Need to Know   01 : 06 : 18
The Moment trailer by AlbinoMosquito, UK

Need to Know
01 : 06 : 18

The MOMENT is an interactive film responding to brain activity, Equinox wants to train gym-goers to sleep better, Sephora launches free beauty classes for the transgender community.

1. A film you control with your mind 2. Equinox aims to improve sleep with personal coaching 3. Sephora offers transgender beauty advice 4. humble warrior bottles adaptogens 5. Lessons to be learned from innovation failures Thought-starter: Should we let kids play with Alexa?

1. A film you control with your mind

Nottingham, UK – Richard Ramchurn, a computer science PhD candidate at the University of Nottingham, has developed an interactive film, The MOMENT, that adapts its storyline depending on the viewer’s subconscious responses.

Billed as a ‘brain-controlled movie’, the 27-minute feature ‘explores a dark future where brain-computer interfaces are the norm’. Sensors that record electrical brain activity are attached to the viewer's head to track his or her level of attention. As attention drops, signals are sent to a system that switches the scene. With six possible combinations of each scene, the full film has more than 101 trillion combinations for each viewing.

The interactive film hints at a future of media, where neuro-experiences – those that look to expand consumer cognition and perception through triggering neurological responses – could offer an extreme form of personalised entertainment. For more, read the Experience 2020 report.

2. Equinox aims to improve sleep with personal coaching

Tier X by Equinox Tier X by Equinox
Tier X by Equinox Tier X by Equinox

Global – Fitness brand Equinox is introducing dedicated sleep coaching sessions to 22 club locations across the US and the UK as part of its Tier X Personal Training Offering.

Based on extensive research led by David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, the brand discovered the correlation between sleep coaching and performance benefits, including increased aerobic performance, a decrease in body fat and increased endurance. Equinox aims to deliver on its holistic approach to wellness, where sleep is increasingly considered as one of the three pillars of health.

‘Sleep has been the missing part of the health and wellness conversation for decades and we’re proud to shed light on a topic that many people can benefit from,’ says Jennifer Martin, professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA and member of the Equinox Health Advisory Board.

3. Sephora offers transgender beauty advice

US – In 2016, the US-based beauty retailer launched free in-store classes for those facing major life transitions. Originally targeted at people rejoining the workforce or recovering from cancer, the initiative is now encouraging transgender and non-binary communities to participate with its new Bold Beauty for the Transgender Community workshop.

Hosted by Sephora’s own transgender employees in 150 locations, the class will now aim to help those struggling with issues such as body dysmorphia.

Customers will experience different make-up techniques as well as personal advice on skincare and products suited to their needs. The existing classes saw more than 8,500 attendees with 83% reporting improved confidence. For those who are unable to reach a Sephora store, the brand is also dedicating specific tutorials to the transgender community on its YouTube channel.

For more on how beauty brands are adapting to the changing consumer landscape, see our Inclusive Beauty market.

Sephora transgender beauty classes, US

4. humble warrior bottles adaptogens

Humble Warrior, UK
Humble Warrior, UK
Humble Warrior, UK
Humble Warrior, UK

London – The newly launched drink contains stress-fighting plants, known as adaptogens, that have become popular among the wellness community in recent years as a means to combat a hectic lifestyle. While adaptogens are often found in powdered form, and can be added to food and drink, humble warrior is the first ready-to-drink (RTD) offering in the UK market.

The line was inspired by founder Rosh Amarasekara’s background in Sri Lanka, where the ancient practice of Ayurveda and eastern plant-based wisdom are a traditional part of a healthy lifestyle. With increased interest in self-optimisation in the West, Amarasekara saw a gap in the market for an easy-to-consume RTD product. ‘The world is changing fast. The incredible benefits of plants, which have been used for centuries in the east, are now being recognised in the West as a huge part of a healthy lifestyle,’ she says. ‘Eastern wisdom, from Ayurveda to Chinese medicine, underpins so much of the plant-based eating and drinking we are now seeing take centre stage.’

Available in four flavours, each drink is Soil Association-certified organic, vegan and gluten-free. The Lunar Nectar flavour contains reishi, cacao and chamomile, while Tiger Spring has hints of ginseng, turmeric and cinnamon, and Divine Oasis offers the adaptogenic mix of tulsi, matcha and ginger.

5. Lessons to be learned from innovation failures

A recent analysis of innovation failure by Nielsen, discovered that a satisfactory product experience is key in driving repeat purchases and long-term success. Between the trial purchase and the first repeat purchase, a brand will lose about half of its buyers. Following this, from the first repeat purchase to the second, the brand will again lose half of the remaining buyers.

With the pace of innovation constantly increasing, brands must consider a more human-centric approach to business in order to harness customer retention.

Thought-starter: Should we let kids play with Alexa?

A year after we published our macrotrend Neo-kinship, the report writer Peter Maxwell wonders whether we are moving to a future of AI-nannies.

At The Future Laboratory we spent the first few months of 2017 thinking about the potential repercussions for the current generation of children growing up in homes with AI-powered assistants. The market for such conversational companions was just reaching its stride, and it was plausible to speculate that, when today’s current crop of pre-school children reach adulthood, they might reminisce about the competing merits of aunt Alexa or uncle Google.

It was already apparent that their parents might not remember these early days of domesticated AI so fondly, however. ‘Because Alexa tolerates poor manners… cognitively I’m not sure a kid gets why you can boss Alexa around but not a person,’ says Hunter Walk, a San Francisco venture capitalist and sceptical parent. It became clear that brands operating in this space would have to adapt their strategies if they were to gain parents’ confidence.

A year later, and Amazon has released Echo Dot Kids edition aimed at family householders. As well as a range of entertainment for children, the device also targets usage and behaviour by encouraging children to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ when making a request, and let parents set limits on individual children’s usage. Is this a sensible approach? Or a gadget destined for failure?

Read the full opinion here.

Amazon Echo Dot Kids
Discover More News
SXSW London 2025: Designing with empathy and reimagining Time magazine’s legacy

News

SXSW London 2025: Designing with empathy and reimagining Time magazine’s legacy

On day three of SXSW London, the design track spotlighted the future of design in an AI-driven world, with speakers urging designers to focus on wh...
Design : Technology : Media
Foresight Friday: Rose Coffey, senior foresight analyst

News

Foresight Friday: Rose Coffey, senior foresight analyst

Every Friday, The Future Laboratory team offers an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, ...
Fashion : Retail : Advertising
Stat: UK shopping centres lag in EV charging infrastructure

News

Stat: UK shopping centres lag in EV charging infrastructure

A new study by Zenith, a UK leasing and fleet management firm, reveals that 20% of the country’s shopping centres lack any electric vehicle (EV) ch...
Electric Vehicles : EV : Charging Points
SXSW London 2025: The Store of 2050 and Minecraft’s chicken jockey opportunity

News

SXSW London 2025: The Store of 2050 and Minecraft’s chicken jockey opportunity

On day two of SXSW London, the panel Retail Remix: The Store of 2050 brought together executives from Co-op, Mondelez International and creative ag...
Pop Culture & Media : Technology : Branding
Nike and Lego team up on creative play experiences and products

News

Nike and Lego team up on creative play experiences and products

Nike and the Lego Group have launched a global partnership to inspire kids through active and creative play, combining sport and imagination.
Technology : Nike : Lego
Stat: Consumers globally are buying clothes they never wear

News

Stat: Consumers globally are buying clothes they never wear

According to Statista Consumer Insights, a notable number of shoppers admit to buying clothes they never wear – a wasteful habit most common among ...
Fashion : Retail : Sustainability
SXSW London 2025: Biological age, AI-powered abundance and Substack’s in-person future

News

SXSW London 2025: Biological age, AI-powered abundance and Substack’s in-person future

The first edition of SXSW in London brought hundreds of visitors to Shoreditch for a mix of music, film, experiential workshops and forward-thinkin...
Pop Culture & Media : Global Events : Wellness
QuiteLike unveils rebranding to inspire joyful home cooking

News

QuiteLike unveils rebranding to inspire joyful home cooking

Meal kit brand QuiteLike has unveiled a striking rebranding designed to elevate dinnertime beyond mere convenience.
Food And Drink : Advertising & Branding : Design
Stat: US teen beauty spending soars to record high fuelled by fragrance boom

News

Stat: US teen beauty spending soars to record high fuelled by fragrance boom

Teen beauty spending in the US has surged to record levels, according to Piper Sandler’s latest Taking Stock With Teens report.
Beauty : Gen Alpha : Gen Alpha Consumers
Oura flips the script on ageing in new Give Us the Finger campaign

News

Oura flips the script on ageing in new Give Us the Finger campaign

Oura is challenging cultural norms around ageing with its latest brand campaign, Give Us the Finger.
Health And Wellness : Longevity Lifestyles : Technology
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN