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The Latest Highlights & Trends in Tech

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Hitman recreated IRL and controlled by The Chuckle Brothers

The Chuckle Brothers play real-life Hitman

IO Interactive's popular Hitman franchise was adapted into a big budget real-life interactive experience this week by production company Realm Pictures, who were asked by IO to create a scenario that looks like something you'd see in the latest game, only arranged with human actors and real world set pieces. The real masterstroke of this campaign, however, was inviting the Chuckle Brothers to play it. I guarantee you'll never hear “To me, to you” in the same way again. The game was originally played by a collective of invite-only contestants, who were able to control the titular character by whispering directions into the actor's earpiece as he stalks his prey at Oldway Mansion in Devon. To complete the experience, Realm even brought in Hitman voice actor David Bateson to reprise his role as Agent 47. Unlike Realm Pictures' previous execution, Hitman needed to be filmed in third-person with a cameraman gracefully emulating the behind-the-shoulder perspective of the series. Each team was given one hour to assassinate their target and escape the premises. Amazingly, Realm Pictures seemed to have prepared for any possibility, with the studio creating five different ways to infiltrate the building and 10 different ways to approach their target with all manner of costumes, approaches and techniques. It's a great idea, but the real question should be; what games could the studio be ready to try their hands at next? I for one would love to see a real-life, interactive Sonic the Hedgehog, though it definitely couldn't be recommended for anyone suffering with motion sickness.

Trust me when I say that I cannot wait to show you what we have in store for you next” Realm Pictures Director David M Reynolds

Children give their predictions for the future of technology in BBC micro:bit campaign

BBC Microbit: Predictions

Schoolchildren give their unique take on where technology will go in the next thirty years in the new BBC masterbrand campaign for BBC micro:bit; a pocket-sized, codeable computer that allows young people to get creative with technology, and it is being supplied to around one million Year Seven or equivalent school children this year for free. The device, which is similar in execution to a Raspberry Pi, only with more of a focus on education, aims to inspire digital creativity and help develop a new generation of tech pioneers, in a bid to address a growing skills shortage in the UK's technology sector. The campaign, created by RKCR/Y&R, centres on a TV trail showing children talking about the incredible ideas that their BBC micro:bit’s could help make a reality. Their predictions include hover shoes, wifi-enabled clothes, and 3D hologram phone calls with your nan. The campaign launched across BBC channels this weekend.

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The best briefs start with the biggest ambitions and what could be more apt for today’s world than BBC micro:bit, which kickstarts 1 million kids’ imaginations as to what the future will bring” Alison Hoad, RKCR/Y&R

WeTransfer acquire Present Plus

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WeTransfer head honcho Nalden (one name, like Madonna) announced this week that WeTransfer has acquired the Present Plus design studio, with the PP team set to join WeTransfer’s offices in Amsterdam, leading a series of design-driven product launches for the company, including a revamped user interface for WeTransfer.com and a desktop app for OS X. At WeTransfer, Nalden will become the Chief Innovation Officer, leading the design team, whilst Damian Bradfield will become Chief Marketing Officer. They will continue to produce film for existing and new clients as an independent studio. The film & production studio of the same name run by Joppe Rog in London, is not part of this acquisition. Over the years, WeTransfer have developed their own digital products, such as illustration service Kuvva, social app Who’s In and the video portrait series, One Minute Wonder. Both apps and video series will remain available and the cloud-based file transfer company are committed to securing a future for them.

Big up to everyone involved in this journey. You know who you are. It feels like we’re just getting started. Let’s fucking do this!” WeTransfer Co-Founder, Nalden

Thomas Cook allow passengers to try before they fly in new VR execution

A330 Flight Deck 360º - Thomas Cook Airlines Fantasy Flight

The new Fantasy Flight concept by Thomas Cook, created in conjunction with digital creative agency, Catch, brings to life a 360-degree VR exploration that lets passengers try before they fly. Best experienced using Google Cardboard via the YouTube app, viewers change their perspective of Thomas Cook Airlines’ refurbished premium and economy class cabins in real-time by moving their headset/device around. The video features real pilots and cabin crew going about their normal duties while the cabin comes to life with lookalike celebrity characters connected to the new destinations. If the user explores thoroughly enough, they can also find clues to three of the airline’s newest destinations, which could snag them a £3,000 LA holiday! To create the Fantasy Flight experience, Catch used three GoPro cameras assembled to capture an entire spherical perspective of the cabin scene, and a 50+ strong crew of actors, airline staff and impersonators to bring the new destinations into the cabin. It's a nifty idea, and could prove an approachable gateway into the world of VR executions for many people, as it's far less ambitious and more immediate than many similar recent VR campaigns.

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2016 is set to be Virtual Reality’s breakout year, and this new technology is perfectly placed to highlight Thomas Cook Airlines’ new routes and high-end A330 aircraft” Founding Partner of Catch, Jonathan Smith

The wearable light for rural communities that's powered by walking

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Indian industrial design graduate Yogita Agrawal has created a wearable device that acts as a back-up light in rural areas. Agrawal started work on the Jhoule wearable while studying at Parsons School of Design, as part of a class themed around enduring design. The circular device includes a detachable embroidered covering, and has a clip on the back that allows it to be worn around the waist, ankle, or arm. As the wearer walks, Jhoule harnesses energy from the body's swinging movement, which drives its internal charging mechanism. This energy is then stored, and can be used to power embedded LEDs in the device. Jhoule can be used in the absence of streetlights, or hooked to a wall in the home to provide light in the evenings. Many inhabitants of rural India aren't able to install solar panels, often because houses aren't robust enough to support them, or because homes can't be locked while people are out. While looking for alternative sources of energy, Agrawal discovered that many local people were walking for one to two hours every day, so the solution seemed natural to the designer. The device is named after the Hindi word that means "to swing", as well as nodding to the English word for a unit of energy. Its colourful, circular design references the ornamental key hooks that many women in India wear on the waist of their sarees. The embroidered covering can also be customised by the owner.

Jhoule is a product intervention that will allow the community to gain an additional advantage from the physical activities they already perform” Yogita Agrawal

The Week in Apple

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Apple confirmed this week that its next media event will be taking place on March 21 at its Cupertino, California campus. In addition to the next iPhone, which may not have a headphone jack according to a batch of recently leaked photos, Apple is expected to announce its iPad Air 3 and smaller-screen iPhone SE. Apple's iPad Air 3 is the long-awaited upgrade to the iPad Air 2, which launched in October 2014. The next generation of iPad Air is rumoured to include a Smart Connector and support for Apple-branded accessories. Although it's nearly identical to the iPhone 5, Apple's iPhone SE is said to come installed with iPhone 6 upgrades. The new model is intended to be an alternative for Apple users not interested in the much larger iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices. The iPhone 5se will come in gold, rose gold, silver, and space grey, according to rumours. According to Buzzfeed, the company could also be unveiling a new selection of Apple Watch bands. Other rumours surrounding the iPhone 7 besides its lack of headphone jack (which suggests that Bluetooth or Lightning headphones might come packed in with the phone), claim that the smartphone will have a flush rear-camera, and see its antenna bands across the back removed. Apple also has a patent for a dual-camera feature, but it's uncertain if it intends to move forward with the idea.

Let us loop you in” Apple

Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer and struggling musician from the dark heart of Kidderminster in the UK.

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