Trend spotting

From: "BlindNews Mailing List" <BlindNews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <BlindNews@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:32:38 -0400

CanadianBusiness.com, Canada
Monday, October 29, 2007

Trend spotting

By Calvin Leung

Canadian Business Online, October 29, 2007

Quote: "Jeremy Gutsche, who heads a network of over 17,000 "Trend Hunters"
around the globe, says innovations for the blind is one of the world's hottest
trends."

Question: What are some emerging consumer trends?

Answer:

Sure, it's not for everyone, but Klara Jirkova, a student at The Berlin
University of the Arts, has invented a way to create Braille tattoos: implant
tiny surgical-grade stainless steel balls under the skin. Over in Ireland,
researchers at IBM are developing virtual worlds based on sounds rather than
images. Fort Wayne, Ind.-based GM Micro recently launched the Voice Sense, a
PDF for the visually impaired. Jeremy Gutsche, who heads a network of over
17,000 "Trend Hunters" around the globe, says innovations for the blind is one
of the world's hottest trends.

Another product category that could be huge: voice-activated communication and
entertainment systems in cars. Ford recently launched Sync, a technology that
lets you play specific songs from an iPod or make calls on your cell phone by
using verbal commands. "The Sync is something that might make people consider
Ford, even if it wasn't in their consideration set, and will have other
companies racing to have the same technology," says Gutsche.

Like cars, vending machines could also see some major changes. These devices
may soon reward thirsty consumers with a free drink for watching a 30-second
ad. That's one idea in the works at Apex Corp, a vending machine company in
Japan. The Beautiful Vending Styler, which straightens hair and comes from The
Beautiful Vending Company in the U.K., is spreading from nightclubs in London
to cities such as New York. In Amsterdam, you can rent bicycles from automated
machines. "Vending machines aren't just going to be about pop anymore," says
Gutsche.

Of all the emerging consumer trends on his radar, Gutsche thinks "eco
innovation" will be one of the biggest in Canada. He points our Vancouver has a
condo developments, which brand themselves as being zero carbon. In other
words, these buildings have features that offset the damage to the environment
caused by its residents.

Now if someone could just invent a way to make Canada's weather warmer during
the winters, we'd be set.

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/columnists/calvin_leung/article.jsp?content=20071029_165539_2844
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