Becca Caddy predicts ten trends for technology in the New Year…
As the year draws to a close, many organisations, from market research companies to retailers, are currently summing up the highs and lows of 2010.
Analysing what went right or wrong in the past 12 months is a vital part of understanding how to make improvements and predict trends for the future.
So, what will 2011 hold in terms of technology trends, innovations and advances?
1. Instant photo sharing
Back in November, I wrote about the rise of photo sharing networks like Instagram and Path after TechCrunch claimed that networks like these are set to become the ‘next big thing’ in social media.
Instagram claims it has already had more than one million users sign up to the service, which means the trend to share instant photos is already growing – and fast. We can expect other networks to take advantage of this and introduce the option to share photo content (something which Foursquare has done in the last few weeks).
2. More location
Location played a key role in online developments throughout 2010, but there was definitely the feeling that both individuals and brands were still finding their feet.
In 2011 we can expect brands to get even more involved, offering further deals and promotions to customers. The success of Foursquare, Gowalla and Facebook Places is also expected to rise, but which will prove the first port of call for those wanting to check-in and what will happen to the others?
3. Deals
Sites such as Groupon, Keynoir and Crowdity have proved to be hugely successful by offering discounts to customers based on a large number of people having to purchase a specific deal.
This is a trend that certainly isn’t going anywhere in our austere economy and we can expect even more brands and businesses to sign up to these services, as well as niche networks appearing that try to distinguish themselves from the broader sites.
4. Streaming instead of downloading
YouTube has always been one of the most popular online destinations, but the increasing popularity of music streaming service Spotify suggests that people aren’t quite as dependant on downloads (legal or otherwise).
5. Celebrities online
Celebrities will increasingly play a huge part in our online lives and interactions. Some PR teams may still control the Twitter and Facebook accounts of some, but on the whole social media means celebrities have freedom to interact and engage with fans like never before.
6. Technology for social change
You only have to visit Mashable’s Social Good page to see just what a difference technology and online media is making to many causes. From online donations through Google Chrome to mobile volunteering-based applications like VInspired, people are increasingly interested in using technology and social media to make an actual difference.
7. Using game mechanics
Game mechanics is, simply put, a way of encouraging people to compete with one another and themselves. Services like Foursquare already employ these kinds of tactics, by allowing people to become mayors of their top locations and win badges. It’s in our nature to compete with one another, so we can expect other platforms to utilise this idea in the future to encourage participation.
8. Partnerships and sponsorships
Instead of focusing on advertising, brands and organisations may look to forge more meaningful relationships through sponsorships and partnerships with others for a range of purposes. There have already been examples of this in the past year, look at bands like OK GO and Gorillaz that have all teamed up with brands to help fund their music and give access to each other’s audiences both online and offline.
9. Facebook email
When Mark Zuckerberg and the rest of the Facebook team announced the new messaging service earlier this year, many people (including me) were buzzing with how this system would work and what it would mean for the way we communicate online.
However, it’s been spread to a relatively small number of users, so we can’t really draw any conclusions about it yet, but 2011 should see the service being rolled out globally. So whether it’s a hit or a miss, everyone will invariably have an opinion.
10. Technology for self-improvement
As more and more brands and developers build applications there are bound to be some weird and wonderful creations. However, there are also many extremely practical apps dedicated to helping users improve their lives, whether this be through fitness, like Runkeeper or healthy eating, like Weight Watchers. We can expect people to become more invested in these kinds of services, particularly in the New Year when everyone feels as if they’ve over-indulged a little…
This is by no means an exhaustive list, and the truth is what we consider important now could pale into insignificance in a matter of weeks or even days!
As always, it’d be great to hear your views on what could possibly be the top trends for 2011 and we’ll be sure to keep you updated about what actually proves popular over the next 12 months. So watch this space…
Becca Caddy is a BitchBuzz Tech columnist and freelance writer for Reputation Online, New Media Age’s spin-off publication. You can follow her on Twitter @beccacaddy.
Image via McGraths Flickr