Innovation That Matters

Train journeys can be boring if travelers forget to bring along something to do. While the Catalan Government Railways has opted for QR code book chapters to keep its customers entertained, Czech Republic-based transport operator Ropid now wants to introduce singles-only carriages to help travelers to meet potential partners on their commute.

The company plans to set aside the last carriage on trains running either once every hour, or on a particular day of the week, for passengers who are looking for love. While the carts will be specially reserved for single customers only, Ropid said that it won’t stop those in a relationship who simply want to get home or to work from using the carriage. Some 600 million people use the country’s underground each year and the company hopes that among that figure will be individuals who would welcome the idea. It is currently surveying passengers to determine the feasibility of such a campaign. Explaining the concept, Filip Drapal, spokesman for Ropid, told reporters: “In the metro you can already read and learn, so why not find a partner?” It also indicated that the scheme could be put in place by the end of the year.

In today’s hectic world, the dating carriages could provide busy people with a way to connect with potential partners, while also encouraging more people to take public transport over cars. Are there other innovative ways to provide dating opportunities to singles?

Spotted by: Murray Orange

We recently wrote about PledgeCents, the platform that enables schools to crowdfund projects. Now, Schoola offers an alternative fundraising method, creating connections between schools and nearby businesses to raise money while offering parents discounts on local goods.

According to the team behind the new platform, some 79 percent of schools are facing cuts this year, which is leaving them with the problem of having to raise more money on their own to continue their programs. While traditional school fundraising events such as bake sales can provide some help, Schoola wants education providers to team up with local business that are already well familiar amongst parents in the community. Those businesses can then sell their goods in the school or provide regular vouchers offering discounts on products and services ranging from cupcakes to dance classes. This way, parents save money on the goods, while the cash raised through the partnership is split between the school, the business and Schoola. The benefit for the business is an increased number of sales and a reputation as a socially responsible enterprise. The video below, from abc7 News, offers more information about the site:

In a difficult era for education funding, Schoola enables institutions to boost the money they can raise themselves, offering a continuous revenue stream independent of government support. Are there other ways for schools to take advantage of business opportunities such as this?

Spotted by: Troy Tessalone

We’ve already seen Textspresso print edible ink onto coffee foam, but what about even more difficult surfaces? Unicorn Graphics has created a technique for high quality printing on any surface.

Exhibiting the method – known as ‘spatial printing’ – at GlobalShop 2013 recently, the company displayed examples of images printed onto aluminum duct, wood shingles, silk flowers, fabric rag, and even a pile of paintbrushes. Although the company is keeping the details of its technique close to its chest, it believes that spatial printing could help designers and homeowners upcycle their goods remade out of unusual materials.

This type of printing could also help marketers who want to place their message in uncommon locations, as well as open up interesting new artforms. Are there other uses for this type of technology?

Spotted by: Tracy Chong

Consumers in the Czech Republic have already been able to do their grocery shopping through a virtual store in the form of Mall.cz. Now, South Korea supermarket Emart has created a wifi-based flying store, enabling those within its range to buy products online.

Developed by creative agency Cheil, the campaign saw a large, remote-controlled balloon – fitted with a wifi router – flown over populous locations in Seoul, such as public squares, shopping centers and transport hubs. People who saw the balloon were encouraged to connect to the wifi through their smartphones, which automatically directed them to the Emart app. When downloaded, the app offered discounted products and vouchers to use on its online store. According to the company, although it targets families on a budget, often they will just go to the nearest convenience store and pay higher prices rather than make their way to an Emart. Through the flying store, Emart was able to bring its competitive prices direct to the consumer. The video below shows the innovative marketing campaign in action:

According to Cheil, the campaign saw sales through Emart’s mobile store increase 157 percent, as users bought products then and there. Meanwhile, its physical stores also experienced a 9.5 percent rise in sales as those who downloaded vouchers returned to use them. Combining both an online and offline presence, could mobile wifi-based stores such as this lay the foundation for a more sustainable business model?

Spotted by: Murray Orange

It’s occasionally the case that cinemagoers aren’t enthralled by the choice of new releases offered, and sometimes it’s just easier to stay in and stick a DVD on. We’ve already seen Mobz enable Brazilian consumers to choose what gets screened at their local cinema, and now The Couchers is solving the second problem, by turning home film watching into a social experience.

Users signing up to the site first allow it to detect their location. Then, they can begin searching for nearby events posted by others within a maximum 49km radius, although users can limit their search to within 5km. If they like the look of the film being shown, they can accept the open invitation and get in contact with the host. If homeowners are planning on watching a film in their own home, they can use the site to advertise the event, detailing the number of places available.

The idea behind the site is that homeowners can turn an evening in into a social occasion, while getting to meet members of the local community who share their taste in film. Although in an early stage of its development, it’s easy to see how a platform such as this could be expanded to include features that enable hosts to organize extra elements such as food, with attendees sharing the bill. Could a similar idea work for other nights in?

Spotted by: Giulia Cuccolini

New York-based Manicube has already offered in-office manicure services in 15 minutes for those with busy lifestyles, and now Canada’s BITE lipstick laboratory is enabling women to create their own bespoke cosmetics in just ten minutes.

Using only all-natural products, the company helps customers to create a lipstick that is unique to them. Visitors arriving at the store – based in downtown Toronto – first start by mixing pigments to find the exact color they’re after. Customers can then add a matte or sheer finish, and can even add a flavour – cherry, mint or berry. Using a special machine, the stick is then made and finished in ten minutes. The store is open from Thursdays to Sundays and is walk-in, so no appointment is necessary.

Currently operating out of a pop-up store, the company hopes to upgrade to a permanent structure later in the year. Are there other ways to give consumers personalized make-up on demand?

Spotted by: Alexia Maury

When patients are admitted into hospital for lengthy stays, it can be a lonely experience. Factor in the times when family and friends aren’t able to visit, not being able to leave the hospital and not being in the best of health, hospitals can sometimes be no fun at all. One of the things they do have going for them is that they’re full of different kinds of people, and this is something Hôpital Affinité founder Julien Artu wants to take advantage of with his social network for patients.

As well as enabling hospitals to deliver important news to guests, users can find fellow patients that share their interests and develop relationships through their smartphones or tablets – making their time in hospital more enjoyable and more social. We caught up with Julien to find out how he came up with the idea and how he’s growing his business.

1.Where did the idea for Hôpital Affinité come from?

The idea came to me really simply. Just after a big car accident in Sept 2011, I was at the hospital for 5 months. All my friends were working or occupied with their children and jobs, and I was not in a hospital near my family, so I was just alone there. And – the cherry on the cake – I was bedridden in this hospital for about 2 months. So the question was: how can I communicate with the other patients to talk about the experience at the hospital, and also shared interests? In my personal opinion and my experience, it can help a lot in recovery if you feel happy there and if patients can help each other through.

2. Can you describe a typical working day?

My working day begins with a good cup of tea! The first thing I do is take care of our twitter account – @HopitalAffinite. Then the day gets busy! I am spending my time between calling hospitals to arrange meetings, check all the contract who are in the pipe, debugging the website, and developing new products! The end of the day which is around 10pm, I respond to patients and all private messages they have sent me. Twice a month I take a half-day to meet some of them who are following us, just to take feedback or to help with thinking about new ideas for the platform.

3. How do you unwind or relax when you’re not working on Hôpital Affinité?

I’m very lucky to live in Paris – near the Trocadéro – so I can spend my free time walking outside in the city. I can enjoy the sun on a nice terrace and we are also lucky to have so many museums to visit. Also, once a month, I spend a couple of hours to go to the Paris Creative Mornings. It’s always nice to hear a talk from interesting speakers, historians etc. For me, it’s a way to find inspiration for creating new products.

4. What’s the secret ingredient to success as an entrepreneur?

I think the best way to get success is to listen to people with experience. I have a successful business partner who’s giving me some advice about strategy and how to develop my product. And I’ve also got a successful entrepreneur who is helping me with the finance and he’s really active in our daily operation.

5. What excited you when building your business?

I love it when the international media speak about us! And using the real-time tools on Google Analytics to see where our visitors come from and how many! That really makes me excited! 🙂

6. What motivates you to keep going?

My most motivation is the patients! I’m so happy to receive messages everyday from patients or people who work at the hospital sending me encouragement! I feel so grateful when all of these people are complimenting me and my business.

7. If you were to start again, what would you do differently?

If I had to start again, I would have had a partner at the beginning of the project to help me for selling my product to hospitals. I would also think twice about how to find a partner and with who… divorce can be hard if you don’t choose well.

8. Where do you see your business in five years, and how will you get there?

For sure, in 5 years we will be internationalised with products other than Hôpital Affinité.

9. If you weren’t working on Hôpital Affinité, what would you be doing?

I have been always interested in the web industry, even though I originally come from the luxury hotel sector. So I could combine both. I’m self-educated in web development so I think I could have worked for a web agency or something like that.

10. Tell Springwise a secret…

We’ve got a product for seniors which will be amazing! Taking care of their domestic, social life, etc… Keep your eyes peeled 😉 And the super secret is Hôpital Affinité has happened because of my girlfriend! It’s her who has pushed me to create it and not keep it as just an idea. So a very big thanks to her!

11. Any final words for aspiring entrepreneurs?

The first thing is to be open to the world and make a simple and logical product. The second thing is to really find a way to make money from your product. Third and final thing is you have to be happy to work everyday on your product even if it’s hard and a lot of people are against you.

The Velo-1 has already enabled cyclists to take advantage of smart features such as automatic gear shifting and route information through their own smartphone. Now, Helios handlebars integrate both performance tracking software and safety hardware into any existing bike.

The easy-to-install product – which successfully raised over USD 120,000 through a Kickstarter campaign that was funded this week – offers multiple features to riders. The handlebars feature an integrated LED light that is five times brighter than standard bike lights, as well as rear-facing indicators that can be activated by tapping the buttons located on the handlebar. Through the Helios app, users can set the lights to automatically turn off when their smartphone has moved out of the bike’s proximity. They can also choose the color of these lights, or alternatively connect them to the speedometer on the app, allowing them to act as visual indicators of the rider’s pace.

The Helios bars feature an integrated GPS module that informs owners of the whereabouts of their bike. By placing a pay-as-you-go SIM card into the device, users can text their bike to ensure it’s still where they left it, or find out where thieves have taken it if it is stolen. The video below offers more information about the handlebars:

The Helios bars are available in black or white, bullhorn or drop style, and can be pre-ordered from the company’s website for USD 199 with USD 20 domestic and USD 55 international shipping. Are there other consumer products that could benefit from smart add-ons such as this?

Spotted by: Murray Orange

We recently wrote about LA’s Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, which has implemented its iPad-based BabyTime scheme to connect newborns in intensive care with their mothers. Taking the idea of a tech-enabled hospital that little bit further, the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital now offers a number of core services through patients’ smartphones.

Working with mobile operator SK Telecom, visitors to the hospital can begin digitally interacting with the hospital as soon as they walk through the door, through the Patient Guide app. GPS detects when they’re on the premises and uses the relevant electronic medical records and patient data to bring up information about scheduled appointments, expected waiting times and healthcare costs. Users can check in to let their doctor know they’re there and can also pay bills through the app. If no appointment has been scheduled, users can navigate to the right department through the 3D map.

The hospital has also placed 15-inch tablets next to each bed, which users can log into with the contactless RFID tag on their patient wristband. The device can be used to view hospital information, personalized medical data, treatment schedules and entertainment facilities. The following video from Arirang News offers a detailed look at the new service:

The new offerings at the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital are examples of how increasingly common consumer technology can be applied to improve key services, while saving time and money for healthcare providers. Could these schemes work in your part of the world?

Tourists heading to the London Olympic Games last summer may have found hotel prices too expensive, but at least could have taken advantage of the innovative taxi hotel, which saw a London black cab transformed into a comfortable temporary room. Looking for a more permanent solution to problems caused by the current economy, Denmark’s Pop-Up Hotel aims to reappropriate vacant office space in the center of New York City and turn it into revenue-making hotels for travelers.

According to the design firm behind the project, Pink Cloud, the average office vacancy rate in midtown Manhattan has risen to 21.6 percent since the 2007 credit crisis. Rather than let this space go empty, the company wants to take advantage of the city’s tourism figures, which have been more resilient than other industries and saw a record year for visitors in 2012. Pink Cloud’s solution is to offer all of the things needed to set up a temporary hotel in one truck. By designing the equipment and furniture to fit into boxes measuring the size of the average US pallet dimensions and average office lift height, the company can fit 36 of these boxes onto one truck. Each box is themed by hotel area – hospitality, dining, entertainment and amenities – and color-coded for easy assembly once on site. The boxes would also be tracked via RFID codes placed onto each one.

Although still in the concept stages, the Pop-Up Hotel provides a quick and easy way to transform wasted space into something useful. Could you help bring this project into fruition?

Spotted by: Smith Alan