Some trendspotting

I always seem to be a tad bit later when it comes to the round up of the year gone by or the forecast for the year ahead,nevertheless better late than never!!!

Version 1.0 of trends for the year

1.PERSONALIZATION PERSONALIZATION PERSONALIZATION!!

Believe it or not things can only get more personalized from the products and services we use to our online avtars!With companies going head over heels to make sure that what you want=what you've ordered.On the online front too social networking sites,online communities,blogs etc all are working around the clock to make sure they have an application or widget that reflects the real you.

2.OPEN SOURCE...CO-CREATION

With the internet opening up much more than doors,everyone can do almost everything today!!![well almost]So we as lay men today can create content,get published,create applications,online experiences,be an integral part in the creation and ideation process of many a company's product line,we can have our voice heard!!

3.WEB 2.0 CAN WE EXPECT A 3.0 IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

With the 2nd generation internet technology getting consumed at such a rapid all over the world as in India to we can surely look at the net becoming more and transparent,interactive and interesting!India may have been a little bit on the use of web2.0 effectively[at least from a media and advertising perspective..the youngsters today seem to have masted the latest social networking applications,blogger widgets...and are using the technology full throttle!!]

See,hear,touch,feel...the 360 degree sensory delight!

Todays consumers are all about the experience...
We are innate story tellers and the wilder the experience the greater the story!!We want to try new things,explore,test personal limits and see whats possible!Whether is kayaking down the Ganges,trekking up the Himalayas,taking up kick boxing,learning to pole dance,water yoga...you name it and there are takers for something unusual today!!

The new age customer wants to break out of the shackles of monotony and drudgery!and are more willing than ever before to experiment can create unique experiences for themselves!This quest for experience could be something even as small as learning to use the new PDA.There is a longing to feel alive and to shake up a stale routine.

Theres also a deeper push to engage the sense.Life is often too scripted and it feels great to cook from scratch that Mexican dish or paint that oil painting you've been meaning to do for over a year.In the new playground experience is the currency.Its the more valuable and prized than any material belonging.

Also unusual experiences spark interesting conversations and provide a vehicle for exploring latent passions,talents and desires in the attempt of developing a stronger sense of self.

The search for unusual experience also stems from the feasibility to create your own content.So now on your trip to Egypt you can create your very own video of the pyramids and mix it with your favorite track and upload it on your blog or youtube instead of picking up a souvenier!!