trend futures TOUCHY-FEELY Computer giant claims future gadgets will include haptic feedback technology allowing you to virtually feel clothes before buying them. This could revolutionise retail, computers that allow us to ‘feel’ an item of clothing on screen could mean a whole new level of product engagement for retailers and consumers. TINGLING TASTEBUDS Life in virtual reality could soon get a whole lot tastier, and now a digital simulator can transmit the taste of virtual food and drink to the tongue. With the possibility of many health benefits, providing a satisfaction with no physical side effects, retail could provide consumers with a guilt-free experience.
A PLAYFUL GENERATION Interaction between our smartphones/ipads and the instore environment could be a new phenomenon, with Apps such as ‘Blippar’ allowing us to interact with brand logos through augmented reality, and Ibutterfly, an app that focuses upon catching virtual butterflies instore to ‘catch’ promotions and offers. SMELLY COMMUNICATION Is the future about sending smelly communication? The O-phone, allows us to do just that, still in the making, this gadget attaches itself to the bottom of your phone and will allow you to record smells and send them to your friends. This is an exciting concept for brands who can market to all the senses, ‘smell this leather jacket, I’m going to have to buy it’.