The stories this week offer a valuable reminder that while we tend to focus a lot of our attention on looking forward toward the future, there can be a beautiful resonance that comes from looking in the other direction from time to time. Kodak brings back film, the ultimate “device like no other” from a greeting card company and a league for professional snowball fighting are the perfect antidote to the world I saw last week at CES which was rocketing toward drone racing and sentient robots. The stories I curated this week gave me a lot of hope for more balance in the world between technology and humanity. I hope they do the same for you.
Kodak Brings Film Back As Analog Cameras See A Resurgence
Image Source: [Boing Boing]This was a headline nobody expected to write, but indeed you read correctly … Kodak is bringing back a limited production run on its popular Ektachrome film for those enthusiasts who are coming back to analog cameras. As a lifelong photography enthusiast, I read this with more than a little sense of glee, even though I have long since sold my 35mm SLR Nikon. I have to admit I am seriously tempted to hit eBay and see if I can buy one again.
The Professional Snowball Fighting League You’ll Long To Join
Image Source: [HypeBeast]I admit I was a little afraid to show this video to my 12 year old son, because I’m not sure it’s a good thing for him to know that being a “professional snowball fighter” is actually a real thing … but this video is the perfect antidote to the cold. As you watch Finland and Japan squaring off in a battle to capture the flag with 90 machine created snowballs each, you might wonder how this is not already a Winter Olympic Sport. The world needs this way more than it needs luge relay – that’s for sure.
A Deconstructed Masterclass In Humor From The Golden Globes
Image Source: [Tite Report]If you happened to catch the Golden Globes earlier this week, you might recall a perfectly odd award presentation from Despicable Me co-stars Kristin Wiig and Steve Carrell. You might not realize just how perfect their deadpan humor was … until you read this brilliantly deconstructed analysis by speaker and author Ron Tite. His post offers a beautiful analysis of why their bit was so funny, and what you can learn about comedic timing from watching their mastery.
Image Source: [Fast Company]When we see news stories about startups or innovators in technology, their aspirations are often limited to software or apps. They get a lot of attention despite the fact that they don’t make physical things. This fascinating article is a longer read, but worth it because of how it takes you inside what is one of the busiest manufacturing hub cities in the world: Shenzen. The program looks intriguing, the reporting is good and the story is one that reminds you of just how complex and beautiful it can be when a startup actually makes something that you can hold in your hands instead of interact with through your phone.
American Greetings Brilliantly Trolls A Tech Conference (Again)
Image Source: [AdWeek]Walking outside the trade show floor at CES last week, there was an odd little building outside which I couldn’t help but enter. Inside was a “booth” for American Greetings where they had illustrators ready to draw photos into a greeting card you could send to a friend or family member directly. It was a reminder amidst all the tech that human connections still matter deeply. After streaming a live video there, the appreciative team handed me my own box with a special stylus branded as a #DeviceLikeNoOther. Looking inside, I realized they had just given me a pencil. Simple, creative and effective.
Restream Offers More Ubiquity For Live Streaming Video Users
Image Source: [VentureBeat]Live video is exploding in usage, but as of now there is a challenge for the most social media connected … where should you post that video? Restream is a startup that offers an interesting solution to the problem that will likely take off because of its utility. Through Restream, users can post a live video to several sites at once, eliminating the need to choose. While Facebook is not integrated due to technical limitations, I still love the concept of this and think that it has huge potential for growth just as social media scheduling tools exploded when social was undergoing huge growth.
Non-Obvious Gift Of The Week: Dan Ariely’s Irrational Game
As I have done in the past, I will use this last story spot some weeks to share a book or product that I think is well worth your time. This week, I am sharing a game that I received a few months ago after supporting its launch on Kickstarter. If you are a fan of Dan Ariely’s writing on the power of irrational thinking – or even if you’re unfamiliar with him … this game will offer a highly entertaining look into the way people think and give you some surprising insights about behaviour that are sure to be useful in your daily life!
Every week I review more than a hundred data sources to curate the best and most under appreciated marketing stories of the week. The aim of this email is to spotlight these “non-obvious” stories, along with a quick take on why they matter for you. I hope you find this email interesting and useful … and am always open to your suggestions on how I might make it better!
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In addition to Non-Obvious Thinking, Rohit is the author of 10 books on trends, the future of business, building a more human brand with storytelling and how to create a more diverse and inclusive world.
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