CASH-LESS

Why a cashless future is (almost) here, and why it will be about convenience and an entire new eco-system of payments, rewards and offers.




Sure, the cashless society has been popping-up in every trend list since 2005. And while 2012 (again) is not going to be the year that consumers en masse will forego coins and notes and just swipe their smartphones, it is going to be the year that major players like Google and MasterCard will actively roll out their cashless initiatives* around the world. For consumers, the initial lure will be convenience, but eventually mobile payments will create an entirely new data-driven eco-system of rewards, purchase history, deals and so on.

* Many of these initiatives incorporate NFC (Near Field Communication), which allows for encrypted data exchange between two devices in close proximity ("near field") to each other. For instance: a reader located next to a retail cash register. Shoppers who have their credit card information stored in their NFC smartphones can pay for purchases by waving their smartphones near or tapping them on the reader, rather than using an actual credit card.

Just a few of the CASH-LESS initiatives to keep an eye on in 2012:



•In October 2011, Google's free, NFC-enabled mobile payment system Google Wallet became operational at a selection of retail chains across the US. Licensing MasterCard’s PayPass technology, shoppers simply tap their mobile device on special terminals at points-of-sale to pay instantly. In participating stores, they can also redeem special coupons, participate in sales promotions or gain loyalty points, simply by choosing to pay with Google Wallet.

•In June 2011, US online payments processor PayPal demonstrated a mobile payments application for Android devices. Users install the app and activate the PayPal widget, and can then request to send or receive funds from another individual with a smartphone and PayPal account. Using NFC, the two users can then hold their devices together in order to instantly transfer funds.

•Square is an electronic payments service which enables users to accept credit card payments by using a card-reading portable device connected to their iPhone, iPad or Android device. Both the Square card-reader and app are free, although there is a 2.75% charge for each payment made. Once the system has been set up, users can accept payments immediately. In November 2011, Richard Branson and Visa became investors in the venture. In the same month, Square updated the app, allowing for a completely hands-free payment experience by simply saying your name.
•Launched in Sweden in June 2011, iZettle is a device that enables consumers to accept credit card payments while on the go. The portable chip and pin reader plugs into iPhones or iPads and uses an iZettle app, meaning that card transactions can take place instantly. Bills can also be paid or money transferred using the device. There's a facility to tag transactions with images, notes or location data, which users can post to Facebook and Twitter to share their purchases with friends.


Image courtesy of antimega


•In November 2011 Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s main rail operator, extended its Touch&Travel service to all its 320 stations. Passengers can either use NFC to pay, or take a photo of a barcode as they enter and exit stations.


in: trendwaching.com

Audi R8 GT _ "Super Sport of the Year 2011"

The Audi R8 GT was honored as "Super Sport of the Year 2011 'in' Production of Super Sports." In this tenth edition, the jury of the magazine "Auto Bild Sportscars» elected with this super-sporty premium brand with the four rings, appointment announced on November 24 in a ceremony held in the Hall of Essen.

Stephan Reil, Head of Development Department of quattro GmbH, accepted the award, one of the most coveted of the German car industry, for the Audi R8 GT to an audience of about 450 guests. About 70,976 readers of the magazine participated in the vote this year for the "Sports Car of the Year 2011".

The Audi subsidiary - quattro GmbH - is responsible for developing and producing the R8 GT. Its 5.2 liters V10 engine develops an output of 560 horses. The engineers reduced the weight by 100 pounds compared to the R8 5.2 FSI quattro.

All improvements, allow the R8 GT accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in 3.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 320 km / h, while the average advertised is 13.9 liters per 100 kilometers.

The contest were 173 vehicles previously tested by the experts of the German publication in more than 300 tests, number of vehicles divided among 17 classes, which were subdivided into large production, tuning and limited production.
Besides the winner, five other Audi models were positioned among the top three of their class: the Q7 V12 TDI in the category "Production SUV", the RS3 in Sportback category 'Production Car Compact ", the RS 5 on' Production Coupe ", the Audi A6 Avant 3.0 TFSI quattro in 'Production Vans» R8 Spyder GT and in the category "Production Convertible."

A Portuguese Company: Vidago: Portuguese bottle wins 2011 Water Innovation Award

The Vidago brand, a Portuguese bottle-water company, won the Best New Glass Bottle at the Water Innovation Award 2011, to its 0,75 cl frosted glass bottle, launched in October 2011.

Promoted by British magazine FoodBev, the prize was announced at the gala dinner of the 8th Global Bottled Water Congress, in Rio de Janeiro, organized by Zenith International.

The new bottle presents itself in simple and very elegant lines, associated to the naturalness and purity of water, and was conceived to give a luxurious touch to any table.


Eighty brands, from 25 different countries, took part in the Water Innovation Awards 2011, competing for a total of 13 prizes in 11 categories.


The other two finalists for best new bottle in glass were Spadel, from Belgium, for its BRU glass bottle and Krusmølle Kilde, from Denmark, for its Krusmølle Kilde bottle.


Associated with its famous Vidago Palace Spa Hotel, Vidago is a town in the northern region of mainland Portugal, famous for its mineral waters. Vidago is 100% natural and pure carbonated mineral water known to be effective in the treatment of digestive problems. Vidago water, bottled since 1873, has won several national and international awards.



Source: Portuguese American Journal

BMW Vision ConnectedDrive Concept

BMW's history is littered with roadsters, from the pre-war 328 and the beautiful 507, to the futuristic Z1 and the more recent Z3 and Z4 models. So it’s perhaps no wonder that the Bavarians are using the body style to give us a glimpse of its possible future in terms of technology and style.

The Vision ConnectedDrive occupies a place on BMW’s stand at the Geneva auto show. The two-door roadster’s "layered" appearance evokes the EfficientDynamics concept from 2009, while its asymmetrical layout brings back memories of 2001’s X Coupe concept. Just as the former previewed a wild, forthcoming production car and the latter ushered in the Bangle design era, the Vision ConnectedDrive provides a glimpse of BMWs to come.

Layered, Like an Onion

But rather than having a single plane of smooth sheetmetal or plastic covering up the functional elements of the vehicle, the concept employs different layers of material. The broken-up structures partially reveal the technology hidden underneath, and what you see changes significantly with every angle. The doors, inspired by the Z1’s, slide into the body, and the car can be driven with the doors tucked away.

The layered surfaces are enhanced with fiber-optic lighting effects that highlight the different functions and sections of the car. We’re not sure yet if we like it, but we appreciate the hard work: it certainly isn't possible to design a car like this with just a few pen strokes. And it is a remarkable and potentially trend-setting approach that is every bit as daring as the one taken by BMW design ten years ago with the X Coupe.

The windshield acts as the medium for a three-dimensional head-up display, and additional information is shown on the monitor behind the steering wheel. Tellingly, the layer that displays relevant driving information is christened the "safety layer," and it is fed by plenty of watchful sensors.









A larger zone that also encompasses the passengers is called the "infotainment layer," and it offers movies, music, and internet access. Passengers also get their own display with nav and music info, which can then be sent to the driver’s attention at the press of a finger.

The third layer is the entire vehicle, and falls under the touchy-feely term "comfort layer." It includes car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure communications; we hope the latter excludes car-to-cop shout-outs.

But underneath the layering, the concept seems fairly normal. It’s a traditional roadster, with a long hood, front wheels pushed far toward the corners, and an angry-looking front end that hews closely to BMW's current corporate look.

All-Seeing Future Tech

BMW is showcasing a bunch of new technologies in Geneva. They include connectivity with your smart phone, an AmEx Centurion–like concierge service, and automated self-parking. There also is an "emotional browser" that can, for example, download the music playlist of a café you’re passing, or provide architectural information on the surrounding buildings. It also includes an online purchasing function, so you can immediately buy what you see.

But the tech also highlights safety, of course. In the ConnectedDrive concept, sensors in the head- and taillights constantly scan the vehicle's surroundings, and a perceived danger is not only highlighted but also augmented with suggestions for evasive action.

BMW, by the way, doesn't say anything about the ConnectedDrive’s powertrain. Could it be BMW’s naturally aspirated inline-six, the traditional engine for the company’s roadsters? We somehow doubt it. And in all honesty, with this concept monitoring and second-guessing your driving, we’re not quite sure whether the statement that "the engineers of the BMW Group are working incessantly to turn this into reality for series-production vehicles" should be classified as a promise or a threat.

KICKSTAND DESK ENABLES CYCLISTS RIDE THEIR BIKES WHILE AT WORK

It is a common belief that great ideas are born out of frustration. For Dan Young who runs his own mobile app development company in Cleveland, Ohio finding time to devote to his cycling passion was difficult. His long hours spent at his desk got him longing for breaks where he could go out for a bike ride. Then he got an idea, why not find a way to combine both activities. What he had to do was find a way to merge his desk and bike. The result is Kickstand Furniture, a new company Young started which makes specialized desks under which you can park your bicycle and pedal while you work. Fresh Water Cleveland spoke with Young who describes why he chose to start another company.

The real mission was to build a line of furniture geared toward the avid cycler. I love bicycles and if I had my way I’d be riding them every day. Now I can.

The Kickstand Desk is designed so that bikes of various sizes can fit underneath the work surface. The top is height adjustable to offer a comfortable work position for each user. Sliders at the base of each leg allow the desk to be easily positioned. Each of the desks are made in Cleveland and can be customized with work surface and finish options.

Young is hard at work at broadening the Kickstand line. He plans to introduce more bike friendly pieces and furniture accessories like stools in the near future.

via PSFK: http://www.psfk.com/2011/11/kickstand-desk-enables-cyclists-ride-their-bikes-while-at-work.html#ixzz1d2gCwtJs

Mercedes Benz Concept Car

Mercedes-Benz is celebrating the 125th anniversary of the automobile with the debut of the new F125! emission-free luxury concept. The F125! is a plug-in hydrogen-electric hybrid car with electric motors located in each of the four wheels. Mercedes considers this concept to be within the realm of reality around the year 2025. Many of the vehicle controls are operated through speech or gesture commands. The lightweight gullwing doors for instance can be opened and closed with the wave of a hand.

QR Codes Give Mixtapes a 21st Century Update

Remember mixtapes? The time and care it took to collage together a series of songs to express a very specific emotion to a very special someone? It was one of the most iconic symbolic gestures of courtship throughout the 80s and 90s. Especially when blank CDs made it easier to copy music, the idea of spending so much time putting music onto a cassette, showed you really cared. As the moribund technology of cassette players becomes increasingly rare it becomes harder to appreciate the tapes.

New innovations in sharing, listening and streaming excavate this lost art into our contemporary digital culture. UK collective Stupid have created a series of QR Code adorned greeting cards that when scanned will send the receiver a Spotify playlist. The playlist is compiled and synced to individually designed QR Codes that visually communicate the intentions of the gesture.

With sharing such an important part of digital culture, bolstering it with romantic gestures such as this makes sense. The overlap of compact discs with cassettes made them a less viable option since they required less effort. With the ubiquity of mp3s making them one of the only ways people really listen to music anymore it there could be a resurgence in music related gifting of tailor made objects. The inclusion of a physical object such as a card also makes the music itself less ephemeral and more lasting. This is something that is important when considering the immateriality of something such as music in digitalized culture.

Playlist Cards
http://vimeo.com/28587602


via PSFK: http://www.psfk.com/2011/10/qr-codes-give-mixtapes-a-21st-century-update.html#ixzz1caDUTHRq