One World (65)
Swap box
Neighbourhood swapping pop-up ‘shops’ have made a recent appearance in Germany. Anybody can leave or take objects in good condition left by the previous owners in these spaces called ‘give boxes’. Users can also leave their acknowledgements in a diary that tracks the transactions.
Why it matters
In a time when most things can be ‘ebay-ed’ and monetized, people are seeking out ways to swap goods and do good on a very local level. By encouraging exchanges via the give box, the project turns out to be a sustainable project too. If brands would talk less about sustainability and do more about it – maybe they could start sponsoring such spaces and show they are getting involved in a credible way?
The world's first solo marathon
On November 26th 2011, Sony Ericsson created the world's first solo marathon. Participants had to run at the same time, anywhere in the world, alone or with friends. All the runners needed to do was download the bespoke app, register on the brand’s website and send the results to the website after the race. Sony Ericsson offered places for the NYC marathon and Xperia phones for the fastest runners.
Why it matters
This operation is an innovative way for Sony Ericsson to test if sport represents a good opportunity within the smartphone market. Since the brand doesn’t claim any sports positioning on its Xperia range, the risk for the brand is not very high. It is also a good way to test the possibility of creating a sports community. What initiative could you launch to test your market while keeping a coherent brand image?
Spotlight on dangers
German scientists have developed an anti-crash system, which is able to detect humans or animals on the roadside. If potential dangers are detected, it quickly marks the object with a light spot to get the driver‘s attention.
Why it matters
Undoubtedly this invention is a valuable step to make the streets safer - for both car drivers and pedestrians, cyclists and wild animals. However, the underlying technology has potential for more: if it is able to detect humans, could it eventually also spot products or posters? What else could be integrated in this system, that delivers a benefit for consumers?
