Posts tagged social media
Giving a fair shake to the eyes in the sky
Dec 11th
by Francis Moran
In July 2002, a FedEx Boeing 727 carrying cargo crashed on its approach for a night-time landing in Tallahassee, Fl. A U.S. National Transportation Safety Board investigation identified the first officer’s colour vision deficiency as a factor in the crash and recommended that all existing colour vision testing protocols employed by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) be reviewed. Four years later, this case, and the issues which it raised about colour blindness testing in the commercial aviation industry, was the subject of a panel at an international workshop hosted by Saudi Arabian Airlines.
For Matt Lemelin, CEO of Genevolve Vision Diagnostics, stories such as this validate his company’s mandate, and commercial potential, to redefine how colour blindness is tested, diagnosed and treated. As Genevolve moves closer to its commercial launch, he is eagerly looking at specific industries such as aviation, where there is an opportunity for the company to establish new testing standards that are more fair and equitable. Genevolve’s ultimate goal is to create a global colour vision standard for all occupations. Read the rest of this entry »
Digital signage: Telling the right story to drive customer acquisition
Nov 17th
By Francis Moran and Leo Valiquette
When we caught up with Screenreach Interactive founder and CEO Paul Rawlings, he was in the midst of packing for a trip to New York, where he was booked as a panellist for the Digital Signage Investor Conference.
Digital signage, a so-called form of “out-of-home advertising,” delivers video content, advertisements and messages to specific locations at specific times on static or touch screens, often in combination with movement detection and image capture technology. According to one recent industry forecast, the market is growing at a compound annual rate of 40 per cent, with 22 million digital signs expected to be deployed world-wide by 2015.
For Screenreach, it’s an industry ripe for the Screach app.
Hardening LinkedIn for privacy protection:
Nov 15th
The 12 settings that could impact your professional image
by Claudiu Popa
With the introduction of LinkedIn’s new settings page this year, the company also took the opportunity to make some changes to its Privacy Policy.
Since the expansive document’s 29 pages would put even the most troubled insomniac into a deep slumber, the company conveniently provided a summary which hints at the different ways it seeks to monetize its service and in some ways emulate Facebook’s much maligned model.
Claudiu Popa
Instead of stringing together 7415 words however, the latter prefers to describe its privacy-related practices through a series of nested pages that branch off an initial six sections. You get the idea. Six of one, half a dozen of the other. But enough of that. I plan to send you on your way with something you can actually use. Read the rest of this entry »
SMBs actually hate social media
Nov 11th
Christine Wong
by Christine Wong
Time for a social media reality check, kids.
The myth: All companies are happily, constantly tweeting, posting and linking up a storm on social media, to their hearts’ delight and their bottom lines’ benefit.
The truth: … not so much.
The reality, based on a few new studies and a roomful of collective gaspers (I’ll get to them later), is that many SMBseither still haven’t jumped wholeheartedly onto the social media train – or the ones that have are struggling with how to use, manage and afford it.
Exhibit A: a surprising 49 per cent – yes, that’s half – of SMBs who responded to our ITB/Dell State of the Canadian SMB survey last year said they weren’t even using social media at all in their businesses. When we asked them why in this year’s survey, the top reason (cited by 35 per cent) was lack of time and resources. Another 16 per cent say they figure it’s just not worth investing in. Read the rest of this entry »
Tricky social media puzzle makes audience feel smart
Nov 2nd
I’ve been a long time fan of Trent Reznor and the Nine Inch Nails, to the point that I pay an unhealthy amount of attention to every project Reznor becomes involved in. At least enough that I know that after winning an Oscar for scoring David Fincher’s The Social Network last year, Reznor collaborated with Fincher again on the upcoming The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo movie sound track.
Not only was Reznor involved in the soundtrack, but it’s become clear to me that he’s also involved in the marketing of the movie. There’s been a couple of cryptic Web sites set up and a Twitter account called MouthTapedShut. Much of the design on the Web sites harken back to artwork NIN has featured both online and in its album art over the years with images of natural elements in a square grid. And today, the MouthTapedShut Twitter account engaged its users in a puzzle that is reminiscent of the tactics Reznor used to promote Year Zero.
Privacy concerns with Google +
Sep 1st
By Tony Bradley
Back on Day 15 I examined Google+ privacy and found a couple things that seemed to be suspicious or give me some reason for concern.
I spoke with someone at Google, though, to clear up a few things about Google+ privacy, so for today’s 30 Days With Google+ post I want to clarify my understanding of Google+ privacy.
There are two main concerns I had regarding Google+ privacy–granting permissions in Google+ Games, and the broad scope of the terms of service (ToS) required just to use Google+. Read the rest of this entry »
Sprouter and Akoha revivals show strong community matters
Aug 25th
At the beginning of the month, it looked like strong and committed user communities didn’t mean much for cash-strapped social networking startups Sprouter and Akoha, but now those communities appear to have revived both sites in different ways.
It looked like Canada was going to lose two social media gems after Sprouter announced plans to shut down on Aug. 2 and Akoh
followed suit Aug. 15. But now it seems the loss won’t be as great as it seemed. Sprouter continued online past its announced shut off date, and has announced it may be near a deal that will keep its operations going. Meanwhile, Akoha’s site did go offline, but the user community has simply moved their altruistic game playing to a new online home.
Cameron must be off his chump to call for social media ban
Aug 12th
British Prime Minister David Cameron’s threat of blocking social media sites and BlackBerry Messenger service in reaction to rioting in London and surrounding cities is pure folly.
The logic of cutting off everyone’s access to communication tools because a few criminals are making use of them is bollocks. Imagine if the rioters used Molotov cocktails in their destructive experts – would a ban on the sale of liquor be considered? Also, it is rare to hear suggestions of gun bans after shootings take place.
Brian Jackson, Associate Editor, ITBusiness.ca
Canada loses two social media gems
Aug 5th
Canada’s online community has taken a major hit this month as two social networking sites with a positive bent had no choice but to shut down after running out of cash.
First Sprouter, a question-and-answer site that sought to help aspiring entrepreneurs by providing them access to seasoned experts, announced plans to shut down on Aug. 2 (but seems to remain online for the time being). Then Akoha, an online game that encouraged its players to enact real-world good deeds in hopes of creating social change, informed its users it would be going offline Aug. 15.
Brian Jackson, Associate Editor, ITBusiness.ca
lawTechcamp geared to bring the law and technology together
Jun 17th
By Monica Goyal
Lawyers are increasingly relying on technology to help them get their work done and improve the level of service they offer to their clients. Failure to adapt to new technologies and processes could spell the difference between success and failure for some in the legal profession.
Lawyers seeking a better understanding of how technology is changing their profession can check out the latest additon to the Toronto “unconference” scene: lawTechCamp. The morning of June 18th, 2011, legal and tech professionals are welcome to attend a first of its kind legal tech unconference.
Monica Goyal
“These are exciting times for a profession at a cross-road. The legal profession has only two choices: accept that the economic landscape has irreversibly shifted and adapt to new technology and processes, or keep its head fixed firmly in the sand where it will eventually die off as more nimble and efficient players enter the marketplace. How legal services are delivered in 2020 will be vastly different from how they are delivered today. ”, says Mitch Kowalski, lawyer, writer and entrepreneur, co-organizer of the event.
lawTechcamp is a BarCamp-style community for new media and technology enthusiasts, technology lawyers, technology developers in the legal space, legal information professionals, bloggers, tweeters, social networkers, and everyone else who is curious about new media technology and its intersection with the legal profession. Read the rest of this entry »
