Information and user-experience theorist Thomas Peterson has proposed some fascinating ideas on how to deal with the overwhelming amount of data in the world and our limited capacity to consume it.
via A New Perspective On Information Overload: Information as Matter - PSFK
In a time where we are watching magazines close monthly, print dinosaurs falter, and online advertising still finding its legs (at least conceptually!) ~ Worth magazine has taken on an interesting concept lead by publisher Patrick Williams (from the Economist and Conde Nast’s Portfolio - which while also beautiful and infographic heavy, didn’t last long): “The Worth Leading Wealth Advisor Program” where essentially they have wealth advisors underwriting the profits of the magazine by having them thoroughly vetted, and if accepted they pay for an opportunity to write articles for the magazine and have 100 copies to distribute (to their clients and potential Worth future readers?). This is in addition to their advertisements as a revenue stream… and their bold move not to allow subscriptions (unless you are considered a high net worth reader and happen upon a free subscription), the only way to acquire Worth is to pay their $18.95 cover price. And Patrick even says in the Bloomberg interview that “We want to be known as the 20 buck magazine, which makes us the most expensive magazine in America.” Funny thing is when i first landed on their site, the most surprising usability issue i encountered was not being able to find a subscribe button, usually they are huge, flashing, or begging you to click them on magazine sites. I guess not being allowed to subscribe will make some want it even more…?
People have been navigating cities using Google’s mobile maps while on foot, why shouldn’t they be able to do this while driving? Today Google announced a collaboration with Audi to bundle Google Earth with your new A8. This is a step up from Android’s already disruptive Maps Navigation, and a step forward towards the networked car of the future.
via Google x Audi: Synchronizing Vehicle Navigation With the Cloud « MobileBehavior
Bonnier R&D has made some research into the experience of reading magazines on handheld digital devices. The video above illustrates one possible vision for digital magazines in the near future. The concept is presented by BERG.
That incredible force — information technology that moves faster, then faster, then faster still — will power changes in every imaginable realm over the next decade.
via Top futurist, Ray Kurzweil, predicts how technology will change humanity by 2020
Fashion augments reality x Pedestrian.tv
These striking images come courtesy of Pamela Reed and Matthew Rader a New York based design collective that also dabbles in photography, graphic design, art and blowing minds.
via: Pedestrian.tv
BRANDS OF THE FUTURE
Many brands today are not equipped to live online. There is a discrepancy in how they are presented and how they work in the real world.
Steve Rubel’s summary of the Le Web conference accounts for this change:
“One of the great untold stories is just how much Facebook and Twitter are growing off-site. Facebook announced they reach 60 million through Facebook Connect. Meanwhile nearly half of Twitter’s activity takes place away from Twitter.com - they reported. Both platforms are quietly becoming a social operating systems for the web, not just their own sites.”
Meaning often times, the places people first encounter brands are outside the control of traditionally branded platforms like their website, TV or print. Online platforms introduce a whole new set of rules for engagement that many brands are simply not equipped to handle. Consumers are increasingly in control. For instance they forced Tropicana to scrap their new identity in favor of the old one.
Rubel also notes that:
“Second, nowadays no two people see the same Internet. This was a key point that Facebook made saying that we increasingly discover online content not just by algortihms but via the “lens of friends.” Microsoft researcher Danah Boyd brought this to life through rich, moving stories. Google’s Marissa Mayer went a step further saying that the future of news is a “personalized news stream.” This trend has major implications for marketers and PR pros who are accustomed to reaching everyone the same way - it’s simply not possible anymore.”
To that point, no two people see a brand in the same way. The new reality of brands is that their identities must account for changing platforms and preference. The challenge is to create identities that are both flexible yet constant. Brands like Uniqlo while consistent in form can be presented in English, Japanese or any other language. The same can be said for Nickelodeon’s new brand identity. While “Nick” is always consistent the suffix that follows may change depending on the property or the audience. This allows the brand to be irreverent , silly and consistent all at the same time. In common both of these brands have a single form but the context in which they are experienced changes.
Brands of the future will consist of a visual identity that accounts for branded content distributed by a messy, fragmented, user-centric world. These identities will live as digital assets designed to create distinctive brand interactions.
(George Crichlow)
reblogged from wolffolinsblog
