Bi-monthly(ish) news on tech, trends, hot topics, communication, creativity and innovation. This edition contains observations about brands and topics such as Lego, air travel, chatbots, Chinese mobile payments and Google. 

1. TRENDWATCH
Bi-monthly news on tech, trends, hot topics,
communication, creativity and innovation
Solange Francois
April 2018

2. What’s in the April edition?
April’s edition includes these brands and topics:
- The growth of Chinese mobile payments
- Smart clothing
- Aircraft configurations and seats of the future
- Lego and sustainability
- The future of chatbots
- Roadside curb innovation
- Virtual influencers
- Tech trends for airlines and airports

3. While you’re reading
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Could I apply this idea to my industry?
- What impact will this have in the future?
- What can this teach us about changing consumer trends?
- How will this play in the future employment landscape?
- What does this mean for existing business models?
By asking these questions now, we can be
better prepared for the future.

4. Chinese mobile payments
Mobile payments are now central to Chinese consumer culture. For the
first 10 months of 2017, mobile payment transactions reached $12.8
trillion.
What it means: Integrating Chinese mobile payment platforms is
imperative in order to market goods and services to Chinese consumers
and tourists.
Image: Shutterstock

5. Smart clothing
Ministry of Supply has released a voice-controlled,‘everything-proof’ jacket
that uses artificial intelligence to heat to your optimal temperature.
What it means: Great design is one thing, but will that be enough in the
future? Users are looking for control and intelligence with their products.
Image: Ministry of Supply - Kickstarter

6. Airbus cargo hold sleep bunks
Airbus will offer airlines the opportunity to convert part of an airplane’s
cargo hold into sleeping berths.
What it means: Longer direct flights need to cater to passengers
adequately – new types of classes will be created.
Image: via AusBT

7. The Skyrider seat
Airline seat manufacturer Aviointeriors recently showed the Skyrider 2.0
‘saddle seat’ at a conference in Hamburg. They are designed to be lighter
than conventional seats, and would also fit 20% more seats into the cabin.
What it means: Start saving for business class now. But also, the future of
budget air travel, particularly short-haul, could look very different than
what it is now.
Image: The Points Guy

8. Lego and sustainability
The first sustainable Lego pieces will go on sale later this year. The pieces
will be made from plant-based plastic sourced from sugarcane.
Closer to home, theWellington waterfront goes straw free.
Related: Lego-compatible furniture.
What it means: Businesses are adapting their products from a corporate
social responsibility perspective, and for future-proofing with their
audiences.
Image: MariaTuxen Hedegaard / Lego

9. Chatbots grow up
It feels as though chatbots only just appeared…yet they’re growing up
already! An omnibot is a conversational entity that represents your brand
everywhere, in both text and voice, much like Assistant and Alexa are
already (and will be even more so in the future) for Google and Amazon.
What it means: Brands are not just logos and tone of voice guidelines
anymore – brands are becoming beings.
Image: Fast Company

10. Innovating curbs
Alphabet-backed start-up, Coord has mapped every inch of San Francisco’s
curbs to create a citywide API for curbside space.
What it means: Curbs are home to ride-share pick-ups and drop-offs, buses,
deliveries, private vehicles and more.And in the not-too-distant future, to
driverless vehicles.There is an opportunity to innovate how we use this
space best.
Image: Screenshot - Coord

11. Virtual influencers
She has a million followers on Instagram, has launched clothing and
jewellery collections, released songs on Spotify, and appeared on the cover
of NewYorkTimes Magazine in February 2018.And, she’s not real.
What it means:The line between reality and digital is becoming blurrier.
Virtual influencers may be a more controllable way for brands to connect
with their audiences.
Image: Instagram – @lilmiquela

12. In short
• 10 technology trends for airlines and airports in 2018
• Food delivery on its way to automation with plans by Pizza Hut and
Toyota, and Robomart
• Top food trends for 2018, according to Whole Foods
• Nail art technology to detect UV rays – by L’Oreal
• Costco is selling emergency / natural disaster food kits by the pallet
(could this be a political statement…?)
• World’s first ‘mental health ambulance’ helps people in Sweden
• Johnnie Walker releases JaneWalker edition for Women’s History Month
• US airline stocks tumble after warnings of higher fuel costs
• A company is making realistic fake leather from mushrooms

13. Please get in touch with feedback, comments or ideas:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/solangefrancois/
TRENDWATCH