#TrendReport: Birds of a feather
Litter is one of those things that just seems to be everywhere in cities - especially the ubiquitous cigarette butts, but some scientists think they can use some rather smart birds to find a solution.
Scientists in the Netherlands have developed an installation called the Crowbar - a smart device that trains crows to deposit cigarettes into it in return for food. The birds are notoriously smart and good at problem-solving already, so it just draws on their existing skills to make a difference in the city.
But as Chris Reid, Trend Researcher at the International Trend Institute, explains, it's particularly interesting because it combines high-tech and low-tech. The device is smart but the concept of training animals to help us out is an ancient one, and it's combinations like this that really seem to help us solve problems that face us today.
Catch Trend Report with Christopher Reid every Thursday at 13h30 on the Jane Linley-Thomas Show. Follow him on Twitter to share your views.