Soap's annual digital, advertising, social and tech predictions & trends for 2014. What do you think will be the biggest trend for 2014?

2. PREDICTIONS/TRENDS/LOLS
We’ve taken another light-hearted look
at what we think the zeitgeist of 2014
will be from a tech/digital angle.

3. HOT OR NOT
CR4AAZ33!P4SSW0RD$
● NSA
3D PRINTING
● BUYING NEW
OCULUS RIFT
● 3D TVS
STEAM PCS
IBEACONS
KANYE
● UGLY SMART WATCHES
● NFC
● KANYE
GAMIFICATION
● ADDING BADGES TO THINGS
BRANDED CONTENT
● BORING BRANDED CONTENT
HUMBLEBRAGS
● SELFISH SELFIES

4. SMART CRAP
We’ll keep adding technology to things that
don’t really need it, just because we can.
Whether it’s as simple as a paper plane that
never stops or a toaster that burns the weather
into your toast you can be safe in the
knowledge there is someone out there, with
too much time on their hands, is looking to add
technology where it doesn't belong.

5. VINTIGITAL
As our lives become even more digital we’ll do
our best to keep as much as we can analogue.
Our obsession with GIFs reaches new lows as
we start to print them out. Instagram photos
will be printed as Viewmasters, on pillows and
even hot chocolate ready Marshmallows. Or
what about a $400 attachment for your iPhone
to allow it to print Polaroids?
Why? because you can. And because
Kickstarter lets previously crazy ideas be made.

6. CAN OF BITCOINS
When Starbucks becomes the first major retail
chain to accept Bitcoins, expect Bitcoin fever.
Ron Howard will option a film based around the
biggest Bitcoin robbery while the mainstream
media will continue to cover its use in the
“underground internet” to buy everything from
dog sweaters to assassinations.
Universities around the world will suddenly see
their IT teams resign after finally cashing in the
Bitcoins they mined through the campus network.

7. TL/DR
Content everywhere gets shorter.

8. TECH “SO HOT RIGHT NOW”
Under Armor's recent acquisition
highlights that major fashion labels are
getting serious about wearable tech.
Soon you’ll have clothing that tells you if
you’re working out properly, protects you
from when Drone’s become self aware or
just displays when you have a ‘Bad case of
the Mondays’.
But we’re superficial; we’d all settle for
Smart Watches that don’t look so ugly or
Star Trek styled Google Glass.

9. RIFT ME!
We’re not sure people will jump at
spending $300+ for Virtual Roller Coaster
rides; but expect CNN to cover “virtual
sex” when it launches in 2014.
We also can’t wait for the “World’s First
Full Virtual Reality TV Ad” for Doritos.

10. 3D PRINTED MADNESS
3D printed pizza’s are ugly but tasty, no
one can afford a $300,000 3D printed
burger and a single shot 3D printed gun
has already created a storm.
Predictably the internet will focus on 3D
printed memes while corporations start
filing patents for 3D printed organs.
Honestly though we’re more excited
about printing our own Potato Bazooka.

11. BATKID 2
Charities around the world are now
daunted by the fact no one will be able to
top Batkid’s viral success.
But don’t worry, Kanye’s onto it.

12. A DRONE ATE MY HOMEWORK
While daily drone delivery is way off,
expect the mainstream media and
advertising fascination with drones to not
wear off.
Drone beer deliveries at sport events and
music festivals will solve the serious issue
of being too drunk to get out of your seat.
Hollywood also gets Drone Fever with the
release of Michael Bay’s action thriller “2
Drones 2 Furious” about illegal drone
races in LA.

13. CONSUMERISM PORN
You don’t have to be a Rich Kid of Instagram
to flaunt it. Whether you’re a 16 year old with
a charge card or the son of a Mexican cartel
boss, showing off what you got in social will
be hot in 2014.
Even if it’s highly illegal and stupid.

14. DANCING FOR CANDY
The advertising industry will continue
conducting the worldwide anthropological
study on what people will do for free stuff.
In Russia you do squats for train tickets,
make a fool of yourself in Australia for
snacks, while the Swiss make you stare at a
phone for 60 minutes.
These tests will escalate until we see the first
fatality involving “free candy” and essentially
ruin it for everyone come awards time.

15. NOW STREAMING
With Google monetizing helping and Twitch
being integrated into the PS4 and Xbox One
we’ll see live streaming become
mainstream.
The fact you can earn money just playing
video games or helping people learn sign
language will attract all sorts of people.
So expect to see more scammers.

16. BRANDS ACT LIKE FRANCHISES
As retail growth slows down we’ll see
more packaged goods brands will expand
out of their normal supermarket shelves.
We all know Redbull & M&M have been
doing this for years but now those KFC
scented candles & Oreo Cufflinks are not
just a novelty they are a serious revenue
stream.

17. MICROTRANSACTIONS INFECT EVERYTHING
Following the financial success of
Microtransactions in mobile games the
rest of the entertainment industry will
experiment with a similar model.
Marvel will announce that The Avengers 2
will be the first “freemium” release. The
core film comes with Thor but requires a
$1.99 payment via special 3D glasses to
unlock each other Avenger as viewable.

18. MORE FROM SOAP
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