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Design Economics Innovation Inspiration

Watch Steven Johnson’s “Where good ideas come from” talk at TED

People often credit their ideas to individual “Eureka!” moments. But Steven Johnson shows how history tells a different story. His fascinating tour takes us from the “liquid networks” of London’s coffee houses to Charles Darwin’s long, slow hunch to today’s high-velocity web […]

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Design Economics Information Technology Innovation Software

Autodesk Introduces New iPad App to Make Engineering Fun for Teens

Autodesk announced that its new Autodesk TinkerBox App for iPad, a free* game designed to playfully spark teens’ interest in mechanical engineering, is available on the App Store. The app allows players to experience the fun and excitement of invention, while gaining confidence in their ability to excel in engineering […]

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China Economics Innovation Trend Watching

Watch Martin Jacques’ “Understanding the rise of China” talk at TED

Speaking at a TED Salon in London, economist Martin Jacques asks: How do we in the West make sense of China and its phenomenal rise? He examines why the West often puzzles over the growing power of the Chinese economy, and offers three building blocks for understanding what China is and will become […]

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Design Economics Innovation Trend Watching

Watch Jason Fried’s “Why work doesn’t happen at work” talk at TED

Jason Fried has a radical theory of working: that the office isn’t a good place to do it. At TEDxMidwest, he lays out the main problems (call them the M&Ms) and offers three suggestions to make work work […]

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China Consumer Behavior Economics Trend Watching

China, Socialism & Consumer Behavior: growing numbers of super rich

The number of super rich on China’s mainland is expected to rise 16 percent in 2010 thanks to the booming capital and property markets […]

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China Economics Trend Watching

Architecture & Urban Planning in China: Average building lasts only 20 years

More than half of China’s existing residential structures will be demolished and rebuilt in the coming 20 years, according to a senior researcher from the Chinese Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, a claim that has sparked fresh questions about the short lifespan of Chinese buildings […]

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China Economics Trend Watching

China, Technology and the Environment: Electricity consumption to almost double by 2020

The China Electricity Council (CEC) released projections recently that the country’s electricity consumption will almost double from the 2010 level to 8.2 trillion kWh by 2020 […]

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China Consumer Behavior Economics Trend Watching

China, Socialism & Consumer Behavior: Designer labels bank on China

A study from American consultancy Bain & Co says that China remains the fastest-growing luxury goods market in the world, with a sales volume of 68.4 billion yuan ($10.27 billion) and an expected increase of 30 percent this year over last year’s takings […]

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China Economics Information Technology Software Trend Watching

Information Technology in China: Software sector set for growth

China’ software industry revenue is expected to grow more than 20 percent annually over the next five years, an industry association official said recently […]

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China Economics Information Technology Innovation Software Trend Watching

Information Technology in China: Shanghai to set up a fund for cloud computing

Shanghai plans to establish a government fund to support the development of cloud computing, officials said during a forum recently […]