8 Biggest Consumer Technology Trends in 2024
As we venture into 2024, the consumer technology landscape is undergoing a remarkable transformation, driven by cutting-edge technologies and shifting consumer preferences. Remember when AI was just a buzzword? Well, it's now part of our lives. We're witnessing the rise of AI-generated content, personalizing everything from entertainment to productivity tools, and redefining the boundaries of human-machine interaction.
Today we have consumer technology to improve our health, fill our homes with smart appliances and gadgets, or simply enjoy movies, music, and gaming on a single tap.
Consumer technology makes our lives easy and convenient by improving the quality of our lives.
Wondering which is the trending consumer technology? Let’s dive into this piece to learn about the top consumer technology trends in 2024. But before that, let’s briefly understand what consumer technology is.
What is Consumer Technology?
Consumer technology, often referred to as consumer tech, is a wide array of technologies designed to enhance our daily lives and improve accessibility and convenience. Smartphones, laptops, smart home devices and wearable technologies are a few of the consumer tech devices and applications that are developed for everyday use rather than businesses or government entities.
With rapid advancements in innovation, consumer technology continually evolves to cater for our changing needs and preferences.
8 Consumer Technology Trends of 2024
Now that you know what consumer technology is, let’s learn what those trending consumer technologies are.
Extended Reality
Extended Reality (XR) is the most trending consumer technology trend in 2024. It is revolutionizing how we interact with digital content. XR encompasses a spectrum of technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR), each offering unique immersive experiences.
One of the most exciting developments in XR is Sony's "immersive spatial content creation system," featuring a head-mounted display equipped with advanced sensors, cameras, and a ring controller for manipulating virtual objects. Other notable XR devices include Snap's Spectacles, Rokid Max AR Glasses, and Virtue One XR/AR Glasses.
Smart Lock Screen Widgets
Another trend in consumer technology that has gained significant traction in 2024 is the smart lock screen widgets. These interactive features offered by Glance on Motorola and other Android devices allow users to access essential information and perform quick actions without unlocking their devices. Glance is the pioneering smart lock screen, equipped with AI & ML. It is an in-built widget in your Android phone; using it, you can access news, weather updates, and track your favorite sports score on the right of your mobile phone lock screen.
We at Glance offer customized smart lock screen features, allowing you to prioritize your preferences. This means that if you're a sports enthusiast, you can prioritize specific sports news, if you’re someone who prefers local news over international news, you can customize it accordingly. Glance on Motorola and other popular Android devices turns your ordinary lock screen into a smarter one!
Metaverse
Metaverse is one of the most trendy and futuristic consumer technologies. It is a shared virtual space where you can interact with others as avatars or in 3-D models in virtual worlds to socialize, learn, collaborate, and play.
One of the key developments in metaverse consumer technology is the emergence of metahumans—hyper-realistic, CGI-created characters that are transforming how we interact in virtual spaces. These AI-powered avatars can embody specific identities, engage with each other in new ways, and even serve as virtual assistants to you.
Domestic Robots
Domestic robots have been a notable consumer technology trend in recent years. From robotic vacuums to smart home assistants, these consumer technology devices are making our lives easier and more convenient. Integrating AI and machine learning in domestic robots, also makes them more efficient, allowing them to adapt to our preferences and perform more complex tasks.
Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI)
This consumer technology can revolutionize new-age technologies and bring sensations to various fields, from healthcare to gaming and entertainment. Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) allow direct communication between the brain and external devices. While still in its early stages, BCI has huge potential.
In 2024, we've seen significant advancements in the development of BCI consumer technology, with companies like Neuralink (founded by Elon Musk) leading the way. These devices have the potential to help individuals with disabilities regain lost functionality as well as enhance human capabilities in areas such as memory and cognition.
Augmented Reality
Augmented Reality (AR) is an interactive consumer technology that enhances the real world by overlaying digital information onto it. This can include graphics, sounds, and other sensory stimuli, providing users with a blended experience of the physical and digital realms. AR applications are increasingly prevalent across various sectors, including gaming, education, healthcare, and retail.
Augmented reality is starting to be used for shopping sites. Online e-commerce platforms use these consumer technology features to provide the customer with the experience any particular product will look to their place.
Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality (VR) is among the most thriving consumer technologies. It allows you to immerse yourself in a completely virtual environment, isolating yourself from the physical world. To engage with VR, you will need to use headsets that track your movements and provide a 360-degree view of the digital space. This technology is widely used in gaming, training simulations, and virtual tours. It is among the most famous consumer technologies with fantastic world experience.
Blockchain
The digital currency or cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, are gaining popularity. Blockchain, the consumer technology behind it, is becoming more pronounced. However, blockchain applications are not limited to digital currency; they extend far beyond digital currencies.
Blockchain technology serves as a decentralized ledger that records transactions across multiple computers. This technology ensures that the recorded transactions cannot be altered retroactively, enhancing security and transparency.
Apart from these, some other top consumer technologies are mixed reality, digital twins, edge computing, sustainable technologies, nanotechnologies, etc.
Conclusion
The consumer technology trends of 2024 reflect a significant shift towards a more interconnected and intelligent ecosystem. The rise of Extended Reality (XR), smart lock screen widgets, the Metaverse, domestic robots, Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI), and augmented and virtual reality technologies showcases a movement towards immersive and personalized experiences. As these technologies continue to develop, they will streamline our daily tasks and redefine our experiences and expectations in an ever-evolving digital age.