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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

My recent blog — Online on the High Street — took a closer look at how bricks-and-mortar stores can adopt digital practices to entice footfall. From personalisation to social media activations to immersive, interactive experiences, there are a lot of avenues that traditional shops can trial. One such avenue is Augmented Reality (AR). ​ Once thought of as gimmicky, AR is fast becoming a go-to medium — enthralling customers and unlocking new levels of engagement in the process.

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

Trying to book an appointment at your local GP surgery is enough to bring anyone out in a cold sweat. That is, unless you enjoy spending your mornings listening to on-hold music or getting short shrift from disgruntled reception staff who clearly overslept on the day that customer service training was given. ​ Or you might be one of the lucky ones in the catchment areas of well-run surgeries who have adopted the latest technologies to streamline and simplify the end-to-end pa

With the sad demise of Thomas Cook, it’s clear to see how the challenges posed by these ever-changing times are fast becoming insurmountable. Online competition, comparison sites and uncertain political and social climates are all contributing factors. And it’s not just travel companies — from BHS to Toys “R” Us to Mothercare, the familiar facades of our local towns and cities are fading — and fast.    ​ All of which begs the question — should companies be doing things differ

The high street is dead — an emotive and unsettling headline that has found a home in newspapers (ironically, another traditional institution of yesteryear that is dying a slow, painful death) for several years now.   It’s a sorry state of affairs when store after store stand unoccupied with whitewashed windows and a “thanks for your custom but we’re out of here” note sellotaped to the door.  Our elders reflect on a time when independent butchers, bakers and candlestick-maker

A  recent study   by UK estate agents Savills discovered that homeowners move on average 1.8 times in their lifetime. Prior to 2008, the average was 3.6 times after buying a first property. With the uncertainty of Brexit and the sharp rise in house prices, it’s not hard to see why there has been a boom in people choosing to extend their existing homes to avoid the stress of moving. Thankfully I’m happily settled where I am. Packing up our family of four for a week’s holiday i

My enjoyment of driving can vary wildly depending on my reason for travel. A solo outing with no time constraints, no traffic and an AC/DC-packed playlist can be blissful. Towing a caravan during a heatwave on a Bank Holiday weekend with two disgruntled kids bickering on the backseat, not so much… ​ Like most things in life, optimal conditions are required for experiences to be pleasurable. A gourmet picnic with good friends can soon be ruined by a thunderstorm. Music concert

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

I’m someone who travels frequently for work. From adventures across the Atlantic to long-haul flights to China and beyond, it can feel like I spend most of my time in planes, trains and automobiles. And whilst I can appreciate nostalgia for the public transport of yesteryear — the golden age of steam locomotives and such — I relish every technological advancement that changes the way we travel.  A feeling of mild dread envelops me every time I see an older electric train trun

The rapid growth in the popularity of eSports perfectly demonstrates how a more connected world has not only changed how we interact with one another but how we entertain ourselves.  ​ For any child or gamer in the 90s, the preluding EA Sports “It’s in the Game” slogan was likely heard more times than “dinner’s ready”, “tidy your room” and “you’ll be late for school” combined. The no-nonsense tone of the voiceover reverberated around millions of bedrooms on both sides of the

It's a sad fact of life that many of the musical legends of our youth are no longer with us. Of those that remain, not all of them are willing or able to continue performing. But what of the fans still desperate for more?   That's where holograms come in... It’s hard to believe that it’s been a decade since Jennifer Saunders first donned the dowdy dungarees of Mamma Mia’s Donna Sheridan, AKA Meryl Streep, for Comic Relief. And lucky for the British populace, Saunders and co w

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

If, like me, you class the  Back to the Future trilogy as some of the finest storytelling to ever grace the silver screen, then you’ll know that the 21st October 2015 was a special date for many. It was the day that the 'future' became the present.   But now that present is the past, did we manage to live up to expectations? 21st October 2015 was the day that the 'future' became the present. When Doc, Marty and Jennifer pile in the DeLorean in 1985 and land in 2015; greeted