How Socially Responsible Companies Are Turning a Profit
[Consumer]
2015/10/13 11:35
In a world of choice, the reasons we purchase one product over another can be driven by a multitude of factors. A recent Nielsen global online survey found that consumers are increasingly willing to pay more for socially responsible products. In fact, 66% of respondents say they’re willing to pay more for products and services that come from companies who are committed to positive social and e...
(Video) 3D-Printed Adidas Running Shoe Should Fit Like a Glove
[Tech]
2015/10/13 11:35
The Futurecraft 3D is designed to provide individualised support and cushioning for the wearer's feet. Custom-made sports footwear is typically the preserve of professional athletes, but perhaps not for much longer. Adidas has unveiled a 3D-printed running shoe midsole concept that it hopes to make publicly available. Futurecraft 3D would be molded to the wearer's foot shape, for improved perfo...
(M&A) Here Are The Biggest Tech Acquisitions of All Time
[Investing]
2015/10/13 11:35
Dell's $67 billion purchase of EMC is the biggest pure tech acquisition ever. (AOL's $162 billion buy of Time Warner in 2000 was larger, but Time Warner was a media company, not a tech company.)This chart from Statista shows some of the largest tech acquisitions of the past decade, measured in 2015 dollars. There are a lot of dogs on the list.HP's deal with Compaq didn't lead to the expected sy...
Can Facebook Attract More Retailers With New E-Commerce Features ?
[Business]
2015/10/13 11:35
Facebook wants marketers to see it as more than a branding platform. So, it's announcing two new tests today to that should pique retailers' interests—speedy landing pages and a new section that curates shoppable products.Back in June, Facebook started testing full-screen mobile ads with brands like Gatorade and Michael Kors. Now, it's experimenting with a version of the format, dubbed Canvas,...
The Microoptic Lenses Behind BMW's Welcome Light Carpet
[Tech]
2015/10/13 11:35
On the new BMW 7 Series, a lighting system featuring a striped pattern of ground illumination makes it easier to enter the vehicle in the dark. Fraunhofer researchers have developed special microoptic lenses for this application to channel light from the vehicle underbody directly onto the ground, illuminating the path to the car. You’ve just enjoyed dinner at your favorite restaurant and now...
The Smart Docking TV Design
[Design]
2015/10/13 11:34
This Smart Docking TV design for Samsung really pushes design in the right direction. Not just another good looking TV, the new design debunks the whole “wedge design” trend and takes the opposite road to make a TV that looks like it could seriously kick ass. The new design has a valley running around the rim of the TV, this not only enables easy docking of your smart-device, but also acts as...
(Infographic) Brands Should Treat Consumers as Friends, Not Age Groups
[Consumer]
2015/10/13 11:34
There's not much difference in lifestyle preferences in consumers ages 13 to 50.A new report from Trendera, a trend forecasting and creative marketing firm, found there's not much difference in lifestyle preferences in consumers ranging in age from 13 to 50."The days of impressing consumers with targeted marketing based solely on demographics are in the past," says Trendera president Liz Gray....
(PDF) BCG - Global Payments 2015 : Listening to the Customer’s Voice
[Business]
2015/10/12 12:16
The payments and transaction-banking businesses are evolving at a dizzying pace. The advance of digital technology, the entry of nontraditional players with compelling value propositions, and changing preferences in the way consumers pay for goods and services in their everyday lives have considerably disrupted the industry landscape.Which direction will consumer payment habits take in the futu...
(Patent) Airbus Files a Patent for ‘Flying Bunk Beds’
[Tech]
2015/10/12 12:16
The jet manufacturer wants to take you higher. If flying 30,000 feet above the ground in a seat just isn’t cutting it anymore, Airbus might just have the solution for you: The top bunk on your next transatlantic flight.According to a Reuters, the civil aircraft manufacturer has filed a patent that includes a blueprint for “split-level seating.” The company hopes that including two stories of...