 Q&A - Dion Chang
Trends analyst and creator/owner of Flux Trends
Q: What do you think is going to be the next big trend in technology?
A: The next big trend is "augmented reality". This is where you will be able to point your smartphone at a location or person and information about the place or person will come up on the screen. It’s geomapping taken to a completely new level and is as impressive as it is scary.
Q: What do you think the future will hold for consumers, technology-wise?
A: Faster and faster lifestyles, which is a double-edged sword. More convenience, but less physical social interaction and much shorter attention spans (if that is possible). We already see that we have too much information and not enough knowledge...not to mention attention spans of lab rats.
Q: Do you think getting a smartphone is just hype, or do people really use all the functionality smartphones offer?
A: Smartphones are the future of computing. The gap between the laptop and the smartphone is already narrowing. It’s no coincidence that all smartphones are starting to look alike, irrespective of the brand. People need constant access to their technologies (whatever level of need), so it is logical that you will want your technologies to be portable and personal.
Q: How big a role does aesthetic design play when it comes to gadgets, and do you think it influences consumers when they buy them?
A: Aesthetics play a huge role in my purchase decisions. Technology has moved in quantum leaps, and because it has become so personal, it needs to integrate seamlessly into people's lifestyles. The boundaries have become too blurred for form not to be considered with function. The LG Art cool air-conditioner, for instance, brings style and design together all in one unit that is disguised as a mirror, photo or portrait on the wall.
Q: What is your first memory of technology?
A: The TV. I’m old enough to remember when TV hit South Africa’s shores and we all stared at a test pattern. The first memorable leap of technology was when I got an iPod. I got it on holiday in Paris and when I came home, everyone wanted to know what it was.
Q: What is your most prized gadget at the moment and why?
A: Not so gadgety but more on the appliance side...I love getting appliances that make my kitchen look good and are practical. Every Sunday I have `Champaign Night’ and my LG side-by-side fridge ensures that my bottles are kept cool and conveniently stored on the bottle holder rack. The door alarm is also a nice feature.
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