TREND REPORTS
Fresh Foods Dominate the Total Store Bracket Two Years Running
[Consumer]
2016/03/20 11:04
It’s March. And that means it’s bracket time in the U.S. But when it comes to springtime match-ups, the action isn’t confined to the basketball court. Competition across the grocery store is fierce, so we’ve taken an in-depth look across the aisles to see which categories came out on top in our second annual Total Store Bracket.To find out, we evaluated the top 16 product groups across the...
The Flex Smartwatch
[Design]
2016/03/20 11:03
Yes, flexible displays are far from a commercial reality, and yes, modular tech keeps saying it’s round the corner, but never seems to show up, but that doesn’t stop designers from imagining the future applications of these technologies. The Flex Smartwatch is a pretty nifty gadget with 75% of the watch being 2 flexible displays that wrap around your wrist. The remaining 25% is a camera with...
(PDF) KPCB - Design in Tech Report 2016
[Business]
2016/03/17 09:53
John Maeda thinks that companies should reconfigure their understanding of design into three parts to give them a better grasp of what’s needed to craft a great customer experience — and be more competitive. The design partner for Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers sees the growing number of acquisitions of design firms as evidence of this trend. He believes that the profession is more than...
(Video) Internet of Rings : Smart Doorbell Startup, Ring Raises $61.2M
[Investing]
2016/03/17 09:53
Smart doorbell startup Ring has raised a further $61.2 million in a series C round led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, with participation from existing investor Sir Richard Branson.VentureBeat first discovered Ring back in 2013 when the startup was known as Doorbot — which was basically a doorbell equipped with a Wi-Fi-connected camera. In the intervening months, the Santa Monica-head...
(Video) Hilton and IBM Pilot “Connie,” The World’s First Watson-Enabled Hotel Concierge
[Tech]
2016/03/17 09:53
Hilton is testing an artificial intelligence-powered concierge robot for its chain of hotels in the US through a partnership with IBM's Watson program. The automaton, called "Connie" after company founder Conrad Hilton, can already be found in the Hilton McLean hotel in Virginia. Guests can ask it questions about nearby restaurants, tourist attractions, and hotel information, but it can't check...
(Video) A Former Googler is Working on an Apple Watch Accessory
[Product]
2016/03/17 09:53
AliveCor, a company headed by former Google executive Vic Gundrota, is building an EKG that fits into an Apple Watch band. Kardia Band is not a toy or a fitness band, Gundotra tells Recode. Instead, it's a full medical device with expected FDA approval.According to AliveCor, users can record their heart rhythm in 30 seconds by touching the band's integrated sensor. If the band detects an elevat...
Tea-Totalers : Specialty Tea Treats Tap Into Budding Consumer Trends
[Product]
2016/03/17 09:52
Wellness-minded Millennials and Gen Zs are opening their minds (and wallets) to coffee alternatives. Per the Cassandra Report: Body Mind Soul, 60% of young people drink coffee on a daily or weekly basis, but tea drinks are hot on their heels at 51%. Lately, their hankering for tea has been extending to non-traditional forms of the fuel, from elegant desserts to Instagram-ready brews. MATCHA-COV...
New Normal Wireless Headphones With Integrated USB
[Design]
2016/03/17 09:52
New Normal Wireless Headphones feature custom fitted dots to block external noise out. This product features premium materials, wireless connectivity, and award winning sound. The soft, grippy silicone feels comfortable in your ear while ensuring an ideal seal. There are 5 axis adjustment allows for great seal and positioning of the driver, cable, and ear lock. The fit arm provides extra shock...
(Video) Light Activated Bio-Bots Powered by Live Muscle Cells
[Tech]
2016/03/17 09:52
A new class of miniature biological robots, or bio-bots, has seen the light – and is following where the light shines.Biologically powered robots may one day be used to perform surgical procedures, deliver drugs, and maybe to even make humanoid overlords for us mortals. A big step toward that was taken by researchers at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who used light-activated muscle...
