The UK’s innovation foundation Nesta today publishes its influential annual predictions – the 10 giant trends, social movements and technological breakthroughs that are set shape our lives in 2015.

According to Nesta’s in-house experts, 2015 will not only be the year that ‘Smellovision’ finally arrives, but apps are set to become a matter of life and death, and food waste will be used to feed millions.

The 10 predictions for 2015 are:

1. Smellovision becomes reality – in 2015 you’ll receive a message with a difference as technology is introduced to transmit scents through your smartphone.
2. Life-saving apps - emergency services will start using smartphone technology to locate and direct members of the public with first-aid skills, to nearby medical emergencies.
3. Waste not, want not – gleaning (or food waste diversion) will feed over two million people in 2015 but how will it work?
4. Internet of everything, coming soon to a neighbourhood near you – we’ll start to bid farewell to wi-fi and mobile operators, as new LPWA networks roll out district-wide.
5. Crowdfunding goes bust! – Could the first big scandal see crowdfunding in crisis?
6. Generation Coder – 2015 will see every young person in the UK creating a digital project by the end of the year.
7. Craft gets a 21st century makeover - shared access to tools such as laser cutters and 3D printers to create surge of sole-trader manufacturers heralding a cottage industry boom.
8. Museums hit the high street – town centres will become interactive galleries as curators share their exhibits via smartphones and internet-enabled digital projections.
9. ‘Minority Report’ advertising - this year cities will play host to Minority Report style billboards broadcasting tailored content based on data from your GPS-enabled phone.
10. Online political parties –the first internet-age parties emerge in the UK enabling people to directly influence ideas and decisions, challenging traditional hierarchies.

Geoff Mulgan, CEO of Nesta, said, “Every year we try to pinpoint some of the biggest trends that will shape our lives, often for the better. The world is a gloriously unpredictable place – but we hope that these predictions will help people make sense of the deeper currents of change lying behind the headlines.”

The predictions are available to view here: www.nesta.org.uk/2015-predictions

-ENDS-

Notes to editors

Illustrations of each prediction are available to use here. Nesta’s in-house experts are available to shine a light on the 10 predictions and how they will impact on real lives, communities, businesses and society.

For media enquiries please contact Natalie Hodgson on 020 7438 2614 / [email protected]