CB Insights visualize and analyze the private market bets made by auto manufacturers, including the venture arms of GM, BMW, and SAIC.Momentum in the auto tech industry is at an all-time high, with startups in the space receiving a record number of financing deals in 2015. Meanwhile, the industry has seen a wave of high-profile corporate acquisitions, partnerships, and new initiatives in self-d...

Giving toys, and hopefully kids, a second life.Future participants can either donate toys or ask for parts to restore their own bedtime friends. The campaign then asks anyone who gets a plush transplant to write a thank-you letter to the donor—completing the reciprocal circle and helping to illustrate the potential benefits of a more significant medical gift. Overall, it's a clever way to spar...

The Sneakairs were developed to help wearers navigate a city easily, without the need for constantly looking at a smartphone screen. European airline easyJet has made getting around the continent easier and cheaper, and now it's given wings to an idea that would make it easier for its passengers to get around when they reach their destination. Its new "Sneakairs" prototype smart shoes vibrate t...

From looking at the share of online spend by platform, there is a huge amount of variation from category to category. Generally speaking, consumers are much more likely to make a purchase on their phone or tablet in categories with relatively inexpensive and lower consideration products. For example, a movie ticket is an inexpensive purchase with low risk (two hours of your time), whereas a new...

Meizu’s ’gravity’ by hironao tsuboi is a wireless speaker with a deceiving floating body and display while continuously providing high quality sound from a small package. what stands out the most, is the heads-up screen prism the creates the illusion of floating above the ground. ‘the concept of ‘missing design’ is to reduce the boundary and existence of an object and to blur the edges of...

Note to brands: young people are sick of you targeting them on social media Build trust by talking WITH, not AT your customers 2,374 US consumers Harris Poll of examines generational differences in how people feel about connecting with brands on digital channels. Younger Generations Older Generations “Generation Z” “Millennials” 16-19 years old 20-39 years old 74% “Generation X” “Baby Bo...

Building sustainable health systems in emerging economies is one of the biggest challenges of our time. And following the path of established health systems in developed economies is not the answer. Many types of innovation are available today, giving emerging economies an opportunity to bypass development stages that were previously unavoidable and to sidestep the pitfalls of entrenched system...

The decline of desktop computing and the proliferation of other devices that require text input mean that alternatives to the traditional keyboard are now needed. The Tap Strap wearable keyboard is one such alternative that works with Bluetooth devices and lets users tap on any surface to type.Worn on the hand, the device is similar in concept to the AirMouse wearable mouse and the Gest gesture...

Apple has been pouring a lot more money into research and development in recent years.In its fiscal year 2015, it spent more than $8 billion on R&D, a 34% increase from the prior year. Some have read this as a signal that a pivot is coming, specifically into the auto business. That Apple is working on car is unconfirmed, but widely reported. It’s considered an “open secret” in Silicon Va...