The Knowledge to Decide

Video games and movies have long been entertaining us with ever-more sophisticated and realistic computer-generated special effects. The latest trend in computer-generated experiences is Augmented Reality (AR), which is pulling graphics out of computer displays and television screens to integrate these into our real-world environment. With projected growth of 95 per cent a year from 2011, to reach revenues of USD5.2 billion in 2017, will AR succeed in blurring the line between the real and virtual user experience? What is AR? Simply put, Augmented Reality enables superimposition of computer generated data onto our direct experience of reality. It aims to enhance the user’s current awareness of reality by supplementing the real world with 3D virtual objects. The term – Augmented Reality – was originally coined in 1990 by former Boeing researcher Tom Caudell. The technology gradually spread to other platforms such as mobile applications in 2008. New AR mapping and social to

India’s e-tailing industry has the potential to grow from USD0.6 billion in 2012 to USD76 billion by 2021 – more than a hundredfold in 10 years. What do firms need to know about e-tailing in India to ride this wave of growth? India’s e-tailing industry India’s e-commerce market is projected to reach USD20 billion by 2015. By 2021, the projected growth would be a hundredfold, from USD0.6 billion in 2012 to USD76 billion. India’s e-tailing sector is booming, dominated by start-ups with backing from venture capital funds and driven by the younger generation. The sector’s growth as well as the rise in number of Internet users in India is attracting established players to enter the e-commerce business. Why is e-commerce booming? India’s e-commerce market is set to reach USD6 billion in 2015 with scope for more growth due to the growing Internet user population and increased usage of mobile phones. Some of the key factors behind this growth include: Rise in Internet user

The tongue is capable of discerning the taste of carbohydrates. Diet foods – containing artificial sweeteners but few carbs – are thus unsatisfying to many consumers. How can food manufacturers cash in on the ‘carbohydrate taste’? Tasting carbs Simple and complex carbohydrates, including sugars, are the body’s main source of energy. People tend to treat carbs as more of a necessity and “filler food” than a tasty treat. But a study conducted in 2014 suggests that the tongue senses the taste of carbohydrates in addition to the five conventional tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter and savoury). According to the study, when an individual consumes carbohydrates directly, there is a 30% increase in activity in the brain areas controlling movement and vision. Carbohydrates influence areas of the brain which are not affected by artificial sweeteners. The brain’s pleasure centers only light up when the tongue senses real carbohydrates instead of artificial sweeteners. Good news

With automotive lubricant demand rising from 2.6 million liters (in 2015) to 4.1 million liters (in 2021), global and regional manufacturers are taking notice of the Vietnam market. How can brands win in this market? Leon Perera, Chief Executive Officer of Spire Research and Consulting, shared his insights on key trends in the Lube Report Asia magazine. With many players competing in the Southeast Asia market for motorcycle lubricants, leaders will be determined by their success in the large and fast-rising markets of Indonesia and Vietnam. These two countries account for over 80% of the region’s total motorcycle population. A few brands that stand out are Petronas, Shell, BP Castrol and Pertamina. Leon commented that while Vietnam’s short-term growth is driven by motorcycle lubricants, long-term growth is expected to come from car lubricants as middle-class Vietnamese trade up to cars. Vietnam’s attractive lucrative market is dominated by mineral engine oil due to pr

With the global Halal cosmetics market expected to reach USD55 billion in 2017, Spire Research and Consulting shared its views on the outlook for this category in an article published in Techno Business Insight. As the global Muslim population reaches 1.6 billion people, awareness of Halal cosmetics has surged. Halal cosmetics are not permitted to contain any animal blood, pigs or alcohol content. The entire supply chain, production, packaging as well as distribution process needs to comply with these rules to be certified as Halal. The rise of e-commerce has pushed the demand for Halal cosmetic products even further. https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/media/global-halal-cosmetics-market-continues-to-prosper/