Headphones have been aiding anti-social behaviour since the invention of the Walkman in '79. But the rise of the smartphone, and with it the ubiquity of headphones, could be changing what music we listen to as producers ‘mix small’ to cater to the 41% of Americans who use them.

Futurologists – those allegedly able to predict the future – are in high demand from newspapers and major companies keen to see into the coming years. Yet the vast majority of predictions are wrong. What's the appeal of future-gazing? And what might mobilise our visions into the present?

One guy microwaves his phone instead of a burrito. Another accidentally drops it in a drink. So goes one of Virgin Mobile's 'Happy Accidents' adverts, which have been watched by millions since they first aired in 2013. It's no joke though. People really are secretly breaking their stuff. But why?

Whether it’s a teenager’s intimate relationship with their iPhone, or a gleaming family heirloom designed by Rolex, building an emotional connection with customers is the holy grail for brands. But new research suggests that, actually, most brands are more likely to inspire indifference.