Imagine waking up to a new day. A smart alarm clock nudges you awake at the optimal time, as you check your smartwatch to see how the quality of your sleep was. As you ready yourself for work, the virtual assistant on your smart speaker reads you the news, and weather and traffic conditions as you brush your teeth.
Freshly brewed coffee from the automated coffee machine awaits you as you grab a cup before work. Just as you are about to head out of the door, a drone from the logistics company drops off a package just in time. You are scheduled to reach the office at 9am and you get some work done on the commute, thanks to your self-driving car.
All this sounds like science fiction, but the foundation for this scenario to happen is here today. Here are some tech trends from 2018 that are making the above a reality.
VIDEO ON DEMAND SERVICES
Video on Demand (VOD) services that include the likes of Netflix, iflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video has gained acceptance due to better access to the Internet, improved broadband speeds and cheaper data. The rise in consumer demand for uninterrupted entertainment has paved the way for content providers that are not built on traditional media or broadcast backgrounds. The focus for video content is no longer the TV in the living room but the smart devices in consumers’ pockets.
With deep pockets, providers like Netflix have moved beyond distributing content and are producing their own original high-quality shows. To an extent, South-East Asian players like iflix are following suit but are also exploring live streaming content like news and sporting events. Needless to say, the battle for eyeballs and screen time is definitely heating up as entertainment-hungry viewers look toward more localised content and not just big Hollywood productions.
