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I recently wrote a blog about the new technology of 2020, determining if the latest offerings to the gadgetry market were genuinely useful and worth the price tag (AKA “good”) or gimmicky and over-priced (“fad”).  One such gadget is Ring’s Always Home Cam security drone. Gadget Flow — whose “Best of Futuristic Tech” shortlist I assessed — are seemingly big fans of the concept: “What’s better than a home security camera that stays put? The Ring Always Home Cam security drone

If you’ve ever watched a documentary about how guide dogs are trained, you’ll know it’s the doggy equivalent of joining the Marines but with plenty of belly rubs, treats and “who’s a good boy...” Potential guide dogs undergo a temperament assessment before joining a 20-week STEP training programme (Standardised Training for Excellent Partnerships). Using positive reinforcement techniques, the dogs are taught to ignore distractions and avoid obstacles, all the while developing

A very fishy trend has surfaced since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic: a surge in webcam usage.  It’s no surprise that webcam usage went through the roof as employees around the globe settled into their new working-from-home routines, but this is something quite different. The views in question were for live streams from Monterey Bay Aquarium, California. Since the aquarium closed to the public in March, visits to its website have tripled year-on-year. With ten webcams to

Since lockdown began, the prospect of drone delivery from Amazon has gone from a wacky pie-in-the-sky idea to a genius innovation. What better way to offer contactless delivery to the masses during a pandemic than by utilising an army of flying robots to do the deed? It’s amazing how quickly perceptions can change. Amazon wouldn’t be “taking over the world” — it’d be saving it.  ​ As with all futuristic out-of-the-box ideas, however, some land better than others.  Take  Key  

Can you remember a time in recent years when you left home without your smartphone? No? Me neither… Over time, that small device has become as essential to us as clothes, cards and keys. It’s hard to fathom now how we ever survived without one. It has become indispensable.  To understand our ever-increasing reliance on smartphones (iPhones, in particular), is to consider their evolution over the past 13 years...  The original iPhone launched in 2007. It was the year that Gord

I’m sure every human being is suffering from stress and anxiety right now to varying degrees. In this current climate of uncertainty, sleep may be the last thing on our minds but it remains as important as ever.   Spending three or four hours tossing and turning does not constitute a proper rest, and our body will be more than happy to remind us of that at the most inconvenient times.  Struggling to focus, lack of motivation, physical fatigue… these are all classic symptoms o

For months we've been in the depths of a cold, wet and windy winter, and my trusty robot lawnmower has been in hibernation. Gone, but not forgotten. My once lovely lawn is languishing, as I expect most are at this time of year. In years gone by I despaired at the state of it — unkempt grass, waterlogged earth, frostbitten foliage — but now I can rest easy, safe in the knowledge that come spring my marvellous mulching machine will bring it back to life. ​ So, what is a robot l

Ever fancied seeing yourself on the silver screen? Think you’re the movie star that the world didn’t know they needed? No? Me neither. But the notion that one day any Joe Bloggs could feature centre stage in a film is an intriguing one.    So, what would it take for virtual movies to become a reality? Within ( www.with.in ) was founded in 2014 with an aim of expanding the potential of immersive storytelling via premium augmented reality and virtual reality experiences across

Peloton have certainly made a name for themselves in the seven years since they launched as an exercise equipment brand in New York City — and not just for lambasted ‘Peloton lady’  ad   that went viral in December for all the wrong reasons. Hailed as the  future   of tech fitness, the company is now believed to be worth billions. Their core offering is a luxury stationary bicycle that allows users to stream spinning classes through a monthly subscription.  Unsurprisingly, th

Disney is famed for its imagination, and way back in the 1990s they were toying with the idea of augmented reality (AR). A year after the commercial success of  Honey, I Shrunk the Kids  — the movie where Ghostbusters alumni Rick Moranis portrays a hapless inventor who quite literally reduces his children to a quarter of an inch in size — Walt Disney World Resort introduced Honey, I Shrunk the Audience; a 4D spin-off that used tactics including hidden water sprays and leg ti

Just fifteen years ago, the average user rarely encountered language technology — now anyone with web access can use it. When you command Alexa to turn the lights on, ask Google what year your favourite movie was released or dictate a text message while you’re cooking dinner — all of these modern touches utilise human language technology.  ​ With over a quarter of UK homes now owning a smart device — not to mention the powerful computers we carry around in our pockets all day

Whilst my meeting-packed week often prevents me from watching as many new movies as I’d like to, there are a few greats that are etched in my memory. Most of which are fun, fantastical and futuristic affairs centered around technology (I’m looking at you  Back to the Future …) ​ And with my recent blog delving into the implications of Spike Jonze’s  Her and the announcement of the fourth Matrix instalment, what better time to explore the technological triumphs from other ga

If you’ve seen Spike Jonze’s 2013 film, Her, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson, the prospect of forming an intimate and meaningful relationship with artificial intelligence might not seem too far-fetched...  ​ For in the not-too-distant future, we find our protagonist — a lonely, depressed and introverted individual named Theodore Twombly (played by Phoenix) — seeking solace from a female-voiced virtual assistant to numb the pain of his impending divorce. Samant

I like to imagine some bright spark product designer at Philips having their light-bulb moment to develop the Hue range…   “ It’s like a normal light bulb. But smart. And colourful …” would have been the pitch. “ What’s the point in that?!” would have been the response.    Because it’s another cool gadget, of course!  For many households, the purchase of a voice-controlled device such as Amazon’s Echo or Google Home is their first foray into “smart home” territory, and the a

Some techy terminology is inherently intriguing. The World Wide Web, for instance. Or quantum computing, blockchain, artificial intelligence… These terms serve to pique your interest and desire to find out more. They sound exciting and futuristic, perhaps evoking memories of sci-fi novels and movies. But the 'Internet of Things'? What’s that about?!  It sounds like something you say when you’ve forgotten the right words. What is the definition of a 'thing' and why do they nee

It’s stating the obvious to say technology has forever changed the way we interact. From telegrams to emails to FaceTime, innovations in the communications sphere have consistently strived to simplify and streamline the process of keeping in touch and up-to-date.   Whilst I am guilty of spending many an idle moment marvelling at this rapid and radical progress, for me it pales into insignificance compared with the great strides made within the realms of healthcare. The Apple

Surely it’s only a matter of time before “knock, knock” jokes become a thing of the past? Video doorbells such as Ring and Nest Hello are certainly playing a big part in their demise. After all, there’s something fundamentally unfunny about questioning “who’s there?” when you can quite clearly see for yourself on your smartphone screen from anywhere with a decent Wi-Fi or 4G connection.  It’s surprising that the widespread adoption of video doorbells didn’t catch on earlier.

Are speed, ease and convenience worth sacrificing enjoyable human experiences for? When it comes to my morning dose of caffeine, I'm not convinced... ​ As alluded to in previous blogs, I’m a steadfast fan of automation when it can enrich or improve lives through increased convenience, efficiency or value. There are instances of products already on the market — read ' smart toasters' — where I don’t feel these fundamentals have been met. There’s an art to “smart” and not ever

I can’t be the only one who senses a dumbing down of society. Perhaps it’s the mindless scrolling through social media apps, the binge-watching of television serials or choosing to have Prime Now deliver that last-minute anniversary gift that you forgot to plan for whilst partaking in the former activities? ​ It is perhaps unsurprising then, that the concurrent rise in the use of the prefix 'smart' presents something of a contradiction.  Smart phones, smart TVs, smart watches

For a tech-obsessive such as myself, smart home devices unlock new levels of excitement — not least, the anticipation of what might be coming next. ​ For the most part, the devices that exist already are common sense solutions to everyday qualms. For instance, a video doorbell allows you to see who is at the door, even from the other side of the world. It offers a heightened sense of safety, which feels like the next logical step from a security camera and alarm system. The s