I told you that I wore one of these back in my NYC retail days but the laughs on you! Check out Joyus, one of my favorite shopping destination where you get to discover amazing products like this...through video!
Great for humid Summer days when your hair just won't cooperate, when you just don't feel like fussing with all the hair stuff and it's way too hot for the blow dryer and especially...for those days you're regretting chopping off your locks...Opps, that would be me! Although I've been a fan for a while now, wanted to share the Joyus, an online shopping experience that helps you discover and buy the things you'll love. Their purpose is to help transform your shopping experience by harnessing the power of video. Each week their amazing curators share their special apparel, beauty and lifestyle finds and then show how to make them work via video. Each item is available for sale for a limited time through their exclusive video sales platform, making it easy to buy the things you love. You can also easily share these videos with friends on Facebook and Twitter with a simple click.
I was bummed to have missed CES but, thanks to FaceBook, Twitter and savvy coworkers I got the daily Scoop on the latest and greatest showcased at this years' Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. There was a lot of Buzz around Ultra High Definition TVs, digital health technology, tablets and smartphones and even celebrities joined in on the conversation with 50cent, Ludacris, Snooki, will.i.am and Nick Cannon among the thousands tweeting about the innovative technologies, amazing product displays and engaging events that made up the 2013 International CES. Check out Simply Measured’s CES by the Numbers for more information on Twitter trends during #2013CES. The reason for my post however is to bring you these 15 innovations that will change the game not just for marketers but for all of us...think a fork that monitors how often you eat and how quickly you take bites. Funny yes but I'm sure you know plenty of people who could benefit from something like it? Thanks to iMedia Connection for this insightful roundup and enjoy! No. 1: The next generation of digital credit cards
How smart is your wallet? If you’re looking for a new brand engagement
opportunity, get ready for a breakthrough in digital credit cards. With the
introduction of the Dynamics "ePlate" device, consumers can push a button on the
card itself to choose what reward they want a particular payment to go toward.
Users can also choose whether to pay cash or pay with redeemed points through
the physical card. And a version of the card also features security-hidden card
numbers. Available on any existing VISA or MasterCard account, this innovation
puts the control at the fingertips of the user. And it’s free for brands to
participate. Click here for more
information.
No. 2: (Much) longer battery life for mobile devices
Everyone seems to love their mobile device, but hate their device's battery
life. PowerStick and other short-term battery options have helped users eke out
more time, but this year's CES brought us a new option. Nectar Mobile Power
introduced a mobile charger that will keep devices powered for up to two weeks.
Using a unique new battery technology, this power source keeps users from
needing to find power outlets for much longer. The price point is currently a
bit steep at $299, but media and techies alike were excited to see this product
debut at CES. Click here for more
information.
No. 3: The Hapi Fork and other “smart” everyday
items
Don't laugh...introducing the Hapi Fork! Think of this analog-gone-digital
item as a cross between an electric toothbrush and a Nike+ chip for your shoe.
The fork interacts with a software app to track how often you eat and how
quickly you take bites. If, for example, you want to train yourself to take a
bite every five seconds instead of every three, the Hapi Fork will vibrate to
remind you to slow down. And the fork is dishwasher safe! (If you remove the
battery.) Though it earned some laughs from serious technologists, the Hapi Fork
represents an important new trend of adding sensors to objects to help them
"learn us" and adapt to our behaviors. Click here for more information.
No. 4: Lightning-fast mobile chips
Mobile devices have surpassed televisions and computers as the primary screen
through which brands interact with consumers. But the technology itself isn't
always up to user expectations, especially with increasing media consumption
habits. Chip maker Qualcomm is taking devices to the next level of speed with
its new Snapdragon 600 and 800 processors. Get ready for quicker response
without additional drain to the battery power. Insiders say the new chips are 75
percent faster than the prior processor, the S4 Pro. Snapdragon 600 and 800 are
expected to appear in consumer devices in mid 2013. Click here for more
information.
No. 5: Augmented reality dressing rooms
Getting your customer to engage with your brand is the ultimate goal for any
marketer. But in today's digital environment, physical interaction is not always
possible. According to the team at Facecake Marketing Technologies, this isn't a
problem. Facecake has introduced a virtual world for brands. Imagine allowing
your customers to explore your products in a highly interactive and personal way
through an augmented reality interface. Facecake's proprietary visual
demonstration system allows customers to manipulate their own image with
realistic animation capabilities and try on a variety of designer products with
unprecedented levels of personalization. Consumers can adjust their eye shadow
to match their complexion, see which handbag looks best with their outfit, or
try on brand accessories all in an interactive digital environment. Go from
being blond to redhead, visualize yourself losing weight, or try on a variety of
outfits in a realistic manner. Click here for more
information.
No. 6: Cars with “BYOD” capability
Until now, cars have typically had a dedicated hardware set for accessing
maps and other information. But Ford made a future-thinking decision in creating
a "BYOD" (bring your own device) option. The new Ford developer program allows
users to connect via Android or any other device, meaning the user isn't married
to an old technology years after purchasing the vehicle. Insiders think other
carmakers will follow suit, and it further establishes the car as the newest
mobile device in the suite of brand marketer tools. Click here for more information.
No. 7: A smart device that texts you when your plant needs to
be watered
As we mentioned before, one of the most important trends coming out of this
year's CES was the "sensorization" of non-digital items. And one of the best
examples was the Parrot "Flower Power" device. The small pronged object reads
plant environment moisture levels, which trigger automated responses. Look for
more technologies taking advantage of this trend. And think about ways your
brand can innovate in this space. Click here for more
information.
No. 8: TVs that are 110 inches, paper-thin, 4K, 3D & more
As expected, this year's CES featured a number of television innovations.
From 4K (up to 8K!) displays, to new 3D options and screens as large as 110
inches, consumers have never had more choice in the entertainment space. And it
seemed like every maker also debuted their version of the new digital television
experience. From social data on the screen (what are your peers watching?) to
making product information clickable and displaying various data widgets
(weather, sports scores, show recommendations), marketers have never had so many
in-points for interacting with audiences while they watch TV. Your 2013 campaign
plans need to include this "new normal" in the entertainment space. The largest
screen in the living room is regaining its importance. For more information visit Samsung.com, Hisense.com, and LG.com.
No. 9: Video-integrated marketing print pieces
When you think digital, you tend to think of a device-related experience. But
one company is bringing digital back into the analog world. Spreengs introduced
a line of video cards. They can be used for personal announcements like
graduation or the birth of a new baby -- or high-value marketing messaging.
Using the latest in "Printings in Motion" technology, Spreengs offers oversize
cards with a variety of video screen sizes. Loading a video onto a card is
simple, it requires a computer with a USB port. Pricing varies. Click here for more information.
No. 10: It's easier than ever to skip TV commercials
Dish Networks riled up the marketing world and invited litigation from
broadcasters with their new version of "The Hopper with Sling" set top box. The
technology allows viewers to skip commercials (hence the court cases), as well
as transfer content to tablets for offline viewing. The popular product was
originally a finalist for the CNET Best of CES award, until CNET's parent
company CBS asked that the Hopper be removed from consideration. Implications
for marketers are varied, but obviously the trend toward skipping TV commercials
is one that will make brands evaluate their marketing budget priorities. Click here for more information.
No. 11: The next generation of video producers
As digital video continues to explode, opportunities to enter the space are
getting more sophisticated and user-friendly. For example, LiveU has created a
full line of high quality production tools to create and publish video from
anywhere. They debuted at CES a line of green screen studios with slick
animation options that let you quickly produce a high-quality broadcast. The
studio shown above comes equipped with studio quality lights and backdrop, and
all the hardware and software you need. The studios come in different levels of
complexity, with costs ranging from $3,000 to $20,000. Click here for more
information.
No. 12: Smart appliances and interactive home tech
Remember when we started to imagine being able to start a load of laundry,
adjust the thermostat, or check if you're out of milk from a smart phone? This
once-future concept is finally emerging into the mass market. LG unveiled at CES
a full line of appliances and devices that use technologies like NFC to interact
with objects and communicate with the user. Soon the smart phone will be the
remote control for operating and maintaining interconnected homes. You'll be
seeing this trend become more and more the "new normal" in the consumer tech
space. Start planning now for ways to tap into this consumer shift, especially
if you're a product company. Click here for more information.
No. 13: Roku partners with Time Warner Cable (and now offers +700 channels)
In 2008, the Roku player launched to stream Netflix to the television. Today,
Roku has surpassed an unprecedented 700 streaming channels. And with this year's
announcement of new partnerships with Time Warner, Fox, Spotify, and
iHeartRadio, Roku demonstrates just how far digital entertainment has come in
very little time. Roku also announced a new hardware device called the Roku
streaming stick which can be plugged directly into the mobile high definition
link port already in production by over a dozen consumer electronic makers. Click here for more
information.
No. 14: Advanced headphone technology at consumer-level
prices
Forget celebrity endorsements, the real differentiator in the headphone
marketplace is digital integration. Parrot's "Zik" headphones come with an app
that lets you adjust EQ, concert hall effect, active noise cancellation, and
more. Expect consumers to become more savvy in their entertainment hardware
choices. Click here for more information.
No. 15: Healthcare and schools embrace fitness gaming
The Wii and the XBox Kinect changed the game (pun intended) when they allowed
users to play video games with interactive motion-based controls. But it took a
while for established organizations to adopt the new technologies as possible
tool sets. At this year's CES, United Healthcare announced a partnership with
Konami to bring game "Dance Dance Revolution" into schools for student fitness.
The classroom version of the game provides 48 wireless dance mats, and is
connected to a PC rather than a gaming console. Each mat contains a smart card
which can hold data for an individual student, allowing the student and the
teacher to track BMI and calories burned during the game. Watch for more
interactivity like this in schools, and well as more gamification of healthcare.
Both important trends.
Don't laugh...introducing the Hapi Fork! Think of this analog-gone-digital
item as a cross between an electric toothbrush and a Nike+ chip for your shoe.
The fork interacts with a software app to track how often you eat and how
quickly you take bites. If, for example, you want to train yourself to take a
bite every five seconds instead of every three, the Hapi Fork will vibrate to
remind you to slow down. And the fork is dishwasher safe! (If you remove the
battery.) Though it earned some laughs from serious technologists, the Hapi Fork
represents an important new trend of adding sensors to objects to help them
"learn us" and adapt to our behaviors. 
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