# Aiding Awkwardness Consumers turn to digital solutions to remedy uncomfortable situations. By [Tana Makmanee](https://www.trendhunter.com/tmak), SVP, Research Services at Trend Hunter | Published Jul 30, 2014 | Category: [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/technology-trends-and-gadgets) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/aiding-awkwardness ## Key Figures - Trend score: 3.4/10 - Evidence articles: 4 ## What is the Aiding Awkwardness trend? **Aiding Awkwardness:** Seeking a less confrontational solution, individuals are turning to mobile apps to escape awkward, everyday situations. Providing pre-planned alarms and calls as a form of interruption, these apps signify a move toward more automated and digitized forms of problem-solving. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 4 featured examples - Articles from: Jul 19, 2012 to Jul 29, 2014 - Published: Jul 30, 2014 - Patterns: [Divergence](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/divergence), [Reduction](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/reduction) - Megatrends: [Curation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/curation), [Simplicity](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/simplicity), [Prosumerism](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/prosumerism) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Themes within the Aiding Awkwardness trend ### Digital Solutions for Awkward Situations Consumers are seeking more automated and digitized forms of problem-solving to escape awkward everyday situations. ### Pre-Planned Alarm and Call Apps Mobile apps providing pre-planned alarms and calls as a form of interruption signify a trend toward less confrontational solutions. ### Emergency Escape Buttons Apps and keychains featuring emergency buttons to help escape bad dates, meetings and conversations are becoming increasingly popular. ## What the Aiding Awkwardness trend means for industry ### For Mobile App Development As consumers continue to seek digital solutions for everyday problems, the development of mobile apps will be a growing industry. ### For Consumer Electronics Pre-planned alarm and call apps are a sign of growing demand for consumer electronics and automated solutions. ### For Personal Safety Products The popularity of emergency escape buttons highlights the demand for personal safety products that can help people get out of dangerous situations. ## Trend signals for Aiding Awkwardness Trend score 3.4 out of 10, from popularity 64%, activity 29%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 64% - Activity: 29% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Aiding Awkwardness trend 4 featured examples from Jul 19, 2012 to Jul 29, 2014. - [Emergency Escape Buttons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emergency-button): Tiyo is an Emergency Button to Get You Out of Bad Dates and Situations (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Personal safety wearable technology will continue to grow in the consumer market with applications such as Tiyo. - [Awkward Encounter-Escaping Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tickle-app): The Tickle App Gives You An Escape From Any Awkward Moment (Category: Tech) Implication: The emergence of Tickle and other such apps provides an opportunity for developers to create further escape apps. - [Subway Sleeping Alarms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/subway-sleeping): The MetroNap Wakes Tired Commuters Before They Miss Their Stop (Category: Tech) Implication: The MetroNap app disrupts the transportation industry by addressing the issue of subway sleeping. - [Romance Savior Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eharmony-bad-date-rescue-app): The eHarmony Bad Date Rescue App is Ingenious (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop new technologies and features to enhance the online dating experience, making it safer and more enjoyable for users. ## Recent trend clusters - [Delegated Interfaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/delegated-interfaces) (Tech) - [Adaptive Controls](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/adaptive-controls) (Tech) - [Desk Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/desk-systems) (Tech) - [Spatial Refinement](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/spatial-refinement) (Tech) ## Trending in Tech - [Decor-Led Home Projectors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/decor-led-home-projectors) - [Accessible Fintech Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chequing-account) - [Dual-Wavelength Recovery Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/joint-therapy) - [Pop-Culture WiFi Routers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pop-culture-wifi-routers) All articles: [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech)