Top trends for 2007

Everyone had better get comfortable with digital media. That is according to a new trends list from Interpublic Emerging Media Lab. The list indicates that digital innovations are the key for success in business and life in the coming year.

by Kristina Knight

According to the report, for consumers, the physical and digital worlds will collide this year. Consumers will begin building digital homes and allowing social software to drive communications. Marketers will be in on the digital trend, too, as they embrace new digital media networks. Immersive content is also expected to boom this year.

Greg Johnson, executive director of Interpublic's Emerging Media Lab said (in a prepared statement), "These predictions aggregate all those inputs and overlay our perspective. Our hope is that these five trends can help marketers decide on more strategic courses of action as they move forward with their communications programs."

Johnson announced the trends during a video conference that can be viewed at Interpublic following this link. The Emerging Media Lab is located in Los Angeles and allows visitors to sit in a digital living room to brainstorm ideas. Here, entertainment scenarios are tested, visitors drink espresso in a "smart" kitchen and can even check email on the refrigerator. A high-tech conference room is also included in the set up.