Megatrend Spotlight: Earlier this year, 3M shared the megatrends we see shaping the next 5-10 years of life on this planet. To understand the source of these trends, and their impact around the globe, we are taking a deeper dive into their key themes and the ways our people, technology and solutions are working to improve lives.
Personalization will be a key differentiator for products and services over the next five years.
The greater the impact of the product or service on a consumer’s life, the greater the demand for personalized solutions, including health, productivity and lifestyle optimization. 3M has a keen understanding of this trend and has developed several technologies and partnerships that help people at home, work, in public and in their overall health and wellness.
“3M’s focus on personalized innovation is reflected in our brand tagline – Science. Applied to Life,” said John Banovetz, 3M’s senior vice president, chief technology officer and environmental responsibility. “We work closely with customers and consumers around the globe to identify ways we can advance outcomes for people in all areas of their life.”
Personalization in the home
In 2018, 3M launched Filtrete™ Smart Air Filters , a first-of-its-kind residential filter that contains a Bluetooth®-enabled pressure sensor. When paired with the new Filtrete™ Smart App , the sensor notifies users when the filter needs to be replaced based on air flow and usage, not just time.
The Filtrete Smart App also provides data on outside air quality and gives helpful tips for helping to improve air quality indoors. Users can decide how much interaction they have with the Filtrete Smart App by opting-in to specific smartphone notifications to alert them when it’s time to change their filter or even when outdoor air quality in their area is poor.
Another impactful product for your home is 3M™ Thinsulate™ Window Films . This technology gives homeowners more ways to control energy costs while making their home more comfortable and inviting year-round. These films use less energy by redirecting most of the sun’s heat and still letting in the light. At the same time, they block up to 99% of harmful UV rays to help protect your furnishings. In winter, they also help keep warm indoor air from escaping, so you can stay comfortable while keeping heating costs under control.
Advancements in public and workplace
In 2019, fatalities on U.S. interstates and highways topped 36,000. 3M is looking to help reverse this alarming trend through a partnership with The Ray – an 18-mile stretch of I-85 in Georgia dedicated to testing innovative roadway technologies.
The two organizations are partnering together to build a safe ecosystem for drivers, on our public highways, by examining the design and development of innovation opportunities. This includes smart road markers, in-road and roadside connected infrastructure and a digital data management platform for smart vehicles.
Safety in the workplace is a major emphasis for employers. 3M has decades of experience in helping to create safer work environments and has built a platform to do just that called 3M Connected Safety . This game-changing IoT platform is comprised of both digital and physical products that are designed to help organizations connect workers, places, and equipment in order to drive improvements in worker safety, compliance workflows, and safety process automation.
Innovation in health and wellness
Sometimes personalization can be hard to spot. That’s especially true when looking at 3M’s advancements in wearable technology and medical adhesives. Understanding skin – its structure and how it changes – are important when you design adhesive devices that stick to it. That’s why 3M has developed a Science of Skin portal to educate experts in the field on this unique and complex organ. This content compliments the full suite of free educational material available at 3M’s Health Care Academy .
A stethoscope is one of the most common medical tools for doctors and nurses. The acoustic device listens for sounds inside the body, chiefly the heart and lungs. 3M™ Littmann® stethoscopes are one of the most trusted brands in the field and recently launched an innovative new product called the 3M™ Littmann® CORE Digital Stethoscope . It offers several features powered by digital technology, namely its ability to connect with Eko software on any smart device. This gives medical professionals the ability to visualize, record and share data with colleagues and patients.
To learn more about The Rise of Personalized Enhancements, a key theme under the Rise of the Individual Megatrend, click here .
