MediaMenu

Dear consumer, Welcome to our digital restaurant where you will be able to enjoy the finest recipes based on our research about interesting articles, the most delicious coolhunts and our 4 main dishes; assignments. Find out about the newest technology related to the Microsoft Surface and the touchscreen technology. Enjoy your meal with a fine glass of wine and experience the ultimate visionary meal. Sincerely, Chef Lorenzo & Ying

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Final post

Dear reader,

Thank you for reading all of our posts for the past three months. We hope you enjoyed our media cooking.

We are also excited where the future of the Microsoft Surface may take us to. But one thing is for sure, touchscreen technology will forever live on and play a big part in our lives.

May we meet again!

Chef Lorenzo and Chef Ying

(credits picture: cg4tv.com)

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Steering wheel with a touchscreen

Driver distraction would go down and safety would go up if you put a touchscreen display in the steering wheel, say researchers from the University of Stuttgart, University of Duisburg-Essen and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence. The prototype system, which builds upon a similar technologies employed by Audi and Sony, also uses LED sensors and a camera so that it can recognize gestures.

..

Albert Schmidt, a professor of computer science at the University of Stuttgart, said the system would let drivers spend more time looking at the road rather than the instrument panel. Testers using the prototype system were able to complete their tasks and return to scanning the road more quickly than with traditional instrument panels. Research papers presented at the recent Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Atlanta suggested the display output could also be projected on the windshield to further reduce driver distractions. Automakers already have head-up displays that project small amounts of information on the windshield, but most cost $1,000-plus.

Using both the touchscreen on the steering wheel and the display (which should not be too distracting of course) on the wind shield, could create an incredibly convenient atmosphere for consumers. The display isn't even necessary in the most cases. Think of digging through your music or switching radio channels just by using a swiping gesture on the steering wheel. The technology might be too expensive to implement at this time and the airbag would not work but I believe that touchscreens like this will be available in the future and could improve safety.

By chef Lorenzo

(Source: ExtremeTech. (2011). New Touchscreen Steering Wheel Might Reduce Driver Distractions. Consulted on 19 June 2011, from ExtremeTech)

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Touch technology of the future

WHEN SCIENCE fiction author William Gibson famously said: “The future is already here – it’s just not evenly distributed,” he knew that the best way to predict what kind of technologies the majority of us will be using in the next decade was to look at the experimental research going on in labs right now.

A rare glimpse inside Microsoft Research labs at its Redmond, Washington, campus points to a future where every surface becomes a computer, and the human body becomes the controller.

Advanced display and sensor technologies are beginning to break down the barriers between the digital and physical world, and Star Trek ’s Holodeck doesn’t seem like such a far-fetched idea after all.

...

The main areas of investment for Microsoft Research are natural language, machine learning, graphics, information retrieval and user experience.

You could say Project Lightspace is a combination of all of these. This is the brainchild of Andy Wilson, senior researcher and co-inventor of the first generation Microsoft Surface touchscreen device.

We’re ushered into a small, dark room where Wilson brings us to a large but unimpressive table. He points upwards to an arrangement of three projectors and depth sensors that are essentially prototypes of the slimline Kinect, and explains that this is Lightspace.

The unlikely mix of ordinary furniture and sensor equipment is a 3D interactive computing space that may very likely be inside most homes in some years to come.

“It turns every surface in the room into a computer interface,” explains Wilson as he knocks on a plywood table to show that it is nothing more than reconstituted timber.

“With current computing, all of your motion is being reduced to a single point: the cursor. Lightspace is an interactive space that uses your body and objects around you as an interface.”

Though the technology won't be available for at least the next ten years, companies and their departments such as Microsoft Research are busy with developing the technology of the future. Project Lightspace by Andy Wilson, looks like a couple of other products which were mentioned before on this blog. In the future, pretty much everything could be as interactive like the Surface. Technology like Project Lightspace will help to get closer to this, making the entire environment convenient for consumers. In the future, technology like this will anticipate and compute on the user's behalf.

By chef Lorenzo

(Source: Irish Times. (2011). Microsoft's boffins aim for the personal touch. Consulted on 18 June 2011, from Irish Times)

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Touchscreen tech by the University of Salford for BBC

University of Salford researchers have been working with the BBC North West Tonight (NWT) team to develop an interactive social media touch surface to enhance their TV programming.

Lecturer and Researcher in Computer Science, Lee Griffiths, and undergraduate BSc Software Engineeringstudent, Adil Zaheer, have designed and built a bespoke touch surface application, nicknamed MediaSurface, which allows TV presenters on the show to interact with social media sent in by viewers from Facebook, Flickr and Twitter.

"Interactive touch screens and surfaces are becoming commonplace since being popularised with products like the iPhone, and our touch surface application allows TV presenters to display and manipulate pictures and comments sent in by viewers," said Lee.

"We have been experimenting with various touch screen technologies including the Microsoft Surface interactive table loaned for the trial by the University's ThinkLab and we've come up we've something we think will be really useful for Gordon Burns and his team."

The team carried out trials in the BBC's Oxford Road studios in Manchester where NWT presenter Gordon Burns and Technical Assistant Editor Phil Smith were keen to test the new concept to see how they could work with it in a live show for their new studios at MediaCityUK.

Gordon Burns said: "When you leave the studio literally buzzing and with a real spring in your step after trying out a new piece of technology you know it's something special! The MediaSurface is a presenter's dream.

"Traditionally, we read out viewers' Facebook comments and tweets as well as showing some of the photos they've sent us on Flickr. Only this time we did it through the MediaSurface. It gave me total control of the item, was visually exciting and was fun to do. I can't wait to have another ago - hopefully live on air!"

This article shows that by using technology like the Surface experience and interaction can be enhanced, in this case, for the presenter. It offers him or her the opportunity to directly interact with materials submitted by viewers on social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter. News networks currently use submitted materials as well but everything is directed behind the screens. The presenter does not have the ability to interact with it. Surface can bring presenters closer to the viewers and their opinions. 

By chef Lorenzo

(Source: University of Salford. (2011). University of Salford develops touchscreen technology for BBC. Consulted on 18 June 2011, from University of Salford)

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Nintendo Wii U

The Wii U is Nintendo's next console and is said to deliver "deeper game experiences" and aims to offer "something for everyone". Most remarkable is the new controller. A variety of new controls will be made available by that new controller with a 6.2 touchscreen embedded in it. This is of course the most important feature for this blog. 

The new controller creates extra convenience because you no longer are forced to use your TV. Think of situations such as a household with only one TV, the child can still use the console with the new controller and it offers easier controls and navigation through the touchscreen. It honestly reminded me of a tablet when I first saw it although it was said that the controller is not a tablet. Its software-wise features are still unknown but Satoru Iwata, Nintendo's Global President said that the Wii U can be seen as the TV remote of the future, it is another way of linking TV and internet.

I do see the potential of the extra features it could offer, the gaming experience is not important in this case. Having both the touchscreen and internet connected to your TV can give you a lot of functions and convenience.

By chef Lorenzo

(Source: All Things D. (2011). Nintendo's Iwata Hopes the Wii U Will Steal Back Couch Time From the iPad (Part 1). Consulted on 15 June 2011, from All Things D)

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moJo iCuisine

moJo iCuisine is a restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan using an interactive touch-enabled table. The menus are projected onto the tables from above, while sensors within the tables allow customers to swipe through the menu, see more details on each dish (with detailed pictures viewable from both angles), order, and even pay for their meal. Once you've ordered your meal you can play around with the interface, it has games, feedback forms and even advertisements. You can also change the "table cloth" and check the bill to see if you're not spending too much.

The table has many (convenient and entertaining) advantages for the customers but it also has plenty of advantages for the restaurant as well. moJo iCuisine implemented a database system that has the ability to record and trace the customers’ preferences, and can compile statistics of the restaurant’s operations.

By chef Lorenzo

(Source: GEEK.com. (2011). moJo iCuisine uses touchscreen tables for menus, orders and entertainment. Consulted on 17 June 2011, from GEEK.com)

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McDonald's Easy Order

During our trip in Berlin we went to (of course) McDonald's as well. To our surprise we found terminals where you can order your meals instead, the Easy Order terminals. The experience at these Easy Order terminals is nearly identical to when you order at the normal counters. All of the meals and menus can be found at the terminal. 

You can even decide if it's a take-away meal or if you want to eat here. When you're ready you can confirm your purchase which will give you a print-out. You will then have to take the print-out to the special Easy Order counter and you will directly receive your order.

I really liked the User Interface, it was very easy to use and I believe that is very important at these terminals. They have to be easy to operate in order to be efficient. McDonald's has done a good job with these terminals

By chef Lorenzo

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Tablets and touchscreen technology soon to be found in classrooms?

Despite world-wide economic crises, technology seems to be one aspect that still finds its way into our lives despite the penny-pinching.  School’s have started the new term this past week and aside from rennovated school grounds, classrooms, added curriculum and new staffing, there’s new equipment too.  And one such addage is – yes, the tablet or to be more specific, the iPad.

I know for sure that the British School Manila has incorporated this tablet into their computer classes or learning process.  I recently attended Computex 2011 and it was there that I saw tablets of every design displayed and manufactured and some of the people I spoke too told me that they were also targetting institutionalized sales this year which of course includes schools.

In fact at BRETT 2011, the biggest educational technology trade show in the UK,  they showed a way for teachers to move forward across the curriculum through the use of touch-screen learning, social networking, mobile phone apps and internet-based services.

Bett 2011, may have played a greater role than in previous years as a marketplace and training/advice forum.

This year key trends have included advances in whiteboard design, a whole raft of hand-held, iPad-like devices, an increase in 3D technology, an ever growing selection of educational mobile phone apps and, to help offset ICT costs, cloud computing – the new buzz phrase describing services available on the net that are designed to free up schools from paying for costly servers and memory storage.

What I like about this article and absolutely agree with is that it highlights the reality. The technology expos have been showing off tablets and touchscreen technology. Manufacturers are ready to bring this technology to consumers, what better opportunity is there than introducing this technology in the upcoming new school year? Not only tablets could aid students but new SmartBoards can aid teachers as well. Both the tablets and SmartBoards will make it much more convenient at school.

By chef Lorenzo

(Source: Manila Bulletin. (2011). Tablets, touch screen technology in classrooms - is it worth it? Consulted on 15 June 2011, from Manila Bulletin)

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Innoventions Dream Home opened in Disneyland

The Innoventions Dream Home is a “home” in Disneyland in which the home is a showcase of connected technology and entertainment and features a number of products and layouts from companies such as Microsoft, HP, Life|ware and home builder Taylor Morrison. The use of the Surface is truly growing and the possibilities seems to be almost endless!

“We’re constantly visualizing how tomorrow’s software will transform how we’ll work, play and communicate,” says Craig Mundie, chief research and strategy officer at Microsoft.  “By partnering with Disneyland, we can show people how technology can enrich our lives today, and offer a glimpse of the technologies that will revolutionize homes in the future.”

Read the full article here.

Commented by Chef Ying

Source: GEEK.com (2008). Innoventions Dream Home opened in Disneyland. Consulted on 18 june 2011, from http://www.geek.com/articles/news/innoventions-dream-home-opened-in-disneyland-20080619

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New Microsoft Surface to be priced at $7,600

Finally there is some news about the pricing of the Microsoft Surface. The good news is that the Surface 2.0 is according to the article priced starting at  $7,600 compared to the more expensive Surface 1.0 of $12,000-plus. Although it costs less than the Surface 1.0, it is still not affordable for the normal consumer which means that the Surface will only be usable for companies for the time being. Many people including myself will look forward to the day when the Surface will be able to affordable and useable in our own living rooms.

Commented by Chef Ying

Source: Jo Foley, Mary (2011). New Microsoft Surface to be priced at $7,600. Consulted on 18 june 2011, from http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/ces-new-microsoft-surface-to-be-priced-at-7600/8368

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Bedside touchscreen terminals at Central Baptist Hospital

A Lexington company has placed 59 bedside ConnectMe terminals in a deal with Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington that gives new parents and other patients Internet access to share their experiences and stay connected to family and friends. Healthcare providers are using the terminals also.

The units are either installed bedside or mounted on an articulating arm, readily useable by clinicians, patients and their families. The ConnectMe terminal system has an LCD touch-screen with large, easy to use virtual buttons.

With the ConnectMe device, patients and their visitors can access the Internet, check email, connect with social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, watch movies and listen to music.

This is another good example of what similar devices to the Surface can do to consumers. Staying at the hospital isn't a nice experience most of the time but ConnectMe is a device (and service) which makes the experience more pleasant and convenient.

By chef Lorenzo

(Source: The Lane Report. (2011). INNOVATION: Bedside touchscreen terminals give patients, family, healthcare providers Internet access at Central Baptist Hospital. Consulted on 9 June 2011, from The Lane Report)

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W Hotels iPhone app

W Hotels, owned by the large hotel chain Starwood Hotels have released a new iPhone app. The features of this app extend the experience of the hotel. It offers consumers the ability to book a hotel, check the local weather at each hotel and it has exclusive content such as music (Symmetry Live). The music is made available by emerging artists and MIX.dj provides the technology for the new DJ music platform.

What I find the most appealing (and unique) feature is the access to hotel services. You can order room service and request anything else (such as extra towels). Imagine the possibilities you get when implementing touchscreen devices directly into the hotel. Customers would have everything within their reach and that is the what it's about, making it more convenient for customers.

By chef Lorenzo

(Source: The Independent. (2011). Music and room service on offer from new W Hotels app. Consulted on 9 June 2011, from The Independent)

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Watching Trendwatchers

Introduction in the need of trend expertise

-What is, or could be the use of trend expertise for organizations and entrepreneurs?

Organizations and entrepreneurs can use these insights, looking into the future and supply the newly discovered demand by creating new products for consumers. It can help them to look at new opportunities but also make them aware of possible threats, they make companies innovative.

 -Name one or more organizations that use trend expertise for innovation

Companies such as Starbucks, Samsung, McDonald’s , Coca Cola and Tommy Hilfiger are companies that use these insights for innovation. Technological innovation doesn’t necessarily play a role in this case but it can also be marketing innovation. (Trendwatching.com, 2011a)

 -What difficulties could trend experts come across whilst getting trend insights practically implicated by organizations they advise on?

Trend watchers think on an entirely different level compared to companies. Therefore, it might be difficult for companies to correctly use these insights. The company could for example create a product with slightly different trend implications. Said product could fail and cost a lot of money. It is important to give detailed insights so the company won’t go wrong.

 -How could these possible difficulties be overcome according to you?

For starters, the trend watchers can create visuals to make the insights easier to understand. Companies also have to create several concepts of a product and test them. The companies could also ask for feedback from the trend watchers when the concept products are created.

 -What is the future of the profession of trend expertise (say in ten years)?

In the future, companies will realise how valuable trend insights are and each company might have its own trend expertise department or at least have freelancers. Having their own department could be very beneficial for companies since the trend watchers could help with implementing the insights.

-What is trend implication?

Trend implication is understanding and using the trend insights by translating them into concepts and strategies.

-What extras does trend research and trend translation bring you?

It helps by showing a path into the future, showing both opportunities and threats. This path can be used as a guideline to create new products or services, to find your blue ocean and it helps you with understanding the market.

Watching the watchers

We have chosen www.trendwatching.com and www.edelkoorts.com and researched them.

TRENDWATCHING.COM

 -Try to find out: what their research methodology is, how do they gather information, what are their core ‘products and concepts’, who are their customers and how are they served?

Trendwatching.com has their own network, having eyes and ears around the world in more than 170 countries. The network is called Happy Spotting and hundreds of people notify Trendwatching.com whenever they spot something of interest such as new consumer trends, new business ideas and new insights. Their trend findings help marketers, CEOs, researchers and anyone else interested in the future of business and consumerism, to dream up new goods, services and experiences for (or even better, with) their customers. Their findings are put together in a free monthly Trend Briefing, Premium Service (full Annual Trend Report and 12 months of access to an exclusive Trend Database) and speaking engagements.

-What kind of information are they communicating to readers and customers for free and what kind of information do they sell?

The monthly Trend Briefings can be found on the site for free and offers only the tip of the iceberg. If you want more detailed information you can sign up for the Premium Service which gives you Annual Reports and access to an exclusive Trend Database containing all trends, insights and innovations spotted on a daily basis. The service costs €1199 and gives you access for a year. You can also contact Reinier Evers for a speaking engagement.

-What are the biggest trends of 2011 according to them? (if they mention a list)

Trendwatching.com published a list: 11 crucial consumer trends for 2011. This is just a brief overview of the 11 consumer trends:

1. RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

In 2011, expect companies to monitor consumers' public moods and act upon them with random acts of kindness...marketing may never be the same ;-) Read more »

2. URBANOMICS

Are you ready for hundreds of millions of more daring, more experienced consumers? Oh, and that's just one side effect of rapid global urbanization... Read more »

3. PRICING PANDEMONIUM

Flash sales, group buying, GPS-driven deals: this year, pricing will never be the same... Read more »

4. MADE FOR CHINA (IF NOT BRIC)

Expect an increasing number of 'Western' brands to launch new products or even new brands dedicated (if not paying proper respect) to consumers in emerging markets... Read more »

5. ONLINE STATUS SYMBOLS

This year, you can’t go wrong supplying your (online-loving) customers with any kind of symbol, virtual or 'real world', that helps them display to peers their online contributions, creations or popularity...Read more »

6. WELLTHY

As good health is now as important to some consumers as having the biggest, newest or shiniest status symbols, growing numbers of consumers will expect health products and services in the next 12 months (and beyond) to prevent misery (if not improve their quality of life), rather than merely treating illnesses and ailments... Read more »

7. SOCIAL-LITES AND TWINSUMERS

Expect even more consumers to become curators: broadcasting, compiling, commenting, sharing and recommending content, products, purchases, and experiences to both their friends and wider audiences... Read more »

8. EMERGING GENEROSITY

Brands and wealthy individuals from emerging markets (yes, especially China) will increasingly be expected to give, donate, care and sympathize versus just sell and take. And not just in their home countries, but on a global scale... Read more »

9. PLANNED SPONTANEITY

With lifestyles having become fragmented, with dense urban environments offering consumers any number of instantly available options, and with cell/smartphones having created a generation who have little experience of making (or sticking to) rigid plans, this new year will see full-on PLANNED SPONTANEITY... Read more »

10. ECO SUPERIOR

When it comes to 'green consumption', expect a rise in ECO-SUPERIOR products: products that are not only eco-friendly, but superior to polluting incumbents in every possible way... Read more »

11. OWNER-LESS

This could be the year when sharing and renting really tips into mainstream consumer consciousness as big brands and governments put their weight behind this cultural shift... Read more »

(Trendwatching.com, 2011b)

-Who are its founders and what is their background?

Reinier Evers (40) is the founder of Trendwatching.com and is an accomplished trend watcher, entrepreneur, and presenter. He holds a Master's degree in Economics from the University of Amsterdam, and has been fascinated with the online business revolution ever since being introduced to the nascent web in 1994 at New York University, where he studied Business Policy. Reinier was also a co-founder of Urbanbite, an online food delivery portal in the UK and the Netherlands, which was sold in 2001 to lastminute.com, one of Europe's largest travel and entertainment firms. Throughout his career, Reinier has been a keynote speaker at online industry events, workshops, and conferences in Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa and South America. He has also been quoted as a trend expert in numerous business publications, including Time Magazine, New York Times, The Guardian, the Financial Times, Die Zeit, Advertising Age, and blogs like buzzmachine.com, thelongtail.com and gapingvoid.com. (Trendwatching.com, 2011c)

EDELKOORT

-Try to find out: what their research methodology is, how do they gather information, what are their core ‘products and concepts’, who are their customers and how are they served?

1) Elaborating and advising product identity & development strategy

Designing and defining strategic directions regarding a brand’s identity, conceiving and designing products, operating as much on the mass market as in that of the luxury / upper range.

2) Elaborating and advising product identity & development strategy

By means of our studies, Studio Edelkoort helps clients understand the past to better visualize the future, in order to accompany clients during the various stages of the thought process. Studio Edelkoort seeks to grasp how the company functions, why it does and what its nature is. All of this is elaborated by an approach linked to heritage, to know-how, to the brand’s patrimony, crossed with Studio Edelkoort’s knowledge of trends, markets and competition.

3) Trend studies and work on concepts

Studio Edelkoort has been listening to consumers and observing socio-cultural phenomena for over 15 years, in order to analyse and study fashions and lifestyles and to define major trends.

Thanks to this background, Studio Edelkoort can develop new concepts in compliance with a given brand’s identity and legacy, as well as define the means necessary for implementing its strategic plans in the best manner possible.

This is the basis for Studio Edelkoort’s work on identity, the brand’s DNA, allowing the Edelkoort team to determine its mark and to cement its fundamentals for the future. To conceive these studies, Studio Edelkoort works in osmosis with clients, always providing made-to-measure, unique work.

4) Colour and fabric inspiration

Following study of identity, Studio Edelkoort defines innovative colour ranges and harmonies, customized in keeping with the brand and its products. Studio Edelkoort conducts thorough fabric research (appearances, textures, performance…) in order to provide the “right” attributes for products.

5) New language

Whether it concerns work on iconography, sound or scent, or even a study about naming, Studio Edelkoort helps clients define a brand’s language.

6) Graphics, packaging & communications

As a complement to client’s strategies, Studio Edelkoort also intervenes regarding product design and graphics, packaging (2D and 3D), publicity concepts and events, developing forums for trade fairs.

(Edelkoort, 2010a)

-What kind of information are they communicating to readers and customers for free and what kind of information do they sell?

Edelkoort has a website, www.trendtablet.com, which offers information for free. It doesn’t offer insights about trends but it has a lot of coolhunts, explaining how trends grow, evolve and flow. Trend Union offers books, magazines, seminars and audiovisuals which are paid services.

 -What are the biggest trends of 2011 according to them? (if they mention a list)

There is no list of the biggest trends of 2011.

 -Who are its founders and what is their background?

Lidewij Edelkoort is the founder of the site, born in Holland in 1950 and studied fashion and design at the School of Fine Arts in Arnhem. She became a trend forecaster at the leading Dutch department store, De Bijenkorf after she graduated. At this place, she discovered  her talent for sensing upcoming trends and her unique ability to predict what consumers would want to buy several seasons ahead of time. Lidewij worked as an independent trend consultant in Paris in 1975, creating Trend Union. She was named as one of the most influential people in fashion and received several prizes. In March 2007, she has been named Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication.

 -What is the biggest difference between the two trend agencies that you researched?

To biggest difference between these two agencies is that one of them has a focus on design and the other one looks at general trends. Edelkoort has a focus on design, for example the books. The materials and content really have to match with said trend. Her insights aren’t available for free either, another important difference. Trendwatching on the other hand provides a lot of information, also for free. The free information does not use a lot of visuals but everything that is available is easy to understand.

-Which do you like most and why?

We like Trendwatching.com the most, simply because it provides detailed information for free and that is all you need in a lot of cases. It also is very easy to look back at previous reports.

Spelling a trendletter

We have chosen the March/April trend briefing which is about Random Acts of Kindness. As all the other monthly briefings, lots of visuals are used to make it look more attractive and easier to understand. Topics are highlighted with a different colour to make the text easier to read.

This article focuses on Random Acts of Kindness, which is important for any company and makes them seem more “human” as they show that they care. A clear description is given at the beginning of the article, explaining what Random Acts of Kindness is. Facts and numbers are summed up as a bullet point list and each of them has the original source mentioned after the fact. It also gives a quick 101 guide for companies and entrepreneurs on how they can use Random Acts of Kindness. You can find a list of examples in the next section. Each example has a short description as well, supported with visuals.

No clear conclusion is given at the end, instead it makes you think about how you can use this trend. A short summary is given as well to refresh your memory and you can even save the briefing as a PDF in case you want to share it with people (also possible through email).

The letter helps clients by giving information about trends, helping the clients to understand what this trend could mean for them. The examples found in the briefing can be seen as inspirational products or services or whatever you want to call it for other companies. It doesn’t have a specific audience as the letter is available to everyone. There are around 160.000 email subscribers and Trendwatching.com is available as well on Twitter and Facebook.

We believe that Trendwatching.com has the right layout and format. They are available as well on social media sites which is crucial at the moment. The PDF is very useful but maybe they could work on a mobile application and make it a bit more interactive because the briefing can be a very long read. The application would make it in this case easier to read on mobile phones and maybe they can even splice up a nice interactive page on the site.

Trend implementation

-Analyze the methodology of www.trendsactive.com. Describe shortly what its methodology is, what the products are that it sells and how their trend agency differs from the others that you researched. What clients do they serve and what products did they make for them?

TrendsActive is a trend interpretation agency, they bridge the gap between theory and practice by filtering, analysing and summarize socio-cultural trend research in understandable language. They make trends and insights practical for organizations on strategy, communication and product development.

Their core service is full interpretation and it is the best product for creating opportunities for brands based on socio-cultural trends and insights. It is a custom-made process and they work with a three-step methodology to translate trends and insights (step one: insights, step two: interpretation, step three: imagination) They first select relevant trends upon the client’s business question and brand insights. They then merge the research and create a coherent story by connecting the dots. This step also is a screening phase for opportunities. The last step turns the opportunities into visualised concepts for strategy, communication, products and services.

Trendsactive has another product, lectures. These lectures are made on demand as well. Clients of Trendsactive are companies such as Asics, Hema, Coca Cola, Belgacom and Rotterdam. They gave a lecture to HEMA about the relevant youth trends and looked at possible opportunities. A lecture of 60 minutes was given to 100+ employees at the HEMA headquarters. Product and communication concepts were developed for Asics.

The company differs from other trend agencies because it helps its clients with implementing trends into products, services, concepts and strategies. Other trend agencies only give out advice, but Trendsactive is actively involved in the creation process.

-Find 1 or 2 international examples of other agencies that actively implement trends into product. What is their methodology and what is their core business. What clients did they serve and with what products (products developed after trend research)

-Analyse http://thecoolcollector.blogspot.com. What is this blog about , for whom is it written, what do, or don’t you find inspirational about it?

The Cool Collector is a blog about trends in contemporary culture and lifestyle. It offers a lot and the way as we see it, it acts like an archive. A lot of topics are available on the site such as fashion, lifestyle, gadgets, trends, photography, art and food. It therefore is accessible to anyone who is interested in  lifestyle, fashion, trends, photography etc.

We see the site as an archive and source of inspiration but it looks very chaotic. The background is very busy and the images in each column kind of fades away because of this. We believe that the idea is great but it is, in our opinion, poorly executed mainly because of the layout. The layout doesn’t make the site attractive to read.

The future is yours

-What did you like or not like about the researched trend websites

Information wasn’t always available for free, such as Edelkoort’s site. It is crucial in this age to provide some for free because if you won’t, your competitor will hand out the information for free. Trendwatching.com on the other hand had very useful information, for free! It even gave you the opportunity to save briefings as PDFs to read them offline.

-What did we learn?

Each trend agency has similar trends, which is logical, but each of them give a slightly different interpretation and description. Guest lectures and several other methodology lectures helped us with researching and understanding trends ourselves, understanding the interpretations.

-What would we do differently?

Maybe choose a more specific direction. It is very difficult at this time though, because the market is very new and in most cases not available yet to B2C customers. It might have been wiser to start researching when the market has more matured but we have made the first steps.

-What tips can we give the researched websites?

Make the websites easier to navigate. Design is important but it should not obstruct the customer’s behaviour when browsing. Edelkoort can learn from Trendwatching.com by providing free snippets of information as well. The coolhunts are a nice idea but are not as usual as the insights given by Trendwatching.com.

-Who are the potential clients (readers) of our own trend weblog and who could that potentially be ofyour former blog of methodology 1?

Anyone who is interested in how we might live in the future (more convenience created by technology). The product focus is Surface and similar products because they deliver an all-in-one experience and create a convenience. Everyone who wants to learn more about convenient technology like this is welcome to our blog. Our former blogs were very inspirational blogs. It wasn’t as focussed as the current blog and provided everything for literally everyone who is interested in Amsterdam and interesting elements that could be implemented in Amsterdam.

-What kind of trend information you like to work upon or communicate about and how would you attract readers and clients?

We would work on the individualization trend, one of the biggest trends at the moment. It will focus on companies, agencies and institutions that focus delivering truly unique experiences to customers either through products or services. Social media is crucial in this trend so we would have to be active on networks such as Facebook and Twitter. 

[mediamenu-blog]

Future on display: 3D touchscreens made for two

Finally the two most popular technologies the multi touch screen technology and the 3D technology are combined into a new product. In the video above you can see two people using a multi touch table and using 3D glasses. This concept may not seem very surprising because both technology have been exiting for quite a while not however combining them was not an easy task. 3D technology has always been used to be “looked” and not be “touched”. Now the French company Immersion has made a visual simulation combining the two technologies into an interactive 3D table-top display. The users can also interact with the display when they touch it, they can zoom in and out without breaking the 3D illusion.

Reported by cool hunter Chef Ying

Source: de Lange, Catharine (2010). Future on display: 3D touchscreens made for two. Consulted on 13 June 2011, from http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19251-future-on-display-3d-touchscreens-made-for-two.html

[mediamenu-blog]

What Happens When a Bug Lands on a Touchscreen?

It might be a question that you have never thought about or maybe you did. This article is really short but it does make one think about what would happen when a bug lands on a touch screen. In the movie above you can see that the touch screen actually reacts to the fly’s touch. The touch screen technology is spreading like fire right now. The more sensitive the touch screen is the faster it will react on human touch but the makers also have to keep in mind with other possible living things that might interfere with it. To every advantage is a disadvantage the makers should always keep that in mind.

Commented by Chef Ying

Source: Zhoa, Micheal (2011). What Happens When a Bug Lands on a Touchscreen?  Consulted on 12 june 2011, from http://gizmodo.com/5812401/if-a-bug-lands-on-a-touchscreen-what-would-happen

[mediamenu-blog]

T-Systems develops Red Bull app for Microsoft Surface

The big energy drink company Red Bull is using the Surface in order to give information to the customers in a new interactive experience! The company T-Systems developed this application. 

If a visitor puts a can of Red Bull on the Microsoft Surface multi-touch screen, the screen recognizes the brand by means of a visual code on the bottom of the can and plays clips relating to Red Bull. Users can push content over to the person sitting next to them or simply forward it to a mobile device. Information about current events and news regarding the Austrian drink company run across the screen as a news ticker.

Read the full article here.

Commented by Chef Ying

Source: T-Systems (2011). T-Systems develops Red Bull app for Microsoft Surface. Consulted on 12 june 2011, from http://www.t-systemsus.com/tsi/en/1058168/Homepage/Press-Analysts/PressCenter/PressArchive/2011-01-07-RedBull-MS-Surface

[mediamenu-blog]

Touch Screen Technology: The Future Of The Music Industry

The future of DJ’ing is here. As you can see in the video above the DJ table is about to go digital. The touchscreen technology is also spreading in the music industry. This touchscreen DJ table is actually a kiosk called the “Emulator”. It is the precursor to change the future of the music and DJ’ing industry.

Imagine entering a club with a DJ playing on the Emulator, it will be an exciting new experience!

Reported by cool hunter Chef Ying

Source: Protouch (2011). Touch Screen Technology: The Future Of The Music Industry. Consulted on 6 June 2011, from http://www.protouchblog.co.uk/2011/05/touch-screen-technology-the-future-of-the-music-industry