Added 10 October, 2013
The state of the tourism industry worldwide is uneven. Some sectors and destinations are doing well while others are struggling. The economy is solid in many part of Asia and less so in parts of Europe and the US. But the luxury sector is booming, and brands across the industrial spectrum are getting in on the trend. Burberry, the British luxury...
Added 9 October, 2013
Voluntouring – helping out with local communities while on vacation – is a growing sector of the tourism industry. Lots of programs for travelers are now available, including Ritz-Carlton's Giveback Getaways program and Crystal Cruises' "You Care, We Care" program. But it's not always as easy to get involved for just a day or two in your own city...
Added 9 October, 2013
Public art is often makes a statement. But it's rare that it listens too. Yobosayo, a bigger-than-life sculpture in the rough shape of a human ear, invites passers-by to stick their heads in and speak their minds. The statue is located outside City Hall in Seoul, Korea. It is designed with a microphone inside that records the public's missives and...
Added 9 October, 2013
A lot has changed in computing in the last 20 years, but the mouse remains stubbornly similar. Sure, they now have laser tracking and are Bluetooth enabled, but the device's basic form hasn't really changed. On the one hand, that's a testament to the solidity of the concept, one that has stood the test of time. But it also points to a technology...
Added 8 October, 2013
Regular readers know that, these days, art comes to the viewers as much as the other way around. But is it art if it's really an advertisement for an insurance company? The sub was docked here as part of a publicity stunt for Europ Assistance Italia. The mistake that M&C Saatchi, the company's advertising agency, made was telling the public...
Added 8 October, 2013
OK, GhostSingles.com is probably a joke, but its backers are seriously making fun of the fact that there seems to be a dating site for just about every proclivity these days. Alikewise.com is a dating site based on book tastes, Cupidtino is for people who are Mac obsessed, Nerve Dating generates matches based on what you did last night, Blendr is...
Added 8 October, 2013
According to Apple, the new gold colored iPhone 5S has proved popular everywhere, but nowhere more so than China. Marketers know this country for being very label conscious. More than many other places, people want to boast about brands and flaunt social signifiers that are thought to bestow respect and status. One reason for this is because...
Added 7 October, 2013
Do you live across the bay or river from your workplace? Millions of commuters do, in places like San Francisco and New York, who travel to work each day by subway, car, bus or bicycle. But what if you could simply bike across the water, just as you would on land? That is the challenge that Judah Schiller undertook when inventing the BayCycle to...
Added 7 October, 2013
Hydrogen-powered automobiles are already on some roads and the technology is improving. The logical next step is to remove buildings from the electricity grid by placing a self-contained hydrogen power station in each one. Sound too futuristic? Consider the Hydrogen Reactor Portable Power Pack from Brunton, a little power system that never needs...
Added 7 October, 2013
They hype about 3D printing is everywhere. But few people still understand how this new technology will directly affect them. Many of the first 3D printed items to come down the pike are wholly whimsical, like little toys and plastic knick-knacks. But what better way to showcase this tech, but on a plate? We have already written about the 3D-...