Brand story: Vitsoe shelving

Lovely video giving a bit of the brand story of Vitsoe shelving, showing behind the scenes in their London workshop. The film is called 'Definitely No Robots'.

http://vimeo.com/28458679

Netflix splits streaming & DVD rental

Netflix raised its prices, which lost it 1m users. The next month their CEO apologised for the poor communication around this, and also announced the split of streaming and DVD rental businesses.

The aim is to let each business have more focus, with a return to marketing of the DVD rental business and an ability for streaming to expand globally and without the constraints of compatibility with DVD rentals. Many user comments on the DVD blog post disagree, but the CEO argues that more companies fail from moving too slowly and trying not to harm their existing businesses as they grow, than fail from moving too fast.

Will be interesting to see what happens.

Original Netflix blog post: here

"1m people unsubcribed" source: Lifehacker

Next Home & Garden Shop, Shoreham

Next have opened a large out of town shop near Shoreham, covering Home and Garden. Supposed to be good.

Looks like Habitat meets Homebase.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI4PFi1WCAc

Goldsmith's Jewellery Vending Machine

Goldsmith's in Westfield Stratford Goldsmith’s boutique will include Autonomous Retailing Machines – vending machines that allow customers to purchase products out of operating hours.

Interesting to see how that works out.

Milk vending machine

In August 2011 a milk vending machine was installed in Gosforth by dairy farmer Richard Mawson. Interesting to check back and see if it works out and is still there in a year.

http://www.thirstlink.co.uk/news/browse/innovation/

HSBC Cash Machine Phone Kiosks

Source: scousevulture~ re-inspired on Flickr, all copyrights acknowledged

Ariel 'Fashion Shoot'

Aerial put a ketchup-firing robotic arm in a Scandinavian train station. Controlling the arm via a Facebook app, you could shoot at a moving selection of white clothing. Hit the clothes and it is washed in Ariel and sent to you as a prize.

Source: http://creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2011/september/aerial-fashion-shoot

Fastest Way to Board An Airplane

Dr Jason Steffen, a physicist by trade, did a computer simulation and then a simulation with real people and a full size test plane to find the fastest way to board passengers. The principles are that people should board from window seat first, then middle, then aisle. And also that alternate aisles should be filled.

Brief Economist article: http://www.economist.com/node/21528218

Lengthy original study: http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/arxiv/pdf/1108/1108.5211v1.pdf