I frequently talk to clients and business associates who don’t speak English, and that’s why I am very excited to see technology remove language barriers. A Japan-based company, NTT DOCOMO, has launched the Hanashite Hon’yaku app that allows speakers of two different languages to carry out a phone conversation by translating their speech in…
Inner-city or urban farming is becoming more inexpensive and efficient. Those who sell farm goods directly to consumers earn greater profits, but the exciting news is what it means for the produce buyers. One such urban farm called the FARM:shop in London is offering goods farmed on site, and now The Farmery is showing consumers in…
Often in a week or struggling economy, government funding for the arts is at risk of being cut off or greatly reduced. What a tragedy! The arts helps equip our next generation to think outside the box to come up with innovative solutions in many areas. A friend of mine, Jan Mirenda Smith, wrote the…
I do a lot of traveling around the world. I mean a LOT of traveling. While I enjoy meeting with clients and working with global companies, I often wish the process of airport travel was lighter. So I am delighted to share this innovation with you: Hop. Hop is a suitcase that follows close behind…
The cemetery has long been a place to remember loved ones. But did you know that headstones have gone digital? We know there is only so much space on a traditional headstone in which we can let the world know what our family member’s life meant to us or the impact he or she made….
What better way to pass the time while your children climb on the Playland slide than surfing on an iPad that you don’t own? The McDonald’s restaurant chain is testing complimentary iPad use for dine-in customers in one of its Virginia Beach locations. I think it’s a great idea, and so do the customers. In…
I’m always excited to see programs and projects that spark an interest in science and technology in young children. Now there is a type of new doll house product line called the Roominate, aimed at getting young girls interested in science and technology. This particular doll house offer an inspiring way for girls to connect…
This week I’m announcing that the 2012 CoDev Asia Conference is coming to Shanghai, China on December 4 and 5, 2012! It’ll be a productive conference, and I’m looking forward to presenting on open innovation learning. CoDev Asia will bring together a faculty of leading experts and advanced practitioners prepared to share their experiences and…
Earlier this spring a group of us from my community in northeast Wisconsin gathered as many innovators as we could from local business organizations and corporations for THINC Innovation. The event was sponsored by Insight On Business Magazine, and I was part of the planning Committee for the Forum. I wanted to share the video…
To compete in today’s consumer world, consumer goods companies must link all modes of marketing, old and new, to make sure they are presenting the right information to the right shoppers all around the world. If you haven’t seen Consumer Goods Technology’s new digital issue, I encourage you to check out the proven New Marketing…
