News 02.10.2020

Need to Know

Fashionable smart glasses featuring Huawei tech, an STI app for open discourse about sexual health, and Golden Week boosts Chinese domestic air travel.

Gentle Monster and Huawei’s intuitive eyewear

Gentle Monster X HUAWEI Eyewear, China

South Korea and China – South Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster is launching a collaborative collection of smart glasses with technology brand Huawei.

The 12-piece collection takes a stylish approach to smart technology, delivering a means of communication and entertainment that is comfortable and convenient. With three styles of optical glasses and two types of sunglasses, the wirelessly chargeable frames connect to a smartphone or tablet using Bluetooth for music playback and voice calls.

The glasses feature subtly integrated technology in the arms and wearers simply double-tap the frames close to their temples to answer or hang up a phone call, to play or pause music or interact with an in-built voice assistant. Huawei’s AI voice noise reduction technology is also integrated to effectively reduce noise pollution from the surrounding environment as well as interference on calls.

Technology continues to tap into fashion as a way of bringing innovations to our everyday outfits. Combining functionality with a style-conscious approach is likely to ensure greater adoption of Automated Apparel.

Sustainable drinks packaging powered by mushrooms

Mushroom-based gift set by Seedlip, UK Mushroom-based gift set by Seedlip, UK
Mushroom-based gift set by Seedlip, UK Mushroom-based gift set by Seedlip, UK

UK – Non-alcoholic spirits brand Seedlip is pushing its sustainability credentials further with packaging that can grow plants.

Created for its Spice 94 spirit gift sets, the packaging is lightweight and home compostable, and made from biomass and mycelium – the root structure of mushrooms. Alongside a highball glass made from 100% recyclable glass, the gift set also includes tags made with seeded paper. Customers can plant these tags, which are infused with thyme seeds, inside the packaging as a form of novel at-home planter.

Seedlip's packaging, which can break down in compost bins in about 40 days, is designed to be better for the environment than traditional materials. Ben Branson, founder of Seedlip, explains: ‘We are committed to celebrating and protecting the natural world and our mushroom-based gift set progresses our support for sustainable packaging as well as championing nature’s ability to solve society’s challenges.’

Elsewhere in the drinks sector, Diageo’s paper whisky bottle provides an innovative glass alternative, while product designers are working to challenge unsustainable packaging practices through Material Far Futures.

This STI app promotes testing and status-sharing

iPlaySafe app, UK iPlaySafe app, UK

London – A new sexual health and wellness app, iPlaySafe, is designed to encourage users to test and share their STI status.

Recognising that STIs remain a global concern, despite being a preventable health issue, iPlaySafe aims to support its community of users by securely and regularly checking their sexual health.

On downloading the app, users will be able to order a one-off STI testing kit or sign up to a testing subscription service. The kits are securely delivered to users and digital test results can be accessed through the app. An option then becomes available for iPlaySafe users to share their verified healthy status if they wish.

Georgia Di Mattos, co-founder of iPlaySafe, says: ‘We should be celebrating sexual health as a vital part of our general health. To see a social change, we need to build the blocks for a change of behaviour first.’

By humanising the process of STI testing, the iPlaySafe app hopes to reposition outdated narratives and destigmatise sexual health. For more, explore our Sex Re-education microtrend.

Stat: Golden Week lifts China’s domestic travel

Chinese travellers are making the most of domestic trips for this year’s Golden Week, with the total number of internal flights set to reach more than 15m between 1 and 8 October.

This marks a 10% increase on last year, according to travel booking website Qunar. While many holidaymakers would normally use Golden Week for international travel, ongoing concerns about the pandemic are encouraging people to make the most of domestic travel – and take advantage of the discounts being offered for flights.

‘Ticket price is at a low level due to discounts amid over-supply,’ explains Lin Zhijie, an expert at the official Aviation Think Tank. ‘In previous years, it was full price, or at most, less than 20% discount.’

While Chinese travellers remain concerned about their safety amid Covid-19, many are taking up opportunities for staycations and rehabilitation travel.

Previous News Articles
AirCar readies for launch, ushering in an era of casual air mobility

News

AirCar readies for launch, ushering in an era of casual air mobility

Slovakia’s Klein Vision has announced that its AirCar – a road-legal vehicle that converts into a certified aircraft in under two minutes – will be...
Mobility : Air Travel : Transport
Foresight Friday: Seyi Oduwole, foresight analyst

News

Foresight Friday: Seyi Oduwole, 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, ...
Foresight Friday : Gen Z : Gen Beta
British Gen Alphas are listening to CDs and vinyl

News

British Gen Alphas are listening to CDs and vinyl

Nearly half of Generation Alpha are turning to physical music formats, according to new research from Key Production.
Gen Alpha : Music : Media
Social media star Kai Cenat launches Streamer University

News

Social media star Kai Cenat launches Streamer University

Twitch sensation Kai Cenat has launched Streamer University, a weekend-long experience for aspiring creators to collaborate, learn and produce cont...
Media : Entertainment : Education
De Beers to close its lab-grown diamond jewellery brand

News

De Beers to close its lab-grown diamond jewellery brand

De Beers Group has announced the closure of Lightbox, its lab-grown diamond jewellery brand, signalling a strategic retreat from the synthetic jewe...
Luxury : Sustainability : Jewellery
Financial mansplaining endures for a majority of British women

News

Financial mansplaining endures for a majority of British women

Gender bias in money matters is pushing British women out of financial conversations, according to new research commissioned by digital wealth mana...
Finance : Diversity : Inclusion
Avanade Intelligent Garden gives trees a voice at Chelsea Flower Show

News

Avanade Intelligent Garden gives trees a voice at Chelsea Flower Show

This year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show invites visitors to interact with AI-enabled trees in the Avanade Intelligent Garden.
Technology : Nature : Sustainability
ITV launches deaf-led drama with BSL and silent ad break

News

ITV launches deaf-led drama with BSL and silent ad break

ITV is pushing the boundaries of inclusive storytelling with the launch of its new prime time drama Code of Silence, starring BAFTA-winning actor a...
Media : Diversity : Inclusion
Stat: Boomerang generation return home due to cost of living crisis

News

Stat: Boomerang generation return home due to cost of living crisis

The rising cost of living and unaffordable housing are fuelling a surge in adult children returning to the family home.
Family : Home : Youth
Manchester City brings grassroots spirit to kit launch

News

Manchester City brings grassroots spirit to kit launch

Manchester City Football Club has marked the launch of its 2025/2026 home kit with a short film that playfully blends football fandom, nostalgia an...
Sports : Design : Creative
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