The Sniffer

Nora Young and Cathi Bond

Listen to writer/broadcasters Nora Young and Cathi Bond as they freak over the future. They can't believe it. Neither will you.

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520 episodes
Updated Mar 10, 2024

Episodes520

Newest first

Mar 17, 2021 · 12 min
Wild Innovations in Retail and the Hidden Cost of Machine Learning
We are back! Cathi Bond and Nora Young got together (virtually!) to talk future of retail and carbon footprint. Cathi talks about Showfields, a digital/physical hybrid store in New York, and their new Magic Wand app (via PSFK). Nora talks about this article from two Université de Montréal professor/researchers on the 'hidden infrastructure' required for machine learning: the carbon footprint of training machine learning applications on lots of data. Hope you're all well and coping ok!
Feb 5, 2021 · 13 min
Trends in Autonomous Vehicles and Streaming Video
This time, Cathi Bond and Nora Young "get together" virtually from their respective homes for a pandemic-appropriate recording. Nora talks about Zoox, the Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company (check out the details and images at Fast Company). The shuttle design reminded Nora that Toyota is aiming at a similar shuttle application, and that autonomous vehicles supported by LIDAR technology was a buzzy topic at this year's CES. Cathi Bond has been thinking about Netflix, which has commissioned
Dec 6, 2020 · 10 min
Renewable Shipping and Ebike Crackdown
Before the December deep chill set in Cathi Bond and Nora Young got together in Nora's backyard to talk tech. Cathi Bond talks about Oceanbird, a huge, wind-powered shipping vessel that relies on very innovative technology. It's being designed by Wallenius Marine out of Sweden. Check out the images at Dezeen. Meanwhile, Nora Young talks about this Guardian article about a pilot project in the Netherlands to cut the power to speeding ebikes. Sensible safety measure or nanny state run amok?
Nov 16, 2020 · 10 min
Trends in Robotics: Fire fighting and moving buildings
On this podcast, Nora and Cathi continue from Nora's backyard with a couple of contemporary robotics stories. Nora mentions fire fighting robots rolling out for use in Los Angeles (via Core77). As we've seen during the pandemic, there are plenty of roles for robots to work in dangerous situations, but is it time for international rules to govern the uses robots can be put to? Cathi has an innovative use too: little walking robots that can move huge buildings to make way for a new development. Wa
Oct 9, 2020 · 11 min
Home Security Drones and Micro Power Generation
Hey there! This time, Nora Young talks about the news that Amazon-owned Ring home security company is releasing the Ring Always Home camera and drone to patrol your house. Cathi Bond talks about the news that they are also planning a car cam which you can engage when you're pulled over by police. Cathi Bond talks about this fascinating research into tiny power generators that harness the breezes that blow by while we walk.
Sep 13, 2020 · 12 min
Trends in Quieter Cities and Pro Sports
Cathi Bond and Nora Young are back in Nora's COVID-compliant backyard with looonnng mic cables! This time, Nora talks about this Scientific American article on research into noise cancelling tech for bigger spaces, so you can open the windows (amen!) in urban environments and still have peace and quiet. Meanwhile, Cathi talks about speculation that Major League Baseball will use drones to police mask wearing in the stands, if/when fans are allowed in the stands again (via Gizmodo).
Aug 20, 2020 · 12 min
Summer Travel Special - Pandemic Edition
Cathi and Nora are in Nora's backyard again for a couple of takes on how to enjoy summer vacation when many of our conventional travel plans have been disrupted by the pandemic. Cathi Bond brings you the Luno Air Mattress, an inflatable mattress designed to fit in the back of your vehicle, so you can camp in your car in comfort. Cathi and Nora reminisce about old timey camping with terrible gear! Nora Young talks about Drive and Listen, a charming website that lets you virtually drive around var
Jul 19, 2020 · 9 min
Astounding Skyscrapers and the Real Future of Augmented Reality
Cathi Bond and Nora Young are back for another physically distant podcast in Nora's backyard. This time, Cathi has an update on architect Moshe Safdie's eight skyscraper development in Chongqing, topped by a horizontal skyscraper called The Crystal. Now you can go and tour the development and take a 50 second ride to the top. See Cathi's previous look at Raffles City Chongqing here. Find renderings of the development here. Meanwhile, Nora mentions Stacey Higginbotham's podcast and newsletter. R
Jul 7, 2020 · 12 min
COVID and Tech Behaviour; Gym Rats are Losing It
This time, Cathi drops by Nora's backyard for a physically distant recording. Nora mentions this survey suggesting, unsurprisingly, how much take up there's been for online shopping during the pandemic. Nora talks about how COVID is changing tech habits, including hers. Cathi argues for the value of in-person shopping for community. Cathi has been a hard core gym rat for many years...like, *many* years. She's dying for the gym to open again, and talks about the impact on people's well being. Wil
Jun 14, 2020 · 12 min
Robotic Health Care and AI Musicians
This time on our remote podcast, Cathi Bond talks about Boston Dynamics' work to bring robotics into front line health care. Nora Young talks about Jukebox, Open AI's neural net that aims to create pop songs in the style of popular artists. She also mentions Spark's coverage of the impact of Spotify on music.
May 24, 2020 · 11 min
Innovation in a Pandemic
Hi all, Nora here. Hope you're faring as well as possible in the circumstances. Cathi and I have been missing our Sniffer sessions, so we decided to record remotely, with Cathi recording herself in the country, and me recording myself at home in Toronto. This time, we look at some examples of the amazing speed of innovation in the midst of the pandemic, and how some people are re-imagining innovations to respond to the crisis we find ourselves in. We look at research into a washable fabric that
Mar 3, 2020 · 10 min
Retrofuturism and Jetpacks
On this podcast episode, Nora Young talks about this PSFK article on retrofuturism as a major design trend. Cathi Bond, who has always wanted her very own jetpack, loves the Jetman personal jetpack (via New Atlas) Watch the full video here. It really 'takes off' around 2:30.
Feb 11, 2020 · 12 min
Cool Streetwear Shopping and Harbingers of Failure
On this podcast, we talk marketing strategy. Cathi Bond loves her Stan Smith footwear (like, a lot!) so she was intrigued when she came across Stockx, a streetwear social shopping platform. Read more at PSFK. Meanwhile, Nora read an interesting article on so-called Harbingers of Failure: people who tend to pick products, and even political candidates, that don't succeed (via BoingBoing). Nora thinks they could be seen as niches to target rather than signals of 'failure'.
Jan 20, 2020 · 11 min
Stress-Busting 2020 and Smart Glasses
This time, Nora Young continues the conversation about living smarter in 2020 with this Fast Company article on handling stress better as a key to resiliency. She also refers to Kelly McGonigal's book The Upside of Stress. Meanwhile, Cathi Bond talks about Bosch's upcoming smart glasses, which offer an augmented reality display that aims to be non-intrusive. Use cases include cooking with recipe instructions in front of you, instead of referring to a book, or driving directions. Cathi points out
Jan 5, 2020 · 12 min
Happy New Year: The Resolutions Edition!
Happy New Year, all! Hope your year is off to a great start, and thanks so much for listening to The Sniffer. This time on the podcast, Cathi Bond and Nora Young share their resolutions for the year ahead. Cathi has decided to try out the Wim Hof method, which combines breathing exercises and fffffreezing cold baths, with an eye to greater health and wellness. Cathi talks about her personal experiences and will report back. You can read more about the method, as well as some of the controversie
Dec 17, 2019 · 12 min
Looking Back at the 2010s and Hands-on Shopping
Happy (nearly) holidays! On this podcast, Nora and Cathi look back at the decade that was. What are your picks for highlights (and lowlights) in your own life and in the culture? Leave a comment! Nora mentions this New York Times look back at the 2010s. Meanwhile, Cathi talks about Woondering, a cool pop-up on Brick Lane in London, where you can check out actual physical versions of products with crowdsourcing campaigns at Kickstarter or Indiegogo. It's wrapped up for the year, but there are pla
Dec 5, 2019 · 10 min
Innovations in Solar and Surprising Sources of Traffic Jams
This time, Cathi Bond talks about Heliogen, which seems to have had an early stage breakthrough in using Concentrated Solar Power systems to get to temperatures of >1,000 degrees C, enough to power industrial processes, as opposed to just generating electricity. More details at New Atlas. Nora Young talks about why the spike in traffic problems may be due to our convenience economy, especially quick delivery of online ordering, and ride hailing. See this well-researched Boston Globe article.
Nov 8, 2019 · 10 min
Hyperloop and Make your own Vinyl
This time, Cathi Bond talks about the latest concept design for a hyperloop ultra-high speed train, brought to you by MAD Architects and HyperloopTT. Check out the images over at New Atlas. Meanwhile, Nora Young mentions Wired's article on the Phonocut, described as an "analog vinyl lathe". It's a machine that lets you produce your own custom vinyl!
Oct 25, 2019 · 12 min
Battling Digital Distraction and Brand Experiences
On today's podcast, Nora Young talks about this post on dealing with digital distraction by having a clear idea of what you would do instead of being on your phone. She also mentions Nir Eyal's new book, Indistractable. Meanwhile, Cathi Bond mentions this PSFK article on a sort of 'loyalty card 2.0' approach some retailers are using. Customer loyalty earns people experiences and makes them 'part of the club'.
Oct 4, 2019 · 14 min
Tracking Health and Design for the Environment
On this podcast, Nora Young talks about a possible future of health tracking technologies, based on this Wired article about Fitbit's recent moves. Cathi Bond talks about the potential power of art and design to address species diversity. Read Gizmodo's description of the Nature—Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial exhibit here.