One in 10 Brits believe Star Trek-style tech will beam into the nation’s living rooms within a deca (Image: Kennedy News and Media)
One in 10 Brits believe Star Trek-style tech will beam into the nation’s living rooms within a decade – allowing people to socialise via HOLOGRAM.
An open-minded 11% of Brits believe holographic socialising will arrive in the next 10 years allowing people to hang out as life-sized avatars, according to a survey.
One in eight (13%) expect VR travel and experiences to become mainstream, while one fifth (20%) simply want smart tech to help choose what to watch.
Vodafone quizzed the nation about how vital broadband has become in daily life, with nearly 60% of Brits saying they depend on reliable internet more than any other home utility.
No longer just for streaming or staying in touch, broadband is the backbone of modern connected homes.
Brits increasingly rely on technology to simplify daily routines and enjoy more varied entertainment experiences.
One-fifth of weary Brits would welcome a robot housekeeper into their home to help with shopping and cooking.
An open-minded 16% of Brits would allow an AI assistant to help with domestic chores, while a quarter (24%) would pay for an AI cleaner.
The study also revealed almost a quarter (23%) want smart kitchen tech to cook meals.
Smart security is also on the rise, with smart doorbells, cameras, motion sensors and locks now commonplace.
Nearly half of Brits (46%) own two or more broadband-powered home‐security devices, up from just under a third (32%) five years ago.
Looking ahead, a whopping 80% say they’re keen to see innovation in smart home security.
Affordability (43%), ease of installation (33%) and integration with their broadband hubs (17%) top the list of desired improvements that would encourage use.
The research comes as Vodafone launches Who’s Home, a new smart feature built directly into its latest Ultra Hub 7 broadband routers, available to new and existing customers at no extra cost.
By detecting when devices connect or disconnect from the network, Who’s Home provides notifications about who’s arriving or leaving the house, offering greater peace of mind.
Vodafone has partnered with AI expert Dan Södergren to predict the upgrades of tomorrow – from holographic meet-ups to AI-powered home help and smarter security.
TOP FIVE UPGRADE PREDICTIONS
1. Home Hub
Advancements in smart security are expected to include connected safety sensors and predictive AI monitoring. Today, carbon monoxide and gas detectors can alert smartphones when something’s wrong.
In the coming years, these sensors will become smarter and more predictive, analysing subtle environmental changes to prevent issues before they happen. Deeper integration with home hubs and AI platforms will turn reactive alerts into proactive safety management, creating a truly intelligent home environment.
This evolution will see broadband move from an everyday utility to an intelligent safety net – a digital guardian watching quietly over every corner of the connected home.
Consumers are calling for simplicity: one in five Brits (20%) want fewer home security gadgets, 22% want to manage everything in one place, and 19% want more accurate alerts – underscoring the demand for integrated, intelligent home systems.
2. Home Help
Södergren predicts that in two years, AI will begin operating as an ‘invisible home assistant’, optimising energy use, quietly managing supplies and supporting independent living – helping older people stay connected and safe.
Over the next decade, homes will see:
● AI concierges that monitor household supplies and reorder automatically.● Smart fridges that suggest healthier meal ideas based on health or fitness goals.● Lighting and temperature that adapt to circadian rhythms.● Appliances working in sync to minimise energy bills.
While early examples exist today, these capabilities are set to become far more advanced and widely accessible, evolving from novelty to everyday norm, as commonplace as smart speakers. And with that shift comes an even greater dependence on fast, reliable connectivity.
3. Home Entertainment
In the next three years, Dan suggests advances in connectivity and AI will transform the living room into an immersive entertainment hub, shaped by connectivity and AI.
Emerging experiences will include:● Holographic and AR experiences delivered through glasses or projectors built into smart TVs.● AI-driven personalisation adjusting sound, lighting and content in real time to suit time of day, your mood or family preferences.● Holographic socialising with friends, appearing as life-size avatars to share experiences across distances.As immersive entertainment becomes mainstream, ultra-low latency and dependable connectivity will be even more critical.
AI and technology expert Dan Södergren said: « We’re entering what I call the Fifth Industrial Revolution, where ultra-reliable connectivity becomes the foundation of everyday life.
« As AI moves from novelty to necessity, the home will become one of the biggest areas of transformation.
« We’re already seeing robotic companions as AI home assistants entering the market across the world.
« Such robots will soon evolve beyond simple automation to act as adaptive home help – anticipating needs, learning our routines and taking on the tasks that quietly keep a home running.
« Entertainment will also shift, becoming more immersive and personalised, from holographic experiences to AI-curated viewing.
« Crucially, connectivity will also redefine home security. Broadband will act as the home’s nervous system, connecting safety alerts, predictive sensors and real-time awareness.
« The result will be homes that are not just smarter and more intuitive, but significantly safer and more resilient. »
Rob Winterschladen, Consumer Director at VodafoneThree, said: « Home broadband has moved from being a convenience to becoming a cornerstone of daily life. With that shift, expectations of what it should deliver have grown.
« From AI companions that help run the household, to predictive networks that know when you’re about to stream your favourite show, the connected home is about making technology seamless and everyday life easier.
« With the launch of Who’s Home, we are giving householders greater peace of mind with alerts when loved ones arrive or leave.
« It’s a small feature that makes a difference and we’re proud to be the first and only major UK provider to offer it on our latest routers, at no extra cost.
« This marks the start of an exciting new chapter for Vodafone as we continue to innovate and bring even more intelligent features into our customers’ homes through our broadband offerings. »
For more information, please visit https://www.vodafone.co.uk/broadband/wi-fi-hub-and-broadband-app
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