The Sniffer

Trends in Self-Monitoring and Men’s Style

Nora — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:11:25 +0000

On this trendwatching podcast, Nora Young mentions Kibotzer, part of a definite trend towards body tracking and self-monitoring online (via Kevin Kelly)

Meanwhile, Cathi Bond has been checking out the Fall 2010 fashion shows for men (via New York Times). What does all this grey flannel and military looks mean? Nora points out that shows themselves featured implied violence. Is fashion telling guys to ‘man up’? How about it, gents? Would you wear these styles? What do you think is going on here?

Trends in Architecture and Consumer Green Power

Nora — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:01:14 +0000

In today’s trendwatching podcast, Cathi Bond talks about Architecture Five Cents (via New York Times). A chat about young architects and innovative approaches to dealing with recession follows. Your thoughts? Is the economy getting you down? Do you have a smart approach to share? We want to hear about it!

Meanwhile, Nora Young talks about Dow’s plan to bring out solar shingles (via Technology Review). What’s the future of accessible green power?

Trends in Apps and Cities

Nora — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:32:39 +0000

In today’s trendwatching podcast, Nora Young mentions State Farm’s promotional app for the iPhone, complete with tips for what to do in an emergency (via Springwise).

Cathi Bond found a great set of predictions by IBM for tech innovations in urban environments in the next five years. (Via the ever-awesome Gizmag). Nora thinks two of the trends in particular, related to responsive cities, are going to be huge, and cites Google Map’s Navigation as just one example of the coming trend.

Trends in Toys for Big Kids

Nora — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 22:33:40 +0000

For this trendwatching podcast, the gals look at cool tools and toys. Cathi Bond thinks the Bumper Dumper makes a great gift for the gal who likes to camp. Nora? Not so much. She does, however, love Cathi’s pick of these great conductive North Face winter gloves, so you can operate your touch screen device in winter!

Meanwhile, Nora Young spies some very cool, very chic, and very expensive audiophile ear buds by Ultimate Ears (via Gizmag)

Trends in Ethical Shopping and Cool Sneakers

Nora — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:11:26 +0000

In this trendwatching podcast, Nora Young talks about the push towards tying marketing to socially responsible goals. Beyond greenwashing, is this really a transition, or more feel-good marketing? Contagious calls it Goodvertising. What do you think?

Meanwhile, Cathi Bond recommends Food Inc, a documentary to make you think about your food choices. Cathi says it’s changed her life. She also talks about the On Running Shoe: put a spring in your step with these sneaks designed to reduce knee strain. Is it a sign of marketing to older athletes?

Trends in Online Shopping and Gestural Computing

Nora — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:10:18 +0000

In today’s trendwatching podcast, Cathi Bond looks at the use of virtual mannequins to harvest information on street fashion (via PSFK). Nora looks at research from the University of Tokyo into a cell phone you can dial without touching the device (via CNET).

Trends in Social Games and Cell Phone Security

Nora — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 22:24:14 +0000

In this trendwatching podcast, Cathi Bond talks about the huge amount of money being made with virtual gifts in social games (via BBC). Meanwhile, Nora Young mentions new concerns about the security of GSM cell phones (via Technology Review). She also mentions this excellent New Scientist article on cell phone forensics.

Trends in Computers and Consumption

Nora — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:10:04 +0000

In this podcast, Nora Young mentions reports that Google and HTC are working on a netbook. (Via TheRegister). Is it time to jump on the mini computer train? Would you?

Meanwhile, Cathi Bond talks about reports on increased expectations of consumer purchases in rural China (via IsraeliDiamond)

Happy New Year: Resolutions

Nora — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:01:59 +0000

Happy New Year, all! In today’s podcast, Cathi and Nora discuss their opposing new year’s resolutions: to dematerialize or to hoard? Cathi also mentions Roger Ebert’s column on The Twelve Gifts of Christmas for cinephiles.

What analogue media are you holding onto, and what are you happy to digitize or get rid of altogether? Let us know!

We’d also like to take this moment to say thanks for listening, and for commenting. All good wishes for a happy 2010.

Happy New Year Hacking and Brollies

Nora — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:58:09 +0000

In this first podcast of the new year, Nora Young mentions this article in Technology Review, proposing a possible solution to an intriguing, if chilling, potential problem: once implanted devices are wirelessly enabled, could they be susceptible to hacking?

Meanwhile, Cathi Bond has a great looking product for anyone tired of fighting with an umbrella on a windy day: the Blunt Umbrella.