What it Says-What it Means: September 2010

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Porn-a-hol?

Skyy vodka's sex with a bottle campaign is getting some people all hot and bothered.

In defense their marketing director Maura McGinn says. "We're an adult product consumed mostly in the evening and in flirtatious situations."

The U.S. Distilled Spirits Council's advertising code says: "Beverage alcohol advertising and marketing materials should not rely upon sexual prowess or sexual success as a selling point for the brand."

Somebody wants attention, and somebody is getting it.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Advertisers want to CAPTCHA you!

You've probably experienced these strange distorted words when you want to go deep into a website. Called CAPTCHAs an acronym for Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart that's pretty much what they do-make sure you are a human.

I have to admit, I often have to go through several different CAPTCHAs before I get the right answer so I wonder if I'm less human or a little computer.

One thing for sure, when you try to solve one of these things your attention is focused, and that is precisely why advertisers want to get into the CAPTCHA.

Adage reports that Solve Media has created a technology that would allow advertisers words or names into the CAPTCHA. The new style of ad is called a type-in.

To the naked eye they are easy to read compared to the old style, but apparently there are variations in pixilation and no two will be identical.

No space is sacred.

Read more at AdAge

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Sexy Ketchup and condoms

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Google Instant- Bob Dylan

Is this selling out? Or is it keeping your image current, and attaching yourself to new media and new markets?

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

OnStar..No escape from Facebook status update!

Well, you can't talk on your cell phone while driving without a hands free connection so you certainly shouldn't be texting an update to your facebook status on your cell while driving.

However, you wont need to go through status update withdrawal while driving if you have OnStar 's next generation in-vehicle technologies that will support audio Facebook statuses and SMS messages.

You'll be able to hear your facebook and text messages and respond verbally. The system will transcribe your voice to text.

They call it "responsible connectivity"---really? How about just paying attention to driving?

Monday, September 13, 2010

YouTube Time Machine

Travel back in time as far back as 1860. Select your area of interest from video games, television, commercials, current events, sports, movies and music and YouTube Time Machine will take you there.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

QR Codes-Simple Augmented Reality

QR codes are examples of very simple augmented reality. Widely used in Japan and Europe for several years they are beginning to be seen and used all over North America. View the video I created below:

The Tokyo N Building covered in QR codes is designed so passers-by can read the changing codes and get information via sites like Twitter. More in depth info like specials available in stores, who is tweeting and what they are tweeting comes from an iPhone app.