August 2025

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 27 aug 2025

Electronic textiles or simply e-textiles are wearable fabrics that are embedded with electronic components adding specific functionality to them. Some of the common components currently in use are sensors, lights, batteries, microcontrollers etc. E-textiles are finding applications in defence, medical, sports, wellness etc. Advancements in flexible electronic technology is further giving boost to the e-textile industry. Research paper, 'Sensory interactive fibers and textiles' [Authors: Huanhuan Liu of Donghua University (China); Yuyuan Shi of Northumbria University (UK); You Pan of Fudan University (China); Zhaohui Wang of Donghua University (China); Bingjie Wang of Fudan University (China)], published in npj Flexible Electronics on 11 march 2025, reviews the research status of sensory interactive fibers and textiles in recent years, providing a detailed overview of functional fibers capable of achieving sensory interactive functions, categorizes system integration technologies for sensory interactive e-textiles, and summarizes the application scenarios of sensory interactive e-textiles. They are also termed as intelligent textiles and can engage almost all human senses, such as visual, haptic, auditory, or olfactory. Hence, sensory interactive e-textiles are indispensable in human-machine interaction due to their unique dynamic change characteristics, providing a more intelligent and personalized wearing experience. Developing these textiles require collaboration from multidisciplinary fields such as material science, computer science, fashion design, textile design etc. The research review defines the three typical development generations of intelligent e-textiles. Firstly, the sensory interactive e-textiles based on different senses have been summarized better to understand the intelligent interaction between humans and textiles. Then, detailed insights into how flexible electronics have been or can be incorporated into e-textile systems. Meanwhile, considering the characteristics of multidisciplinary cooperation, we propose a new design paradigm based on analyzing the inadequacy of the existing intelligent e-textile design process. Lastly, the development trend and potential problems of sensory interactive e-textiles are highlighted. Thus, this review aims to help scientists and designers collaborate more effectively in developing sensory interactive e-textiles in the context of interdisciplinary work. Authors of the study put forward four outlooks for the future development direction of interactive e-textiles - (1) Focus on user demands and improve the interactive function focus of smart e-textiles. (2) Comprehensively consider the composition technology of interactive e-textiles with different functions to improve their stability, usability, and multifunctional integration. (3) Optimize the performance of intelligent interactive materials and improve the efficiency of the production process to reduce the production cost of interactive e-textiles. (4) Efforts should focus on user's privacy and security while using interactive e-textiles as they have the ability to track, store, and transmit user information. Read on...

Nature: Sensory interactive fibers and textiles
Authors: Huanhuan Liu, Yuyuan Shi, You Pan, Zhaohui Wang, Bingjie Wang

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 26 aug 2025

As the US government reduces funding and grants to nonprofits there is a transformational shift that the giving and charity sector is facing and organizations have to adapt to this reality. According to The Urban Institute, 90% of nonprofits with over US$ 10 million in annual expenses receive government support (half of their total revenue) while smaller nonprofits with budgets under US$ 100000 rely on government grants with only 13% of their revenue. All will be affected in some ways with the policy change. Alexander Puutio, academic and author, explores the challenging future of giving and philanthropy and brings views of other experts to utilize models that will last in the uncertain world. He says, 'The economic and political volatility is putting Schumpeter's (Joseph Schumpeter) creative destruction on steroids across the entire philanthropic landscape, and one result of the shakeup will be that outdated models are rapidly being discarded in search of more agile, resilient approaches that are emerging in their place. What's rising in the aftermath is a new breed of giving that is leaner, faster, and built on the principles of decentralization, distribution, and data.' Karen Kardos, Head of Philanthropic Advisory at Citi Wealth, says, 'There’s pressure, yes, and that is forcing nonprofits to stay squarely on mission to generate impact...One thing we are seeing is the acceleration of a cultural shift that has been long in the making. The old model was report-based. The new model that is quickly becoming the must-have is iterative, responsive, and grounded in outcomes, not just expenditures.' Lurein Perera, co-founder of GiveCard, who built a direct-to-recipient philanthropy model designed to cut out layers of bureaucracy, says, 'We build and maintain the infrastructure by which nonprofits are giving money directly to people, including those experiencing homelessness, via our debit cards. It's traceable, fast, and goes straight into the hands of those who need it.' Clay Dunn, CEO of VOW for Girls that operates on a model allows 100% of public donations to go directly to the field, something that's only possible through rigorous operational design, says, 'Some of the most effective campaigns we've run have been through small business networks and grassroots ambassadors. People want to give. They just need to feel like what they give matters...The cause is as important as it ever has. But now what matters even more is how you deliver on that cause and how the donors and beneficiaries perceive you in the process. Trust is the new currency without which nonprofits can't operate.' Mr. Puutio suggests the use of decentralized giving models with digital technology as an enabler and data-driven giving with human-centered design as the way forward. He says, 'Digital platforms are enabling new forms of donor engagement, localized disbursement, and transparent impact tracking. It's now possible to decentralize not just funding decisions but the entire value chain, from vetting organizations to measuring outcomes in real time...As data and dashboards become central to philanthropic decision-making, leaders must ensure that people stay at the center of the work...real impact starts with inclusion.' Read on...

Forbes: What's Next In Philanthropy? Decentralized Models And Smarter Giving
Author: Alexander Puutio

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 24 aug 2025

Chief marketing officers (CMOs) have to adapt and evolve to the changes brought about by the use of artifical intelligence (AI) in content marketing, and stay ahead of the curve for future success. They need to keep the balance between tech and human aspects of content development. Following are 8 trends that CMOs and content mareketers have to understand to ensure successful implementation of content marketing strategies - (1) Use AI To Assist: 'The State of GenAI Chatbots in Marketing' report by Botco.ai finds that 73% of respondents say their companies use Generative AI to help create text, images, videos, or other content types and only 17% of marketers aren't using AI at all; Survey report by Capterra finds that the majority of marketers (88%) believe AI software saves their company time and money; A study published in Nature found that when generative AI software only uses content created by other AI, its responses start to decline in quality. CMO Plan of Action (POA) - Develop AI-human content workflows; Audit existing content; Clearly disclose when and how AI tools are used; Monitor and audit content. (2) Write For Semantic Search: Search now adapts to user behavior and favor semantically rich results; AI-powered search engines now parse through conversational queries. CMO POA - Use schema markup; Redesign landing pages; Implement relevant structured data; Keep a pulse on SERPs (Search Engine Result Pages) changes. (3) Create Short-Form Videos: 'Video Marketing Statistics 2025' by WYZOWL finds 93% of marketers say video marketing has given them a good ROI, 96% of video marketers say video has helped them increase brand awareness, 84% of video marketers say video has directly increased sales, while 84% say video has helped keep visitors engaged on their website longer. CMO POA - Develop a repository of short-form clips; Repurpose long-form content; Distribute video via LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. (4) Optimize For Voice And Visual Search Discovery: More customers are seeking products by sharing screenshots or using voice assistants to search for businesses. CMO POA - Add descriptive, keyword-rich alt-text; Don't neglect mobile performance; Include voice-format answers. (5) Create Interactive Experiences: First-party data powers personalization and must be captured in a compliant way; HubSpot study finds that interactive content sees the fourth-highest ROI compared to other marketing initiatives. CMO POA - Add interactive tools; Ensure lead capture forms connect appropriately to CRM; Collaborate across marketing, CX, and analytics. (6) Tap Into Micro-Communities: Savvy brands turn to Reddit; Confidant Zeitgeist finds that vast majority (88%) of Gen X, Millennial, and Gen Z U.S. consumers engage with niche groups based on shared values or interests. CMO POA - Identify a few key niche communities; Start by observing user behavior; Share user-generated content (UGC). (7) Go Beyond Google: Generative AI services are gaining traction. CMO POA - Launch content distribution campaigns across; Build relationships with niche content providers; Use performance dashboards. (8) Create A Strategic Budget: Content Marketing Institute, MarketingProfs and The MX Group research study finds that 46% of B2B marketers have increased their marketing budgets in 2025 and 61% spend more on video; ResearchAndMarkets.com reports that AI in marketing is now a US$ 57.99? billion market; SurveyMonkey reports that 56% of marketers say their company is taking an active role in implementing and using AI. CMO POA - Create a framework for how you'll reflect content's ROI; Consider budget allocations for emerging tech; Track and report ROI. Read on...

Search Engine Journal: 8 Emerging Trends CMOs Need To Watch: What's Next In Content Marketing
Author: Chelsea Alves