Immersive assistants
In some global cities, space will be at a premium. That's why, in 2050, seamless technologies will enhance people's lived experience by allowing inhabitants to immerse themselves in the metaverse – shopping, eating, working and partying in online realms – or using it as a tool to complement their daily routines and wellbeing through subtle interventions.
With longer life expectancies, more people will require care and support in later life. Our homes will also embrace immersive, data-driven technologies to meet the different needs of their multi-generational residents. AI-enabled services, such as those already being developed by DeHealth, will create interactive avatars of loved ones or carers – a trusted and familiar face to remind people with dementia to take prescriptions, or as a tool to combat loneliness in the ageing population.
Thought-starter: How might companies in the smart home category ensure they address consumer concerns about privacy so that people welcome brands offering data-driven care and support into their homes?
Food for thought
By 2050, the way we buy, consume and dispose of food, its waste and packaging will fundamentally change in response to the ecological crisis. Thanks to automation and data collection, food will become more personal than ever before, with smart fridges and apps tailoring food recommendations to optimise nutrition intake for people of all ages. Personalised and convenient meal packs will also support those with health conditions such as dementia and diabetes.
Waste will no longer be wasteful. Food waste will be turned into biofuel to help power the home and those in local communities. Smart disposal systems will be built in, such as bins that record the volume of food waste and packaging thrown away each month, giving families regular feedback on ways to avoid unnecessary waste. Platforms such as Olio will be household names, ensuring that food waste can be almost entirely repurposed. Elsewhere, household waste will be part of hyper-local, closed-loop recycling systems that provide materials for new products manufactured locally in towns and cities, rather than shipped far away to landfill.
Thought-starter: What type of initiatives should food brands be working on now to ensure they are part of a future focused on circular systems rather than unnecessary disposal?
