Top 10 Innovations to be Imported/Exported

1. Bikeworks Community Cycle Center
2. RecycleBank
3. Tadacopy: Free photocopy for students
4. Internet Voting in Estonia
5. Meet Up "Let's use the Internet to get people off the internet"
6. Bar None - Lexington
7. Kinded: Pass it on
8. LETS LINK UK
9. Bellenden Big Lunch
10. Spotify: Volume Sensitive advertising

This is my final list of ten innovations that i particularly liked and thought could be used on a more global scale. Special mention goes to the human Kit Kat vending machine which made me a laugh and is a fantastic idea as well as the graffiti classes which I think are very important for children in developing creative talent.

The human vending machine

Having looked at innovations in vending machines in several posts here is another that really made me laugh. Kit Kat has launched its human vending machine which is exactly how it sounds. Instead of the Kit Kats being dispensed by the machine itself they are dispensed by a human inside the machine. The human dispenser's arms and face are on display so that customers can have a conversation with them, while dispensing the chocolate. This idea is something that is actually more common in Japan, where there are many more human vending machines.

A press release from Kit Kat on RealWire explains the idea, "Rather than being victim of your favoured chocolate bar getting stuck in the mechanisms of a traditional vending machine; the Kit Kat Human Vending Machine is operated by an actual human ‘vendor.’ The consumer will experience the speed and efficiency of a normal vending machine, with the added bonus of having a person to chat to and physically hand them their chocolate treat.

The innovative vending machine is part of the latest Kit Kat ‘Working Like a Machine’ campaign, which plays off the idea that people are overwhelmed with the monotony of everyday life and so need to take a break. Consumers better just hope the ‘vendor’ isn’t having his very own break should they need a chocolate break of their own."

While this is a fun innovation that works as part of an advertising campaign it actually asks some more important questions. For example is a human or a machine more efficient. While a machine allows no room for human error, if an item is stuck in the machine it cannot do anything about it, whereas a human can. There is the added incentive for the customer of being able to have a conversation with the human dispenser or asking questions about the product.

There would be no maintenance or repair costs to machines for its owners, however dispensers would need to be paid a wage. Despite this the added incentive of the human element may increase the likelihood of people buying from these machines and cover any human costs, while using humans would also create more employment opportunities.

This is still a very new concept to the UK, so it is hard to say whether it will be a success. If it was, there are so many positives that could be achieved using human vending machines that it could be exported to other countries. I feel it would most likely be successful in busy areas, such as high streets, city centers and train stations as demonstrated in the examples. This idea is another example of how technology can often make us less social and this is an innovation that ensures the same result but brings back the art of communication.



http://www.realwire.com/release_detail.asp?ReleaseID=11406

Uniqlo using a similar idea of the human vending machine in New York: http://gizmodo.com/5092433/uniqlo-human-vending-machine-previews-our-future-in-the-robot-apocalypse

Vending machines create 24 hour farmers market

The current financial climate has made it harder to support our local farmers and buy local produce. Farmers often have to sell to supermarkets who will pay them far less for their goods, however a German farm has now made it a little easier for us to buy local produce.

The farm, Peter-und-Paul-Hof have proposed vending machines as future of selling local produce more efficiently. The farm has collaborated with vending manufacturer Stuewer and are now able to sell fresh milk, eggs, butter, cheese, potatoes and sausage in thirteen German towns and communities through the use of these vending machines. Springwise reports, "It's not a solution that sprung up overnight. Initially, Peter-und-Paul-Hof were operating a service delivering milk to their customers. Finding this too time-consuming, they began encouraging customers to collect the milk from fridges on their farm, which proved successful and inspired them to use vending machines as a more versatile solution.

The Regiomat machines can be placed outdoors 365 days a year as long as they're under a roof (some have even been placed alongside hiking trails in Switzerland), effectively giving locals a 24-hour farmers' market and farmers a lot more free time. By cutting out the middleman, this system also offers potential savings over retail stores. An update to the traditional farm stand that is beneficial to both farmers and local-loving consumers, this is definitely a concept we can see spreading to other parts of the world."



This is certainly an interesting innovation. We usually associate vending machines with junk food so the concept of buying high quality local produce from a machine is something that takes a little getting used to. However if it makes local produce more accessible, at a lower cost this can only be good news for farmers. If more farmers were to adopt this kind of scheme and it was successful it would have a more positive environmental effect as well with less transportation of food being needed by the supermarkets it could reduce carbon emissions.

I think this is something that if made affordable to local farmers, then I could see farms taking part on a global scale. It depends if they live in an area which has a population large enough to be profitable and cover rent on a vending machine, however I am sure there any farms in many different countries that could benefit from an innovation like this.

http://www.stuewer.de/automaten/regiomat/index.html
http://www.peter-paul-hof.de/
http://www.springwise.com/food_beverage/regiomat/

Tadacopy: Free photocopy for students

Tadacopy is a similar form of advertising as the notepads distributed by Freehand Advertising. They provide an advertising service which is actually a convenience for its targets, by providing free photocopy machines to universities, including paper and the necessary machine maintenance. In return for this service advertisers are allowed to run adverts on the back of the paper used in the photocopier which are targeted at relevant students. Students have unlimited access to the photocopiers but perhaps most importantly the service has considered the environmental effects and made their photocopiers as environmentally friendly as possible.

Their website describes, "Tadacopy is a new type of media. Instead of using more paper to print an ad, why not re-use the wasted blank side of copy printouts? We strive to provide relevant and interesting information to college students by reclaiming this wasted space.

Being green is a very important part of Tadacopy and we've built that into every part of our service: The machines we use are new and energy efficient, copies are made on post consumer recycled (process chlorine free) paper, and the ink used in our service is non-petroleum based soy ink. We are also completely carbon neutral - restoring more carbon than we emit - and are a CarbonFree Partner of the Carbon Fund."



One of the most important things about this service is the practicality of having advertising on the back of a document. However the advertising is printed at a level that it hardly shows through unless held up to light. On a personal level this would be something that would be very useful to me and would cut the cost of my personal printing for research and sketchbook work required by my course.



Again in terms of expansion I could see this idea working in universities all over the world. Wherever there are university students with photocopy requirements in a country with willing advertisers looking to spend money targeting students, then a system like this can work. Tadacopy is currently in over 70 campuses in Japan, 20 campuses in China and in the United States at New York University, which represents the idea working in two diverse cultures. I think it is time that Tadacopy came to LCC.

Freehand Advertising: Free notepaper for students

American company Freehand Advertising have found a way to make young people want to digest advertising. As mentioned in a previous entry, consumer attitudes to advertising have changed since the arrival of the internet and developments in modern technology. Studies suggest that where we once found advertising useful in helping us make decisions we have come to find it a nuisance and it has become too intrusive in many instances. For example there is now a constant battle between developments that help us avoid advertising and new ways forcing us to consume it, such as Spotify's volume sensitive advertising.

This is why many advertisers are trying to find new ways to advertise without inconveniencing the the target and Freehand advertising do just this. They provide notepads to students of college and university age free of charge for them to use inside lessons and lectures. This is something useful that most students would be appreciative because it is one less expense. Where Freehand Advertising make their money is from the advertising that is places inside the notepads.

"Each page is branded with the same type of horizontal ad you see on websites, only these are visible for at least the duration of a college lecture, and longer if students refer back to their notes (as they should).

FreeHand agents operate at 90 of the biggest college campuses in the United States, reaching up to 3,500,000 students in 32 states, including all major cities. Businesses can select which campuses they want to market to, for local or nationwide campaigns, or to a targeted demographic. Thorough post-campaign reports detail how many sheets were distributed and even include pictures of agents handing them out to students.

Ads can be used to gain visibility, offer coupons, or promote sales, grand openings or other events. Colored and recycled papers are also available, and larger images can be displayed as watermarks. With so many brands and marketers reaching out to this market, note paper is an innovative low-tech solution for grabbing their attention."



One of the reasons I feel this could be an idea that is easily exported is that it is something that the consumer is likely to appreciate because it is free and likely to be useful. The advertising does not inconvenience them in any way which is likely to make them more responsive to the advertising. It also guarantees targets will be looking at the advert for the entire duration on a lecture.

I do not think the idea is limited to just places of education, instead I could see this being distributed to office buildings as free stationary for the staff. Companies would be likely to be happy with this because of the money it saves them, while their staff are exposed to advertising. I think this is a great idea and is an example of how advertising may need to change in the future if we become more savvy to disruptive internet advertising.

http://www.freehandads.com/
http://www.springwise.com/marketing_advertising/free_notepaper_for_students/

Meet Up "Let's use the Internet to get people off the Internet"

Meet Up is an online social networking tool which helps users to find or create group meetings in their area. The concept differs to traditional social networking somewhat in that it encourages users to use their system in order be able to facilitate social networking offline, in real life.

It is currently the world's largest network of local groups. There are currently 5.7 million members using the service that make up 58,936 local groups in 11,506 different cities. The service address the issue as to whether the internet has added value to our lives. For example while the internet has made us given us social networking, where we can communicate instantly with people from all over the world, has it made us more or less social in the real world.

Are we becoming more accustomed to communicating through new media than face to face and is it starting to detract from the idea of community and conversation? This is why I think that this service is so important. It encourages people to get off of social networking and socialise in specific interest groups locally, keeping the art of conversation alive and well.

Meetup has the following manifesto which it encourages users to sign up to via its website:

Meetup manifesto

Let's exercise our human right of assembly. Let's exploit it big-time.

Let's use the Internet to get people off the Internet.

Let's bring back the handshake. The verbal debate.

The smile. You know, some good ol' face-to-face, eye-to-eye contact.

When people get together amazing things happen.

They advocate, argue, learn, laugh and share.

Let's be a group. Let's be a real group.

Groups have a history of making history. People unite, motivate, activate and mobilize.

Groups give us the power to face a health crisis, start a political movement, pursue a passion, launch a business, and turn strangers into friends. To be bigger than ourselves.

Let's step away from our screens for a moment.

Do without the PC, the TV and the phone. People are more powerful than pixels. A real group can beat up a virtual group any day of the week.

Let's find the others. The ones that want the same thing.

Let's meet in real time, in real places, and make a real difference.

Let's Meetup

.

Meetup understand how the internet is such an important tool in bringing people together and utilises this, however they feel even more can be achieved by meeting face to face. It therefore creates something that combines these two ideas and also brings in the idea of specialist meeting groups.

Rather than just have meetings based on location, Meetup allows you to find groups in your that area that meet based on topics that interest you. For example if I wanted to improve my photography skills I would search for photography interest groups and enter my postcode, which actually gave me around 20 groups within five miles.



I think that this is a great idea because although social networking can bring us closer to one another, it rarely does and our relationships with one another stay at that level. This encourages sociability and offers a wide range of opportunities to people all over the world. In terms of expanding the idea into different countries this is definitely something with the potential to work.

There are already 11,506 cities participating and if it is a success there then why couldn't it be somewhere else? All that is required is an internet connection, so for countries where a high proportion of the population have internet access there is an opportunity to get involved. This is an idea that has continued to grow since the concept was created in 2001 and I am hoping that it will continue to do so.

Take Back Your Time Day

In the USA October 24th is recognised as the national take back your time day. October 24th falls 9 weeks before the end of the year, which represents the amount of time Americans would have off it they lived in Wester Europe. The idea of the day is to raise awareness of the importance of time of time off in our lives and to promote the ideas of the organisations 'time to care' public policy agenda.

The agenda includes the following policies:

- Guaranteeing paid leave for all parents for the birth or adoption of a child. Today, only 40% of Americans are able to take advantage of the 12 weeks of unpaid leave provided by the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.

- Guaranteeing at least one week of paid sick leave for all workers. Many Americans work while sick, lowering productivity and endangering other workers.

- Guaranteeing at least three weeks of paid annual vacation leave for all workers. Studies show that 28% of all female employees and 37% of women earning less than $40,000 a year receive no paid vacation at all.

- Placing a limit on the amount of compulsory overtime work that an employer can impose, with our goal being to give employees the right to accept or refuse overtime work.

- Making Election Day a holiday, with the understanding that Americans need time for civic and political participation.

- Making it easier for Americans to choose part-time work. Hourly wage parity and protection of promotions and pro-rated benefits for part-time workers.

Their belief is, "these broad policy ideas -- all taken for granted in other countries -- really speak to the needs for time poverty relief that millions of Americans share. They are not political bills -- we encourage legislators to take these ideas and design specific legislation around them -- but they are ideas for action, a comprehensive program to win more free time for Americans."

Having read Carl Honore's book In Praise Of Slow last Summer as part of a research project, I have become interested in the links between working hours, leisure and productivity. I feel that it is clear that we often work harder than we need to because of government guidelines, rules and regulations which actually limit our productivity and creativity.

OECD figures show that Americans works 125 hours (5 Days) a year on average more than the UK and 468 hours (19.5 days) more than the Netherlands. It is for this reason that the American people are trying to raise awareness of how more relaxed working hours could improve not just their productivity, but their health and happiness too.



Some of the suggested activities that take place on Time Day include,

"Close your office for the afternoon or the day.
Meet friends at a local café to talk about overwork, time poverty, and the environment.
Sleep in.
Buy stew vegetables from your local farmer’s market, cook and eat slowly with your family, taking time to enjoy the food and company.
Plant a native tree in your backyard.
Instead of watching TV, write to your senator about an issue important to you.
Play with your children or visit elderly relatives.
Cancel something.
Go for a walk in a place threatened by or saved from development.
Put up Time Day posters around your neighborhood.
Plan a rally or hold a press conference.
Hold a party where everyone brings one thing they bought and never used. Tell stories about them and trade.
Ask your pastor, rabbi, etc., to speak on work/life balance issues at the next service."

I think that this day is a worthwhile cause. There are many countries, possibly including the UK that could achieve much more as a nation if they took more leisure time. The expansion in terms of taking the idea to different countries is one that is dependent on the nature of individual governments.

More liberal governments are likely to be interested in the idea of improving health happiness and productivity of its people because it would save time and money for them. Expansion would be dependent on individual countries adopting some of these policies and deciding whether they would work successfully. If they were a success then there is no reason that the restructuring of working hours could not be considered on a global level.

Beem: Mobile money

Beem is new UK service which enables users to transer money to each other or to pay for goods and services using their mobile phone. Beem allows you to create an account tied to your mobile phone. You can transfer money into it from your regular bank account, then make payments by text.

Beem describe the simplicity of their service on their website, "If you have a bank account you can download and upload money via your debit card, if you don't use a bank you can still use Beem because friends and family can Beem cash to you. Right now, you can Beem mobile money or send prepay top ups to friends and family on any network and handset in the UK from anywhere in the world.

We are continually signing up businesses and other organisations who want to Beem on a regional, national or international basis. In certain regions you can also pay for a pint, pizza, cab or club membership with the organisations accepting Beem. All mobile phones are suitable, and it doesn't matter which network you are on or which bank you are with."

One of the main advantages of beem is that it makes transferring money from one bank account to another almost as simple as handing someone a tend pound note. I can see it working at its best in social situations. For example borrowing cash from a friend and paying them back immediately by text. Alternatively another transaction made all the simpler is ordering good online or over the phone. The idea is that this can all be done in a simple text message because Beem already has a record of your bank details. All of this can be achieved at the cost of a standard text message.




While I think Beem is a great innovation, I do not think it will be replacing cash or credit card payments anytime soon. For one it has only recruited a handful of stores that will accept their text message as a form of payment.

Its expansion in terms of other countries is dependent on the popularity of mobile phones. However it is something that I could see taking off in more developed countries. At the moment it is being marketed more specifically at young people but this is a service that in time I could see a lot more people making use of. A mobile phone is increasingly becoming something that we cannot live without in Western Culture and the simplicity of making transactions using the service is a reason I could see this taking off.

Bikeworks Community Cycle Centre

Bikeworks is a resourceful bicycle shop based in Tower Hamlets East London that has been trading since 2007. Their aim is to use bicycles to tackle "environmental, social & economic challenges in London." One of the reasons I particularly like Bikeworks is their bicycle recycling scheme where they accept old bicycles for recycling, repair them using as few new parts as possible and sell them at prices at low as £40. Producing good quality bicycles at such low prices gives access to everyone to be able to cycle in London, where transport is so expensive and levels of congestion are so high.

They are more than just a recycled bicycle shop however. Bike Works operates as a Social Enterprise and is legally recognised as a Community Interest Company and a not for profit Company Limited by Guarantee. Their website describes, "Bikeworks CIC is a social enterprise based in East London and began actively trading in March 2007. Bikeworks uses bikes to tackle environmental, social & economic challenges in London. Bikeworks creates local solutions to global issues through the promotion of sustainable urban transport through cycling. Bikeworks geographical focus is on areas of social deprivation in east London.

Creation of employment and training opportunities for marginalised individuals is integrated into the heart of the enterprise.
Specific activities include: recycling & refurbishing second hand bikes in London, provide dedicated (free to the public) training to get more people cycling on the road and doing so safely & affordably, creating training and employment opportunities for disadvantaged communities in a booming cycling industry."

This is such a simple but effective scheme that I feel would have a purpose in many other countries. Not only do they cater for current cyclists but also potential cyclists by offering a wide range of low cost bicycles. In inner cities this is something that I could really see taking off around the world. More people on bicycles would of course need to be catered for by governments but it would really cut down on emissions in the cities and help to keep people active. They also do particularly good work in enabling disabled to people to be able to have specialist bicycles catering for their needs and helping them with their cycling skills.

Bikeworks endorse this idea with their recycling scheme adding, "We recycle & refurbish used and abandoned bikes so that they can be re used or when this isn't possible materials (steel, aluminium) are put into the recycling system. Refurbished bikes are used in Bikeworks community programmes, given away to community groups & some sold on at affordable prices to the community. Regular Saturday sales of recycled bikes to the public will be starting from April 2008. Contact us for details.



Our environmental policy means that we aim to buy in very few spares, and the ones that we do buy are ones that we are unable to source from recycled spares, items such as brake blocks and ball bearings, if replaced will be new, otherwise all of the spares and bicycles that we use are refurbished." While this is a non profit scheme I think it could save money and bring positive change for many countries where there is a demand for cycling and the community work that is done by organisations like Bikeworks is something that more local councils should look at allocating funding to.


A video illustrating the different kinds of community work Bikeworks do

A BBC article and video on Bikeworks work with disabled people in the local community: http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2007/03/21/bikeworks_video_feature.shtml

http://www.bikeworks.org.uk/

Internet Voting in Estonia

In 2007 Estonia successfully held a parliamentary election that incorporated the internet as a voting method. The idea to use the internet as part of their voting system was first conceived by the Estonian government in 2001. As the idea developed they included it in the October 2005 general elections and once successful it was used in the parliamentary elections.

One of the reasons that internet voting or e-voting was so effective in Estonia was the fact that the country utilises an I.D card system. These I.D cards were incorporated into the voting system to ensure security, which was one of the initial concerns of the system when initially conceived. As of March 2007 over 1.04 million cards have been issued out of a population of about 1.32 million, which makes internet voting accessible to the vast majority of the country.

While internet voting is an idea that makes voting more accessible only 30,000 votes were done online, which is one in thirty voters. This however succeeded exceeded government expectations. BBC News reports, "those running the Estonian e-voting project hope that 20% of votes cast in future elections will be registered in this way

This, the largest-scale e-voting scheme run by any EU country, is being keenly watched across Europe. Online voting has been promoted as a quicker, cheaper way of collecting and counting ballots. Those concerned about falling turnout in elections hope that the convenience of not having to go to a polling station will encourage more people to take part.

But there are worries about security. In Switzerland, where it is already an established part of local referendums, voters get their passwords to access the ballot through the post. The Estonians say their system avoids such problems because people already have their micro-chipped ID cards and know the PIN codes to use them. But there are still fears that an online ballot makes it far easier to influence elections.

To tackle that problem, the Estonian election allows multiple online votes to be cast, with each subsequent vote cancelling out the previous one.And the system still gives supremacy to paper ballots, so anyone who voted online can also go to a polling station on Sunday and vote in the traditional way, cancelling out the vote they cast online."

While there are some doubts about internet voting I think that with developments in security this is an idea that eventually will be exported on a global scale. Now that we can order goods at the click of a button and book doctors appointments by a simple text message it seems that politics must move forward in a similar way to stay relevant to younger generations.

Another key advantage of internet voting is its improved accessibility. Actually going to a voting station on a given day can be demanding. It can mean and early rise or a detour on the way home from work in a society that is working increasingly longer hours. Doing a postal vote can be an even more long winded process to so giving people access to vote from home, at work or abroad is a key innovation that I believe can improve voter turnout and is a system that represents a new generation of people.


An Estonian advert for internet voting

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6407269.stm

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/22/technology/22iht-evote.4691301.html

http://www.vvk.ee/index.php?id=11178

Spotify: Volume Sensitive advertising

Spotify is an online music streaming service that gives its users access to its catalogue of music with no buffering or delays. The concept is a way to provide people with music without them having to take ownership of the tracks. Instead the users are given access to the company's library of music, however they also have to listen to adverts in between songs, in a way similar to radio advertising. For a fee of £0.99 per day or £9.99 a month users can listen free of advertising.

Advertising is a big part of Spotify's revenue so it is important for them to be able to ensure that advertising on the site reaches their users as effectively as possible. Until recently when adverts were streamed between songs on Spotify it was possible to turn down the volume, to avoid listening to the advert. However after using the service recently I noticed that this has changed.

Now the advertising is sensitive to the volume of your computer. For example as seen below if I turned down the volume to just one bar the advert would automatically pause and I would not be able to listen to any more music until I have continued to listen to the advert.





One way to beat the volume sensitive advertising is if you listen to music through speakers, you can turn them off and turn up the volume on your computer. However if you were to simply use a lap top or the built in speakers in a computer then this method of ensuring advertising is consumed would be highly effective.

Methods such as these to ensure that advertising is consumed by internet users perhaps demonstrates how modern technology has changed our attitudes towards advertising, especially invasive advertising such as this and represents a consumer desire to avoid advertising. While Spotify is only available in six countries currently, this technology could obviously work all around the world where there is internet access.

I have seen examples of placing advertising before content that has to be consumer in order to reach the content in television steaming websites such as 4OD, but the idea of making advertising volume sensitive opens up lots of possibilities. Could this idea be expanded to radio and even television, becoming more and more invasive in our lives? Whether this would be effective is debatable but it would ensure the consumption of adverts which is something advertisers would be likely to be pleased by. This is an interesting innovation in the way we deliver advertising and it would be interested to see if it will be exported into other countries soon as well as other mediums.

http://www.spotify.com

School Graffiti Classes in Crawley

During the summer a school in Crawley ran a class for young people age 8 and upwards which encourages them to participate in graffiti as an art form. The classes came as part of a council plan to combat problems the area has had with tag graffiti and instead educates them on the difference between graffiti as an art form and tag graffiti as criminal damage.

While this has been a controversial move with residents, it is an idea that embraces creativity in young people. Liz Hart, from the council's community arts team, said: "Graffiti is a really popular with young people. It is considered an art form. Graffiti projects that we have run in the past have been very popular and successful which is why we are running another one this year.

The fundamental thing to see is that it is a legitimate art form, we tell them it is not to be done outside the workshop and the young people who take part would not consider going out to tag a bus stop, wall or whatever. When we do the workshops we provide canvas for the young people to work on. They love it. It is a really positive thing. They use the sessions to promote messages, such as anti drugs posters, sex and relationships. I can understand that some residents may be worried but I can assure them the young people will be told the difference between vandalism and graffiti as an art form."

Local newspaper, Crawley News reports that the move has been unpopular in the community, "One resident, who did not want to be named, contacted the News to express his anger at the graffiti class.

The Southgate resident, who says his area has been plagued by graffiti recently, said: "It is disgusting, it beggars belief really. I can't believe they spend all this money a year on clearing the mess up, and having a hotline for residents to report the graffiti, only to hold a workshop encouraging children to do it. What next? How to break into someone's car?"

Graffiti has been a problem in the area and the council spent spent £37,700 towards clearing graffiti in the town in between 2008 and 2009. However I feel this is an idea that I feel areas with graffiti problems should consider. Firstly the tag graffiti that residents fear is done by the least skilled graffiti artists. By teaching children spray painting skills, they become more talented painters who are more likely to showcase these skills in a more constructive way.

In providing the young people with the materials and a canvas to paint it means that they are less likely to spend the same time spray painting on the streets. Learning about graffiti as an art form and some of the famous artists and projects that have been created from graffiti is likely to encourage them to want to get involved in constructive projects. Giving young people a place to display and enhance their creative talents is key to reducing the problem of criminal damage. In my opinion this should only be the starting point and while graffiti is so relevant to young people they should be allocated free walls to graffiti and offered the opportunity to contribute their work to spaces in schools and playground areas.

This idea is obviously still in its early stages and we will see in time to come if it has a positive or negative effect on the town of Crawley but if it is a success this idea could be exported as far globally as local councils will allow. If any country has a graffiti problem and has a budget to spend on reducing the problem rather than just clean up operations then they could adopt an idea of this sort.

http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/crawley/news/politics/Crawley-council-offers-classes-teach-young-people-create-graffiti/article-1219144-detail/article.html

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2575366/Town-gives-kids-graffiti-classes.html

Junk mail! Opt out... Tonic Mailstopper

Tonic Mailstopper is company that is able to reduce the amount of junk mail that its customers receive, by giving them control over what mailing lists they deem to be useful and what they deem to be junk. Tonic provide its users with the direct mailing lists that their information has been included on and enables them to decided which marketers they would like to receive information from.

Mailstopper not only "gets you off lists, we keep you off — by monitoring key direct mail lists monthly and making it easy to resubmit requests." The process of eliminating junk mail is done by filling out request forms, which are done either by mail or online applications. Tonic provide this to their users in exchange for $20 dollars per year.

Whilst this seems like quite a lot of money to pay to reduce junk mail it has advantages. Firstly by receiving less junk mail there is less impact on the environment. Tonic expand on this, "Junk mail reduction offers a host of positive side effects. Less mail means less paper is produced, and fewer trees are sacrificed.

For you, a smaller recycling pile means a smaller waste footprint for your household. And, less junk mail means you save time and effort, sorting through mail you don't want. By signing up for MailStopper, you support important environmental causes that make a difference in the world, as well as your mailbox with efforts like reforestation, sustainable harvesting and rainforest conservation."

To emphasise the environmental nature of this project, they will plant five trees through their tree planting partners for every $20 fee paid. There is also the more material security advantage of keeping, "unsolicited personalized mail out of your mailbox."

While I would begrudge paying money to free myself of junk mail, I do think it is something that most people would like to do. Being able to decide which marketers are able to contact you is something that I feel would be utilized much better if it was a free service. If this was the case I could see it being something that most people would take the time to do.



In poorer countries there is probably less of a need for such a service, because there is less disposable income which may well result in less direct marketing. However it is something that is common in many countries and the principle of this service is interesting. It asks the question as to whether we would be more responsive to direct mail, if it contained messaging that was more likely to interest us.

Making direct mail more specific is something that would perhaps be of interest to advertisers and with a service like this it gives the user more control over what they would like information on. This is perhaps an idea that needs development but is certainly an interesting one nonetheless.

http://mailstopper.tonic.com/

RecycleBank

RecycleBank is an American based recycling incentive scheme, however where it differs from something like a reverse vending machine is that the company comes to you to recycle your waste, rather than you having to go to them. This in itself is another incentive that I feel could give RecycleBank an edge over most existing recycling schemes.

The idea of Recyclebank is that they will reward you with vouchers of an amount based upon how much waste you recycle per collection. They have their own refuse collection team, who provide users with larger recycling containers than most of America and the UK. Their philosophy is that the majority of our waste can be recycled, so why should the recycling be the smallest of our refuse containers.



Where RecycleBank has provides its users with a further is the simplicity of the recycling, which is achieved by some very important technology. The New York Times describes, "it was important to spare households the tedium of separating glass, paper, plastic and metal. They (RecycleBank) signed on with the Philadelphia-based Blue Mountain Recycling, which uses sorting technology employing fans, gravity, magnets and manual picking." This technology makes recycling so user friendly that it is even simpler the current schemes employed by most local councils.

The New York Times also discuss the need to be able to weigh the amount of waste being recycled. "One problem for the RecycleBank was trying to find a way to measure the volume of recyclable goods generated by a household and credit that amount to participants. Through Web searches and phone calls, the men identified Cascade Engineering in Grand Rapids, Mich., which provided free several thousand 35- and 64-gallon bins embedded with RFID (radio frequency identification) technology as part of its research and development budget.

The "smart waste" tag, a combination computer chip and bar code, enables the bins to be scanned and weighed and the amount linked to a household. The information is channeled from an on-board computer in the garbage trucks into a databank. The LTS Scale Corporation of Twinsburg, Ohio, was able to configure scales and a tipping mechanism for the containers, which fit on the back of the trucks so the bins can be weighed and easily emptied.

Why not cheat by adding a bowling ball or other heavy nonrecyclable items to the trash? RecycleBank came up with a button on the on-board computer that workers can press to flag the address if they notice contraband. This happens less than rarely."



RecycleBank are funded by money that governments save on recyclable items not being put into landfill, as well as advertising revenue from their website. They then pay their users in vouchers for stores including Starbucks, Home Depot and Bed Bath & Beyond. Users can earn a maximum of $25 per month and $400 per year, whilst being able to check their recycling balance online, which really is quite an incentive. Over 125,000 households participated in 2007 with more being added every year.

In my opinion a system like Recyclebank could really make a huge difference to the way that we think about recycling. Its incentives in terms of money, simplicity and convenience make it a more desirable way of recycling than anything I have previously encountered. Its success on a global scale would be dependent on government attitudes to recycling and its willing to fund such a program.

In the long run saving are likely to be made for these governments, but there will also be a fair cost involved based on the technology that is used. However I believe that this really is a viable alternative that could really get people excited about recycling, understanding the importance of it in the process. If governments already have a refuse and recycling budget that could cater for this scheme, such as some of Europe's richer countries then this is something I could see being introduced on a much larger scale.

https://www.recyclebank.com/

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/21/business/businessspecial2/21recycle.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin/&adxnnlx=1254855610-5iojVckqWQYLuQWWg8E1Fg

Reverese Vending Machines

A reverse vending machine is a device that accepts used materials for recycling, usually beverage containers such as aliminium cans and plastic bottles. The RVM (reverse vending machine) then gives the user money or credits dependent on how much material has been recycled. Thats it. Exactly what it says... a reverse vending machine.

It is a simple concept, that is similar to bottle recycling schemes that were used in the past where Supermarkets would give a small amount of money to customers who returned their used glass bottles, so that they can be reused. This is not such a common idea anymore and we have seen an increase in the popularity of bottle banks and sorting our household rubbish to be recycled.

Nonetheless in my opinion, one of the best ways to get people recycling is for there to be an incentive at the end. This is exactly what the reverse vending machine provides its users with.

This really is a simple idea that has developed into a vending machine system because of updates in the technology available. The machines actually scan the bar codes of materials that are inserted to gain the relevant information on the item before accepting them, which means no miscellaneous items can be accepted.

There are currently around 90,000 reverse vending machines in use around the world (according to www.reversevending.co.uk) which is surprisingly not that many. They can hold around 1,000 bottles or cans before they need emptying and cost as little as £0.15 pence to run per day.

The machines have become common place in countries such as Norway and Germany. In the UK many local recycling schemes already provide special boxes for cans and bottles, however these tend to be quite small and often overfill ends up going in with the rest of the rubbish.

While these machines are already in use in many countries in Europe including the UK, I feel that they could work on a much bigger scale if correctly promoted. Getting money, or discounts on your shopping is an incentive that I feel would motivate many different people all around the world to bring their empty bottles and cans to the supermarket with them on each visit.

This is innovative new technology and on top of council recycling schemes I feel this could help make a difference.



http://www.reversevending.co.uk

London On Tap

Having looked at soft drinks, this brings me to my next post. London on Tap is a new scheme with the intention of reducing the wastage created by bottled water. London's Tap water is the rated the purest in the UK and one of the best sources of water in the world. Thames Water insist that it rates highly in taste tests, beating more expensive bottled alternatives, so for this reason they have decided to create their own brand of sustainable bottled tap water.

Thames Water stress, "Our water is 500 times cheaper than bottled water, and is kinder to the environment, emitting 300 times less CO2 to process than bottled alternatives. Tap water is not only good for you, it’s good for London and kinder to the planet.”

However despite this fact we find it difficult to ask for tap water in bars or restaurants because it is free and looked upon as being cheap. Thames Water have therefore taken the initiative to make an attractively designed bottle that contains their water that will be sold in restaurants. Their plan is to create a place in the market for tap water.

David Owens, executive director of Thames Water said the campaign also aimed to help consumers feel confident asking for tap water when dining out.

“According to the industry’s water quality watchdog, we have the best-quality water of all the major water and sewerage companies in England and Wales – and we’ve got a first-class carafe in which to serve it. We want to get as many of the capital’s eateries and bars involved as possible.

Since launching the carafes in May, we've had great feedback from restaurateurs who've been using them. Many of their customers say Tap Top's iconic design makes them more comfortable about choosing tap water".

As well as Thames Water being more sustainable, the packaging is made from recyclable materials and being sold in establishments where they will be recycled. In addition to this, £1 from the sale of every bottle will be donated to a water aid charity.



While some people may resent paying for something they could get for free, London on Tap is likely to increase consumer and staff awareness of tap water in restaurants. The idea differs to that of Dasani, which was purifying tap water and selling it as bottled water, this is bottled tap water being market as tap water.
See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3523303.stm

I think this is an idea that could go on to be successful. It will at the very least create an acceptance of tap water as an alternative to bottled water. If people resent paying for tap water in a restaurant then it may encourage them to ask for tap water for free.

One problem with exporting the idea on a global level is that not everywhere has tap water with the same high purity levels as London. For example in Pakistan bottled water is very popular because of the contamination of drinking water.

At £10 a bottle London on Tap is an expensive product that many people can simply not afford to pay for, although it is aimed at restaurant clientele who are more likely to pay for water. Thames Water still encourages just as many people to drink from their taps at home and their bottles are simply non profit alternatives to try to change the perception of tap water.

There are many countries in Europe and North America that are the major consumers of bottled water. Expansion of bottled tap water such as Thames water in these countries could create a widespread acceptance of tap water, which in the long run would help the environment by producing less C02 emissions amongst other things. This is a forward thinking idea that I think could work in many developed countries that are not utilising their supply of clean tap water.

www.londonontap.org

Bar None - Lexington

Bar None, is a purposely non alcoholic family sports bar based in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. The aim of the bar is to provide "all of the fun. None of the hangover" in the hope of catering for a clientele ranging from young children, student athletes and even alcoholics anonymous groups.

I personally feel that this is a great idea because there seems to be a mindset that sport and alcohol must go hand in hand. An establishment like this gives people a chance to avoid alcohol and to enjoy sporting events without the temptation of alcohol.

The website Kentucky.com describes, "Owner John Sims said he hopes it'll be a fun place where families take their kids, student-athletes hang out without worrying about getting into trouble and Alcoholics Anonymous members go to watch a big game without the temptation of alcohol.

Sims said Bar None will be a combination sports bar, restaurant and lounge, with a full menu, along with specialty sodas, energy drinks and full-time bartenders blending non-alcoholic "mocktails." Something else that will be missing from Bar None will be refillable fountain drinks. Sodas, root beer and ginger beer will be served bottled or in chilled mugs, just as in a regular bar." This is an important part of creating a non alcoholic bar to create a mature atmosphere and create a bar experience that people feel comfortable in.

I think that this is actually an idea that in theory could work if exported to the UK. At present binge drinking costs the government £20 million a year and a bar like this really makes people think about the possibility of not drinking and still having a great time.

If bar none became popular with customers, it would give them another option that doesn't involve alcohol and perhaps convince more people that you don't always need a drink to have a good time. There are of course many dry countries, where it is illegal to serve alcohol, so an idea like this would not be necessary. However the idea is much more interesting in Western culture where drinking alcohol is common place and could help to aid some of the ongoing problems we have with alcohol.

http://www.kentucky.com/latest_news/story/917800.html

Freecycle

Freecycle is an innovative online community similar to LETS for its Use of the idea of trading goods using online without the use of money. Freecycle is based around the trading of goods as opposed to services. The organisation's goal is to try to keep as many usable items out of landfills, doing this by finding new owners for these items through an online community.

They explain, "The worldwide Freecycle Network is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It's a grassroots movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns.

Freecycle groups match people who have things they want to get rid of with people who can use them. Our goal is to keep usable items out of landfills. By using what we already have on this earth, we reduce consumerism, manufacture fewer goods, and lessen the impact on the earth. Another benefit of using Freecycle is that it encourages us to get rid of junk that we no longer need and promote community involvement in the process. "


For users a huge advantage is that large unwanted goods can be collected cost free by another user who is happy to take ownership of the unwanted item. Again it provides a platform where offers can be seen easily by large numbers of people. Conversely people make requests for goods and in turn users looking to offload good can seek out these people to trade with.

I think this is another effective platform for trading that could be exported around the world. It is something I could genuinely see people using because it is so simple to find new owners for unwanted goods that even if there are no takers, nothing has been lost. The incentive is simply that you are helping the environment, people in your community and saving time in not having to take these items to the tip.

www.uk.freecycle.org/

LETS LINK UK

Similar to the bartering boards developed by ASDA, LETS (Local Exchange Trading Systems) is a network of local communities that allow people to trade good and services without the need for money. LETS differs from a system like the barter boards because there does not have to be a direct exchange of services in every transaction. One service is not necessarily traded for another but instead its users can earn community credits by providing someone else with a service. Different services have different community credit values and therefore you could choose to build up your credits to purchase a service of a higher value.

LETS explains, "LETS are revitalising communities throughout Britain. As grassroots initiatives they are open to everyone - people of all ages, skills and abilities; local clubs and associations; voluntary groups, charities, community initiatives; housing co-operatives, small businesses and local services - helping everyone to give and take, connect to new resources, and find a genuine community identity.

LETS offer equal opportunities to all - whether employed or unemployed, financially secure or on low income, black or white, able or disabled. LETS use a system of community credits, so that direct exchanges do not have to be made. People earn LETS credits by providing a service, and can then spend the credits on whatever is offered by others on the scheme: for example childcare, transport, food, home repairs or the hire of tools and equipment.

Research in about 1996 indicated that at least 40,000 people were involved in some 450 LETS schemes, most of them established according to the democratic and co-operative LETS model developed in Britain by LETSLINK UK, which began work in 1991. In the year 2006 our current contact list of over 300 indicates that their has been some shrinkage - if we say that membership averages 100 per scheme, this means about 30,000 or fewer members in the UK."

I think that like the barter boards, this type of trading is something that has worked in the past and could continue to do so. While it had become outdated new platforms such as a barter board or an online community give the idea the mass exposure that it needs to work. Rules and regulations are created by moderators which again gives the users the necessary faith in the idea to want to trade.

Where I feel a system like LETS is more appealing is the fact that there does not have to be a direct trade. If there is not another service that appeals to you on the barter board, then you will not end up offering your services. However with LETS, there is still an incentive to offer something to the community in the hope of building up community credits and then purchasing something else at a later date that is more appealing or of a higher value.

I think this is a system that would give its users more choice and in turn would develop a more dedicated base of users. It is also a more advanced system than the barter boards and gives users the ability to communicate with people further afield.

http://www.letslinkuk.net/index.htm

Asda: Barter Boards

Having looked at a back to basics trading system with local currency like the Brixton Pound, I wanted to look at the idea of paying for goods/services without currency in a true back to basics way. This is how I came across the Asda barter boards.

In September 2008 an Asda store in Colne, Lancashire became the first supermarket store in the UK to create a bartering scheme, where customers could exchange skills and services for free. The barter boards came as part of the supermarket's local week, where customers are provided with freshly sourced local produce. However due to the recession they decided to also create a bartering scheme.

The Lancashire Telegraph explain, "The boards, set up by Asda’s general store manager Mark Edwards, offer people the chance to share their skills and cut costs using barter, which founded many of Britain’s original markets. Customers can use the board to trade services and skills. Some examples include piano lessons being exchanged for guitar lessons and someone offering gardening services for a patio. Customers can leave personal details such as phone numbers but for security reasons are advised not to leave addresses."

The store manager also added, "Mr Edwards said: “We understand that our customers are feeling the pinch right now and as well as keeping our prices low, we decided to provide a community service that wasn’t for our profit but for local people to work together and beat the credit crisis. The barter boards are not only a way for customers to save money but are a return to traditional British community values. Colne is a real community store and Lancashire has a great history of trade, so it seemed the perfect place to let customers try their hand at bartering.”

Due to the local success of the scheme Asda is planning to continue the scheme next year at a larger number of stores. I could see this working outside of Asda stores and outside of the UK because it allows people achieve more by working together. While this way of trading has become outdated there are also advantages to it. It allows us to trade our time and skills, which are things that we do not normally do, instead we would hire professional help. However the barter boards simply give us another option and allow us to essentially pay with time instead of money.

An organisation like Asda would be essential to the idea. The whole scheme relies on trust so a third party to run and organise the system gives people confidence to trade with others. An idea like this is not for everyone. Time is such a precious commodity today that many do not have the time to spare. The more affluent might already pay someone for such skills and services and have little desire to offer something in return. In cultures where status is important it may not be such an attractive prospect to be seen providing services for someone of a lower class, however for many ordinary people this would be an excellent way to save some time, money or just help out in the local community.

The Brixton Pound

The Brixton Pound is a new local currency that can only be exchanged for goods in the Brixton area. It is a complimentary currency which means that its aim is not to rival the Pound Sterling, but to work with it in an attempt to increase trade for independent retailers in the area. When I first heard about the new currency I assumed that you would be able to get more for your money by using the new currency, but this is not the case.

The creators of the Brixton pound explain "If you’re a local business, the B£ benefits you by:Promoting your business through the B£ leaflets and website, helping you to find local suppliers, or to supply other local businesses and adding to positive perceptions of Brixton’s strong community and diverse economy.

If you’re a local shopper, the B£ benefits you by bringing you special offers exclusive to B£ users, ensuring that more of the money you spend in Brixton stays here, helping local businesses thrive in the face of recession and fierce competition from chain stores and working to reduce Brixton’s carbon footprint by supplying more of its needs locally"

Essentially the Brixton Pound is more an awareness campaign for shoppers to support the area's local businesses and independent retailers through a difficult period, with the money being more a local gift voucher than a real currency. But the new currency could create a sense of unity between Brixton residents and see people taking more pride in their local area.

The Brixton Pound is the first use of a local currency in in an urban area in the modern day. However experiments with local currencies have taken place before. BBC News reports ""A local economy is like a leaky bucket. Wealth is generated then spent in chain stores and businesses. It disappears leaving an impoverished local economy," explains Ben Brangwyn, part of the team behind the Totnes Pound, launched in south Devon in 2007.



"Local money prevents that from happening and keeps the money bouncing around the bucket, building wealth and prosperity." Currently, 6,000 Totnes pounds are in circulation from an estimated local economy of £60m.
It is, stresses Mr Brangwyn, a radical experiment, still in its very early stages, but he can see a day when England has 2,000 local currencies. Other towns joining the experiment, started by environmental group Transition Network, are Lewes in East Sussex and Stroud in Gloucestershire."

The idea does feel like something that would be more likely to work in small close knit communities than in Brixton however this does not mean it will not work. Whilst many are skeptical of the new currency, it is optional. No one can force you to take your change in the B£, whilst the people who wish to support their local economy can do so, ensuring that their money stays in the area.

A limitation of the idea would be trying to introduce a local currency into severely deprived areas, where many people cannot afford to support independent retailers and will travel outside of town to find cheaper goods. Being able to choose where you spend your money can be considered a luxury. Another problem is that there is no financial incentive, which may not motivate people in certain areas. The idea could be a problem if executed on a global scale because every small town would be trading in different currencies and purchasing could become confusing if you lived on the borders of two different areas.

Whilst the idea has been labelled a brain child of the middle classes, if the people of Brixton are really passionate about supporting local trade then the idea will work. If it is to work over time in a mixed demographic area like Brixton then it could prove that the idea in theory could work right across the world.


Official promo video for the Brixton Pound


The Brixton Pound discussed on the BBC Politics Show

Pizza Hut: Book It

Pizza Hut's Book It scheme is an incentive scheme that has been running for 25 years in the USA, Canada and Puerto Rico. The program reaches out to 50,000 schools in the US and 22 million children, encouraging them to read with the reward of a free pizza for their efforts, if they can achieve individual targets set by their teacher.

"The Book It program was first started in 1985. It runs from The 1st Of October to the 31st of March every year and is focused on children from K through 6th grade. It also has a program which runs two months each year for preschool aged children. It encourages children to read at least 20 minutes a day. Teachers involved in the program set a monthly reading goal. When the child reaches that goal, they receive a coupon redeemable for a free personal pan pizza."

While some people have criticised the program for encouraging children to eat pizza when child obesity is on the rise and the fact that children are receiving a commercially sponsored education, I feel that the incentive of a class being able to go for a pizza at the end of term is something that would have really spurred me on. Whether it pushes children to read an extra few pages a night, or encourages them to help their class mates with their reading, I believe this is a worthwhile idea that could really work if implemented in the UK.

However the idea of certain incentives for learning is something that could be used all around the world where willing sponsors exist. One consideration when taking a scheme like this across the world would be the incentive offered to children. For example Pizza Hut would not be such a popular incentive outside of Western culture, where this style of food is less prominent. But the idea of giving kids incentives and rewards for working hard in the classroom is something I would like to see implemented wider than just North America. I certainly wish it was implemented in the UK whilst I was at school.

Kim
Westminster, MD
Favorite book(s) as kid: Island of the Blue Dolphins
"My family didn't have a lot of money, so when I received my free book it pizza, it meant my family went out for the night. Mom and Dad could get a sandwich or split a pizza themselves and I got my own personal pan pizza. It was incredibly fun. It was a great reward and a good memory."

Yasmeen
Seattle, WA
Favorite book(s) as kid: Julie of the Wolves
Everything about the BOOK IT! Program, but especially the status afforded by donning the jumbo hologram button (it's proudly displayed in my bookcase today, more than 15 years later!). Getting to finally wear the button on my jean jacket was like a modern-day rite of passage as a budding bookworm. Equally memorable was driving home from Pizza Hut, in the back of my folks' Chevrolet, with a hot personal pan pizza on my lap. I practically was on a first-name basis with the Pizza Hut employees in Columbus, Georgia. Pride for me back then was wearing my BOOK IT! button and redeeming countless personal pan pizza vouchers.

http://www.bookitprogram.com

Bellenden Big Lunch

"The Bellenden Big Lunch was held on Sunday 19th July 2009 as part of the national Big Lunch initiated by the Eden Project and supported by the Government. http://www.thebiglunch.com It was organised in Bellenden Road by local residents within the Bellenden area (several streets around Bellenden Road). Bellenden Road was closed to traffic between Oxenford Street and Avondale Rise. The event ran between midday and finished about 5.30pm. Some of the shops in Bellenden Road shopping Parade further along the road also took part in various ways."

This was a really nice idea that took place as part of UK wide scheme to bring back a sense of community spirit to local neighborhoods. I actually live just off of the Bellenden Road which is one of the main shopping streets in the Peckham Rye area. Since living in South London I have noticed how little interaction there is between neighbors in the street and I felt that this was a simple but effective way of bringing people together and getting to know the people in the community.

Local shops and neighbors from the surrounding areas contributed sharing food, music games etc and made it a really successful day that I feel could definitely work in other countries, especially in major cities where there is a lack of community spirit and neighbor interaction and become more than just a one off event.



The event actually took place on Bellenden Road (not Bellenden Street) in Peckham (not South Camberwell) but nonetheless it received coverage on the BBC.






A video documenting the day shot by a local resident

www.thebiglunch.com