the sniffer

 

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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 towards intense jewel tones and colour in unexpected places.Also, a note on thesniffer over the summer.  Cathi and Nora will be posting once a week, in between summer hols.  Back to a more frequent schedule after Labour Day. Thanks for listening!  

 

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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’, which people could use to power their gadgets and even health devices such as pacemakers (via New Scientist) 

 

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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 headphones in products such as Cathi’s Bose in-ear phones, and the Outi. She also discusses research into a “cloaking device” for  audio, currently being researched in Spain (via Technology Review).

 

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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 Cathi discuss memes and marketing. (Thanks to Joseph and Lezlie)

 

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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 ‘wear’, courtesy of coolhunting:
http://www.coolhunting.com/archives/2008/05/yamaha_wearable.php

She wonders whether it’s a return to cyborg chic

 

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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 show Spark covered.

Meanwhile, Cathi Bond points to this Science Daily report on new research that suggests gaming may put you into heightened states of creativity.