Technology
Social Media Feeds Winter Olympics Addict
I admit it. I’m a self-confessed Winter Olympics addict and always have been. This year NBC has been feeding this voracious habit across their networks sufficiently enough that I actually know the channel numbers for MSNBC and CNBC on my cable box. I’m DVRing the daytime events, staying up late to watch the extended coverage. And if that’s not enough, my iPhone has yet to leave my side; NBC has created one of the best iPhone apps I own.
Though they have been able to simplistically organize all the info you would expect on a deep website into an app easily negotiated on a mobile device, they have also put us in the same room to eavesdrop on the star-studded athletes thoughts and for fans to respond with encouragement and accolades. Continue reading
Universities Champion Economic Revival
Leveraging every dollar of appropriations to generate ROI has always been a core goal for most state universities. But in light of today’s economic downturn, many colleges and universities are stepping up their efforts to do even more. That is, they are relentlessly focused on turning around struggling state economies.
One extraordinary example is taking place in Michigan. The University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University have joined forces to make available their tremendous resources including faculty consulting, laboratory equipment, research facilities and more to assist business development. What’s more, they are relentlessly exploring innovative opportunities to develop new technologies, research emerging industries such as alternative energy and transform the internet to be speedier, more secure and spam-free.
A Wind Farm in our Urban Back Yard?
A new “green” parking garage is being built around the corner from our offices in River North.
Named “Greenway” it includes a lot of the typical features of LEED construction, including: renewable materials, maximum energy efficiency, minimal waste, plug-ins for electric cars, etc. To this point it all seems good, but somewhat standard.
Then last week they installed something truly surprising – vertical wind turbines. We’re told they will provide enough electricity to power the building’s exterior lighting and also contribute to the overall power grid.
Wowed by a New Media Communications Tool
Everyone loves to be wowed. Yet as marketers, we know it’s often hard to do. However, while I was speaking at the 
recent IPA Leadership Conference, that’s exactly what happened. Dorothy Wemett of T’emogique introduced Philm, a new interactive communications tool. She described it as better than CD/DVD, internet and email combined.
That’s a big promise. But one that she paid off during a demonstration. While it looks like an unassuming USB memory stick, inside it runs video, is fully interactive, can be customized with online reply features including order forms and, most importantly, is completely trackable. Continue reading
My Virtual Superbowl Party
What a great day for the New Orleans Saints and social media. And I had a blast. I was pretty pumped for this great match-up I had predicted early in the season – New Orleans Saints versus Indianapolis Colts. A few thousand people were at my party, some I knew, most I didn’t until yesterday. And it didn’t cost me more than a few beers and pretzels. My party was online and it was better than sitting in a bar next to some obnoxious over-served Vikings fan with a grudge. It was me, a roaring fire in the fireplace, a laptop, the aforementioned beverage and snacks, an amused wife, and a few thousand acquaintances from #SB44.
We absolutely know what you were thinking about this past year?
What do the Iran election, Michael Jackson, Google Wave, Harry Potter, American Idol, the Superbowl and #musicmonday have in common?
