Studio optimises motion capture for every stage of production
Motion and performance capture experts The Imaginarium Studios take a story-led approach to technology. The studio has designed a pipeline that optimises the motion capture processes at every stage – pre-production, production and post-production. Using a custom marker set and retro-reflective body markers, the system of more than 50 optical motion capture cameras records actors…
Australian startup creates the first dumpling made from lab-grown kangaroo meat
Spotted: Australian startup Vow is taking clean-meat to the next level by offering a greater variety of lab-grown products such as dumplings and tacos. Vow aims to provide a greater variety of meat without killing animals or compromising limited resources. Currently, lab-grown meat is mostly limited to beef and more recently also chicken. Vow is…
New smart city challenge aims to improve mobility in city centers
Through the Smart Cities Challenge, cities compete to make intersections safer and more efficient. Top 5 tips for smart cities Tom Merritt lists five ways urban leaders can make sure their cities are smart and safe, according to an EastWest Institute report. More about IoT The Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G are not only…
A bracelet to kick bad habits
Spotted: Minnesota-based startup HabitAware has developed a smart bracelet that tracks body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRB). BFRB includes nail-biting, skin-picking, thumb-sucking and hair-pulling. Due to the high cost of therapy, treatment of BFRB is often exclusive to those that can afford it. The idea behind the creation of the bracelet, which is named Keen, was to…
Seoul to release a city-wide digital currency
Spotted: Seoul, South Korea, is preparing for the release of its new, city-wide digital currency. Named S-coin, the cryptocurrency is due to go live in November of this year. The launch is part of Mayor Park Won-soon’s five-year Blockchain Urban Plan running from 2018 to 2022. Fourteen public services will be among the first programmes…
Shanghai creates an interactive marketplace tailored to attract Generation Z shoppers
Spotted: Shanghai-based Xintiandi has turned two city blocks into an interactive marketplace. By doing so, Xintiandi Plaza aims to attract Generation Z-ers, the generation that is driving the demand for luxury brands in China. Xintiandi differs from other shopping centres because it strives to create connections, virtual and in person, the company says. For example,…
Algorithm reroutes school bus traffic to save time and money
Spotted: In the US, Boston provides weekday bus services to children attending more than 220 schools. Previously, teams of public school staff spent weeks putting together the routes serving the district’s 25,000 students. Now, an algorithm developed by a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) research team creates a master plan in under 30 minutes. The…
A toilet that diverts urine for fertiliser
Spotted: The European Ocean Observing System (EOOS), bathroom brand Laufen, and the Swiss water research institute (EAWAG) have collaborated to develop a toilet that diverts urine. By doing so, urine can be treated and used as fertiliser. The mechanism could also avoid pollution of the world’s rivers and oceans. The design involves a “urine trap”,…
Floating dairy farm promotes sustainable food cycle
Spotted: A small herd of dairy cows is currently residing off-land along the banks of the Nieuwe Maas, a distributary of the Rhine River. Their home is a waterborne vessel in Rotterdam, Holland, that cost roughly €24 million to create. The purpose of The Floating Farm is to promote a sustainable food cycle. The cows…
A sustainable, short-term rental platform
Spotted: Fairbnb is launching a platform for short-term rentals aimed at helping local communities. The platform plans to work with neighbourhoods to make short-term rentals sustainable. Like Airbnb, Fairbnb is a virtual meeting place for hosts and guests to connect. Unlike Airbnb, the cooperative says that it is focused on sustainable tourism rather than profit. …