Welcome to New World Same Humans, a weekly newsletter on trends, technology, and society by David Mattin.
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The internet has rewired us.
By which I mean: a connected world relentlessly fuels new human behaviours, habits, and expectations. And once they’ve been created, they spread. We bring those new habits and expectations to other aspects of our lives. Often, we bring them out of the online space and into the physical world around us.
A particularly powerful version of that phenomenon is now emerging into view. And it will, I believe, reshape the socio-economic system that you and I live inside: the consumer society.
This is a story about personalisation, and where it’s heading next. Skip to the end and the answer is: to some pretty strange places.
But let’s start at the beginning. Go ahead: hit play!
If you prefer to read this instalment, go here for the text version of New World Same Humans #45.
Links in this week’s instalment
1. Tonal is a connected workout station that collects physiological data and adjusts exercise difficultly accordingly.
2. SHOT is a smoothie mixer that uses a built-in camera and AI to analyse skin health and then create a personalised recipe for a skin-enhancing smoothie.
3. Last year, Japanese beauty giant Shiseido launched a new skincare service called Optune.
4. This year Amazon announced the new Halo device, which will give personalised communication advice based on physiological and voice data that allows a real-time picture of your mood.
5. Nestlé is running a huge trial of DNA-personalised food supplements with over 100,000 consumers in Japan.
6. This year Snapchat launched Local Lenses, which allows a persistent, shareable digital layer to be built on top of the physical environment.
Reality check
Thanks for listening this week.
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If immersive AR worlds plunge us into new and personalised realities, the opportunities will be dizzying.
But in the meantime, we in the New World Same Humans community are forging our own shared space!
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I’ll be back on Wednesday with New Week Same Humans. Until then, be well,
David.
New World Same Humans #45 – Audio Version