Architecture - New Station For London

Source - http://innovation.uk.msn.com/design/the-incredible-new-stations-transforming-rail-travel-in-london#image=1

With London forever changing and developing to cope with the high demands of 21st century life this is the latest concept for a new train station. This building it said to be laid out so that people can get around quicker and naviagte easier and combined with new high speed train lines is said to promise a very reliable and always on time service and guarantee. The overall aesthetics of the building certainly fit in to the London environment with the use of glass and wood wrapped around the old buildings not knokcing them down to give a new slash green look for the building as the metal is formed to look natural and as it its plant like by simply being draped or wrapped over the building. A good example of this is the "British Museum" and more specifically "Kings Cross Station" By John McAslan who really adopted this theme throughout his architecture work. Overall, I feel this specific style of building is really appealing and should be used by more companies and also it will be good to see how this is adapted in the advertising field in the forms of specific styles to replicate the feel and looks of the new buildings.

Cars - Nissan's New Concept Car

Source - http://3d-car-shows.com/tokyo-motor-show-nissan-concept-cars/

This is the latest in a long line of concept cars for nissan and the aesthetics of the car are and its overall style looks like an old fashioned car but with modern finishing methods and no doubt the latest technology under the bonnet. This growing trend of retro designed products is forever growing and becoming more and more popular. I feel this is because back when the products were invented the advertising wasn't as good then so it wasn't appreciated enough but now with all the cgi and digital software you can see the product in more detail and in a brighter colour making the product stand out and be more appealing. The car is also a lot different from anything else being made and has a completely new style to it which may or may not be a success but no matter what i feel this is a step in the right direction for nissan.

Technology - Google Airport Street View

Source - http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/google-adds-airports-google-street-view-waterloo/

This is the newest addition to Google Maps Street View and it allows people to actually go inside buildings which you previously couldn't and navigate around the building. This allows you to see all the information within the building and will benefit advertising because the images don't get updated that fast maybe every couple of months meaning older adverts will still be being show and possible prolong the life of your campaigns or even make people remember. It also has to consider privacy so the faces and any other detailed information such as phone numbers or boarding numbers will be blurred out to stop any misuse of the service. I feel this will aid peoples navigation when traveling as they can plan where to go and get a advanced look inside the station to see where to go toilet or get something to eat so overall, I feel it will work really well and we will start seeing it in more and more places.

Advertising - Dr Martins Clean Graffiti

Source - http://www.creativeguerrillamarketing.com/guerrilla-marketing/dr-martens-stand-clean-graffiti-ambient-campaign/

This is a really interesting technique that is becoming more and more popular the concept dates back years with various artists but its starting to be re introduced into the advertising scene. The process includes making a stencil and using a pressure washer to clean away specific area to create an image which can be as detailed as you look as it works exactly the same as it would do with spray paint. This is the main focus of this method which is to reduce the amount of painted graffiti and instead use this which would link into the theme of the environment and keeping places clean as this is kind of a form of recycling as it can be redone over and over again and not leave any harmful chemicals or stains behind. The main argument which is stopping graffiti artists using this is the fact they cant use the vibrant colours they now do and would have to rely on the colour of the surface they are pressure washing on well until some method is thought of.

I feel this is really good because as the images shows it can literally be done anywhere and this is one by Doctor Martins promoting their footwear and also providing information of where to find it for example websites and social media links. Also it is eye catching as the washed away area is always cleaner and brighter and the advantage of using pavements is most people watch where they are stepping so it will get noticed a lot. Finally, I feel this is a growing trend and has a lot of potential and is a new and different way of thinking about where and how to display information.

Technology & Innovation - British Airways Moving Billboards

This is a good example of how new technology can be used to create an interactive ad and these are not just anywhere they are being placed in specific locations so when the flight takes off the child walks and the information comes up along side it so you can see the plane in flight. I feel this is only possible through advancements in the internet allowing less delay between messages and using social media by adding hast tags such as "Look Up" which are short and catchy to advertise British Airway in such a positive way. Overall, I feel this ad looks aesthetically pleasing with the clean white background and the simply typography which doesn't distract you but at the same time grabs your attention and informs you in such a unique and modern way.

Sports & Technology - Nike+ Fuelband SE

Source - http://www.digitaltrends.com/fitness-apparel-reviews/nike-fuelband-se-review/#/3

With technology becoming more and more involved in peoples lives the sport industry specifically Nike have released a newer version of their famous Fuel band which athletes wear and it tracks all their information as data and structures it in a graphical way so the user can see what areas they are good at and what they need to work on. For example for a runner it will tell you your speed and heart rate so once you have this information it is up to the user how they interpret it and want to use it to best aid themselves.

The product itself looks aesthetically appealing as it uses LED's to show text in the brightest and clearest way and uses rubber so it doesn't gather dirt and is waterproof to cope with all weather conditions but overall comes in a variety of colours combinations what Nike are famous for so it can stand out by contrasting but also appeal to everyone from the young to the old and from males to females so everyone likes a different one and wants it.

Technology - Samsung's Futureproof Tv

                       

Source - http://www.digitaltrends.com/tv-reviews/samsung-un65f9000-review/

Televisions are the main piece of technology that are forever changing with competitors constantly trying to outdo one another by incorporating the latest technology in their products trying to make them stand out all with the goal of making the image look as life like as possible or even better by using HD and 3D combined.

This television is by Samsung and is claimed to be future proof this has been accomplished by them taking advantage of the newest technological advancements such as 4K which more and more television companies are adopting and it is a new resolution which uses brighter and bolder colours and depth which are far greater than even full 1080p hd making the picture looks clean and crisp. It also features an ultra thin design and comes in a wide range of sizes and goes as big as 70" which again shows how manufacturing has improved as a few years ago building this quality on this scale would have been considered impossible.

Overall, this will revolutionize broadcast media and hows people interact and view the television adverts. It will also allow the advertisers to use 3D elements in their ads and incorporate cgi and other special effects to create surreal environments and really bring an ad to life.

Innovation - Cyclist's New Safety Airbag

Source - http://innovation.uk.msn.com/personal/will-new-airbag-for-bike-riders-help-to-save-cyclists

The latest innovation in cycling technology is this cyclist airbag which has been designed to protect both cyclists and bikers as they are most vulnerable and statistically account for most of the road deaths on UK roads on a yearly basis. The product goes within a helmet and when expanded goes around the persons head protecting them like a car air bag which will reduce head traumas and deaths. I feel this product is a good idea and can be promoted more by advertisers including it in their campaigns such as the "think bike" ones which really grab your attention and shock you.

Architecture - Printing your own House !

                     

Source - http://innovation.uk.msn.com/design/the-3d-printer-that-can-build-a-house-in-24-hours

In previous posts I have wrote about 3D printing but this is a whole new type of concept on an industrial scale which is simply mind blowing. After a lot of testing a University in California has built a giant 3D printer that can print a full home in 24 hours this would change how people buy homes and the price of them. If this technology was to be realized and used in an everyday environment we would see a huge change property prices would plummet and houses could be built anywhere in 24 hours. This can be a positive and negative because homes would over time become worthless and everyone would be doing it but as a positive it would help people who cant afford homes or are limited in paying for building costs. Another use for this is to help people effected by storms and other natural disasters by replacing their homes with these allowing them to live and recovery a little easier until a new home is built or for them to stay in one of these ones the good thing is the polymer is 100% recyclable and extremely lightweight making it easier to transport and reducing the carbon footprint.

Technology - Christmas Lights

Source - http://news.uk.msn.com/in-pictures/christmas-lights-around-the-world-1#image=1

(Own photograph)

With the excitement for Christmas growing by the day for many people the decorations are already starting to be put up in cities, towns and homes around the UK. The reason this is relevant because none of these spectacular displays would be possible without huge advancements in technology allowing the decorations to become big, brighter and more colourful. The introduction of the LED was the main movement as LED's are now developed to consumer less energy and be superior in every way in comparison to the traditional light bulb. This will allow advertisers to create more eye catching signs and us richer colours making the advert more and more appealing.

Technology - Cockroach Backpack ?

 Source - http://news.uk.msn.com/trending-blog/cockroach-backpack-app-defended/

A new app has come to light recently only to be shot down because of its privacy issues and possible security threats. The app was designed to connect to a small electronic backpack fitted to a cockroach and it would let you know its location and also listen via the microphone that's built into the chip. This not only shows how bizarre some people ideas go but also the advancements in technology that allows us to manufacture components of a microscopic scale for many different uses. Overall, I feel the idea was a nice one but wouldn't really work in the world today as i'm sure a negative use would be found for it.

Business - Nissan Warns UK Over EU Exit

Source - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24859486

This post links to the previous posts about cars and how important they are to the countires economy and overall income. But one of the major car names might be leaving are streets if the UK goes ahead and decides to leave the EU this came from Nissan one of the leader car companies after hearing that the UK was weighing up their options if they left. If we were to leave the cars could still be brought but the would have to be imported which would be more costly and also would effect advertising because Nissan have some really nice adverts which wont be around because they wont need to advertise much in a country that doesn't sell their cars.

Cars - BMW's Electric Range

Source - http://www.bmw.co.uk/en/topics/discover-bmw/bmw-i/sustainability.html

The trend of the environment and saving the planet how ever we can isnt going anywhere and is forver growing so thats why many companies who originally wanted nothing to do with it or we thought would never do it are starting to adapt their products to fit this market and appeal to more people. One of the main companies that have done this recently is BMW which are well known for the luxury cars and scarily fast M series which is the sporty high end range of their cars. What they have done is develop a whole new aesthetic to the 2 new electric cars instead of upgrading an existing one and have made them look really futuristic and bold. This not only makes them stand out from the other cars it grabs people attention and draws interest in the car so the car is a form of advertising in itself. 

The key feature of all electric cars is colour and style they all focus around a blue colour scheme in some shape or form wether it being the car itself or the lights on the dash this is because its the colour of electricity and represents the function of the car well. Another way they do it is because having oddly shaped windows, doors and big wheels to give it a sci-fi aesthetic and fit everyone else's stereotype of what electric car should look like while also trying to keep the polished and professional look that BMW has built up over the years well until recently that is.

Overall, I feel this is a positive trend and has so much potential to influence not only adverts but the way we design things and look at everything in general including existing products to see how we can change/adapt them to make them better.

Photography - Worlds fastest mirrorless lens

Source - http://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/german-chinese-optics-partnership-results-worlds-fastest-mirrorless-camera-lens/

Germany is recognised worldwide for being at the forefront of engineering ever since the World Wars and has always come up with the craziest ideas and most successful vehicles known to man. This is one of their newest creations and its aimed at the photography market and is the fastest lens which doesn't use a mirrored lens this is an advantage because it captures clearer and more crisp image and text doesn't appear backwards or you don't appear the opposite way around on the screen its exactly how you see it. This is good because it allows the user to capture more and costs less to manufacture as it doesn't have to go through the mirroring process which most lens do which means it will enhance all camera not just professional ones but right down to the ones in our laptops and smartphones. Finally, the size is also important as it is extremely small which is the trend at the minute where everything is cut down and streamline making it easy to store and carry. It also captures high resolution images and compresses them to a small file size so you can have more photographs and store twice as many as conventional cameras. 

Technology - Robotic Arm

Source - http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/titan-arm-james-dyson-award/

With more and more soldiers going off fighting in Iraq and other places the risk of them getting injured or even killed is forever getting higher and higher. Therefore, the need for prosthetic limbs is becoming more in demand the peice of technology in the photo above is used on a soldier that hasn't lost him arm but was paralysed and it uses hydraulics to sensors the move and function his arm so he can at least do the basics things to get around. While this works its only a concept at the minute but shows promise by winning the Dyson Award for the design of the product if this comes in manufacture it will change many life's effected by war injuries and change how people see and use technology.

Innovation - Britians New Driverless Cars

Source - http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/driverless-cars-coming-to-uk-town/

This concept has been coming and going for some time now and it is the concept to design a range of cars that are hired out solely for getting around the town and commuting. The image shows the latest concept where you can order the cars via your smartphone and control everything via and app hence no need for keys which could get lost. The vehicles are currently called Pods and no matter what will be really small and basic vehicles that seat a single person and do their job of getting them to work. The aesthetic will be modern and stylish but remain really simply in terms of interior and the build quality of the product. This example reminds me of the new Renault Twizy which is a small vehicle not looking to dissimilar to this which was designed to hold less people tale up less space and produce fewer emissions.  I feel this idea has many negative points such as what if there a accident or if one doesn't turn up for any reason causing you to be late but the positive points are it would revolutionise public transport if its well thought out and works and would start many news advertising campaigns in order to promote them successfully.

Technology - First 3D Printed Metal Gun

Source - http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/worlds-first-3-d-printed-metal-gun/

Fears of the 3D printing technology being used to create weapons finally come true today on a whole new level plastic weapons have been seized in the past but now fully metals guns can be printed along with unlimited amounts of ammunition and various other attachments. This will effect the market of 3D printing hugely because it may make the government take a second look at the technology and in force some sort of restriction or license on then to say who can use them and what materials they may use. Obviously they wont fully be stopped because they are already out there but some measures should be taken to make sure they are used in a professional and suitable manor.

Travel & Technology - Cruise ships of the future

Source - http://innovation.uk.msn.com/personal/sea-monsters-amazing-cruise-ships-of-the-future#image=1

With peoples lifestyles getting busier and busier the need for people to travel is forever growing. This is the main reason behind the concepts for these new cruise ships that are being built on a gigantic scale which years ago wouldn't have been possible without recent developments in technology and the new approach to how engineers see and build new constructions. These specific ships are being built so people can holiday on them for longer periods of time with them being able to store more fuel and food so it doesn't have to keep stopping. I feel this is a positive trend as it making the most of new materials and methods of manufacture but overall wont work that well because of the how economic these ships are and the amount of fuel and pollution they create making it a big contributor to the greenhouse problem but with a few changes it could be great.

Cars - The never ending possibilities

             Source - http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/bugatti-veyron-legend-meo-constantini/

This is the new Bugatti Veyron and its it one of the most expensive new cars in the world i say new cars because some of the classics sell more millions in todays market again linking to the appeal for retro styling and being an individual or owning a one of kind that not many people have. But back to the Bugatti this car costs £5 million to make and is sold for £1 million so straight away thats a huge loss. Therefore this could only appeal to the rich and even though they have been selling even a company like this who is owned by Volkswagen have fallen into the trend of adding a range and versions to their cars in different colours and one off styles in an attempt to boost their market income and keep the customers interested.

I quicky mocked this images up in photoshop to show all the major car companies that use this growing trend in their average vechicles that get used daily by average people that cant really afford a Bugatti. The purpose of the is to attract the customer so they can choose what they want making it more personal and appealing to them. The Fiat 500 is a good example of this because its a car purely built to fit a specific style and to appeal to a quite specific range of people and it does this by targeting women by adding cool features and catchy phrases throughout their advertisements and including retro aesthetics to target the older audience that might remember the original. Overall, this is a positive way to market a car but i feel it will soon die out if too many companies start to do it and a new technique will have to be found.

Technology - Worlds loudest Hand held Speaker

Source - http://www.digitaltrends.com/wireless-speaker-reviews/carbon-audio-pocket-speaker-review/

This is currently one of if not thee loudest portable speaker that you can buy and it uses a combination of new technology to enhance the audio and deliver and clean crisp sound with the added bass which you don't get from many of the smaller speakers. This links into the previous post I wrote about the Noise cancellation device and this speaker combined with that would truly change the feel of an advert and influence the user more purely from the sound difference because if an ad is clearer to hear its easier to understand and if the quality is better it wont only reflect well on the product or company it will encourage the audience to seek this experience again therefore they will purchase your products and that will intern build your clients up and start a reputation which finally starts the trending process and the development of your future products.

Cars - Digital Dashes

Source - http://cars.uk.msn.com/features/the-weirdest-car-dashboard-displays-ever#image=10

This shows a growing trend and how technology is being incorporated into the everything even cars this image shows the interior of the American Tesla which is one of the first major electric super cars. I feel this could influence advertising greatly because the user will be able to see digital adverts on the screen as well as when we looks out of his window for example if you go through a drive through in one of these in the future if they become popular enough an ad cold wirelessly be displayed on your screen even allowing more user interaction with the interface and actually allowing you to process your order or check stock levels. This is a super car so we expect it to be aesthetically quite crazy even for an electric one which are stereotypically seen as large bulky slow vehicles that no one wants but the fact is these digital displays are started to over take the original analog displays and are being put into more and more new cars on a daily basis. 

Finance - Super Bowl Worth $4 Million !

                  

Source - http://www.forbes.com/sites/darrenheitner/2013/01/29/is-it-worth-spending-4-million-on-a-super-bowl-commercial/

The super bowl is huge in the US and not only for the fan for the potential air time slots it offers to businesses for them to advertise their products or company. The slot is only for 30 seconds and is being estimated at $4 million and with the CEO saying once the companies start bidding the winner will have the approved slot within 5 minutes because they have said they know what Ad they want to help promote and raise awareness of the best possible thing as their has been some complaints because its been the same type of adverts for so long with cars and fast food and drinks being the main focus. 

This is one of the main changes and I feel this is a growing trend and shows how important and powerful adverts can be and how much they mean to specific people and with the correct backing and location along with a long enough time slot can turn the worst of ads into a successful trending product and it will become an well known established brand within one night. The company after noticing this success has suggested they will be offering these advertising slots throughout the year. On the other hand some people have said its a waste of money because at the break when the main most expensive adverts are played people are always doing something such as going to the toilet or getting food so a lot of them don't get noticed questioning their effectiveness.
So overall, I feel its a positive thing for advertisers and a good bench mark for your career but like anything has negative and positive views.

Advertising - Microsoft's Ambient Xbox

             

source - http://www.theverge.com/2013/11/1/5053944/microsoft-giant-xbox-one-zombie-promotion-vancouver-video

This is a piece of ambient advertising from Microsoft and its featured their latest console the Xbox one which was shortly after they did a similar campaign in London to promote the new Surface 2 Tablet. This method of advertising is really effective because it isnt seen that often and really catches the public's eye and engages which them, as they are able to walk up to it and physically interact with it in most cases. At first it was clear what it was for but the whole placement and the aesthetic at first glance looked suspicious and it was intended to look that way because it was a surprise event from Microsoft to promote the new Xbox game Dead rising 3 which will be released on the launch of the new console on the 22nd of November this year. The public got to test the game and get dressed up like a zombie with costumes and make up to honor the style and theme of the game this is a really popular trend and Xbox carry this style and theme throughout a range of their games by networking over social media sites and creating custom sites which interact with you on a more personal level and give you a greater sense of achievement from taking part and playing their games. So overall, I feel this is a positive way to promote any kind of product and the possibilities of what can be done is endless.

Technology & Innovation - No need for changing

            

source - http://innovation.uk.msn.com/tomorrow/amazing-modular-plane-will-transform-rail-and-air-travel

This is another article that relates to the previous one and is to do with air travel and this concept is said to illuminate the need for people to change from different modes of transport when travels you simple board the shuttle that's in the form of a train on a special track then along with several others from different parts of the country arrives at the air port where its locked onto a plane that carries them and your on your way without leaving the train and it would work the same when you arrive you don't leave until the train arrives at the nearest location to where you are staying. I feel this could change the whole travel experience and would change the whole way companies advertise on airlines because they would have to compete for the best position as the middle one is clearly visible and also would have to be created on a much larger scale.

Architecture - Floating homes of the future

                  

Source - http://innovation.uk.msn.com/tomorrow/are-these-our-floating-homes-of-the-future

With land space getting smaller and smaller and prices getting higher and higher a new form of accommodation a living needs to be built. This is the latest concept of how it could be done and the concept is to have man made islands just off the coast that will hold buildings for people to live on and the idea is that more and more will be added slowly expanding the countries. This idea is becoming more and more realistic and easier to believe with the oil industry soaring and Dubai becoming one of the fastest developing and richest countries buildings like this are already being build and man made islands already exist. This will change the whole way people look at travel and advertisements when they travel because the modern aesthetic is becoming more and more appealing and the trend of combining concrete and green plants and trees to make it more economical and look more natural and organic as appose to the stereotypical concrete cities.