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| Last updated Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:23
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trendwatching: return of virtual worlds and iRobot’s new bag
Download Now · | Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:23
In this trendwatching podcast, Nora Young refers to Technology Review’s latest look at the progress of Second Life, and moves towards virtual world interoperability.Meanwhile, Cathi Bond discusses the newest release from iRobot: The Negotiator (via gizmag). Could it mean a Robocop future?
trendwatching: return of localism and the nano antenna!
Download Now · | Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:57
In this trendwatching podcast, Nora Young talks about Alex Steffen’s recent post at worldchanging, suggesting that the combination of rising fuel costs, consumer sensitivity, and other factors may spell an end to the relentless push for globalism.Meanwhile, Cathi Bond has found a cool project in the nanoantenna; new hope for re-using energy byproducts (via engadget) Plus, Nora touts Scandinavian [...]
trendwatching: monorails for bikes and death of magazines.
Download Now · | Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:26
In this trendwatching podcast, Cathi Bond mentions the Schweeb, a sort of monorail for bikes (via gizmodo). Meanwhile, Nora Young mentions the alarming drop in magazine sales (via psfk.com). Would you read newspapers, magazines, and books on something like the Kindle, now that at least one analyst is predicting big sales?
trendwatching: polymeme and convergence 101
Download Now · | Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:23
In this trendwatching podcast, Nora Young mentions Polymeme, a news aggregator of a different sort, which doesn’t curate stories by niche, but by a broad range of ‘general interests’ (via Lunch Over IP).Cathi Bond tips us off to the new JVC TV with a dock for your iPod. Is this the beginning of some real convergence, making it [...]
trendwatching: information everywhere, pros and cons
Download Now · | Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:30
In this trendwatching podcast, Nora Young talks about the latest privacy concerns with Google Streetview, now that it’s set to track the streets of London. Although Google rightly points out that the visual information is already available to anyone walking down the street, Nora wonders whether the ease of gathering information now is making for [...]
trendwatching: underwater cars and femme fashion
Download Now · | Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:23
In this trendwatching podcast, Cathi Bond gets her summer on with a look at the Rinspeed sQuba. Check it out! The hitch? It’s a convertible.Meanwhile, Nora wonders whether the butchy look they talked about recently is really going to take off, since all she sees on the streets of Toronto is femme, femme, femme.
trendwatching: building up and no-waste waste
Download Now · | Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:30
In this trendwatching podcast, Cathi Bond talks about a new concept building called the UltimaIt’s another in a series of ideas Cathi has seen that point to a future of sky-high living to preserve space. Meanwhile, Nora notes Technology Review’s story on Ottawa’s plans to green light PlascoEnergy Group’s waste-to-energy facility. Nora sees it as an example [...]
trendwatching: new bones and more meaningful greens
Download Now · | Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:46
In this trendwatching podcast, Cathi Bond mentions research into developing a new type of glass that can release calcium in the body for the regeneration of bone. Another example of innovation that can target ageing populations? Check out the press release hereMeanwhile, Nora Young picks up on Trendwatching’s word watch: “Eco Embed” (scroll down). More than [...]
trendwatching: butchy fashion and unexpected colour
Download Now · | Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:50
In this trendwatching podcast, Cathi Bond and Nora Young offer up a fashion update. Cathi notes, (via JC Report), that a much more butchy look is back for women this Fall, featuring suspenders, caps and more.Meanwhile, Nora Young notes this fabulous red pool in the Hotel Unique in Sao Paolo (via Trendhunter). Yet another example of the trend [...]
trendwatching: rising food prices and powering your gadgets
Download Now · | Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:27
In this trendwatching podcast, Nora Young talks about a plan by the Italian government to empower consumers worried about being ripped off by price gouging in the wake of rising food prices. It will text message average wholesale and retail prices for foods directly to consumers. (via Springwise)Meanwhile, Cathi Bond looks at research into a ’skin-tenna’, [...]
trendwatching: hearing loss update
Download Now · | Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:26
In this trendwatching podcast, Cathi Bond and Nora Young talk about the growing trend towards gear that can combat hearing loss. Cathi talks about the Silynx GPS-enabled headphones, to help navigate and prevent hearing loss. It’s designed for soldiers now, but can consumer apps be far behind? (via Gizmag)Nora Young says she’s noticed the trend to higher end [...]
trendwatching: hip McDonald’s and meme marketing
Download Now · | Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:00
In this trendwatching podcast, Cathi Bond talks about McDonald’s restaurants’ new hipness. Wi-fi is now in McDonald’s in Hong Kong, and HK gamers are hanging out there, playing late at night, notes PSFK.com:Meanwhile, by now you’ve probably seen, or heard about, the Weezer video for Pork and Beans (it’s been viewed nearly 7 million times) . Nora and [...]
trendwatching: smart solar solutions and the motorcycle you wear!
Download Now · | Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:19
In this trendwatching podcast, Cathi Bond talks about two neat solar ideas. Scottish firm, ZM Architecture have designed solar lily pads for the River Clyde, according to Inhabit: http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/05/12/solar-lily-pads-planned-for-glasgows-clyde-river/ As well, Gizmag features a thin silicon solar film by Signet Solar: http://www.gizmag.com/thin-film-solar-modules-manufacturing/9378/ Meanwhile, in keeping with the trend towards biomimicry, Nora Young spots this wild motorcycle that you [...]
trendwatching: therapeutic gaming and second life redux
Download Now · | Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:31
In this trendwatching podcast, Nora Young talks about this Technology Review interview with the new CEO at Linden Labs (the people behind Second Life) and wonders what it would mean for businesses to make an investment in building authentic community in online worlds. She also references this story on Disney’s Virtual Magic Kingdom that her [...]
trendwatching: blogging celebrity and hip magazines
Download Now · | Fri, 30 May 2008 22:01
In this trendwatching podcast, Nora Young refers to this article in the New York Times magazine, by former Gawker blogger, Emily Gould, which has become the talk of the blogosphere. What do you think? One of our podcast listeners pointed it out to Nora, and wanted to know whether Cathi and Nora think of themselves as, ahem, [...]
trendwatching: Second Life Update and Boosting the “Bottom” Line
Download Now · | Sun, 25 May 2008 16:04
In this trendwatching podcast, Cathi Bond talks about research at the University of Houston that suggests patients in recovery from addiction can use virtual worlds like Second Life to ‘rehearse’ re-integrating into social situations. Meanwhile, Nora Young is curious about New Scientist’s look at research that would allow people with mobility impairments to do gaming–manipulating avatars, for instance–by having [...]
trendwatching: twitter redux and more flexible workspace
Download Now · | Thu, 22 May 2008 11:55
In this trendwatching podcast, Nora Young comments on the return to the trend spotlight of twitter. Why, a year and a half after it was first white hot, is it white hot again? Any theories? Also, Nora and Cathi talk about Cubes&Crayons, a flexible work space for freelancers in Silicon Valley that provides child care, along with meeting rooms [...]
trendwatching: sleazy fashion and up-and-coming brands
Download Now · | Sat, 17 May 2008 22:36
In this trendwatching podcast, fashion’s the name of the game. Nora Young mentions “big brother” fashion in Japan: guys with lots of facial hair, chunky jewelry, and a bit of a rocker look (via Trends in Japan).Meanwhile, Cathi Bond looks at the return of 70s denim, in flared, palazzo-style jeans and thin, dirty-looking jean jackets. Why [...]
trendwatching: responsive architecture and responsible windows!
Download Now · | Tue, 13 May 2008 11:44
In this trendwatching podcast, Nora Young talks about Flare, a cool example of a building surface that responds to its environment. Found via PSFK, where you can see a video of Flare in action.Meanwhile, Cathi Bond has been thinking about Nora’s home energy improvements. She likes the Panorama film that lies on the surface of your window, cutting out heat but [...]
trendwatching: monster displays and zero waste restaurants
Download Now · | Fri, 09 May 2008 12:16
In this trendwatching podcast, Cathi Bond talks about Big Moving Pictures, which organizes giant, moveable displays for outdoor events, which feature content and ads. It’s part of a broader trend towards monster outdoor displays.Meanwhile, Nora Young describes her recent visit to the HICKtech conference, including its commitment to reducing waste and serving 100 mile food. [...]
trendwatching: overparenting and smart peripherals
Download Now · | Tue, 06 May 2008 11:59
In this trendwatching podcast, Cathi Bond mentions the ‘thudguard’, a British-designed ‘cap’ to protect toddlers (via gizmag). Sensible protection or yet another step in over-parenting?Meanwhile, Nora Young mentions the T3 Hub 2.0 for Macs, a sort of USB ‘hotel’ (at drbott.com, via The Cool Hunter). Who doesn’t need more USB ports?
trendwatching: portable spaces and fresh drinking water
Download Now · | Fri, 02 May 2008 12:41
In this trendwatching podcast, Nora Young talks about SpareSpace portable work environments (via Springwise). It’s part of the broader trend we’ve noted towards temporary spaces that can be parked on rooftops, in lofts, etc. Nora also notes the NoStore concept in Shanghai (via KissAtlanta), a rotating retail environment for different artisans. Meanwhile Cathi Bond has been [...]
trendwatching: short attention spans and smart clothes
Download Now · | Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:48
In this trendwatching podcast, Nora Young looks at some new research that backs up what Cathi and Nora have been feeling: according to the study Information Behaviour of the Researcher of the Future, lots of people engaged in scholarly research engage in skittish ‘power browsing’ rather than sustained deep research, and this behaviour crosses generations [...]
trendwatching: alarms for the sleep deprived and new adventures in VOIP
Download Now · | Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:07
In this trendwatching podcast, Cathi Bond finds this puzzle alarm clock, and this alarm clock that’s superloud and shakes the bed! (Both at bimbambanana) And this bible inspirational clock (via UrbanTrend). A sign that we are all really sleep-deprived? Meanwhile, Nora sees a couple of recent notes about VOIP: Reuters reports that Japan Communications is going [...]
trendwatching: virtual desktops and community art
Download Now · | Sun, 20 Apr 2008 15:18
In this trendwatching podcast, Nora Young talks about the virtual desktop, Jooce.Cathi Bond describes the community-based art of the British art group, Proboscis.Nora Young refers to this Cscout article on time-based products at McDonald’s in Japan.
