CRISES

The next few years are critical in the fight against climate change – and connectivity will be key to restoring biodiversity by providing real-time information on the state of our environment.

Towards the end of the decade, connectivity will be built into trees, grasslands and oceans, monitoring the impact of regeneration schemes and assessing potential threats.

Cities will collect data to identify and repurpose excess energy, allowing unused power and heat from buildings to be redistributed to surrounding homes or public spaces.

THE QUARTER CAR IS A MOBILITY CONCEPT FROM DESIGN STUDIO SEYMOURPOWELL THAT POINTS TO THE FUTURE OF RIDE-SHARING IN CITIES

And as urban areas tackle issues such as air quality, which threaten city-dwellers’ quality of life, infrastructural developments will reboot the suburbs and rural areas, creating new zones of innovation and opportunity.

Society is evolving faster than we think, and it’s driving new, sustainable directions within the world of technology. We need technology to optimise daily life so we can live more sustainably.

Alex Froment-Curtil, Chief Commercial Officer, Vodafone Group

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A SMARTER COMMUTE

Smart car technologies have exploded in recent years. Connected travel could soon be the norm, providing drivers with critical data on road conditions and traffic, optimising journeys and improving safety.

DESIGN STUDIO PRIESTMANGOODE IS IMAGINING THE FUTURE OF URBAN MOBILITY WITH MULTIPURPOSE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES

Once aboard, they could swipe through products and even get dropped off at a shop to make a purchase.

And it's not just about cars. Using immersive holograms, brands will be able to advertise products to passengers as they use public transport.

To enable smart transport systems to thrive, mobility players, tech businesses and governments need to work together to define how data is shared with cities.

DESIGN STUDIO LAYER HAS CREATED THE MOVE CONCEPT SEAT FOR AIRBUS THAT USES A SMART TEXTILE TO ALLOW PASSENGERS TO MONITOR AND CONTROL THEIR SEAT CONDITIONS, SUCH AS TEMPERATURE AND TENSION, USING THEIR PHONE

Consumers are starting to realise the power of their personal data – and will soon be demanding increasingly personalised services and experiences in exchange for it.

THE VALUE OF DATA

VODAFONE’S CURVE BIKE LIGHT & GPS TRACKER, WITH A BUILTIN VODAFONE SMART SIM, IS AN ALL-IN-ONE BIKE SAFETY DEVICE THAT KEEPS RIDERS SAFE, VISIBLE AND CONNECTED

Personal data will become a currency that brands will either need to pay for or offer in exchange for an elevated experience. 

Consumers may choose to share their data only when in exchange for a cause they truly believe in – for example, when using Vodafone's GPS-enabled Neo smart watch to stay connected  to their children.

NEO SMART KIDS WATCH BY VODAFONE GIVES KIDS A SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE AND COMES WITH A CAMERA AND ACTIVITY-TRACKER. IT ALLOWS KIDS TO STAY IN TOUCH THROUGH GPS LOCATION, CALLS AND CHAT

JAPANESE AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY TOYOTA’S WOVEN CITY IS A SMART CITY IN THE FOOTHILLS OF MOUNT FUJI AND SERVES AS A TESTBED FOR NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND INNOVATION

Connectivity is the fabric that sits underneath all of our digital infrastructure, applications and content. The next decade will see connectivity become much more visible to customers, enabling new experiences which fundamentally transform both individual lives and society

Vinod Kumar,  CEO, Vodafone Business

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