Latitude

“The answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything is…

42.

It would’ve been simpler, of course, to have known what the actual question was; only when you know the question will you know what the answer means.”

Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Incidentally, 42 is also the latitude of Latitude’s headquarters, located just beyond Boston, MA.

Overview

As a company, Latitude sponsors internally-run projects within the media and technology spheres that support its diverse interests, but commonly unite under its forward-looking vision of a more informed, more actionable, and more connected world, with an eye toward the greater good.

As a result, Latitude 42 projects address the good, the interesting– and, whenever possible, both at once–through next-generation content, software, and technology conception.

Every 42 study investigates emerging themes in the connected world; they are designed to generate actionable insights for forward-thinking businesses.

Techniques

Latitude uses collectivity creativity (“the wisdom of many”) in the context of online, generative research scenarios; these may involve innovation games, collaborative social platforms, and the aggregation and intelligent display of highly visual contributor content–as viable and telling forms of data.

Every Latitude 42 is operated by a team of experienced research analysts at Latitude who contribute directly to the content published at life-connected.com on a rolling basis.

Upcoming 42s

• Current: Children’s “Future Requests” for Computers and the Internet

  What would be really interesting or fun to do on your computer/the Internet that your computer can’t do right now? Please draw a picture of what this activity looks like.

  Additionally, the study will explore: how children use and understand Web technology, which environmental factors contribute to these understandings, and the extent to which children can think “innovatively” (beyond the bounds of their known environment).

  [overview & rationale] [get involved] [track this study] [technologies used]

  

  Latitude has partnered with ReadWriteWeb on Kids ‘Future Requests’ for Computers and the Internet. Results will be posted to both ReadWriteWeb and life-connected.com in early March.

• Current: Food, Connected

  In light of growing movements around local, organic and sustainable food, what unmet needs exist around food purchase decision-making and how can technology effectively and intelligently fill these gaps?

  [overview & rationale] [get involved] [track this study] [technologies used]

  

  Latitude has partnered with Shareable on Food, Connected. Results will be posted to both Shareable and life-connected.com in mid-March.

• March: Nature, Connected

  Digital connectedness and a full experience of the natural world have traditionally been thought of as antithetical states of being. However, the pervasiveness (and growing possibilities) of digital technology foreground a growing desire for the elegant convergence of these two realms.

  What unique benefits do we feel we derive from spending time in nature? What are the current detractions of digital in this context? And, resultantly, what are the uncharted opportunity spaces for augmenting, rather than disrupting, our experiences of the natural world—via connected technologies?

Privacy Policy

We value our participants’ contributions and take their privacy very seriously. Click here if you would like more information about how Latitude views and uses the information that 42 participants provide.

Idea-Sharing and Collaboration

We’re always on the look-out for new ideas, initiatives, technologies, partners, and organizations of interest.

If anything related to our work or interests here moves you to text, we’d love for you to share your thoughts at life-connected@latd.com.

“The future is here; it’s just not evenly distributed yet.”

-William Gibson

Header photograph by Bérenger ZYLA, (cc) some rights reserved.