Added 18 October, 2013
Nike+ FuelBand, Samsung Galaxy Gear, Apple iWatch... we are certainly entering the age of the activity-tracking armband. Adding further certainty that a large segment of the population will soon be wearing digital monitors on their arms, Adidas has now jumped into the market with its own version of the smartwatch. Called miCoach SMART RUN, the USD...
Added 14 October, 2013
Bookstores and libraries are suffering worldwide. But that's not the case in India where Eloor, a chain of privately-owned public libraries are thriving and growing. Now with at least five branches in south India, the library has a unique business model in that it does not have a reading room or charge a membership fee, but charges a tenth of the...
Added 10 October, 2013
Like many people these days, we are obsessed with beer. As we have pointed out before, the world in general, and Americans in particular, are living in a beer Renaissance. There have been times in history when there have been more breweries, but at no time has the quality been better and variety more broad. Witness the huge number of micro-...
Added 10 October, 2013
The state of the tourism industry worldwide is uneven. Some sectors and destinations are doing well while others are struggling. The economy is solid in many part of Asia and less so in parts of Europe and the US. But the luxury sector is booming, and brands across the industrial spectrum are getting in on the trend. Burberry, the British luxury...
Added 9 October, 2013
Voluntouring – helping out with local communities while on vacation – is a growing sector of the tourism industry. Lots of programs for travelers are now available, including Ritz-Carlton's Giveback Getaways program and Crystal Cruises' "You Care, We Care" program. But it's not always as easy to get involved for just a day or two in your own city...
Added 9 October, 2013
Public art is often makes a statement. But it's rare that it listens too. Yobosayo, a bigger-than-life sculpture in the rough shape of a human ear, invites passers-by to stick their heads in and speak their minds. The statue is located outside City Hall in Seoul, Korea. It is designed with a microphone inside that records the public's missives and...
Added 8 October, 2013
OK, GhostSingles.com is probably a joke, but its backers are seriously making fun of the fact that there seems to be a dating site for just about every proclivity these days. Alikewise.com is a dating site based on book tastes, Cupidtino is for people who are Mac obsessed, Nerve Dating generates matches based on what you did last night, Blendr is...
Added 8 October, 2013
According to Apple, the new gold colored iPhone 5S has proved popular everywhere, but nowhere more so than China. Marketers know this country for being very label conscious. More than many other places, people want to boast about brands and flaunt social signifiers that are thought to bestow respect and status. One reason for this is because...
Added 7 October, 2013
A recent survey by the upscale hotel brand Pullman Hotels notes a growing trend in which travelers are blurring the lines between business and leisure travel. Interestingly, the reason for this may be the growth of mobile technology. Now it's easier than ever for both types of travelers to extend their stays, enjoy themselves while simultaneously...
Added 4 October, 2013
Regular readers of WikiTrend will remember a story back in January about a company in New Orleans that installed a children's playground that's utilizes photovoltaic panels to power fans, water dispensers, and garden irrigation systems. Now a non-profit in Ghana is going one better by harnessing the children's own energy to generate electricity...