Who would have thought that technology would ever take over our senses? Well, today that is all possible.
The new SixthSense technology brings together the World Wide Web, with the real world. It is a wearable piece of equipment that can indicate the most environmental friendly products by scanning them; it can act as a camera, a cell phone, a watch or even a map. Here are a few examples from the website:
•    The map application lets the user navigate a map displayed on a nearby surface using hand gestures… letting the user zoom in, zoom out or pan using intuitive hand movements.
•    The drawing application lets the user draw on any surface by tracking the fingertip movement of the user’s index finger.
•    SixthSense also recognises user’s freehand gestures (postures). For example, the SixthSense system implements a gestural camera that takes photos of the scene the user is looking at by detecting the ‘framing’ gesture.
•    SixthSense also lets the user draw icons or symbols in the air using the movement of the index finger and recognises those symbols as interaction instructions. For example, drawing a magnifying glass symbol takes the user to the map application or drawing an “@” symbol lets the user check his email.

•     The SixthSense system also augments physical objects the user is interacting with by projecting more information about these objects projected on them. For example, the gesture of drawing a circle on the user’s wrist projects an analogue watch.

The SixthSense system was created to enable mankind to access data, information and knowledge more effectively and efficiently. Because almost everything is available on the internet, this system makes use of that information to advise the user and make things more accessible.

Read more on the website.

I read an interesting article today regarding the success that companies have reached using social networking and e-marketing.  The effects of the social networking craze goes far beyond chatting to an old friend on Facebook, Blueworld or any of the other online communities.  This is something that I still need to get used to.

The thing is just that the advertising is done is such a way that people do not even realize that they are being targeted by large companies and by the time that they do, it’s too late.

The great thing, in my opinion, that has lead to the success of e-marketing, is the accessibility that it creates and opens the window between the business or service provider and the target public.  The audience can be reached anywhere and anytime, instead of just hoping when they come home from work that they watch TV so that they can see the reccurring ad for the ‘two for the price of one’ special.

They other thing is that the consumers feel a sense of control and in some way one can say that they are in control.  Before, the marketer would create an ad and no matter what the public thought of it they had no way to get back to the company and give there thoughts.  They would change the channel and that would be that.

With the internet and making the whole thing more ‘e’ the companies loose less money, in the sense that they can reach their target audience more direct and leave the ‘general public’ to be some else’s suckers.

I am unfortunately making use of the public transport system and I am constantly reminded of how we are using the internet no matter were we are.  I sat next to a guy that I assume is in his early twenties, and he was downloading something from the internet.  The thing is, he was browsing through some pages and the smartly places advertisements led to him clicking on one and taking him to completely different place.  Knowing what I know now I was rather impressed.

However, being a cellphone and internet user myself, I sometimes feel that the ads are pushy and irritating.  My advice to the markers is simple.  Less is more: make yourself seen and be remembered.  Sometimes we come back and that is when you have hooked us.  Those over-powering sites don’t see me too often , that you can be sure of.

The great thing about the internet, no matter what portal you use to get there, is that it is vast and gives room to play around a for both the advertiser and the user.

I found this in the latest Springwise newsletter:

Since free information is abundant, finding a way to sell knowledge or monetize content can be a challenge. Los Angeles start-up Knowledge Genie aims to offer a solution, allowing users to centralize their knowledge on a particular topic and present it in a customizable, tutorial-style package—a ‘Knowledge Genie’—that can be shared for free or sold for a fee.

www.MyKnowledgeGenie.com

Starting this week with my internship at interactive concepts I have learnt a vast deal about the value that the internet has in our lives and how little we realise it.

I was particularly surprised at the lack of information that I had of blogging, the ‘new’ must for all on the internet.

Blogs have become the way that everyone communicates and let’s face it, the way that many people put bread on the table.

The great thing about blogs is that you can write about anything, anywhere and with so many dedicated sites you can now do it anytime.  It is a great way of venting frustrations and sometimes getting that validation for things that those around you simply can’t take note of.

Businesses have also come to note that it is a great way for them to keep track of their business and to have early start at some reputation and crisis management.  They can use portals such as Twitter, Facebook, Hellopeter and others like it to keep track of what people are saying about their company and if need be make the necessary changes to handle the situation before it gets out of hand.

Entrepreneurs can also use these portals to source the needs of a target market as a way of research for a new business venture.  As keeping in touch with your stakeholders is a vital part to the success of a company, the interaction that is created is key.

Blogging has opened the long awaited portal for two way communication and brought the needs of the consumer to the attention of the business .