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It's an age old tradition across the globe. You say "cheers" (or regional equivalent) then 'clink' glasses, an almost universal symbol.

In Brazil, Budweiser is making this act, even more sociable, with their Buddy Cups.

The smart cups detect the contact between them and adds the other person as a friend on Facebook, this is done via a chip in the bottom of the cup and a code which you scan with your smart phone to activate it.

The cups are reportedly going to be used for events and concerts, but it is interesting to see how far afield this technology will be used

Watch a video about the new cup below.

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San Francisco based start-up company Mobeam has patented technology that will allow barcodes to be scanned from Smartphone screens at checkouts.

The point-of-sale possibilities are endless for coupons and other far more fun advertising promotions. Plus, it is better than replacing every checkout scanner in the world.  

To promote the technology, Portal A created this heavily Auto-Tuned supermarket musical, in which a frustrated cashier bursts into song over the wonders of Mobeam. It includes an obligatory rap, a talking fish and a dancing janitor. The video is silly in the extreme.  

This, however, is not an app you can download, it is a technology targeted at businesses to add to their apps. And the reason for this? Modern phone screens are too high definition for normal barcode scanners to read, so the technology sends signals via an LED to the scanner to ‘trick’ it into thinking it is reading a normal barcode.

Whilst the technology will only appeal to developers and advertisers, the video will appeal to everyone. Watch it below.

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Recently Google gave developers the chance to get their hands on a pair of Google glasses, called Glass, but more importantly, access to the API which allows apps to interact with them. 

They also set up an opportunity for "creative individuals" to trial the glasses via a campaign on Twitter and Google+, called Project Glass.

Using the hashtag #ifihadglass they are looking for people to give a reason why they should be the first to get their hands on the glasses in 50 words or less, however the winners will still have to fork out $1,500+tax for the privilege.

To encourage people to enter Google has released a video on YouTube which shows how Glass can be used, inclduing the voice operation, which uses the line "OK glass" to begin a command; i.e. "OK glass take a picture"

The video also highlights the sort of tasks you can perform with Glass, from text messaging and video calling to searching Google and finding a location on a map. There is also an automatic-picture-taking mode, which takes pictures at preset intervals.

The glasses are the next step in wearable technology, allowing the user to record everything they do, as well as interacting with others via video, although the headset doesn't actually have lenses in front of your eyes, just a small screen (viewable via a mirrored glass block) above and to the right of the wearer's right eye. Whilst not the only wearable technology in development (other companies including Microsoft has been developing their own version of Glass), the Google Glass is the one closest to completion, having first been announced last year, and featured in our blog last April.

Find out more at the Glass Website and watch the video below.

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Yes, you read that right, America's first bookless library is set to open soon in Texas.

Due to a growing trend of using e-readers, iPads and tablets to read books, the library will resemble an Apple store more than a traditional library. Without a book in sight, BiblioTech, playing on the French word bibliothèque, will be full of rows of desks and computer screens.

Visitors to the BibloTech in Bexar County, Texas,will be able to borrow ebooks via ereaders, which will be available from the library for a period of 2 weeks, just like a traditional library. To start with, the library will have 100 ereaders, 50 ereaders for children, 50 computer stations, 25 laptops and 25 tablets. Through a deal with ebook providers, has access to over 10,000 titles, a number that they hope will grow substantially as time goes by.

The idea of a book-less library is not completely unique; schools and universities have already started them, but this will be the first one open to the general public.

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The Think Tank has received four awards in the 'BestFor PR Industry Awards'.

The awards have been keenly contested and 'BestFor' describe them as follows:

' PR Agencies across the UK have the opportunity to apply for a BestFor PR ranking. Our independent judging panel rigorously assesses each application and if successful, agencies are awarded a gold, silver or bronze ranking and listed within the relevant ranking table.

Each ranking table on the BestFor PR website enables companies seeking PR agencies to identify, select and contact leading agencies in the applicable sector or region that match their requirements.'

We are thrilled to have received the following awards:

Silver - Consumer Category
Silver - Property and Construction
Bronze - Technology
Bronze - National Category

This is a great credit to our PR team. Well done to all.

Click here to find out more.

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Two new interior design trade fairs are set to open their doors in London next year.

In a brave move in a market that has seen the demise of several shows, including Design Prima, in recent years Office Interiors at Earls Court and DX, at Excel, will avoid the September Interiors scrum focussing on the beginning of the year.

Office Interiors is organised by Diversified Business Communications and will be held on 13th and 14th February. The organisers present the show as a 'vibrant, fresh and exciting new event dedicated to the UK's office interior industry'. 

DX is organised by UBM and launched by Ian Rudge, co-founder of the 100% Design and Tent shows, in collaboration with graphic designer Neville Brody and architect Ad Rogers. The show will focus on the relationship between design and technology and will be at Excel on 19th and 21st May 2013.

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Do you get frustrated with the size of your touch screen on the iPhone. Well now you can plug it into the “Table Connect”, a table that turns its screen into a massive 58-inch multitouch surface to let you search and browse the data. Your iPhone's screen is projected onto its surface, allowing complete control over your iPhone.

Click here to see more.

The Think Tank

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