Video Hired the Star Employee

We've moved into the age of the internet, streaming this and connectivity that. There's barely an internet user that doesn't have access to a Skype or VOIP account. And every now and then we meet people who we've never met in the offline life whom request a Skype interview or two. Mostly it's a prospective work opportunity, someone trying to get a better understanding of who you are from the other end of the ethernet cable.

But what if you didn't have to swap those Skype names, or spend time trying to wrestle your way out of a dud candidate?

In comes the likes of Ovia and VidCruiter, online based startups that take the pain out of a recruiting process by screening ALL potential candidates for you.

An online HR department fully dedicated to getting the hiring process down efficiently. It's their specialty, and the only thing they work on.

Huge clients are already on board, Philip Morris International, AT&T Interactive, Best Buy and Hard Rock are some.

At the end of the process the companies leave you with only the most qualified candidates. A process of screening from a team of operational management experts, human resources specialists, serial-entrepreneurs, business development consultants and an information technology team.

Ticketometer

Ticketometer is taking the risk out of the concert business.

Introducing a platform where bands, promoters and venues can create concerts that only happen if the minimum number of invitees are reached.

At the moment still in beta, the platform has yet to flex it's full features but at the moment still offers a basic set of features that allow organisation and target setting for cities in the US.

Web 2.0 has been offering a legion of startups that are working towards a more efficient existence online and offline. And Ticketometer certainly seems like one that could potentially enhance the quality of life for a music industry that has been slowly heaving itself into new technologies and mediums.

Could this also pose a direction in thinking in regards to potential overheads? We've seen the pop-up store happen for retail, now Ticketometer for venues and artists, Airbnb for the renters, and what next?

As well as an overhead saving grace for venues and artists, Ticketometer has the potential to encourage the fan-artist relationship. …Really want to see that band in your third tier city? Rally your friends, and your friend's friends and they may just make it.

The Future of the Urban Commute

A single seat vehicle.

Volkswagen bring us the NILS. An electric car that can speed up to 81mph.

Designed to hold only a single driver, the NILS is simple and functional. Driving stats are displayed through an LCD panel and a nifty bit of technology is included in the form of the PID, or Portable Infotainment Device.

The PID is an interesting bit of pop-in pop-out technology that consists of a navigation system, music, phone and vehicle stats display (such as the battery charge). This device can be snapped in when you're in the car or taken with you as an entertainment/infotainment device when you step out.

The Volkswagen press release uses the word 'micromobility', and we think that this totally fits the case. The creation of this car, regardless of 'concept' status or not shows a prospective path of where urban mobility could go.

How often do you see a single driver sitting in a five seater vehicle?

NILS cuts down on the potentially unnecessary, in space and emissions with interesting innovations like three part roof hinged doors, or even simply in it's size.

I look forward to the micromobility of the future.

Sleepbox

Moscow's Sheremtyevo Airport is notorious for it's poor signage and general user-unfriendly systems but there's a new addition that certainly lifts this status an unusual bit.

The Sleepbox, a seven foot deep, nine foot high box designed for weary travelers to sleep in by the hour has appeared in the Moscow airports aisles. Outfitted with reading lamps, WiFi, a TV and an alarm clock the Sleepbox is available to travelers for $15 an hour or $50 per night.  

But creators of the Sleepbox, Russian architecture firm Arch Group, don't want to limit it's use to simply airports. The Sleepbox website encourages the placement of it at railroad stations, hostels or offices as well. Available for public purchase at EU7000 per box, it takes 2 months to produce and up to a month to deliver. The Arch Group also encourage the idea of hosting a collection of Sleepboxes to create a 'Sleepbox Design Hostel'. Suggested rates topping at $60 a night. 

Certainly aesthetically pleasing, the Sleepbox has faired a lot of positive press thus far. An integrated production process, patented design and solid positioning I hope to see a Sleepbox in an airport, railroad station, hotel or hardworking office near me soon.

Drivers Auction Public Parking Spaces

We have all experienced the inconvenience with lack of parking space and not to mention high cost of parking in central business districts. New York based startup Parking Auction Inc is resolving this everyday problem for city drivers. 

Launched 1st August 2011 in Manhattan, Parking Auction iPhone app has created a crowdsourcing marketplace for public parking, by connecting drivers vacating a parking space (the seller) with those searching for a one (the buyer) for a small fee.

The car spaces are not for sale. What is actually been sold is the information and knowledge that a space will be available soon. If someone gets the space before the buyer, both buyer and seller are out of luck hence buyer does not need to pay the seller.

Currently in Beta testing, buyers are paying between $3 to $20 to find out soon to be available parking spaces. Parking Auction take a small commission on each transaction.

Parking Auction have plans to expand worldwide and partner with major car parks to offer guaranteed reserved parking spaces. 

As stated on their site, Parking Auction's mission is to "Make parking convenient" at the same time reducing traffic congestion, stress, time and money for drivers, along with reducing carbon on the environment.

We can see a similar concept been adopted to many other market segments especially the entertainment or event industry and the like, where space and seating is a premium. So what are you waiting for start molding a similar concept to your corner of the globe.

Photo courtesy of Christian S/Flicker