The newest technology from HP is taking a hands on approach. Literally.

I've always been a sketch pad and pencil kind of creative. Being able to stick, smudge, smear, apply and create things with my hands is more of a sense and feel thing. In todays age we are able to do these things with the endless amounts of programs offered to us. Virtually anything is possible. But amongst all this technology I think we have lost the sense and feel of creating things the good old fashioned way. With our hands.

Hp just recently introduced the Sprout, which is a multitude of technology and hands on application. The Hp Sprout is a desktop computer with a projector that scans physical items, turns them digital in a few seconds and allows you to manipulate the images using your fingers. In a nutshell It's a blend of what we already know — the standard computer, letting you check email, surf the web, write documents and so on — with a touch of the future, particularly in the form of having a "touch mat" instead of a traditional keyboard and the ability to instantly make 3D objects into scans. 

The concept is targeted mostly toward artists, designers, architects and publishers. Creative types who want to blend the physical and virtual world will find the platform extremely useful. And because the platform is collaborative, it makes working with remote colleagues significantly easier.

Sprout's flagship feature is the ability to turn 3D objects into scans that appear on your screen seconds later, letting you morph them any way you'd like. And you can share your workspace with colleagues too, so they can add to what you're working on, even if they're not in the same room.

I'm not much of a PC fan but I really think that Hp has outdone themselves with this. I'm actually very excited to experience what it has to offer and of course to actually get my hands on one.

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The Visual Orgasms of Video Mapping and Projecting

I'm sure if you asked around if people knew what video mapping was you're most likely going to get a "huh?" as an answer. Which is fine. It's not a common question and it's not something that has been introduced to the public as commonly as that. If you ask what a video projection is, I am sure you would probably get a clearer answer. However video mapping and projecting isn't just a video projection. It's that times a thousand and much more.

So what is video mapping and projecting? Projection mapping describes the technique for video projection that can make use of any surface and turn it into a dynamic visual display. It can be used to bring buildings and objects to life, create immersive environments and to provide exciting interactive experiences. A variety of different methods can be employed to achieve the desired effect but it always involves a combination of an extremely high degree of creative skill and intricate technical planning. Typically the content features a mixture of computer animation, 2D and 3D effects, live action video and traditional trompe-l'oeil techniques. Once a site is surveyed and scanned the target building has been selected an initial feasibility study is undertaken. Accurate building and environmental data are gathered to assess the complexity of the project - photographs and measurements are taken and often a 3d laser scan is undertaken.

I was first introduced to video mapping and projecting when I worked for Walton Isaacson. Walton Isaacson along side Pearl Media had just completed I huge video mapping and projecting project for Lexus. When Lexus launched their new hybrid model, the CT 200H on Earth Day, they took an unconventional approach befitting their unconventional car. Targeting a Gen X and Y audience, they created the first ever “Earth Night” and captured the attention of thousands of people on the streets of Hollywood, California with a live event unlike anything anyone had ever been seen before. This was all in 2011 so the audience response to something so new and innovative was a success. Ultimately this project was just another fancy, upscale, piece of outdoor advertisement. 

Today video mapping and projecting has been taken to further heights. Companies either selling products, promoting events or just creating a newer levels of visual stimulation for audience's and people at events has been part of today's norm. The video mapping and projections that have taken interest from me personally are the ones set up by artist as art instillations with a mixture of live performances and video mapping as a collaboration. Artist have taken there exhibits to a whole new level creating visual stimulating installations that leave your eyes actually saying, wow, how did they do that? That is what I call a video mapping- visual orgasm. With todays technology, emerging media seems endless. It is just fascinating to know that as new media is emerging it seems to be pushing towards a world of mainly visual consumed, voice controlled and less hands on application. 

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Augmented Reality: What we thought was not possible, is actually possible.

This is the first time I have been introduced to this and after doing some digging and research I am completely fascinated with this. I had no idea that this was even possible. I have seen things like this in movies but never thought I would live in a time where it was actually happening. Before this was all science fiction but now we have moved into a world where all this is possible. 

So how does it work? Basically you can point your phone at anything. he phone recognizes images just like the human brain. The phone will pull information from an infinite library of knowledge, experience and ideas. For example if you point your phone at an image such as a painting the painting will come to life and will execute a description of the history of the painting and the subjects will be able to talk and come to life. You can point your phone at an old newspaper and the imagery will come to life. Displaying information that we never thought was possible. 

I guess the question is "how does it do that?". Augmented reality is not magic. It is real and proving that as we are progressing with time and technology. What we thought was not possible , is actually possible.

Augmented Reality Explained

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Emerging Media is what is TODAY

What is emerging media? Emerging media merging media is that it is communications – of all types – based on digital technologies, and increasingly with interactive components. 

Back when I was growing up all we had was newspaper, magazines, billboards, radio and tv. TODAY we have various channels to work with through today's digital technologies. If you ask several people how they get their news I am sure most would say through a website or some sort of social media. I know I do. When I am on Facebook I tend to scroll through my news feed and view what my friends have shared for the day. Topics that interest me or lure me into whatever outlet they have been viewing. 

Today we have hundreds to thousands of emerging media outlets. Just to name the more common outlets would be Facebook, instagram, whatsapp, google+, linkedin, vimeo, youtube, the list goes on. It amazes me how companies have utilized these outlets in so many different ways. I am sure as time goes on there will continually be more outlets that our developed. But as for what is now. Emerging media is TODAY. 

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The Landscape of a Landing Page

Lets start with defining what exactly is a Landing Page. By definition a landing page is any page on a website where traffic is sent specifically to prompt a certain action or result. Just think of a a parking lot after a huge concert. The parking lot is the landing page and the exit or destination is the drive for the cars. As the marketer the goal is to direct all the traffic  to go to point A exit instead of point B. Still confused? It can be a little confusing. Many people assume a landing page is the home page of any website but not really.

The rise of search engine marketing (SEM) and social media marketing (SMM) has allowed traffic to websites to grow leaps and bounds. Lots of website owners are leveraging paid search advertisements, Facebook, Twitter, search engine optimization (SEO) and more to get people to visit their websites. The key to handling the traffic that comes in from SEM or SMM is what is known as a landing page; the first page a visitor sees when they visit a website. 

A good landing page will target a particular audience, such as traffic from an email campaign promoting a particular ebook, or visitors who click on a pay-per-click ad promoting your webinar. Landing pages must be well designed, visually appealing, and easy to use if traffic is going to be converted into something valuable. There are several things that factor into the effectiveness of a landing page. 

Landscape of a Landing Page

HEADLINE: This is the first thing that visitors see. Since you only have a couple seconds to grab their attention, make it clear, concise, and interesting. The Unique Selling Proposition (USP).

THE HERO SHOT: (image/ video showing context of use)

OFFER: Whether it is a free download, consultation, trial, or other service, provide some value to the customer in exchange for them submitting contact information.

SOCIAL MEDIA: In today's time social media presence is essential everywhere.

CALL TO ACTION: A single conversation goal with or without a form.

So as a marketer if you use the five essentials listed above you are sure to lead that heavy traffic exactly to whatever point you want to lead them to.

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The Subliminal Brainwashing of Advertising In Video Games

I came across this very interesting article on engaging consumers via brain chemistry. Since the topic for today’s blog is advertising in gaming I thought it was appropriate to look further into this article. 

In 2009, Apple began allowing developers to make monetary transactions with gamers from within the games, not just an initial purchase. In-App-Purchase (IAP) bears all the hallmarks of a paradigm shift. Not only does it radically alter the market (games that would cost fifty bucks on a console are now free), but also it births a whole new philosophy of engaging consumers that works at a brain chemistry level.

Is this some sort of subliminal brainwash? Yes I think so but yet again we are advertising. The core of advertising is based off of consumer behavior and persuasive sales techniques. 

The brands that will win in the digital space will be the ones who know how to manufacture not just cars and beer and detergent. They will also know how to tap the chemistry in the heads of their customers and do it daily and relentlessly. We live in an almost completely digital age today. TV is starting to become a thing of yesterday since now most consumers use Netflix or Hula. Who is the target market that we can catch on the daily and relentlessly? Video Gamers, Millennial, baby boomers. Video games attracts a wide range of the target market. 

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The Beneficial Gains of Video Marketing

I'm sure you have been victim to the constant barrage of ads that cut through your never-ending joy of YouTube surfing. They pop up when you least expect it, and at times you can skip through the ad if you wait for the prompt to hit that magical five-second mark. However, the majority of the time you become victimized to having to sit through a whole 30-60 second spot with no option of skipping what so ever. The times that we do get lucky enough to skip the ad and the five seconds is up, for some reason I end up getting sucked into the advertisement at it's 6 second mark, still holding my mouse ready to skip but continue to watch the whole ad. I hate when that happens. This is what we call Online Video Marketing.

According to a YouTube Audience Analysis of Q3 2012, 95% of gamers turn to YouTube for gaming information and entertainment. Not only that, but in 2012, the amount of time people spent watching gaming videos on YouTube more than doubled over the year before. Much of this growth was due to increased viewership via mobile devices, as one in three views of gaming-related videos occurred on a tablet or smartphone.

Grand Theft Auto V was released on September 17, 2013. Rockstar uploaded the game’s first trailer on November 2, 2011. The trailer earned almost 40 million YouTube views and 1.2 million social shares. A year later, Rockstar released another trailer that racked up 21.9 million YouTube views. Rockstar uploaded the first official gameplay video in July 2013, two months before Grand Theft Auto V hit stores. It generated 31.2 million YouTube views and 878,000 social shares. In this case, Grand Theft Auto V saw more engagement with its first teaser trailer, which still indicates significant excitement and anticipation around the game’s release.

Google found an extremely strong correlation between pre-launch video views and game sales within the first four months after the release. Research also revealed that as a game accumulates additional views in the months leading to launch, the correlation between views and sales not only remains intact, but grows stronger.

The millions of video views Grand Theft Auto V racked up before its release translated into $1 billion in sales within its first three days. 

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Have your cake and eat it too! Well... not really in this case

I came across this interesting article that you would probably find unusual for the format of this assignment. However after reading this article I realized this has everything to do with a brand and it’s reputation, identity and trust. 

I am an individual that respects anyone and everyone’s beliefs. The question is how far do you go as a business owner to commit to your beliefs with the probability that you my lose clientele and consumer trust. According to this article a cake making company by the name of Cake Pro’s recently refused to make a cake for a same-sex couples wedding all because of their sexual orientation. "They had called and said to her that they were a Christian bakery and the owner had talked to Jesus for two weeks and that because it was two females getting married she couldn't make our cake." 

Although Cake Pro's is a privately owned business and they have every right to run business the way they choose. How far should you really go, as a business owner? I have the understanding that you believe in what you believe in but from my stand point when companies chose to do these things it damages your brand, reputation, identity and trust. I think companies should be mindful of other peoples lives and have a better understanding that business is business a consumer is a consumer no matter what their color, sexual orientation or ethnicity. 

After reviewing this article I noticed the slew of negative comments that followed the article. One guy said “I just went on Yelp and gave her 1 star hopefully Jesus will help her regain the 3 she just lost from me”. The many comments were all but similar to that. So in conclusion, from a public relations standpoint, Cake Pros has created a bad reputation for themselves based on the discrimination they choose to hold all because of their religious beliefs. Good luck to them! As of August 14, 2014 I am sure its going to be nothing but downhill for this company/brand.  

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Email Subscriptions: It's a Love Hate Relationship

Every time I log on to my email, at times it may seem like such a daunting task. I open it up and my inbox is flooded with mail from Groupon, TED, Amazon, AIGA, Linkedin, etc. I obviously have interest in most of them. If I didn't I could easily unsubscribe myself from the all day, everyday, harassment.

One of my favorite email subscriptions is Linkedin. When Linkedin sends you emails they send you updates on your connections as well as potential job listings that you may be interested in. The job listings that are sent to me are based off the data collected from my profile which makes everything so much easier because it's all just sent to you in a little personalized package. Linkedin has made the term "job hunt" more into the "job walk". Their is not very much effort that has to be done on your part because they do all the hunting for you.

Another great subscription is TED. As I was ranting and raving in my previous post about TED, well it's just that. TED is TED. They have an amazing site that reaches out to a very wide audience. When I receive emails from TED I am usually sent potential TED Talks I may be interested in based off my viewing history. To me this is amazing. I honestly would rather get an email with list of catchy headlines vs. taking the time to manually search and find.

So all an all are email subscriptions effective? Absolutely! If the company, product or service has interested you why not come back for more? And the perfect way to keep me coming back for more is sending me personalized suggestions based on me. At times it gives me a sort of uneasy feeling knowing that somebody or thing out there, I have never met, knows me. Maybe just a little to much about me. But that's just what's happening in today's age.

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Eat. Pray. Love Learning: TED Talks

For this particular assignment we were to visit one or more websites that we have been following. Think about the nature of their brand, whether it is tangible product, a service product or a nonprofit organization, in which case the brand is likely the organization itself. How are they going about brand-building on the site itself?

The brand that I follow often is TED. I was first introduced to TED a few years back and what enticed me to look further into the site was the headline that read: Your elusive creative genius by Elizabeth Gilbert. I clicked on the video and from that point changed my life forever. It wasn't just the content and information that I received from the video that changed my life it was the TED website as whole changed my life.

TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Meanwhile, independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world.

TED has built a brand that is clearly identifiable to many. Starting with the obvious red TED logo. The image of the brand in my opinion is a positive one. TED has been able to build a brand that many walks of life can identify with. The talks that are posted cover almost every and any topic which creates a larger scale of viewers with many different interest. TED has  built a site that is solely based on content marketing. When there is a talk that some user finds valuable and relevant the user will more than likely share the content. Which in result will drive more visitors to the TED website to explore and continue the content marketing process. Within the site you are able to read, watch, attend and even participate. If you are have a log in TED will send you links to the newest post based on your interest. 

Going back to the first TED talks I ever experienced, Your elusive creative genius. Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses — and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius. It's a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk. It was a talk that changed my life.

TED is a platform of genius, ingenious, motivation, knowledge, drive, inspiration, reality and experience. As a student I am at a pinnacle point in my life where learning is key. Embracing knowledge and being motivated by people with real integral life experiences should just be part of ones everyday. Eat. Pray. Love Learning.

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Chipotle Online + Offline Channel Findings

Our assignment for week one was to research a company or non-profit organization and find the way the company has been utilizing online and offline channels. The company I chose was Chipotle Mexican Grill. 

Based off my findings Chipotle is utilizing multiple channels to enable customers to place orders wherever they are. People can place an order online for pick-up at the nearest Chipotle location, and they can also use its official mobile app to order on the go.

To pull off a successful muilti-channel strategy, a retail store needs to determine the key tasks or actions that customers perform throughout the shopping experience, and then let them accomplish those tasks across multiple channels. Recognizing that there is value in reaching out to its customer in a meaningful and creative way, Chipotle has embraced a new wave of marketing focused on developing more "owned media" and visible event strategies, both of which tend to appeal to its ideal customer base: millennials.

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