Tag Archives: video

Ten Stories We’ve Enjoyed This Week

15th March 2019

Writing this piece over in Austin at SxSW. Seen some great stuff this week from the likes of Jodie Foster, David Byrne and Brian Solis. Attended sessions on subjects inclusing the blockchain, insights, influencer marketing, video, mindfulness and ‘cannabusiness’. More info on all of this in coming weeks, but wanted to share this video shown byBrian Solis at the launch of his new book. This is the wonderful, Alike.  

‘As we reflect on 30 years of the World Wide Web in 2019, we must also take the opportunity to think about what we want the future of the web, and the internet more broadly, to look like.’ NESTA on 30 years of the Web.

What was the happiest day on the internet this decade? This rigorous (albeit subjective) analysis highlights the top 10 candidates. Number one comes in on June 26, 2015. When Obama sings “Amazing Grace” and the day gay marriage was legalised. 

‘The rise in dating apps has introduced a host of new behaviours to navigate, with names like ghosting, cookie-jarring and orbiting that belie their psychological and emotional impact. Technology has made people less empathetic and sensitive in their dating habits. People are much more likely to ghost someone — just disappear without explanation — along with some other poor behaviours.’ And so…. this is how anti-dating apps are helping modern daters heal after heartbreak.

Facebook can make VR avatars look, and move, exactly like you,..and in China you will soon be able to pay your subway fare with your face.

This is how an app for gamers went mainstream. ‘Discord has become an indispensable tool for internet creators to connect with their fans. A real-time chat platform, it was founded four years ago as a way to make it easier for gamers to communicate. But over the past year, it has outgrown its origin story and become the default place where influencers, YouTubers, Instagram meme accounts, and anyone with an audience can connect with their community.

So, the hottest chat app for teens is Google Docs. ‘As more and more laptops find their way into middle and high schools, educators are using Google Docs to do collaborative exercises and help students follow along with the lesson plan. The students, however, are using it to organise running conversations behind teachers’ backs.’

This instagram account is dedicated to beautiful libraries around the world.

Virgin Galactic releases some amazing footage of its second spaceflight. The VSS Unity reached an altitude of 55.87 miles.

Mercedes tells the story of Bertha Benz and ‘The Journey That Changed Everything’.
A completely desiccated desert plant is rehydrated and the effect is incredible, and here – photographer captures a shot of two sharks caught inside a glassy wave. And finally, a woman sets up a tiny photo booth to capture birds eating in her backyard.

Ten Stories We Have Enjoyed This Week

26th May 2017

Well, this a radical and rather worrying revision. As part of the BBC’s science series Tomorrow’s World, Professor Hawking said he thinks due to climate change, overdue asteroid strikes, epidemics and population growth, humans will need to find a new planet to populate within a single lifetime (100 years) – revised from the 1,000 year time limit he gave last November.

A powerful piece made up of images, video, data and maps created by Google and the UN Refugee Agency. Worth spending some time with this one. Searching for Syria.

My article on the Econsultancy blog this week. ‘Facile Externality – or when efficiency is inefficient.‘

Americans began the 20th century in bustles and bowler hats and ended it in velour sweatsuits and flannel shirts—the most radical shift in dress standards in human history. Happy or horrified? Silicon Valley is responsible.

Really nice idea in the travel and tourism category. Tourism boards are teaming up with Airbnb to promote their destinations. ‘Visit Sweden’s partnership is based on building awareness rather than driving actual bookings. In fact, there are no additional listings for Swedish accommodation since the campaign launched. It is merely a marketing campaign that involves Airbnb posting fictional listings from nine areas of Sweden, including locations like the mountains of Sarek and Skuleskogen National Park.’ For Airbnb this tactic appears to be another way for the brand to market itself as a destination resource rather than a straightforward booking site.

No laughing matter – why Advertising isn’t funny anymore. A highly entertaining piece lays blame at the door of a wide range of individuals/organisations, including Tony Blair, The European Union, Michael McIntyre and Sir Martin Sorrell. 

Moment is an iOS app that automatically tracks how much you use your iPhone and iPad each day. If you’re using your phone too much, you can set daily limits on yourself and be notified when you go over. You can even force yourself off your device when you’re over your limit. As the Ad says – ‘Put down your phone and get back to your life.’

…And on a related note – ‘Why iPhones are killing creativity’.’We’re not allowing our subconscious to break through often enough because our brains are always having too much fun or are simply too busy. That means creative outputs are inevitably more rational and less interesting. And if we do eventually get to unexpected places, it takes us longer to get there.‘

Great sequence of ads from Spotify, launching Spotify Premium for Family. The excellent ‘Door’ and even better ‘Dinner.’

Funny, not funny. A demolition crew accidentally knocks down the house next to the one they’re supposed to be demolishing. 

Why Video won’t work on Instagram

29th June 2013

With Instagram launching their video product up against Twitter’s nascent ‘Vine’, there is plenty of ongoing debate concerning the continuing struggle between these two digital behemoths; as well as the importance of video – both to these protagonists and to the digital world in general.

Instagram are hoping to trump Vine’s six seconds, with a 15” capacity, along with a range of filters to help us beautify the content we post.

Continue reading →