While the subscription model is not a new concept, there has been a surge of companies springing up and targeting evermore niche demographics and services, looking for the differentiator that sets them apart from anything that has come before.
Virtual office parties - actually not as bad as they sound!
As we enter party season, this year comes with the caveat that while everyone is still keen to celebrate the festivities, we will mostly be doing so in a "socially responsible" way. For many this will mean a virtual affair, with bars replaced with the home office and the embarrassing moments replaced with your partner or kids photobombing your Zoom call.
Giving thanks - for all those who shape our lives
While we are set for the least orthodox version of Christmas in living memory, I thought I would start the season by giving thanks for all those who have helped shaped my life.
The Twitter exchange - culture swap your social media
So how can we get out of our own echo chambers, experience new countries and gain a fresh perspective on exactly how terrible or oppressed our lives actually are? How about a student exchange program, like the ones some experienced during school. We can substitute the exchange program with one of our own - a kind of a blackout, but rather than avoiding devices and not checking in on social media, we can simply update our behaviour..
Got beef? Making meat - no harm, no fowl
The growing of "cultured meat" - the process of growing meat cells in a laboratory, from stem cells from a live host - is already being trialed by tech labs across the globe with their own strains of cultured meat products, which are not only offer the meat-eaters a new take on the "real" thing, but should also serve to satisfy the fundamental issues of those opposing meat eating.
The homemade ski trip
Sending it down a freshly-groomed piste is the highlight of the year for many intrepid skiers or snowboarders so if, like me you are looking at the distinct likelihood that this year's ski trip will have to be put on hold - or worse cancelled, then worry not! I am here to save your ski season with the most authentic ski trip South East London can deliver and you don't even have to leave your house.
Space Force - not the Netflix one
Another slice of science fiction became a reality at the end of last year when the US launched the United States Space Force and while the Team America : World-Police and Star Trek logo jokes are levelled at the newly minted department, the need for a space force continues to grow.
Fake News, not just an election problem
As America moves towards another controversial election and everyone seems poised to oppose any result and point to "fake news" and "Russian accounts" that are convincing people to side one way or the other there remain a whole host of other services that are at risk of being overloaded, mislead or compromised all by using basic devices and very little technical knowledge.
![Deepfakes for all - you won't [and shouldn't] believe your eyes](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5dde70318b6b2f5e3018a9a0/1603215711342-FRVEHZYBNIKXXY0MD4UV/pexels-hakeem-james-hausley-3328323.jpg)
Deepfakes for all - you won't [and shouldn't] believe your eyes
We should all be taking personal responsibility for verifying the accuracy and validity of our information sources, especially now information is bleeding through from unconventional channels. There is a lot of content out there and not all of it is legitimate.
Microevolution - what's next?
With the recent study on human evolution identifying major evolutionary changes in humans over the past couple of centuries, analysing the steps that brought them about may provide clues for what may be next.
Where we're going, we don't need roads - or do we?
With so many being forced to go out of their way and spend more time on the road in their cars, it seems lunacy for this scheme to remain in the long-term. There are plenty ways of introducing measures to reduce pollution and encourage communities to use more human-powered or public transport, this is not it.
Climate control - a dusting of sci-fi or billionaire boys club?
As Bill Gates' plan for filling the atmosphere with dust particles to in order to combat climate change moves another step closer to reality, it continues to draw attention [and some alarm] from the scientific community. Now, more of the world's top tech moguls are generating their own noise for the latest in geo-engineering, with a project set to reduce the acidity of the world's oceans.
Call off the search - nano bots will take it from here, but should we allow it?
There are many emerging technologies out in the world with boundless potential for both good and bad. It is vital that our nations and governments learn from previous failings to understand technology, resulting in embarrassing courtroom scenes and redundant legislation.
The CRISPR diet - drop the pounds, not the puddings
Initially touted as a potential miracle-cure for any number of diseases, there is still no evidence of any long-term affects that gene editing may have on an individual during a lifetime, and that's before looking at the bigger question of "should we" be making these changes at all.
It's all kicking-off - top takeaways from sports during lockdown
As some of the major sporting leagues across the globe prepare to return this weekend, what are some of the top tech changes that were implemented for the covid-19 lockdown conditions and will they remain once spectators are allowed back into stadiums and into seats?
The untouchables - AI immunity in the arts?
Art is not predictable, it is not something that can be automated and while it can be re-created by machines, these pieces lack the intangible element that defines art. Art requires humans and humans require art.
Oh Frak! - the issues with 5G pushing power to edge devices
With IoT and 5G converging to enable devices from your kitchen fridge to alarm clock and even teddy bears to be "online" there is - or should be - a real concern over security of communications between these systems.
AR we becoming too reliant..?
AR can teach you the steps for a symphony but if we live exclusively using these tools how will we cope when the off switch is flipped?
Image rights and player data - who owns what we see?
This lawsuit, if successful could herald a new age of accountability, sending a shockwave throughout every aspect of sport, with companies having to consider the use of all data pertaining to the stars on show.
Digital debt - Time to cull those unused accounts?
With greener everything being championed it's time to consider exactly what our own impact on the digital world is. Data isn't free and we're all responsible for keeping it lean.