Swedish telco Ericsson has just released its consumer trends for 2019 and it forecasts that mood predictive technology will be big in the coming year. Among the 10 trends that Ericsson ConsumerLab report forecasts, a few key ones to watch out for are:

Aware-ables : Devices that understand our moods;

Smart Quarrels - Get set for virtual assistants that will argue like family members;

Spying Apps - Over 45 per cent of consumers think apps collect data about them even when they don’t use the app;

Internet of skills - A majority of AR and VR users want apps, glasses and gloves that give virtual guidance for practical, everyday, tasks such as cooking or repairing stuff;

Mind Gyms - when decision making gets automated, you will need solutions to help practise thinking;

Eco conscious – 39 per cent of consumers surveyed wanted an eco watch that measures their carbon footprint.

Most watched ads

YouTube’s annual ads leaderboard for India shows that emotional storytelling resonated with viewers. The YouTube Ads Leaderboard captures a list of commercials that receive the maximum views, shares, and likes from audiences across India. This year, YouTube reached over 245 million monthly active users in the country. Cumulatively, the top ten ads on YouTube clocked 18 million hours of watch time, 88 per cent of which came from mobile devices. Topping the charts this year is Hyundai’s 20 years of Brilliant Moments ad, focusing on family bonds; followed by Samsung’s #voiceforever campaign themed on their first personalised AI voice assistant that can help motor neuron disease patients. Third was an ad on Indiabulls Dhani app featuring cricketer M S Dhoni.

Search & shop on Google

Google has unveiled a new immersive shopping search experience for Indian users. A shopping tab is available on Google Search and in Google Lens, as well as a made-to-browse experience on Shopping Home page. On the new Shopping Homepage, users can search across multiple product categories and browse products from thousands of retailers. There are smart features like price drops as well as what’s most popular. The ‘Shopping Tab’ in Google Search will allow users to post queries in Hindi and English and show product lists, local store inventory and review prices from across multiple retailers.

According to Surojit Chatterjee, Vice-President - Product Management, Google, said , “More than 40 million Indians are coming online every year, and search is an integral part of their online journey. From seasoned desktop shoppers to first-time users with entry-level smartphones, we hope this new shopping experience will make finding what people are looking for just a little bit easier.”

Himalayan smile

It’s a film with a cause. Himalaya Drug Company’s new campaign — Ek Nayi Muskaan — is out to raise awareness about cleft lip and palate. It narrates sensitively the story of eight-year-old Munmun who lives in a small village near Lucknow and dreams of going to school and playing with friends. However, her untreated cleft lip has kept her in hiding — even in her dreams. The film captures Munmun’s transformational journey as she receives life-changing cleft surgery. Created by Roadrunner Productions, with a catchy song by actor Raghuvir Yadav, the ad for Himalaya’s Lip care product weaves in its commitment to a social initiative as well. A film that brings both tears and a smile to your lips.

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