Communications technology and services firm, Ericsson released its annual ConsumerLab report on Wednesday, which revealed the top ten consumer trends for 2015.

The report compiled by Ericsson's global research programme focused on smartphone owners aged 15 to 69 in top cities around the world, including Johannesburg, London, New York, Sydney and Tokyo.

The responses represent the views of 85 million frequent internet users, says a statement.

According to the statement the report shows that consumers want technology and connectivity to be integrated into all facets of daily life - from bathroom mirrors, to sidewalks and medicine jars.

The report also noted that in 2015 consumers will watch streamed video more often than broadcast TV.

Michael Björn, head of research, Ericsson ConsumerLab explained, "The cumulative effect of smartphones becoming part of mainstream society is astonishing... Services and products that quite recently seemed beyond imagination are now easily accepted and believed to rapidly reach the mass market. With only five years until 2020, the future really does seem closer than ever before."

The 10 hot consumer trends for 2015 and beyond:

• The streamed future. Media use patterns are globalising. Viewers are shifting towards easy-to-use on-demand services that allow cross-platform access to video content. 2015 will be historic as more people will watch streamed video on a weekly basis than broadcast TV.
• Helpful homes. Consumers show high interest in having home sensors that alert them to water and electricity issues, or when family members come and go.
• Mind sharing. New ways to communicate will continue to appear, offering us even more ways to keep in touch with our friends and family. Many smartphone owners would like to use a wearable device to communicate with others directly through thought – and believe this will be mainstream by 2020.
• Smart citizens. The idea of smart cities is intriguing – but a lot of that intelligence may actually come about as a side effect of the changing everyday behaviors of citizens. As the internet makes us more informed, we are in turn making better decisions. Consumers believe traffic volume maps, energy use comparison apps and real-time water quality checkers will be mainstream by 2020.
• The sharing economy. As the internet enables us to efficiently share information with unprecedented ease, the idea of a sharing economy is potentially huge. Half of all smartphone owners are open to the idea of renting out their spare rooms, personal household appliances and leisure equipment as it is convenient and can save money.
• The digital purse. 48% of smartphone owners would rather use their phone to pay for goods and services. 80% believe that the smartphone will replace their entire purse by 2020.
• My information. Although sharing information when there is a benefit is fine, smartphone owners see no point in making all of their actions open to anyone. 47% of smartphone owners would like to be able to pay electronically without an automatic transfer of personal information. 56% of smartphone owners would like all internet communication to be encrypted.
• Longer life. Smartphone owners see cloud-based services of various kinds giving them the potential to live healthier and longer lives. Jogging apps, pulse meters and plates that measure our food are believed to help prolong our lives by up to two years per application.
• Domestic robots. Consumers are welcoming the idea of having domestic robots that could help with everyday chores. 64% also believe this will be common in households by 2020.
• Children connect everything. Children will continue to drive the demand for a more tangible internet, where the physical world is as connected as the screens of their devices. 46% of smartphone owners say that children will expect all objects to be connected when they are older.