By Zack Orsborn

These days, I can’t scroll through Facebook without uttering the words, “The future is now, man.”

While some may call me crazy for talking to myself, the reason for this strange behavior is I’m enamored at how quickly technology changes and grows. Like the other day, and I kid you not, I saw a post about 3D printing an organ. Let that sink in for a second: Printing. A. Human. Organ.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: The future is now, man.

As a marketing communication specialist who’s a little too obsessed with technology trends, I can barely keep up with how recent technological advances – both in software and hardware – are changing the marketing game. So, as your trusty #MarketingMole I dug around to report a few technological advances that I think will affect marketing or marketing operations in the near future.

#1 – Come Back to (Virtual) Reality

Two weeks ago, I tried virtual reality for the first time through the Samsung Gear VR. Fast forward, and I’m honestly thinking about starting Virtual Reality Anonymous, because my name is Zack, and I’m a virtual reality-aholic.

I started off sitting in a virtual living room. I know it doesn’t sound exciting, but trust me, there was a fountain and a Koi pond in my virtual living room. Do you have a Koi pond in your real living room? I didn’t think so.

As I looked around, I noticed floating apps and it opened my eyes to the promotion and marketing potential advertisers could have with virtual reality.

According to Statista, revenues from virtual reality products are projected to increase from $90 million to a whopping $5.2 billion in 2018. By 2018, it’s predicted there will be 171 million active virtual reality users.

Imagine how advertisers could use responsive design and virtual spacers to completely immerse a customer in an unforgettable experience. The whole point of advertising, for the most part, is developing experiences a customer will recall whenever they have a little cash in their back pocket.

Make a virtual food court where you have to find coupons, and you have a customer (me) for life.

#2 – We’re Doing It Live!

Several months ago, I got a notification on my Facebook saying “So And So went live!”

I had a #FlashbackFriday back to the days where Stickam was a thing, but of course, that got left behind in 2013 along with the Harlem Shake. Live streaming isn’t a new concept, but it is for a wider social media atmosphere. At first, Facebook only let celebrities or big name brands stream live, but since opening it to the public, I’ve seen radio shows being hosted, products being reviewed, live Q&As and the occasional person who accidentally pressed “Go Live” while sitting on the toilet.

I was skeptical at first, but then I began to see just how many people began engaging with the posts. Live streaming takes the static black and white of a text or photo post and breathes personality into a brand. It’s available on almost every major social media service.

And the results are showing. Social Bakers recently conducted a study that showed video posts have 135 percent greater organic reach than a photo post. Ch-ch-changes.

If you’re ever nervous about broadcasting yourself (because you hate the sound of your voice like me), just take inspiration from the iconic Billy O’Reilly, who once said, “WE’LL DO IT LIVE.”

#3 – Click, Drag, Post

Do you hear that? That faint sniffling? That’s a graphic design major after seeing all the apps that can now make professional quality looking social media posts. Ignore the deafening sobbing. That’s just a web designer scrolling through portfolios on Squarespace or Weebly.

I only kid. Designers are the real MVPs, but now, everyone can give the appearance of spending four years in art school through apps like Adobe Spark and Font Candy.

When I’m making quote graphics, I spend half of my time making them in Photoshop, and the other half on Adobe Spark while I’m waiting in the Long John Silver’s drive-thru. There’s nothing like fast food shrimp and beautiful quote graphics.

#4 – Help! My Shirt is Beeping!

My co-worker Emily sent all of us a link to a gorgeous, golden ring with a pearl-like stone set in the middle. At first, I was like, “Oh cool, cute ring,” but as I read more about it, this magical ring (not the one from Mordor) connects with your smart devices to buzz whenever you get a notification.

Like streaming technology, wearable tech isn’t the new kid on the block. Products like Pebble, FitBit and the Apple Watch have been around a while, but now wearables are becoming more petite and fashionable in forms of rings, necklaces and even t-shirts.

How will wearables change marketing, you ask? By constantly reminding you with beeps and notifications about a product, news, or other information.  As I like to say, or actually just made up right now, “The more you beep, the more you keep.”