The 10 technology trends for 2014

There are several technologies that were not entirely new in 2013, but did begin to become especially popular in different services and devices, such as the use of fingerprints or smartwatches. 1. APPLICATIONS. The rapid takeoff of the 'smartphones' has changed "completely the way we communicate and use the Internet", the company highlights. "Now we are going to enter a new phase of smartphone use marked by speed and diversification, and people are looking for applications in all aspects of their life in society". This includes everything, from shopping to daily care, the relationship with institutions or transportation. "Applications are becoming more important than the phone itself", indicate Ericsson experts. 2. THE BODY AS PASSWORD. Internet companies are demanding longer passwords with a mix of numbers, letters and symbols. "This reality is increasing interest in biometrics", according to the study. For example, the research detected that 52% of 'smartphone' users want to use their fingerprints instead of passwords, and 48% are interested in using eye recognition to unlock their screen. A total of 74% believe that biometric smartphones will become a trend over the coming year. 3. THE QUANTIFICATION OF ONESELF. Blood pressure or pulse are just a few examples of how we like to measure ourselves with mobile devices. As the study recalls, "we only need to download an application to track our activities and know ourselves better". 40% of smartphone users want to use their mobiles to connect them with their physical body and 56% would like to track their blood pressure and pulse using a ring. 4. INTERNET ANYWHERE. "The Internet experience has moved ahead of the voice experience", is another conclusion of the study. In this sense, users "have realized that mobile coverage signals may be sufficient for a voice call, but not for accessing Internet services". In the report that Ericsson has carried out, it has been detected that the lowest user satisfaction refers to the quality of the Internet experience on the subway. This user need will also mark the technological agenda of 2014. 5. SMARTPHONES REDUCE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. Global Internet access is still "inadequately distributed", but the arrival of cheaper smartphones means that users "no longer need expensive devices to access Internet services". In this way, 51% of users worldwide perceive their mobiles as their most important technological device. For many it is becoming the "main device" for Internet access, according to the report. 6. THE BENEFITS OF THE ONLINE WORLD OUTWEIGH CONCERNS. "As the Internet is becoming a greater part of our life, the risks associated with being connected are becoming more palpable", highlights Ericsson ConsumerLab. 56 percent of daily Internet users are worried about their privacy. In any case, only 4 percent say they would use the Internet less. Instead, users apply strategies to minimize risk, such as being more cautious about the type of personal information they provide. 7. VIDEO AND SOCIAL INFLUENCE TO POWER. "Despite having a wider media choice, we seem less likely to choose what we watch", because there is also a greater search difficulty. Such is the case that our friends exert a particular influence on what we watch. According to the research carried out by Ericsson, 38 percent of respondents say they watch videos recommended by their friends several times a week. "Our friends have almost the same impact as the blogs we read or our musical habits" in this sense, the report highlights. 8. VISIBLE DATA 48% of users use applications to better analyze their data consumption. While 41% only want to know how much data they consume, 33% want to check that they are being billed correctly and 31% do not want to exceed their data quotas established with the operator. The research also reveals that 37% of smartphone users regularly use applications to test their connection speed. 9. SENSORS FOR EVERYTHING. According to the report, "users increasingly want their physical environment to respond in the same way". By the year 2016, around 60% of 'smartphone' owners trust that sensors will be used in all areas, from healthcare to public transport, cars, homes and the office. 10. TURN ON, STOP AND RESUME ELSEWHERE. 19% of download time is spent on phones or tablets, which demonstrates that users want to be able to have content on the move and not worry about whether they are in the bathroom with the 'tablet', on the subway with the mobile or in the living room with the Smart TV. Users want to start watching content at home, stop it and resume it on the way to work and that will be another path along which progress will be made even further in 2014.