what's the next big platform?

your face.



Well not your face, but your body. New technology has some major implications. Very interesting.
via Advertising Lab

what's the next big platform?

the battle begins

After a long wait and much anticipation it looks like LEGO Universe is going to be launching soon. As a strong LEGO advocate because of their constant innovation, strategic partnerships and creative brand communications strategy I am especially excited to see their evolution into virtual worlds. LEGO consistently builds meaningful brand interactions that are ahead of trends within media consumption behaviors. Their brand consistently stays relevant among changing digital platforms and interfaces.

LEGO Universe will rival other tween/teen virtual worlds such as Gaia and Habbo, but its game functionality will attract traditional gamers to virtual worlds. It will be interesting to watch the launch, adoption and use of Universe over the next year, especially how brands can extend their IP into new innovative forms of interaction.

the battle begins

Intuitive shopping realized

I saw this here and decided to post it on my blog.

Intuitive shopping realized

a mobile revolution?

Hard to say, but the new phone named First Else is claiming it is redefining the mobile market as we know it. Taking a whole two years to develop because the designers started from scratch. The designers decided to develop a phone without any pre-existing requirements, limitations or guidelines. This approach has created a unique interface that is intuitive and has the ability to set a new trend in user interface and interaction design.





Ripped the story from here where there is a video of the interface design.

a mobile revolution?

real world meets internet Part Deux

Similar to my recent post on digital blurring the lines of real world interaction here comes a technology being introduced by Symbian. I strongly believe that AR's adoption will come in a navigation utility function. It seems so natural doesn't it?

real world meets internet Part Deux

Heck = Awesome

i love how there are these people hanging around. i also love how he is drinking out of a clear skull.



check out Ben's site here

Heck = Awesome

Hi real world, meet the internet

On November 2nd our friends at Metaio will be launching Junaio. Junaio is an augmented reality experience available on the iPhone that allows users to share information in much more functional ways via the real world. Imagine walking down the street and being able to tag information to landmarks, find out what your friends wrote about a restaurant, recieve information about a historic feature/landmark. It is basically allowing the user to stream internet data and apply internet functionality to the real world. I have yet to see this product in action or even view a demo. They have an animated video here, but its animated so you don't really get an understanding of look, feel and functionality.
More to come...

Hi real world, meet the internet

touch it all over

Multi-touch tables and technology have been a hot item since Jeff Han's demo at the TED Conference, which is now being used (forcefully and unnecessarily at times) on CNN. Promethean created their interactive whiteboards. The very impressive mt multi-touch and multi-user table built for museums is pretty top notch as well.

The latest multi-touch table that has me geeking out is the Reactable table I saw on Engadget this morning. This table's cool factor is primo as it allows users to experiment with sound in real time via tangible pucks. Users can turn and move them to combine, manipulate, and compose various tones, synthesizers, effects and sample loops. I think the coolest part is that you can collaborate with other people and bring real time sessions to a new level.

Think about controlling one element and having a friend on the opposite side composing another element and then switching sides and working on each other's pieces. Or imagine your favorite DJs coming together to perform a live show on the table. Reactable could produce some creative works.

touch it all over

Can you imagine an asynchronous 3D virtual world on your iPhone without drugs?

now you can...

we have not seen iPhone's potential fully maxed out yet...

Be sure to check out the Techcrunch article on Genkii's Sprinkle. Just in true iPhone nature, it's a game a changer. I think the article does a pretty good job highlighting implications and possibilities including integrations with other virtual worlds such as Home.

i geeked out...enjoy.

Can you imagine an asynchronous 3D virtual world on your iPhone without drugs?

branding's new architecture

As mentioned in my last post that I would highlight a noteworthy case of IMC being supremely implemented, I have to mention Bob Greenberg’s recent Adweek column, Branding in a New Dimension. Bob makes some interesting and insightful points, especially in regards to Apple’s branding. When talking about IMC we focus on all consumer touch points and the ability to create an intertwined unified branded experience. Bob makes a great point that in today’s landscape the consumer is most likely to enter a brand experience digitally (where the relationship is created). With this in mind we know that there a vast amount of digital entry points which need to all be working together. His Apple reference is key because no matter where the consumer is activated (application, web property, mobile, etc) Apple’s use of design and user experience is harmonious with everything else they do. Meaning that no matter where the consumer is or where they are navigating the look, feel, and functionality is of Apple brand features, usability, and attributes. He makes a great point that it is the collision of advertising and design, which should be strategically developed as one. “How the brand behaves in the digital space is quintessentially Apple. The novel way a user interacts with the devices is as much a component of branding as the logo is,” mentions Greenberg.

And although IMC takes in consideration all facets of communication such as PR, TV, event, etc it is the increased significance of digital in the consumer experience. Digital has more efficiently bridged and linked other areas of communication to make our job, as marketers, a more efficient and effective process. Take PR for instance, the explosion of blogs, digital connections, consumer-generated content, and social media has blurred PR’s traditional philosophy and approach to where new strategies contain heavy digital/Web 2.0 play. Being in a digital atmosphere, the point of PR’s action to the consumer’s activation with the brand experience is only a click away (not be cliché).

What the article does not get into is how brands are effectively bridging gaps and developing activation links from other traditional touch points. I am speaking more broadly beyond simple mobile tagging or URL mentions in print and TV to a fully synchronous design and experience. For instance, TV creative is not truly integrated because there is a link for a user to check out or a coupon they can sign up for. It is designing the commercial to carry the same aesthetics and functional attributes that are utilized in the digital atmosphere and culture of the brand. Because the consumer is most likely to enter the brand experience digitally, the initializing motivator (TV commercial) should be rhythmically consistent with the consumer’s proactive digital action and experience. I think this opens up unlimited creative and innovative opportunities through all touch points, which few to no one are currently employing. Creativity is still the most important factor in branding.

Now all you have to worry about is how you will develop a robust engaged community of brand participants after getting them there…to be continued…

branding's new architecture

A look at Allurent

Allurent has developed some rich and engaging experiences for online shoppers. They have developed a one screen shopping experience with Urban Outfitters which has increased conversion by 19%. Their approach to the shopping experience takes into play everything from the browsing to the end result. Allurent builds platforms that do not take the user off one main screen throughout. They provide much more organization and help the ease of shopping.

Allurent has also developed a desktop catalog that is similiar to the paper catalogs, but is an interactive digital experience which utilizes flash and video. Industry leaders have predicted that a few retailers who adopt this technology could have paper catalogs dissapear all together.

The Allurent site has some great information and demos to better understand their capabilities and UI.

A look at Allurent