Weekly Mashup 67

Mark Zuckerburg on the future of wearable technology Wareable

The Facebook CEO made his predictions for smart wearables at a recent conference, and they include smart spectacles that DON’T actually look dorky; stylish rings, watches, bracelets and earbuds that feel a totally natural part of your day; less dependency on smartphones, and – naturally, since he owns the company – Oculus Rift taking virtual reality to new heights.

Augmented reality considered the most helpful mobile shopping tool EMarketer

Consumers consider augmented reality the most helpful mobile shopping tool available when purchasing consumer packaged goods, according to research by Catapult Marketing. The technology sits above mobile shopping apps and mobile purchasing in terms of usefulness.

Good mobile strategy drives in-store sales, says Google PSFK

Consumers use phones as personal assistants when shopping, and retailers need to capitalize on this by providing in-store mobile integration offering great user experience, relevant ads and insightful measurement, says Pablo Slough, Google’s Head of Mobile Ad Solutions for the Americas.

Is this vibrating vest the key to a truly immersive virtual reality experience CNN

A vest that turns sound into vibrations which rumble in your chest could be the key to making truly immersive gaming, music and movie experiences. The $150 KOR-FX, developed by physicist Shahriar Afshar, plugs into an audio jack and offers the same thrill you get from a thumping bass.

The smart bracelet that turns your SKIN into a touchscreen Cicret

Left your phone at home? Don’t worry. A French tech startup has developed a smart bracelet that turns your arm into a touchscreen. Seriously. The Cicret wearable is fitted with a pico projector, which displays your mobile screen interface on your forearm. Still in funding stages, the bracelet is expected to cost $400 and be available to buy in 2016.

The Internet will be the most disruptive technology over the next five years Time

More people will get online in the next five years than ever, and this will have disruptive global implications, according to Ben Bajarin, partner at Creative Strategies and Tech.pinions co-founder, speaking at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas