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Design Innovation Readings

Watch John Maeda’s “How art, technology and design inform creative leaders” talk at TED

John Maeda, President of the Rhode Island School of Design, delivers a funny and charming talk that spans a lifetime of work in art, design and technology, concluding with a picture of creative leadership in the future. Watch for demos of Maeda’s earliest work — and even a computer made of people […]

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China Consumer Behavior Trend Watching

China, Socialism & Consumer Behavior: Rising cost of luxury goods slows to 2009 level

Price increases for luxury goods and services in China this year are at their slowest level since 2009 but continue to outpace inflation, according to a report by the Hurun Research Institute. China’s Luxury Consumer Price Index, which measures price changes in 62 luxury items, rose 4.94 percent in June from a year earlier, 2.79 […]

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China Trend Watching

Education in China: Textbooks come with obsolete cassettes

Parents often complain that it’s difficult to use the outdated tapes since many no longer have cassette players […]

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Consumer Behavior Economics Trend Watching

Consumer Behavior in Brazil: Nearly 80% of new members of the middle class are of African descent

Nearly 80% of new members of the middle class in Brazil are of African descent, according to research from the Strategic Affairs Secretariat (SAE) of the Presidency. The data was released on recently during a ceremony at Planalto Palace in Brasilia […]

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China Trend Watching

Education in China: 43 percent of Shanghai students consider studying overseas

More than 40 percent of the students in key, city-level high schools in Shanghai are considering studying overseas as undergraduates, according to a survey released recently by the Shanghai Education Commission […]

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Design Innovation Readings

Watch Sir Ken Robinson’s “Bring on the learning revolution!” talk on TED

In this poignant, funny follow-up to his fabled 2006 talk, Sir Ken Robinson makes the case for a radical shift from standardized schools to personalized learning — creating conditions where kids’ natural talents can flourish […]

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China Information Technology Trend Watching

Information Technology in China: Smart City plans for Shanghai

Can you imagine such a “smart city” life? It can become a possibility in Shanghai as early as 2015. Presently, the system to build a smart city is having a trial operation in suburban Minhang District and gradually it will cover the whole city, Shanghai city officials revealed recently […]

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Design Readings Software

[EVENT] IxDA Shanghai presents “Four Mobile Machines” with Aaron Marcus: SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2012, 7:30PM

Mr. Marcus reviews briskly four projects that are conceptual designs for new kinds of mobile applications (smartphone and tablet with associated Web portals) that combine the theories of information design and persuasion design to change people’s behavior […]

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Economics Information Technology Trend Watching

Information Technology in Brazil: Launching Investment Program to Boost Software and IT Industry

Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) has unveiled a new Strategic Program for Software and Information Technology in Brazil, announcing R$ 500 million (approximately US$ 248 million) in planned investments from 2012-2015 to build and strengthen Brazil’s competitiveness in this sector [..]

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China Trend Watching

Living in China: 1 million Shanghainese residing overseas

More than 1 million Shanghainese are residing overseas, either living or studying in 159 countries and regions around the world, with the United States being the most popular destination, authorities said recently. The number of overseas Chinese with Shanghai hukou (permanent residence permit) and Shanghai native with foreign citizenship reached 1.02 million, surging 50 percent within […]