Need to Know
16 : 11 : 18

London – The digital platform allows writers and illustrators across the world to completely control the story.

The book, which will be called Birthland, A New World, uses Google Firebase software so that viewers can watch people contributing to the plot in real-time. While the act of writing a novel is often deemed to be an isolating experience, Boook.Land’s collaborative new approach could add an element of fun to the publishing industry.

The visual identity of the platform also references the format of a traditional book. ‘We talked a lot at the beginning about having a strong print and digital crossover aesthetic to reference the heavily-digital, non-traditional way we were creating a traditionally physical object,’ say the project’s creators. To coincide with National Novel Writing month, the 50,000 word story will be completed by the end of November, with no editing, and will be printed as physical and digital editions.

Creatives are questioning how books can be refashioned for a digital era. Last year, Editions at Play released an online publication that could only be read up to 100 times.

Denmark – Solve, a sustainable fashion brand, has launched a downloadable collection of handbags that consumers can create with pre-owned materials.

The S Bags collection is designed for anyone that has access to a laser cutter, such as those found at Fablab or Makerspace. Laser-cutting costs around £9 ($11, €10) and assembly times range from 10 to 20 minutes, making it a quick and affordable method of production. The digital-first collection includes the Curved S-bag, the Circular S-bag and the Block S-bag. Patterns for each design can be downloaded and made from a range of fabrics, such as cork leather and recycled polyester felt, which are both recommended by the brand.

According to Solve, the downloadable concept blends technology and design to provide consumers with access to quality fashion items, while promoting sustainable practices. Brands are beginning to explore digitising the process of making clothes and accessories. For more, subscribers can read how digital studios like Atacac are driving fashion’s open-source future.

London – Fitness fanatics will soon be able to burn 600 calories an hour at The Engine Room, a boutique rowing and personal training studio.

Unlike spin classes or treadmill workouts, rowing provides a full-body workout that can burn over 300 calories in just 30 minutes, utilising 85% of the body’s muscles, according to the British Rowing governing body. Due to the strenuous nature of rowing, visitors are advised to complete a ROW 101 induction before they participate in any classes, which helps to improve their technique and protect against injuries.

To provide visitors with data-backed results, The Engine Room offers body and fat testing, which they can then track during the course of their fitness journey via the brand’s app.

In contrast to typical gym classes, group rowing offers a more social experience, as individuals work together to row in sync. For more on how fitness classes are changing how we meet, mingle and workout, read our microtrend Social Wellness.

A new survey of US adults conducted by Pew Research Center shows that YouTube is playing a significant role in its users’ consumption habits and decision-making processes. Product reviews and recommendations on the site are increasingly helping visitors to decide whether or not to make purchases.

The findings also highlight YouTube’s role in helping users learn how to do things they have never done before, with 51% turning to the site to learn new things. According to Pew, this works out as 35% of all US adults, once both users and non-users of the site are accounted for. For more on the power of video to influence the buying process, see our Social Commerce market.