Why are people turning to tech to improve their wellbeing? How are mundane objects getting smartened up? Could technology be the answer to the empathy crisis? And why are people feeling uneasy about the future?
We increasingly rely on smartphones to supplement our knowledge and store our memories. But with 31% of people running out of space monthly, these digital brains are getting full. By merging device storage with the cloud, can the Nextbit Robin put an end to ‘post deletion stress disorder’?
Brits suffering from ‘post deletion stress disorder’
signal·
4 Jan 2016
You know that feeling of regret when you are forced to delete that perfect selfie just to free up some space on your phone? Well, it’s got a name – Post Deletion Stress Disorder (PDSD) – and 56% of Brits have been forced to delete content from a device due to capacity issues and then regretted it.
Running a car is hard work – especially if it’s a bit of a banger. Let alone the little inconveniences – where did you park? Are you low on fuel? Xee is a French app that transforms standard cars into smart vehicles, contributing to a connected car market set to be worth $2.2 trillion by 2020.
Philips Hue wireless dimming kit: smartening up home technology
case study·
8 Sep 2015
By the end of 2015, 20 million US households will have a smart home device. But while brands keep releasing tech, many people remain underwhelmed. Philips now hopes to make smart home lighting simple with its wireless dimming kit, but can it spark interest in the modern, connected home?
Studies show that our ability to empathise has greatly diminished over the last 30 years. It’s due in part to the uptake of smartphones and social media – we’re all too busy thinking about ourselves. But while it might be part of the problem, could technology also be used to make us more empathetic?
Cloud over Sidrais the United Nations' first ever virtual reality film. It follows a twelve-year-old girl – named Sidra – who lives in the Za’atari camp in Jordan, and is designed to support a UN campaign highlighting the vulnerable state that is refugee life.
Do you check your work emails on the weekend? Read your texts during dinner? Chat to mates from home when you’re on holiday? We may be constantly connected, but many people believe there’s a time and place for tech. Canvas8 sat down with 20 Brits to find out when they’d prefer to switch off.
As our lives become more automated, the consumer robotics industry is only set to grow. But something is holding the market back – people find it difficult to trust these machines, especially in their homes and offices. Why do they make us uneasy, and what will convince people to trust robots?