The black cat logo of the Kuro Neko Yamato delivery company. A compelling feature of their service is the ability to drop off and pick up packages from your local convenience store and change the delivery destination through your mobile, conveniences indeed. The service is popular amongst snowboarders and golfers – 3,780 Yen (24 Euro) to have your gear magically appear in the hotel boot room as your arrive and re-appear on your doorstep the day after you return.

As the relationship between people & people & things becomes more transparent, and the tools to maintain location awareness more prevalent – is there more or less scope for a social delivery service? The neighbourly equivalent to the Japanese convenience store? And in what contexts? Do you want your neighbours handling your parcel before you do?