Every month our global spotters network, tw:in, sends out a newsletter highlighting the most thought-provoking innovations shared by the community. Like what you see? Join tw:in to access hundreds more bright ideas, and to share on-the-ground findings of your own. Here are the top innovations shared on tw:in this month. Enjoy!

Google Little Signs uses gentle notifications by interacting with ambient

Little Signals explores new patterns for technology in our daily lives to help us feel connected and calm. Google has six objects in the design collection: Air, Button, Movement, Rhythm, Shadow, and Tap. Here’s what tw:in community member Olga Shaeva has to say:

"We live in the world of buzz, noise and constant distraction. It seems that we are not likely to unplug, but what if notifications are a bit more natural and friendly to our senses? This innovation shows a possible shift in how we communicate with the tech around us, and my hope is that it can help us slow down, take a breathe and reduce our current overload with distractions.”

Agency will no longer work with influencers who retouch their bodies or faces

In an attempt to fight social media’s “systemic” mental health harms, Ogilvy UK hopes to “set off a chain reaction” in the industry and influence other firms to do the same.

Plant trees while playing Pokémon Go

In celebration of Earth Day, Ecosia, a search engine based in Berlin, says it will plant a tree for every player who jumps into Pokémon Go until the end of July. This initiative is committed to planting up to 100,000 trees a month.

The Simpsons first deaf voice actor and use of American sign language

After more than 700 episodes, ‘The Simpsons’ made history when including the use of American Sign Language (despite characters only having four fingers), as well as casting the first-ever deaf actor to voice the character.

Unilever to stop marketing foods to under 16s

The FMCG giant announced the update to its global principles for responsible marketing to children saying it was raising standards for an increasingly digital world.

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