Trend Q&A: Exploring the future of smart tech

Smart tech for the home, technology for the ageing population and smart home CMF trends. That and more on today’s episode.

Want to know what’s next? Listen to the show where our experts from around the globe unpack your biggest challenges. This week, WGSN’s CEO Carla Buzasi takes us to San Francisco, London and Denver to hear from our super-smart Consumer Tech team.

Watch the full episode below or read on for highlights of this episode:

Q: What are the ways smart tech can improve our lives at home?
“New connectivity standards such as Matter have laid the foundation for connecting compatible smart home products and systems with one another seamlessly, regardless of the brand. This is great news for consumers who want their smart home systems to provide peace of mind and help manage their household. A climate-aware mindset will also accelerate consumer demand for self-sufficient energy management.”
– Lisa Yong, Director, WGSN Consumer Tech
Discover more…

Q: How will home tech cater to ageing populations?
“According to the UN, one in six people globally will be aged 65+ by 2050. And the three areas where home tech can help are care, monitoring and mobility. We expect carebots to become commonplace and ease the workload of human carers. Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics developed a robot called Grace. It’s incredibly lifelike, has a thermal camera on its chest and is capable of taking temperature readings and diagnosing conditions with AI.”
– Matt Zara, Strategist, WGSN Consumer Tech
Discover more…

Q: How are current CMF trends for tech products evolving to meet the needs of today’s consumers?
“We've been tracking how the home has evolved due to the pandemic, and many people are still working from home and need private workspaces. But many times these home offices need to be transformed into family living spaces. Flexibility is key and CMF trends are shifting so tech products can become more ambient and more integrated into the various modes of use within the home.”
– Reiko Morrison, Head of CMF, WGSN Consumer Tech
Discover more…