Global imaging giant Kodak commissioned The Future Laboratory to examine how people in the UK, US, France, Germany and Italy view their relationships and the role digital imaging can play. Across the five countries, it found a common desire for ‘reconnectivity.’ The ‘Future of Reconnectivity’ report also uncovered the emergence of ‘Digital Families’ and forecasts the impact of future technologies on relationships. According to the study, we’re waking up to the fact that we’re struggling to nurture personal relationships and are gradually turning to technology for solutions. 53% of us already use cameras to communicate better with our families and over a third (35%) said we want to be able to see and contact other people more face-to-face, but technology is still an important part of this experience. Asked about future innovations in imaging technology, 41% felt that video conferencing would improve or intensify face-to-face relationships, whilst, 30% felt augmented reality would do the same.

Kodak Press Release

KODAK PUBLISHES REPORT ON THE BIRTH OF THE DIGITAL FAMILY AND TECHNOLOGY’S ROLE IN BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

London, 09/23/2009 – According to research published by Kodak today, relationships with our family and friends are our top priority – 7 in 10 of us (68%) rate spending time with friends and family as a number-one priority – but we’re yearning to reconnect face-to-face.

Global imaging giant Kodak commissioned The Future Laboratory to examine how people in the UK, US, France, Germany and Italy view their relationships and the role digital imaging can play. Across the five countries, it found a common desire for ‘reconnectivity.’ The ‘Future of Reconnectivity’ report also uncovered the emergence of ‘Digital Families’ and forecasts the impact of future technologies on relationships.

In addition to the 68% of respondents who said they prioritised seeing family, 35% said they prioritised having strong relationships above anything else, even career development (27%). When respondents were asked which moments in their life they will treasure the most over the next ten years, the top answer was seeing the birth of their child or grandchild (57%); just 33% said a work-related event (e.g. promotion or business success).

However, life today conspires against us and it can be difficult to find time for face-to-face contact as we struggle with obstacles such as geography and more pressured work-lives than previous generations. Whilst 36% of us see our bosses every day, a quarter (25%) of us claim we never see our parents and, over 12 months, we’re more likely to see our bank manager (26%) than our Granny (9%).

But now we’re waking up to the fact that we’re struggling to nurture personal relationships and are gradually turning to technology for solutions. 53% of us already use cameras to communicate better with our families and over a third (35%) said we want to be able to see and contact other people more face-to-face, but technology is still an important part of this experience. Over half of us (51%) said that working away from friends and family would encourage us to choose technology-based contact with others and 18% said that not having time for a lunch break would offer a similar incentive.

Living and working away from where we grew up once meant the end of the ‘family unit’, distance in miles was also equal to ‘distance’ in the relationship. Plunged into a new environment, we quickly established a new social network, with friends becoming surrogate family when it came to sharing deep emotional bonds and forming meaningful relationships. However, now we are finding that the geographical and emotional divide can be bridged by embracing technology and social media.

This shift and the desire for ‘reconnectivity’ are driving further technological developments and the emergence of the ‘Digital Family.’ That is, an extended vision of friends and family, brought together through shared experiences, connecting through the power of images. Asked about future innovations in imaging technology, 41% felt that video conferencing would improve or intensify face-to-face relationships, whilst, 30% felt augmented reality would do the same.

Kodak’s Chief Marketing Officer, Jeff Hayzlett, explains, “Images have the power to enable us to connect, to reconnect, to communicate, to make someone smile.”

Companies such as Kodak are designing products with one intention in mind: to find new and easier ways for people to use the power of imagery to connect, to share memories and to get closer. Sharing photos can help bring people closer together, bring comfort, or simply brighten a day.

About Kodak
As the world’s foremost imaging innovator, Kodak helps consumers, businesses, and creative professionals unleash the power of pictures and printing to enrich their lives.
To learn more, visit http://www.kodak.com/, and our blogs: 1000words.kodak.com, PluggedIn.kodak.com, and GrowYourBiz.kodak.com.

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