Holiday season is fast approaching and that means it’s gifting time! But with so many new things on the market, how can you be sure that what you’ve picked is something that they’ll love?
Here at Cookhouse Lab, we’ve compiled your 2017 list of must-have gifts for that innovative friend of yours (or yourself, because treat yo’ self is a legitimate thing) that’s always looking to stay ahead of the curve with the newest, freshest, and most exciting thing on the market today.
Go ahead – be the holiday hero with these seven gift suggestions that every kind of innovator in your life will appreciate.
1. Bluetooth Earphones (and AI Technology)
Wires are so last year, innovator. Make your giftee’s life that much easier with these cordless earphones that they can use in places like the office, the gym, and the subway! And since we’ve worked on several projects that integrated the use of artificial intelligence (like our AI in the Claims Process and Delays in APS) we thought these new Pixel Buds (which work alongside Google’s AI service – Google Assistant) are super innovative. Bluetooth earphones have a wide range in price points, which means you ought to find one that works for anyone. Earphones start from just $30 and go all the way up to $200.
2. Innovation Books
Yes, yes, I know. Books aren’t the most innovative thing on the market, but all of the world’s best ideas are born from inspiration – which can totally come from the best books. This book (for just over $20!) will take you through the conventional and unconventional ways that you can innovate in your workplace, all backed through extensive behavioural psychology.
3. An Inspired Course
With New Year’s coming up, many of us are going to work on a few resolutions. Why not give the gift of learning and professional development by helping your innovative friend get a head start on Design Thinking? There are many Design Thinking courses (like this one from the University of Toronto) and literature (like this one by Nigel Cross), and Cookhouse Lab is thrilled to announce that we’ll be kicking off our very own Design Thinking 101 series and courses in 2018. Be sure to contact us to learn more and put yourself on our list!
4. Virtual Reality (VR) Headset
Know someone that couldn’t get away this holiday season? That won’t matter once they have a VR headset like the Oculus Rift, where they’ll be escaping to somewhere new from the comfort of their living room. Although the Oculus Rift is a pricier option (the set starts at $529), you can also get one for less than $50!
5. Molecular Food Kits
Who doesn’t love food? These cool kits not only elevate any culinary experience by the ability to change the look and feel of any ingredient, but they also allow you to deconstruct any dish. Buy the food kit here or for your cocktail-loving friend, the mixology kit here.
6. Cryptocurrency
Bitcoin (and blockchain) has been all over the news lately, so maybe it’s time to get aboard the cryptocurrency train and gift that special someone with some. But first, what is bitcoin? What is blockchain? Well, bitcoin is a use-case of blockchain technology, which some are hailing as the biggest new invention since the Internet. Blockchain projects are happening in every sector, including insurance (check out what we learned in our first Blockchain & Insurance project here!).
If Bitcoin is a bit out of your price range (currently sitting at just over $23,000 CAD as of 12/19/17), other cryptocurrencies deployed on a blockchain include Ethereum, Litecoin, and Ripple. For Canadians wishing to purchase, QuadrigaCX is a popular exchange. For Americans, Coinbase is an option.
7. Drones
Drones are super cool for everybody. They’re interactive, and it’s thrilling to make something fly. And drones are not only impacting entertainment technology for the average user, they’re shaking things up in other sectors (Have you heard of drones being tested for things like mail delivery?) Want to get in on the drone action? Beginner drones start for less than $30, but make sure you read up on drone insurance!
There you have it! Simple as that. Enjoy your upcoming holiday season innovators – we can’t wait to have you back in the Lab in 2018. If you can’t wait until then to hear from us, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for all of our insights, delivered straight to your inbox.