So as we say goodbye to 2011, here are some of my predictions and comments about the upcoming year (granted the world doesn’t end)…
Technology
Voice Control – I’m fairly confident that we will some major changes in tech this year. Thanks to Apple and Siri, voice controls for smartphones are going to become a standard. I also see this tech spreading to devices in our homes including the obvious like TVs and computers but also things like the thermostat and kitchen appliances but it won’t happen overnight.
The TV is another area we should see some newer technologies start to come down in price but larger sizes (55″+) will still be out of reach for most of us. What I’m most excited about is seeing the user experience of TV take on a new form. With connected devices like Roku, Wii, XBox (Live) and PS3 TVs are already more capable of delivering more of your favorite content to you but as we’ve started to see with iTV or internet TV is that most of the services we use like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Video and HBO Go are being integrated right into the TV. Even the interface for the most basic functions have received stunning upgrades when compared to the boring up/down, left/right menus of only a few years ago.
Speaking of menus and user interface, 2012 promises Windows 8 (in multiple variations) which should be a nice upgrade from W7 and Vista. Who know’s what Apple’s got up it’s sleeve next but I’m sure it will be interesting (and pretty!). Something I am really looking forward to however is a better web experience revolving around something that’s being call “responsive web design”. Responsive design is a little hard to explain but, in escense, attempts to streamline the users web experience no matter what platform (mobile, tablet, web) by delivering different, deliberately designed formats of a website based on that user’s device’s screen size. If you’d like to learn more about responsive design, check out a book called Responsive Web Design by Ethan Marcotte.
Social Media
After 2011′s big shake up with the introduction of Google+, 2012 should be a little quieter on the social media frontier although, I’d expect a lot of growth. I think we’ll really see G+ grow into its own space and demand quite a bit more attention. It’s already proven to be very powerful in attracting new users and building communities based around the users existing “circles” of friends. The whole experience is very natural and I’m sure we can expect a lot more out of the search giant.
I’m also betting we see more social integration across the board from all the major social sites out there. What I’m really hoping for is a less intrusive way for this to work. I’m starting to get a little tired of all these buttons and begging me to “Follow me on Facebook/Twitter/G+/LinkedIn”, etc. etc at the bottom (or top) of blogs and sites. If I want to share you page, post or tweet I will but I’ll do it on what channel or experience I’d like and who know’s maybe I’ll just post it to Reddit and let others decide if it’s actually worth anyone’s time. What I’m really trying to say is that I hope the process becomes smoother and maybe takes on a nice, less-than-20-click-approval to get things all linked up.
By no way is this the end. Between start-ups, mash-ups, and social integration the “Big 4″ (Facebook, Google+, Twitter & LinkedIn) won’t be the only big players in the social media game and I can start to see location based services like FourSquare, Google Places & Facebook Places becoming more popular and less of an afterthought. Mobile, location-based advertising will also be hugely important in the year(s) to come.
Online & Mobile Advertising
As the number of available media channels continue to grow, so does advertising. With so many alternatives to TV, print and other “traditonal” forms of advertising – online, mobile, location-based and integrated marketing and advertising campaigns have an inherit ability to gain more ground in the next year with social advertising being one of the fastest growing markets. I think it’s fair to say that second tier networks like AdKnowledge, LookSmart and Outbrain will attract lots of attention from advertisers looking to new sources to circumvent a semi-saturated markets on Google, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Daily deal platforms like Groupon, Living Social, and Google Offers should see an increase in their user base as well as purchases over the next year as more retailers see how these services can help them gain new customers. I suspect that we’ll also begin to see these offers extend past restaurants and spa days into some new markets as well as the digital market place. My biggest hope is that, the location based aspect of these services becomes more refined, allowing the local coffee shop to offer real-time deals to users walking past their store front.