After a speaking engagement last year, Jonathan Loudon came up to the podium and introduced himself. Jonathon is a partner at one of Toronto's hottest innovation firms appropriately called Cooler Solutions (www.coolersolutionsinc.com), and his firm specializes in humanitarian and health related product design.

Last year Cooler tackled the substantial problem of sanitation in the developing world for a submission to the Humanitarian International Design Organization (HIDO) for consideration in their international design competition. Last December Cooler was given this prestigious award for their dignity toilet.

Quoting from Cooler's supplied information:
The dignity toilet is a solid waste storage and disposal system for locations where a sanitation infrastructure does not exist. It addresses the issues of compliance, health and dignity.

The dignity toilet provides sanitary storage of solid waste for four people for 7-10 days. After that period, the toilet is removed from its seating dock and taken to a predetermined controlled area. It is then manually augered into the soil where it evacuates its contents, mixes the waste with the soil and buries it in the ground for decomposition.

For more information about the dignity toilet contact Cooler Solutions here.

***

Graeme Spicer is a Canadian trendspotter, ethnographer and observer of all things retail. He spends his time consulting with leading retailers; presenting at conferences across North America; lecturing at OCAD, Canada's leading design school; and reading too many blogs. Graeme blogs at http://graemespicer.typepad.com.

Adued distributes free paper notebooks to college students. The notebooks are called Eco-Notes. Advertising space at the bottom of each page covers the costs associated with manufacturing and distribution of the notebooks.

Eco-Notes are trendy, free, and environmentally friendly. They are made using recycled paper and soybean-based ink. The aim is to send and sustain a positive message within the academic community about being eco-friendly through items of daily use.

Adued plans to distribute 20,000 Eco-Notes in late January of 2009, to 15 schools in 10 states, including Harvard, MIT and ColumbiaUniversity. They will be handed out at school entrances.

Notebooks are one of most basic necessities for students. The students will see the ads over and over. This advertising concept is unique and would draw the attention of tens of thousands of students. The ad's message will also spread by word of mouth because students want to share something new and interesting with their peers.

Iconoculture: This may be taking the dog days of summer a bit too literally. Pouncing off pet-sharing programs like Flexpetz, the hospitality industry is offering guests a rather unique amenity: pet leasing.

At select Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, guests can “rent” dogs for several hours. At Quebec City, Boston and Vancouver locations, dogs even have their own email addresses so their part-time parents can K.I.T. post-vacation.

Guests staying at the Ritz-Carlton in Beaver Creek, Colorado, need to make reservations up to a month in advance if they want to spend time with the hotel's yellow lab.

Like a loving aunt or part-time nanny may know, taking care of the kids is a treat — when it’s for a few hours. A trial run may be a great way for parents to experience all the fun and love of owning a pet, as long as they remember that full-time care takes much more than a walk in the park.

There’s no time like vacation to take on a fully experiential stay.

Pet time-sharing on vacation [Iconoculture]

Cool Hunting: Made from a single cut of high-density Italian limestone, it was surprisingly comfortable — for a rock.

Even better, the Cleopatra Chair is heated using silicone-based equipment that bleeds warmth throughout the whole body. And believe it or not, limestone is a soft rock that actually has a bit of give to it. The deluxe chaise lounge is ergonomically designed to follow the body's contours while the firm support aligns the spine. Developed in Germany, some versions even come with a hydraulic lift to elevate the chair.

Place a special order to purchase the Cleopatra chair for $17,000. If you can't shell out that sort of money visit The Resort and Spa at Singer Island. They have a few in their spa.

Cleopatra Chair [Cool Hunting]

GradeGenie is a study tool for the academic community. People use GradeGenie to assist with their studying capabilities by allowing members to access other member generated study material. Through the capability of searching, uploading, downloading, and mass collaboration, GradeGenie.com provides a very convenient and effective way to use supplemental study material.

Through mass collaboration, students of all different studies can come together on one website to assist each other with one goal, to learn and earn a good grade. GradeGenie provides open access to view which files are tagged, commented on, and stored on the website. Part of being a member of GradeGenie is having the access to download millions of files that are relevant to your studies.

A few months back, we wrote about Gogme.biz - a business- oriented social network where site members can implement business ideas together through online collaboration. The website has gathered around 100 business ideas and 900 site members so far. According to the co-founder, Lance Lim, around 80% of the site members had pledged to become co-owners of the first Globally Owned Globally Managed Enterprise, Gogme Learning.

Gogme Learning has a primary objective to facilitate aspiring entrepreneurs to learn the inner working of the business world through the co-creation and co-management of small businesses. The best way to learn about the challenges of entrepreneurship is to go out there and start a business. Some things in life you can only learn by experience and entrepreneurship is a constant state of discovery. If you're not ready to take the entrepreneurial leap, why not learn the ropes of starting and managing small businesses with an online community?

Entrepreneurial learning is achieved through the online participation of business discussions, brainstorming sessions and polls. Business decisions on staff selection, sales approaches, product designs, business framework and other business activities are made collectively by entrepreneurs. Most entrepreneurs are adults and late teens. Adults learn best when they feel in control and have choices in direction of the learning process. Through blogs and twitters, the operational staff updates daily business activities and challenges. Progressively, entrepreneurs will know how their collective decisions shaped the businesses. Entrepreneurs are given the space to come to their own conclusions based on evidence offered to them, in a non-pressured way which encourages learning.

As for rewards, 100% of the profits are distributed among co-owners. Once these small businesses reached sustainability and profitability, co-owners can use Gogme points to bid for franchises or takeovers of the successful small businesses. Gogme points are earned through online participation in business planning, decision-making and other business activities.

Gogme Learning generates its revenues in two ways. The main revenue comes from the small business ventures created based on the selected business ideas. The secondary revenue derives from market test platforms that provide paid services and consultancy for other companies to market test their products or services.

As a business idea is selected for implementation by the social network, a market test platform is established concurrently. The market test platforms lay the grounds for implementing new business ideas of similar industry or targeted markets in the future. It comprises of primary market research, secondary market research, sharing of business resources and testing of marketing messages.

Wiki-biz-plan is another interesting feature of the website. The wiki-biz-plan is a collection of ideas, suggestions, industry data and other related information that are useful for the implementation of business ideas. All site members can freely contribute and modify the contents.

If you are tinkering with the idea of starting a business in the near future, you may want to check this website out.

Forget what you heard about the types of prints, colors and textures that will be featured next in textile and material design-just remember this word: Waterproof. The Ion-Mask enhancement is a new plasma technology devised by P2i, a company that's part of the UK Ministry of Defense's programme of commercialization of government technologies. P2i uses "patented plasma technology to treat everyday objects with an invisible mask that repels oil and water, without altering the look or feel of the treated object…invisible to the eye and undetectable to touch". When using the plasma, essentially all liquids that touch the object simply bead up on the surface instead of soaking or wetting the object. Moreover, the process for creating the plasma is environmentally friendly.

What's incredible is that this technology can be applied to textiles, footwear, filtration systems and bio-consumables. The ability to use the technology on so many manufactured products ensures that it will have a great impact on fashion, home design, footwear and engineering systems. Simply put: its forecasted popularity is due to the fact that it uses an eco-method to create a variety of more efficient products that have added value. Sneakers you can wear in the rain, shirts you can simply wipe spilt drinks off of and unique shower curtains. Makes me want to get a waterproof blouse and pour a glass of wine on myself.

A little more about how this new technology differs itself from traditional waterproofing methods:

Textile and footwear: "Traditionally, textile waterproofing techniques have relied on extra layers which act as a suffocating barrier; or the chemical treatment of the material, which leaves the edges and seams created during the manufacture of the product exposed. Plasma technology works at a molecular level to change the way the surface reacts to liquids, delivering waterproof performance without inhibiting the circulation of air through the fabric for an effective, comfortable result."

Filtration: "The effective performance and longevity of such products are dictated by the interaction of their surface with liquid. Traditionally, this relationship has been improved with complex chemical coatings cured at high temperatures, additives introduced during the melt process or chemical dips following an electrical discharge, but there are inherent problems with all of these methods. Plasma technology can treat 3D objects, manufactured from different materials with complex shapes, with a low-cost, universal process. This extends the life of the product, particularly in harsh environments, by vastly improving resistance to oil and liquid."

Bio-Consumables: "Despite their inherent hydrophobicity, the materials from which products such as pipettes, petri dishes and microplates are manufactured do retain residual amounts of liquid – resulting in inaccurate test results and the waste of costly reagents. Currently, some manufacturers offer low-retention products which are achieved either by polishing the moulds to ensure minimal surface tension, introducing additives into the melt polymer before moulding or using a post-manufacture dip. While these approaches vary in effectiveness, ease of use and consistency, ion-mask™ treated consumables significantly outperform them all."

* * *

TrendsSpotting.com is a trends agency focused on developing exciting tools for Trend Spotting. We follow current trends and are constantly looking for new ones. We specialize in trends research and the social media. Dr. Taly Weiss, TrendsSpotting CEO, is a Social Psychologist, with extensive experience in branding strategy and marketing research. Feel free to explore our trend spotting tools on www.trendoScope.com.

Bored with the same old routes around London? Want to be taken straight to the capital's secret hot-spots? Coolhunting agency Insider London has developed the world's first Green Trend tour, giving visitors the scoop on the most pioneering, sustainable-design goings-on in the city. Taking in the sexiest products, most gorgeous shops, futuristic architecture and inspiring communities - all in an afternoon - the tours are opening visitors' eyes and getting them excited and inspired about green all over again.

Going ahead on the first weekend of every month, the tour destroys the assumption that green living must involve hair shirts and recycled cardboard. Each cherry-picked sight is a pioneering contribution to green living, such as high-end tailored scrap clothing, Britain's first hydrogen-powered building and floating gardens producing renewable energy. The initiatives on the tour aren't just some of the most sustainable and sexy concepts in London: the city's world-leading status means the examples are some of the best on the planet. The tour's positive, innovative approach won it a 'Love London' award earlier in the year.

Insider London Cutting-Edge Green Tours

Life's full of cravings-but sometimes the shopping crave gets us at our worst. It can hit us at the most ironic times-like when the store is closed. You spotted the perfect cocktail dress for next week's gala at 1am in a retail store that's on the opposite side of the city. When will you have time to buy it? How will you fit it in to your schedule? What if by the time you get back it's sold out? You then start obsessing over how on earth you'll get that perfect ensemble.

Fortunately for all of us, the folks over at Ralph Lauren Rugby have considered this scenario and have taken Window-shopping to an entirely new level: the digital one. Shoppers can now satisfy their insatiable consumer cravings immediately -thanks to their new interactive window display in their Manhattan store. One may browse and purchase any of the store's items 24/7, simply by standing on the sidewalk near the store. Absolute instant gratification.

All you need to do is download a QR code to your iphone (check if your phone is compatible here: m.ralphlauren.com). Once you have the code and are in the vicinity of the store you can use it to scan any of the QR codes you desire, beginning with the ones on the RL Rugby store touchscreen. Your phone will then be redirected to the exact item on the website and this enable you to immediately purchase the item. This helps individuals browse and buy items when the store is closed or when they can't or don't want to physically enter it. QR codes will be implemented in stores, mailers and print ads as well.

Is this the next trend in shopping? We think so. Digital advertising (animated wildlife projected onto buildings) and Japanese Interactive Ads have already been spotted as unique and engaging advertising methods that make excellent use of today's technologies. So why wouldn't these digital features be incorporated into all aspects of our shopping experiences as well?

Here's the part where we give Kudos to RL. Not only is their Rugby apparel a source of fashion inspiration and trend setting but their digital facet is a perfect example of fashion that goes hand in hand with technology to help us get what we need instantly-according to our own schedules and without waiting in line. They've turned something as simple as a window display into a funky interactive platform that takes advantage of mobile resources and today's digital consumer.

Images compliments of: The Frisky

* * *

TrendsSpotting.com is a trends agency focused on developing exciting tools for Trend Spotting. We follow current trends and are constantly looking for new ones. We specialize in trends research and the social media. Dr. Taly Weiss, TrendsSpotting CEO, is a Social Psychologist, with extensive experience in branding strategy and marketing research. Feel free to explore our trend spotting tools on www.trendoScope.com.

Just when you thought that clothes racks are forever to stay mundane, KAYIWA excavates the DINO.

This clothes rack complements your foyer, boutique, lounge, cloakroom or wardrobe. DINO is aesthetic and fully functional for coats and jackets or adults and children owing to the differently sized hangers.

For public places, coat checking is easier and neat with the numbered hangers. In addition, the cartilage and ample space reduce friction and allow the independent movement of the hanger(s).

DINO Product Page

TrendBird: Everyone likes getting a thoughtful surprise, and giving them isn't so bad either. But it's not always easy to find the time to shop and send something or, for that matter, to remember to do so. A Brazilian startup has come up with a solution: prepaid plans for multiple gifts over a set period of time.

Targetting male gift-givers, Ticket to Mind offers four different plans: Basic, Plus, Advanced and Express, ranging in price from BRL 19.90 to BRL 69.90 per month (USD 12.00-42.00 / EUR 8.25-29.00). The Express plan, for example, is aimed at "conquering a new love or renewing an existing one", and TTM will send three bouquets of flowers over a four-month period, at random times. The sender receives a notification before each bouquet is shipped, and the flowers include a card with a message based on information provided by the sender.

Other plans include a wider variety of gifts: chocolate, toys, cosmetics and "spicy" items. Prices for each plan include products, shipping and notifications, with no additional costs charged

Gift-Giving with a Prepaid Plan [TrendBird]

Chalfont St Peter: Mums from across Bucks are set to unite when Chalfont St Peter hosts what could become the first of many baby fayres. The event, which will take place on Saturday, September 13, is designed so that women working in the baby industry can promote their businesses to other parents.

Paula Atkinson, of Lansdown Road, Chalfont St Peter, came up with the idea after she started her own business, Chiltern Baby Massage. She said: "I have met lots of women who are in my position, running their own business but struggling to find the time to promote what they do. This is why I looked at the idea of a local baby fayre, an ideal opportunity for working mums to come together and inform other parents about what they do."

"Most of the mums who attend my baby massage classes are new mums and are keen to find various classes, activities and products. I think there are plenty of us mums working for ourselves who can provide the relevant services and products that these new and first time mums are looking for. With this in mind, I contacted as many local women whose businesses deal with babies and toddlers and invited them to come and exhibit at the baby fayre."

The event will include displays from a variety of different organisations including music groups for babies and toddlers, personalised clothing, educational books and wooden toys.

Baby business booms with brand new fayre [Chalfont St Peter]

BizEquity Corp. has launched the beta version of BizEquity.com, a free online service that allows small businesses—those with less than $10 million in revenue—to discover and better understand their estimated value and that of their competitors. BizEquity.com was unveiled at DEMOfall 08, a premier launch venue for new products, technologies, and companies.

In an effort to better equip small business owners with information about their companies, competitors or potential acquisitions or partnerships, BizEquity.com valuations eliminate the cost and time commitment required for an initial valuation and help small businesses understand how they might stack up to their competition.

BizEquity.com calculates its valuations by aggregating publicly available and commonly accepted information from trusted financial data reporting services—the same resources utilized by leading global corporations— with BizEquity.com’s own financial modeling methodologies developed by industry experts. More customized estimates, generated quickly and automatically, are available for business owners who provide additional detail about their business.

TrendWatching.com: UK-based Light Agency has introduced a Mars-branded widget that makes it possible to send real candy. The widget allows UK users of Facebook to choose from a range of Mars confectionery gifts from its Celebrate Sweet Shop online. To send one, they simply select a friend, add a message and pay for the gift via tokens or their PayPal account. A message is sent to the gift recipient requesting their mobile number, and a unique Celebrate Voucher ID and gift details are then sent to them via SMS text. To collect the gift, the recipient just visits one of more than 12,500 participating PayPoint retailers and shows the Celebrate Voucher ID.

OFF=ON [TrendWatching.com]

TrendCentral: If you're taking a trip to Portland, OR anytime soon, be sure to check out the The Green Microgym\, an exercise facility where the energy emitted by users contributes to powering the building, with a total of 40% of its own electricity coming from solar panels and exercise machines like stationary bikes. Shrink your waistline and your carbon footprint - all at once!

The Green Microgym [TrendCentral]

TrendWatching: Fabjectory turns virtual world characters/avatars into detailed, full-color, real-life statuettes. The figures are built on a Z-Corp rapid prototyping machine. 1/400th of an inch at a time, the machine lays down a plaster powder that it covers with a type of colored glue. Fabjectory currently is available for Second Life, Nintendo Mii and Google Sketchup and is looking for other virtual world operators to partner with. Prices for a real-world avatar vary between USD 50–200 depending on character complexity and the virtual world it's from.

OFF=ON [TrendWatching]

Spingwise: Hard on the heels—so to speak—of our story about sneaker customization at Keds Studio last week comes another spotting in the world of customized footwear: Sneakart, a site that lets users personalize sneakers from any brand via specially designed removable stickers.

Still in beta, UK-based Sneakart offers users the opportunity to customize their sneakers via Sneakskin, a super-thin, flexible, durable and waterproof graphic film that can be applied to white, light-coloured and metallic shoes. Printed with non-toxic ink in the UK, Sneakskin is 100 percent PVC-free and can be peeled off and replaced at will. It's available either in sheets of individual stickers or in 22-by-29-cm sheets of patterns that the user can cut to fit the areas to be covered; either way, one or two sheets is typically enough to customize one pair of shoes, Sneakart says.

Customizing sneakers with removable stickers [Springwise]

CoolHunting: With eye-catching design and advanced sensorial elements, the Morphosis Gamma is at the pinnacle of relaxation technology. The Morphosis line, which includes Alpha and Sigma models, was designed by Pininfarina, best known for designing cars at Ferrari. The Gamma's unique proportions allow it to fit in tight quarters, while providing the user with multiple seating orientations. It combines back and body jets to deliver a number of different hydrotherapy configurations.

The Gamma's defining feature, though, is the Cromodream technology. This element offers five varying light hues, each designed with a specific curative effect. Blue, for example, is said to have a soothing effect on the central nervous system and promotes restful sleep, while red stimulates the appetite and psychological-physical recovery. The light emanates from the upper canopy as well as from light fixtures mounted underneath the water. The effect is a complete immersion in the hue of your choosing.

Morphosis Gamma Whirlpool Bath [CoolHunting]

The Earth Times: MixMatchMusic announced today the launch of its beta music service and dynamic music community, www.mixmatchmusic.com. MixMatchMusic enables musicians to collaborate on, profit from and engage fans with their music. The company is introducing its service at the DEMOfall 08 conference, one of the premier venues for launching
new companies and services.

MixMatchMusic is part of a music industry that touches more than 100 million households in the US alone, according to NAMM, and that generates nearly $47 billion in annual sales from recorded music, concerts and music gear.

Participation in the MixMatchMusic community and use of its MixMaker audio sequencer are free to musicians and casual fans alike. Fees are incurred when stems, works in progress or finished songs are downloaded for sale or other use.

"Indie musicians benefit when their music gets discovered - by other musicians who can use it to complete their musical ideas, and also by casual fans looking for new ideas and new artists. Providing both with the ability to mix and match stems and works in progress transforms music from a passive to active experience," said Feinn.

MixMatchMusic expects to generate revenues from targeted and contextual advertising, participation in the sale of content created on its site and by its community, and also from the sales and licensing of future premium services.

MixMatchMusic Launches Service Enabling Musicians to Collaborate on, Profit From and Engage Fans With Their Music [The Earth Times]

Zillman: TimeBridge has introduced the first Personal Scheduling Assistant designed to help busy people find a time to meet — fast. This innovative, new web application works across calendaring systems, companies and time zones. With TimeBridge's one-step scheduling you select attendees, propose meeting times and send a meeting invitation. TimeBridge does the rest — collects everyone's availability and selects the best time. Everyone gets a confirmation once the meeting is set. To make it easy, attendees need only a web browser to respond and no registration is required.

TimeBridge - Personal Scheduling Assistant [Zillman]

Parkingspots.com connects those needing a parking spot with those renting parking spots. The service allows you to find parking close to downtown, the airport, your office, your home or wherever else you need it. Easy, affordable monthly rentals where you want, when you want.

Non-commercial parking spot owners can create listings on ParkingSpots.com for free; the company’s revenues come from commercial operations (defined as anyone renting two or more spots together; the fee equals one month’s rent, due upon a successful match). ParkingSpots.com also offers a “proximity alert” that notifies users by e-mail if a spot becomes available in their desired neighborhood.

The 3 Secrets Of Team Motivation

Do you want a highly motivated team who don't take time off work, don't keep looking for other jobs and make a positive contribution to your business? If the answer is "yes," then there are three steps you need to take with each member of your team. Step 1 - Spend some quality time. I didn't say "quantity time" I said "quality time." One or two minutes of quality time on a regular basis are far more productive.....

Continued in BIZNESS! Newsletter Issue 73 >>>

- Spacious Garage
- Whats Your 20
- Out On The Streets With The GPS Treasure Hunt Game
- Attention Seeking Billboard
- La La La Laser Music
- Fashion Provides Retail Theatre
- Salt Sauna

Continue reading these top stories in the BIZNESS! Newsletter >>>

- 15 More Ways To Take The Stage And Sharpen Your Public Speaking Skills
- Surround Yourself With Quality Relationships
- What You Can Do About Managing Your Budget
- 10 Tips For Business Success From A Woman Entrepreneur Who Makes 1M Selling Photo Guest Books
- The Incredible Power Of Beliefs
- Leveraging Your CRM System For Client Relationships
- Advantages & Disadvantages Of Owning A Franchise

Continue reading these top stories in the BIZNESS! Newsletter >>>

Can't stand your demanding boss anymore? Start your own business! Before that, be sure to subscribe to our free informative newsletter. BIZNESS! is jointly published by CoolBusinessIdeas.com and GetEntrepreneurial.com What you get in BIZNESS! - the latest new business ideas, small business advice, business tips and info and entrepreneur resources. Everything you need for your brand new business!

Free 20-pages PDF report (worth $38) - "New Business Ideas Report 2007" - included with your subscription. Learn more here.

CoolBuzz: So are you a fan of the creepy crawlies? If yes, then I suggest you go and pick up one of the Skeleton forks. These shiny silver coloured salad accessories look real cute. It certainly is going to be quite a sight when you toss salad or take a chunk out of the Turkey with those slender bony fingers. You really got to see it to believe it. Ideal for Halloween or any other special occasion, as this serving set is bound to grab a lot of attention. In case you plan to spook some of your friends then the Skeleton fork is also ideal for gifting at $49.95.

The creepy 'Skeleton' silverware [CoolBuzz]

Crafting the finest in garage storage systems, Gorgeous Garage offers a multitude of efficient organization options for helping you keep your garage clean, neat and tidy. Gorgeous Garage can help you organize your garage in a vast number of ways to accommodate for all your changing needs.

Gorgeous Garages’ garage storage systems help you reclaim your garage for what it was intended for: your car. Studies show forty percent of homeowners park their cars in the driveway because their messy garages are taking up too much precious storage space. Use of Gorgeous Garage storage racks for the garage, hooks for garage storage and advanced garage shelving systems can help you park your ride where it safely belongs.

http://www.gorgeousgarage.com

To make sure you know when I’m at Au Bon Pain and I know when you’re in the loo, Garmin (a GPS wielder) partners with uLocate (you guessed it – a locations application developer) to bring us Buddy Beacon. Not only can users find likeminds nearby when their lonely, they can update their Facebook profile with their 20. So friends can make their way back together.

The best part? They decide when, where and who can view. Though in its infancy this is an example of broadening location-based social networking. We’re awaiting the list of social networking sites and enabled devices.

This new friend-finding feature joins other tracking devices popular this back to school season.

uLocate itself started by offering GPS locators in cells to help give ‘rents peace of mind -- if that’s possible with a pre-teen. On some services, parents can set up ‘zones’ and get notified if their little one goes beyond the boundary. Like those plastic fences you put up next to the stairs. Another option is to program a place and time so that moms and pops get notified that their child has safely made it to band practice.

Further, early this year Sprint announced its popular service would be expanded to 100+ phone models. With more than a third of 8 to 12 year-olds carrying cells, it’s really no surprise that the 2 year-old service is gaining steam. The catch: the phone has to be turned on. And we know how rabble rousers love loopholes.

[via uLocate]

Katie Sherman is a NY-based freelance writer. After years of multi-tasking at downtown ad agencies, she's recently returned from a European backpacking sabbatical. During the day she works as a Copywriter in Soho. In the off-hours she concentrates on analyzing social/ cultural trends, business innovation and local entertainment. Her work has been published on PSFK.com, CoolBusinessIdeas.com, EatDrinkSleepny.com, and Glamourite.com. Email her at katie_sherman@hotmail.com.

Mission: Getting gamers to leave their basements & go outside. Sounds impossible? Well, have a little faith. The new gaming trend by UK company LocoMatrix, easily pushes gamers to get up, out & about with the mobile based 'Treasure Hunt' game. The gamer tracks his real life position using the map on his photo screen. He is given a specific goal and must follow photo clues in order to reach the desired destination. A 'warmometer' hints to the gamer whether he is getting 'warmer' or 'colder' so that he has an indication of how close he is getting to the treasure. Finally gamers can get a little sunshine and discover that the healthy great outdoors can be a challenging & compelling gaming scenario.

* * *

TrendsSpotting.com is a trends agency focused on developing exciting tools for Trend Spotting. We follow current trends and are constantly looking for new ones. We specialize in trends research and the social media. Dr. Taly Weiss, TrendsSpotting CEO, is a Social Psychologist, with extensive experience in branding strategy and marketing research. Feel free to explore our trend spotting tools on www.trendoScope.com.

Inhabitat: On August 22nd, Raser Technologies and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson broke ground on New Mexico’s first geothermal power plant. Situated at Lightning Dock near Animas, the new plant will incorporate an innovative binary liquid technology that allows it to make use of the site’s low levels of geothermal energy. If more of these modular plants are built then they could be mobilized to take advantage of over 120,000 MW of untapped low-temp geothermal energy across the US.

The project will be one of the first geothermal plants in the nation to incorporate the new breed of low-temperature technology featured in Raser’s proprietary modular power plants. Each individual generation unit is manufactured off-site, delivered to the location, and rapidly installed to create, in essence, a geothermal farm with multiple 450 kW units. Raser Technologies anticipates the first 10 MW of power generation will be online by early next year (2009). Phase II of the project will add another 15 MW of power, for a total of 25 MW, which is enough to power nearly fifteen thousand homes.

This technology holds exciting prospects, as recently the US Geological Survey identified over 120,000 MW of untapped low temperature geothermal resources in the US.

New Geothermal Technology Could Tap 120,000MW of Energy [Inhabitat]

ADpunch: Diners might be shocked to find giant eggs on billboards outside McDonald’s. Its a new ad campaign by them with the help of Leo Burnett ad agency in Chicago. It has caught the attention of many people. The giant egg billboard starts cracking and opens up in the morning and by breakfast it is hatched, and later it remains a whole egg till the next morning. This is to indicate the fresh availability of eggs. It looks similar to Humpty Dumpty and the prevailing theory is that it is to promote their breakfast sandwiches. Another theory is that it is to brainbomb customers from an alien source into buying these sandwiches. Whatever the theory might be, the ad looks really interesting and sure is going to catch people’s attention and make them get inside the warm interiors of a Mc. Do watch out for that extra pound or two you will put on.

Giant Egg billboards outside McDonald's [ADpunch]

Luxist: It may not be the most glamorous briefcase I've ever seen but the new Checkpoint Flyer Briefcase by Tom Bihn has one very important feature, it can slide through airport checkpoints with your Mac safely inside a sleeve, saving you the awkward fumble of taking out your computer, putting it into a bin and sending it through the chute unprotected along with umpteen other Apple computers.

The durable bag is made of ballistic nylon with YKK Uretek zippers, Duraflex Stealth buckles, and Poron foam-padded handles in Tom Bihn's Seattle factory. It's pretty travel friendly with 11 organizational pockets, a back pocket that zips open to accommodate the handle of a roll-aboard, a quick-access boarding pass/map pocket and a folded foam laptop compartment that completely encases the laptop in 8mm-thick closed cell foam, available in three sizes designed specifically to fit Apple laptops (yes, it fits PCs too). They say it requires less than 3 seconds to be prepared in order to send the briefcase through the x-ray machine.

Checkpoint Flyer Briefcase [Luxist]