We all have an innate desire for social connectedness, and with live events back on the agenda post-lockdown, there are plenty of chances to build bonds IRL. Canvas8 spoke to Tim Hill, a marketing lecturer at the University of Bath, about the value of social rituals before, during, and after events.

The Last Chapter tries to make uncomfortable conversations about death more manageable with a chatbot miming famous Dutch author Ronald Giphart. Attitudes toward dying have become less taboo, and people are tackling the topic head-on, opening the floor for complex topics.

Amid a pandemic resurgence in China, people are turning to ‘cloud memorial' services that enable people to build online shrines for their departed family members. As mass digitisation continues, innovation is allowing people to utilise tech to preserve time-honoured traditions and customs.

SPOKE is an app that marries music with mental health. Working with lyricists and musical artists as well as clinical psychologists, therapists, and neuroscientists, the platform aims to normalise discussions around wellness by giving younger generations accessible content they can relate to.