Need to Know
01 : 08 : 18

US – After initially launching with a selection of supplements designed to prevent hangovers, Flyby has launched Flyby Fuel, a hangover aid in the form of a liquid.

By adding a few drops to a glass of water, the concentrated formula can help to alleviate the physical symptoms of heavy alcohol consumption. By replacing the essential electrolytes lost when drinking, it helps to re-hydrate and re-energise.

Flyby was inspired by founder Eddie Huai’s own experience in Japan, where heavy nights of drinking were soothed by the ingestion of Japanese hangover cures – vitamin-rich, detoxifying compounds. After experiencing similar nights of drinking in the US, Huai found there was little to help cure his hangover. He worked with researchers and scientists to develop a formula that would boost liver enzymes so the body could process alcohol and acetaldehyde, a toxic by-product that builds up after drinking.

Explore how drinks brands are entering the hangover cure sector with our microtrend.

London – At this year’s London Design Festival, the Design Museum will host Mind Pilot, a robotic airship that can be controlled using the mind.

Visitors will be connected to a headset through a series of monitoring devices that detect heart rate and brain movements. The activity will control the robotics of the airship, allowing it to move around the space. The installation is the brainchild of Loop.pH, a London-based studio that is best known for its work exploring near and far future scenarios involving biology and technology.

Mind Pilot hints at a future of brain-computer interfaces, where thought control may serve as a powerful tool in physical situations. Our most recent listicle explores a near future in which mind control becomes a human’s main means of interacting with the digital world. Read the full listicle here.

London – The digital healthcare platform, which focuses on reducing back pain, has developed an AI-powered app that uses motion tracking technology to help people get fit.

Launching with The Perfect Squat Challenge, a virtual personal trainer will guide users to the ideal position and pose for squat reps. Users are directed in front of their smart device, which uses the camera to identify 16 key points on their body. The device will analyse the current position of the user’s limbs and joints, guiding them into the desired pose through real-time audio feedback and video instructions.

At CES 2018, Peloton also considered how at-home fitness could be transformed with the introduction of a coaching treadmill. The equipment features a subscription platform and 32-inch screen that streams live workouts, supported by an instructor that’s able to follow a user's metrics in real-time to coach them in the moment.

While society is comfortably embracing a Flat-age mind set, marketers are finding it challenging to address older consumers without conforming to stereotypes. According to a recent report by Mintel, this is particularly evident within the health foods sector.

With some of the highest proportions of elderly citizens, Asian countries such as Japan and China are leading the way with senior-friendly food packaging. Brands are ensuring the ‘senior’ messaging is easily understood by clearly stating any preventative health and positive lifestyle aspects on food packaging, while simultaneously communicating a positive attitude towards ageing through branding and visual cues.