melt

Established in 2001 The Future Laboratory is globally recognised for its innovative approach to forecasting and consumer insight. Futures Director Martin Raymond gave a special trends briefing at the Melt 07 Inspiration Session and has very kindly allowed us to disseminate some of his insights through the Melt website.

'Global Snapshot' profiles emerging trends from around the world.

"Converged devices, which combine the functions of all your gadgets into one, are big news at the moment, as is the convergence of content - making all your media available on any platform." (The Future Laboratory Spring 2007 Trend Dossier)

Until recently Michael Nutley edited the most influential magazine in the UK’s digital media business, New Media Age. Now, as its Editor-in-Chief, he has pause to see where the title is going and look back on the new and not-so-new media fashions that got us here.

In April 2007, to help signpost Melt applicants to commercially potent areas for possible R&D, we commisioned a number of interviews with leading industry informers. Edited versions of these can be found in the 2007 brochure.

Here we have the full transcript of games gurus Martyn Brown (Team 17) and Charles Cecil (Revolution) in conversation, talking about the past, present and future of game development.

Connected technologies mean that end users can be directly involved in the design and implementation of interactive products. Kristina Nyzell, Fiddian Warman and Katz Kiely met in April 07 to consider how small companies can capture and capitalise on the power of communities. Download the PDF for a brief overview of a long and inspiring discussion about turning traditional development processes on their head.

A basic overview of emerging technologies and how they are converging and diverging with a glossary of terms to help unravel the babble.

A Classic, written by Andi Stamp in 1999 (so some links may be discontinued) but still a racy bed time read. 'Viagra for content producers' Dr Wurstlin

A simple overview of IP and Copyright including links to other sources of IP help and advice and some great anecdotes to tickle your fancy or scare you rigid. Research by Yvonne O'Donovan, Sara Whittaker-Gilbey, Inspiral and Colin Pons and Gloria Ward, SON.

Interviews with key industry figures and market leaders with their views on what the markets of the future will be. Researched by Gill Henderson and Evelyn Wilson.

"Ambient intelligence, augmented reality and phenomena such as 'active skin'. Active skin refers to shifts in technology that will literally enable electronic data to be stored on the skin. People's phones, for example, may be embedded in their skin. We'll see big medical and cosmetic progress which will enable all sort of things to happen, such as cultural overlays" Ian Pearson, Futurologist, BT

From interactive television and immersive environments to pioneering sound design and pervasive locative media, some great examples of work from one person bands to large companies. By no means definitive but great food for thought! Researched by Gill Henderson and Evelyn Wilson.

Juicy tit-bits about where the key market action is and who has got the money. Researched by Gill Henderson and Evelyn Wilson.

• Profits from ringtone sales often go to the artists and the song publishers, bypassing record companies
• There are signs that mature music fans are getting to grips with the technology. Golden oldies such as Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water hover just outside the downloads bestsellers list