Funding To Wearables Startups On Track For A 5-Year Low
[Investing]
2015/10/11 11:07
If the current trend persists, funding for wearable computing startups will be down sharply after a boom year in 2014.The wearable computing industry has seen important activity this year on the public markets side. In March, Apple’s smartwatch was released, with some estimates pegging the device’s sales at 20% of all wearables units sold globally in Q2’15. In June, fitness band maker Fitbit...
How Prevalent Is Smart Technology In U.S. Homes ?
[Consumer]
2015/10/11 11:06
A recent Nielsen survey revealed that 64 percent of Americans don't know much about smart home technology. Another study conducted by the Harris Poll reinforced this, finding that the most common smart home item is the wireless speaker system. 17 percent of Americans have one or more of these at home, followed by 11 percent who have a smart thermostat and 9 percent with a smart/wireless home se...
(Video) An Idea for a Rainy Day : Automated Kiosks Loan Out Umbrellas Free - UmbraCity
[Business]
2015/10/11 11:04
The UmbraCity solution is a fully automated umbrella rental kiosk that was inspired by sharing economy systems such as car-share and bike-share programs services.We all get caught in downpours without an umbrella every now and then. For students at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, however, that will no longer be a problem. A kiosk from a new firm called UmbraCity is offeri...
(Video) Lexus - Making the Origami Inspired Car
[Design]
2015/10/11 11:03
Full-sized sculpture comprised of 1,700 precision-cut card pieces features a fully fitted interior, functioning doors, and rolling wheels.Lexus has revealed an origami-inspired car that ditches the sheet metal, glass and plastics for precision-cut card. The replica of a Lexus IS saloon is a driveable, full-sized sculpture exploring the manufacturer’s promise of ‘Creating Amazing’ and showcas...
Futuristic Single-Person Vehicle Concept for Tokyo in 2040 - Nissan Tama-Go
[Design]
2015/10/11 11:02
Taking place in Tokyo, in the year of 2040, Nissan Tama-Go is a futuristic single-person transportation concept that takes inspiration from Japanese video games’ characters. Tokyo was chosen from this scenario due to its high suburban population and its highest transit system in the world.The design research began with the world of robots and video games, the designer wanted to create a futuri...
(Patent) Samsung Has an Idea That Could Blow Google Glass Out of the Water
[Tech]
2015/10/07 10:56
Samsung has applied to patent a Google Glass-style device that is light years ahead of Google's current technology and enables users to interact with 3D images in mid-air to dial phone numbers, send SMS text messages and even play a virtual piano keyboard.Google Glass has not proved to be as successful as the internet giant previously hoped it would, with Google discontinuing sales of the devic...
Air Travel Looks Far Less Miserable in Chanel
[Business]
2015/10/07 10:56
Karl Lagerfeld created the airport of our dreams this morning (Oct. 6), for Chanel’s Spring 2016 show in Paris, complete with generous carry-ons, smiling skycaps, and stylish fellow travelers. In an airy terminal—actually the soaring, sky-lit Grand Palais—a faux departures board displayed destinations such as Shanghai, Dubai, Salzburg, and New York—all cities where Chanel hosts events for j...
Despite New York’s Growing Stable Of Unicorn Companies, Only A Few $1B+ Tech Exits
[Investing]
2015/10/07 10:56
Since 2013, 3x as many new $1B+ companies emerged in New York as there have been tech exits. This year has seen 7 new unicorns emerge in New York, including FanDuel, Oscar Health Insurance, ZocDoc, and Buzzfeed.Tumblr’s $1.1B acquisition by Yahoo in 2013 marked a watershed moment as the first billion-dollar VC-backed tech exit in New York ever.But over the last three years, New York has seen f...
The Airline of The Future - Poppo
[Design]
2015/10/07 10:56
Here's a preview of what air travel might look like in 2026—Poppi offers in-flight vending machines, complimentary champagne, and seat swapping.It’s 2026, and you’re on your way to a long-awaited vacation. You’re eager for the trip: you’re going to an island full of wildlife and crystalline waters, and you’ve been traveling enough for business to have racked up enough Poppi membership poi...