KBB - March 2012 - (Page 6)

EDITOR’S NOTE DESIGN + INNOV TION + LIFESTYLE / March 2012 A Looking Forward I admit, my mind occasionally goes blank. It frequently does so right about now, after I’ve put an issue to bed and I’m required to fill this column with some last—hopefully intelligent—thoughts. For inspiration this time, I turned to TED, a non-profit that holds two conferences each year that celebrate the exchange of ideas—or as phrased by its website, they “bring together the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes or less).” I used to spend hours watching the videos of past talks freely available on the organization’s website, www.ted.com, until my impatience with its slow loading speed won out and I got distracted by work and life. When I revisited the site, downloaded some videos and watched them on my commute this morning, I realized I had forgotten how illuminating and stirring these talks can be. The first one I tuned into, “Abundance Is Our Future,” was given by Peter Diamandis last month. Diamandis, I learned, runs the X Prize Foundation, which recognizes inventors and engineers with cash awards. His 18 minutes offered a different way of looking at the world and where we are historically, which, if you’re a cable news junkie like me, can sometimes seem rather bleak. Diamandis talked about how we have always had the ability to foresee a problem and then eventually conquer it. As an example, he mentioned Dean Kamen’s Slingshot, a water purifier that can produce 1,000 liters of clean drinking water a day from any source, be it polluted or salt water. To boot, it does this at a cost of less than 2 cents per liter. According to Diamandis, Coca-Cola is looking at the technology for the developing world. Other inventions are discussed, but I won’t give them away, as his talk is definitely worth taking in. For Diamandis, “scarcity is contextual [and] technology is a resourceliberating force.” Diamandis’ talk reminded me of some questions I was recently asked about the state of the kitchen and bath industry and the impact of technology on it. In trying to come up with fairly useful and coherent (i.e., not embarrassing) answers, I started thinking about all the new products that were launched in the past few years, despite our being in a recession. Our lives may be more harried and chaotic, but because of these innovations, our kitchens and baths are smarter and more energyand water-efficient. Although there remains much progress to be made (but isn’t that always the case?), we are, on some fronts, becoming better stewards of our planet. Next month, KBIS will be held on April 24-26 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Long the stage for launching the latest and greatest in kitchens and baths, it may once again offer glimpses of a better future. I hope to see you there. n Alice Liao, Executive Editor aliao@kbbonline.com EDITORIAL executive editor Alice Liao (646) 654-4408 aliao@kbbonline.com creative director Jonathan Marsland (646) 654-4472 jmarsland@kbbonline.com Graphic production artist Jessica Farley (646) 654-7245 jessica.farley@nielsen.com INDUSTRY WATCH eNewsletter Nichole Schulze naschulze@yahoo.com editorial advisory board Jeff Burton; John Buscarello, asid; Jeff Cannata, cmkbd; Mick De Giulio; Jamie Gibbs; James Lev, aia; Candace Morris; Florence Perchuk, ckd; Lloyd Princeton; Roderick Shade; David Stimmel; Dick Titus; Gary White, cmkbd vice president/retail desiGn Group Doug Hope (770) 291-5453 doug.hope@nielsen.com TERRITORY MANAGERS MidWest and illinois John Wilson 602 Society Place A2 Newtown, PA 18940 (215) 497-0221 john.wilson@nielsen.com east coast Paul Bienkowski 2422 Ellington Rd., South Windsor, CT 06074 (860) 644-3861; FAX: (860) 644-0700 pbienkowski@cox.net Phil Viscidi One Hollis St., Suite 305 Wellesley, MA 02482 (781) 431-1320; FAX: (781) 431-1968 phil@viscidi.com West coast and southWest Larry Shore 805 Avalon Dr., Seal Beach, CA 90740 (562) 598-5560 larry.shore@nielsen.com classiFieds and special sections Diane Kennedy 1145 Sanctuary Parkway Suite #355, Alpharetta, GA 30004 (770) 291-5519 diane.kennedy@nielsen.com vp kitchen and bath Group Brian Pagel 1145 Sanctuary Parkway, Suite #355, Alpharetta, GA 30004 (770) 291-5438 brian.pagel@nielsen.com SUPPORT production ManaGer Nan McDowell (770) 291-5480 nan.mcdowell@nielsen.com reprints Rosie Hassell The YGS Group (800) 501-9571 Ext. 136 kbb@theYGSgroup.com circulation custoMer service (800) 697-8859 Fax: (847) 291-8416 nkb@omeda.com list rental product ManaGer Bart Piccirillo (845) 731-2768 bart.piccirillo@eraepd.com senior vice president Joe Randall joe.randall@nielsen.com david loechner President, Nielsen Expositions Michael alicea Senior Vice President, Human Resources denise bashem Vice President, Finance lori Jenks Vice President, Operations darrell denny Senior Vice President, Business Development teresa reilly Vice President, Digital Joanne Wheatley Vice President, Manufacturing & Marketing Services Circle No. 7 the official sponsor of Copyright © 2012 by Nielsen Business Media, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.ted.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of KBB - March 2012

KBB - March 2012
Contents
Online Contents/News
Editorial
Show Director’s Note
Road to KBIS
Web Savvy
Consumer
Trends
Products
Abroad
Design
White Open
Texan Hospitality
Ad Index
Favorites

KBB - March 2012