In Spain, NGO taps ‘foodstagrams’ to fight world hunger
Instagram is a useful tool for sharing our lives visually with others and it’s probably a sign of how comfortable the Western world currently is that one of its most popular uses is ‘foodstagrams’ – photos of everyday meals. We’ve already seen one restaurant tap the social media service to build a user-created menu, but now a Spanish charity is aiming to fight world hunger with its FoodShareFilter app, which enables the sharing of food photos on Instagram while raising money for the cause. READ MORE…
Scannable pyjamas contain bedtime stories
Most parents will know just how difficult it is to get their kids to bed at the right time, especially if work life means they don’t have much time to relax at home. While Japan has offered the Hug and Dream Minnie Mouse – a toy with a lulling mechanism that mimics slow breathing – our latest spotting is Smart PJ’s, pyjamas that make bedtime more engaging by enabling kids to scan the garment’s patterns to unlock new stories. READ MORE…
Roving agency ‘pops up’ for 48-hour projects at client sites
We’ve seen virtually innumerable variations on the “pop-up” theme over the years, but recently we came across one we hadn’t seen before. Enter the Pop Up Agency, a group of six creative students who take residency at clients’ sites for 48 hours, deliver a concept or strategy, and then move on to their next destination. READ MORE…
Parasol offers solar charging for mobile devices
As the summer season begins in the northern hemisphere, consumers will be spending more time outdoors – but how to keep all of those electronic devices charged? We recently saw the SUN&CLOUD digital camera offer battery boosts via solar energy, and now New York-based gadget store Hammacher Schlemmer claims to be offering the first available-to-buy mobile-charging parasol. READ MORE…
App helps local communities to share parking spaces
We recently wrote about Mapkin, the app for drivers that enables them to create customized routes for friends, making driving more social. Another app harnessing people’s networks of friends and family is ParkTag, which alerts users looking for a parking spot when someone they know has just vacated one near to them. READ MORE…
From France, modular helmet can be used for 3 different sports
Helmets are a necessity for staying safe, whether practising a sport or working in dangerous locations. However, innovations such as the camera-equipped Helmet of Justice have already shown that they can do much more that just protect. Now French company Cébé has developed the Trilogy modular helmet, a single piece of kit that’s suitable for cycling, skiing or mountain climbing. READ MORE…
Envelope-sized container takes guesswork out of urban gardening
The grow-your-own trend is one that’s really taken off in recent years, and while startups such as the UK’s Allotinabox have provided homeowners with the basic materials to start their own home gardening projects, our latest spotting goes that little bit further. Patch is a self-watering herb planter that makes urban gardening projects easier, delivered through the letterbox. READ MORE…
Hug simulation jacket lets parents calm kids via mobile devices
Toys designed specifically with autistic children in mind – such as the Auti – can help to make them feel more comfortable in their environment and improve their social behavior. With similar aims, the T.Jacket is a tablet-controlled jacket that uses embedded air pockets to simulate hugs and calm children without human contact. READ MORE…
iPhone case enables SOS calls from signal-free zones
Smartphones themselves obviously have their uses, but we’ve seen a few attempts to transform their cases into something just as practical – from a working pet ECG to a multi-tool kit. Now the SatSleeve is a satellite adaptor and charger for the iPhone, enabling users to make emergency calls from any location with low signal. READ MORE…
Open house cooking offers tourists local homemade food and friendly chat
Eating is traditionally a social experience, something recognized by the UK’s Casserole scheme, which connects elderly people with leftover meals cooked by their neighbors. Now EatWith aims to link up travelers in need of food with residents willing to meet new people. READ MORE…
