Schneider Electric: First industrial smart factory in the US opens in Lexington, KY
TechRepublic visited Schneider Electric to learn how the first US smart factory is using automation to improve operational efficiencies. Schneider Electric: First industrial smart factory in the US opens in Lexington, KY TechRepublic visited Schneider Electric to learn how the first US smart factory is using automation to improve operational efficiencies. Operating for more than…
An AI chatbot stylist can ‘complete the look’
Spotted: “Styled by AI” isn’t yet a commonly used term, although that may be about to change. London-based Intelistyle’s artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot stylist works with both retailers and customers. For retailers, the algorithm can “complete the look” by generating multiple outfits based around a single product and can recommend appropriate alternatives for out-of-stock items.…
Abandoned airport terminal becomes luxury NYC hotel
Spotted: Overlooking one of JFK International Airport’s busiest runways, the new TWA Hotel’s 512 rooms have floor-to-ceiling glass windows. They are the second thickest glass panels in the world and are designed specifically to cancel noise. The hotel provides a heated rooftop pool, observation deck, six restaurants and luxury shopping, including a vintage-style TWA lifestyle…
Virtual influencer has very real impact on fashion industry
Spotted: Munich-based designer and creative director Joerg Zuber is the human behind one of the internet’s most influential virtual personas: Noonoouri. The digital persona has become a major player in the fashion world, closing in on 300,000 Instagram followers and having already worked with major brands like Dior, Versace and Swarovski. Noonoouri is said to…
Who Put Chocolate in my Peanut Butter?
In his book, Choose Yourself, James Altucher turned me on to the concept of “idea sex.” Mash two things together. Get your ideas mingling with other people’s ideas. Little column A, little column B. That kind of thing. You get it, right? Just whatever you think it means, that’s what it means. But I think…
Platform uses AI to measure influencer campaign ROI
Spotted: Israeli marketing platform Klear has developed a way to measure the return of investment (ROI) for brands running influencer campaigns. Using a deep-learning algorithm, the company can automatically monitor an influencer marketing campaign’s success. Klear’s campaign analysis includes the calculation of a “content earned media value” (EMV) for each social platform being used. It…
Airless tires promise waste reduction and better safety
Spotted: French tire manufacturer Michelin is working on a new type of airless tires. The Unique Puncture-proof Tire System prototype (Uptis prototype) is a “new generation of tire”, according to the company. The Uptis prototype is a joint project with US-based General Motors. Made with a mix of composite rubber and resin embedded fibreglass, the…
Beauty company turns social followers into brand ambassadors
Spotted: American beauty brand Glossier has harnessed the power of user-generated content as part of a successful social media marketing strategy. By reposting images, videos and product takes from their social media followers and offering other incentives like free product giveaways to brand loyalists, it has created an army of what are known as “Glossier…
SaaS platform merges co-browsing with chatbots
Spotted: Austrian customer engagement company Chatvisor has developed a platform that adds co-browsing to the chatbot experience. Chatvisor’s platform does not require customers or agents to download any additional software. With one click, the customer can share its web session with support employees, who can then provide targeted assistance, and even control the customer’s mouse. …
Low-cost, featherweight toothbrush makes oral health accessible
By reducing the final weight of the product by more than seven grams, the UK’s globally recognised product design and development company DCA Design International created a toothbrush that sells for approximately 30 pence. Designed specifically for consumers in India, DCA developed the toothbrush for GSK’s Sensodyne brand. The goal of the project was to…