This guest post is written by Dean Olsen.
While the first quarter of 2014 is nearly finished, there are still many possibilities for new technology to change the lives of everyone overnight. While the mobile revolution continues to dominate most of the consumer tech market, other connected devices are also promising to deliver a unified experience across all devices.
What this means is more information, more cooperation between devices, and indeed, more chances for effective marketing innovation. Here are some developments on the horizon that could be a game-changer when it comes to marketing:
1. Smart TV
Smart TVs are nothing new to the market, but more and more TV manufacturers are making it a standard feature, especially if it can interact with a phone or a tablet. With opt-in social media usage and brands that users already favor, advertisements may become streamed only for relevant brands or competitors.
2. Smart Watches
Smart watches are beginning to take a hold in the U.S. and by using GPS, the watch could display notifications around meal times to suggest nearby restaurants or remind you to buy gifts for special occasions.
3. Game Consoles
While in-game ads are nothing new, the basic menu layouts for the new Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are ideal for purchasing up ad space to appeal to the coveted 18-35 demographic. With only a few brands taking advantage of this right now, it can be the perfect time to start a campaign.
4. Augmented Reality
Google Glass has become so hotly anticipated that it’s become almost a buzzword. While science fiction likes to joke about “pop-up” ads displayed in the real world, companies will want to be among the first to provide contextual advertisements for the platform.
5. 3D Printing
The continued development of 3D printers that is driving down the end-user cost will allow you to create little souvenirs or simple devices to use as physical bits of marketing at trade shows or public displays.
6. Delivery Drones
In a move that was so surprising many took at as a joke at first, distributor Amazon has announced a series of delivery drones to ship packages to any location easily and quietly. Expect other companies and perhaps even some restaurants to follow suit.
7. Digital Payments
In 2013, everybody was talking about Bitcoin at some point. While the digital currency may not be poised for universal adoption yet, fewer and fewer will conduct business using cash, and so companies must be prepared for payments through cards, electronic bank transfers, and especially online services like PayPal, Square, and carrier billing services like Boku.
8. Streaming Video
While Hulu subscribers are quick to groan about the presence of commercials in their entertainment, a program that reduces streaming video content for those that agree to the insertion of advertisements could take hold as pay-TV subscribers continue to drop like flies.
9. Holographs
Since the era of Star Trek, personal-use holographs have always been a dream of the future. Now that we have performing holographic entertainers on both sides of the Pacific, holographic ad content might begin to occur, but may be limited to sports arenas and other high-cost venues at first.
10. Connected Cars
The personal automobile is struggling to make the full plunge into the new era of technology, but expect luxury models to offer personal mobile wi-fi hotspots and connect to the manufacturer’s network to provide advertisements for roadside attractions or garages where necessary maintenance can be performed.
2014 has barely started it seems, but is still full of so much promise to change our lives for the better, or at least make it more exciting to be a marketer in this calendar year.
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Dean Olsen is an online entrepreneur who enjoys researching and writing about future technology for business. His writing, which can also be found on GlobalTollFreeNumber.com’s blog, covers the importance of customer retention, customer service solutions and globalization.