Emerging technological breakthroughs were once synonymous with lab coats, thick-rimmed glasses and dodgy haircuts. In more recent times, (much like the motor industry) the technology industry – especially the ‘gadget’ and ‘gaming’ sectors – have been promoted through the use of pretty woman, often scantily clad or in latex, hired to give products some ‘sex appeal’ and entice consumers to get up and personal on the stand. The gaming and gadget industry may still be driven primarily by male consumers, but does this cheap marketing ploy still work, and is it acceptable with the ever rising female user-base and woman working in the tech industry? What are your thoughts on ‘eye-candy’ at expos? Tasteless? Harmless? Unrepresentative? Would you rather someone who had more than a one minute briefing demonstrate their wares? Are you offended as a male, to be targeted as being a hormonal schoolboy – won over by a pretty lady, or as a female, that women are used as the products themselves?

Some women at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas have expressed their frustration at the scantily-clad “booth babes” hired by some companies to promote their stalls.

The BBC’s Matt Danzico investigates whether this practice is an effective marketing strategy, or merely a reflection on gender relations in technology.

WATCH THE REPORT HERE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16533289

(Opinion: Jon Price – designer)

As we welcome in another year, so everyone’s favourite software bods, Microsoft wave goodbye to Internet Explorer 6. Web developers the world over* rejoice and we all look into the html 5 driven future with great joy and enthusiasm.

Microsoft revealed this week that less than 1% of US internet users now use the program to surf the web. Microsoft held a light-hearted celebration to mark the imminent demise of their IE6 browser by baking a ‘Goodbye IE6′ cake. Microsoft themselves have been  keen to kill off this old version of the browser which was first shipped with Windows XP over 10 years ago. They even launched an IE6 countdown website last year to chart the demise of its usage.

Like an elderly relative, IE6 has been causing headaches for web developers for many years with its blatant disregard for any kind of web standards and it’s frustrating array of display quirks. This milestone has been a long time coming and makes for a very welcome introduction to a fresh new year.

Read the BBC article here

Opinion: Simon Farrow, web designer

* Based on US usage dropping below 1%. The UK is reportedly 1.4%, but China still have over 25% usage. DNA as a company decided to stop supporting IE6 for new web builds last year, but approach each new site individually, assessing the necessity for backwards compatibility by client and target market.

Not breaking news this, but it did make me chuckle so I thought I’d share it. A few weeks back I was at my first BBQ of the year when a friend pulled out a solid white wedge from his pocket and professed it to be the ‘Anti Smart Phone’. It doesn’t have a camera, it can’t access the internet, it has one ringtone and can’t even send or receive text messages… The no frills design, devised by Diedriekje Bok is certainly self-aware; there is a physical address book on the back where you can ‘write’ your text messages with the included stylus pen, and even play games (naughts and crosses)…

‘John’s Phone‘ - “The World’s Most Simple Phone” is so anti-fashion, it’s actually quite a cool (if expensive £59.99), slightly eccentric novelty. The official website reads: ”John’s Phone is a no-nonsense mobile phone, it doesn’t pretend to be anything more: no bull****, just a phone to call, talk and hang up on.” Well, we had a good laugh at it, what do you think?

(Opinion: Jon Price – Designer)

Tues 12 April: Feeling the early morning chill on platform 5, I awaited the train with only a cardboard cup of tea and a luke warm bacon bap for company. This trip will be the envy of many, others may possibly even drool at the prospect, but sometimes you’ve just gotta do what you’ve gotta do…

It’s important to keep abreast of the latest developing technologies when you’re working in an integrated design and digital agency. Be it software or hardware developments, emerging new media platforms or routes to market, it’s essential to keep your eyes peeled for the next industry evolution or new standards on both developer/designer and user sides of the table.

Sadly, Tomorrow’s World was canned in 2003 and frankly just reading about new technologies doesn’t cut the digital mustard. You can’t beat hands-on interaction and demonstration. So I took a trip to the Birmingham NEC on an exclusive Press preview invitation to The Gadget Show Live Professional, the largest consumer electronics show. That’s five huge exhibition halls crammed with hundreds of stands sporting the latest gadgets, consumer tech, demos, workshops and presentations from every industry imaginable, giving an insight into technology and trends of the future… FIND OUT WHAT’S HOT!

For a multimedia and graphic designer with an unhealthy interest in futuristic tech this was something special and after spending 6 hours negotiating the bustling halls and exhibitor stands, playing, learning and experiencing, here’s my take on future Tech and ones that dominated the show. Amidst the eco transportation, domestic robots, sound systems, digital storage devices, gimmick-focused toys, customisables and things you’d find in your local Curry’s, the big boys were:

3D home cinema and gaming.
You may still require those dodgy glasses but playing the latest Nvidia 3D vision system on the worlds largest 3D plasma was pretty immersive. Like last year’s expos, 3D was everywhere and 3D PC-powered experiences was chief. With every major manufacturer touting their improved 3D tv engines (LG’s being non-battery powered and shutter/flicker free – RealD cinemas style), 3D video cameras, stills photography and now 3D Bluray recorders, the industry is charging ahead with this stereoscopic mindmelding whether we like it or not. With the Nintendo 3DS paving the way for no-glasses consumer electronics it’s only a matter of time before that hits our home and we’re all pleasantly cross-eyed.

Tablets, slates, touch-screen mobiles and PCs.
These little babies were simply unavoidable. The lines certainly are blurring between these devices – way beyond the Dell Inspiron Duo’s netbook/tablet identity crisis. The new HP touch pad has sidelined it’s Windows slate and opted for WebOS on it’s new 9.7inch tablet. The Motorola android powered Xoom is weighing up a real contender against the iPad2, with Nvidia’s Tegra 2 Dual core processor and using Google’s (built for tablets) version of Android, Honeycomb. Even BlackBerry have jumped on board the casual bandwagon with their ‘executive plaything’, the BlackBerry Playbook. Throw the Xperia Play (the Playstation Phone) into the mix with its D-Pad design and dedicated portable gaming service and you’re spoilt for choice. Mobiles are becoming smarter and tablets are getting lighter, smaller and more portable – surely there must be the perfect middle ground soon? Well, Acer’s Iconica phone has now entered microtablet territory with it’s 4.8inch 21:9 widescreen display. Powered by Android Gingerbread, the Iconica smarts an 8megapixel camera, 720p video capture and HDMI out. A big phone, a tiny tablet or the best of both worlds? Time will tell. On the other hand, sWaP’s tiny Nova phone is the worlds lightest at 43grams cramming top touchscreen tech into the size of a matchbox! The latest word on the future of this big/small conumdrum… expandable smartphones. Oh and that Android is set to win the OS war… Did I say that aloud?

For portable gaming, widescreen media device and work tool, 2011 is the year of the tablet.

From the web getting smaller, to it getting much bigger! Smart TVs are certainly where things are going.
After experiencing the LG PZ950T 3D smart web-connected television with it’s pointer controlled web browsing, on demand streaming and tv-specific aps it was a no-brainer and is set to become a standard in years to come. Also integrating wirelessly with your other devices to stream from phones or computers, I was suprised that no other exhibitors were fronting these features.

My pic of the Gadget Show's Jason playing a proto-type 'whack-a-mole' with the power of his eye-balls.

Superpowers! It sounds far fetched but both eye-controlled and mind-power controlled electronics were on show and any were on sale! Recently appearing on The Gadget Show, the NeuroSky MindFlex head gear works with custom apps using brainwaves for control, be it focus to beat an onslaught of Zombies or meditation to reduce difficulty levels. Not exactly mass appeal though. Likewise, NI’s Waterloo Labs have developed a working prototype of thier Eye Control techology - forget jumping about with Microsoft Kinect, now you don’t have to raise a finger – literally!

Although not as dominating as it might have been Augmented Reality, fronted by T-Immersion was also a key player – blurring the lines between the real and virtual worlds. AR is a relatively young, but actually quite established technology and it’s extremely flexible. I saw examples of product focused AR whereby the user has full control over a 3D model of an animated Nissan, educational focused AR whereby Dinosaurs literally came to life from a picture book, through to in-store interaction and videos to engage you before you purchase. AR has massive potential but it’s still misunderstood, yet to break the novelty barrier into a mainstream form of consumable interaction. However this is set to happen very soon in conjunction with traditional print advertising methods.

Unfortunately my biggest let down were the highly anticipated Vuzix Augmented Reality glasses, capturing 3D video in real time and and overlaying 3D digital creations and experiences before your eyes -great in theory but in practice, well I’ll try again next year.

An animated, lighting box, no circuitry - just ink.

Wireless Power?
While we’re on the subject of futuristic tech and with relevance to digital media, advertising and design applications my favourite has to be the progressive work by Fulton Innovations and their eCoupled intelligent wireless power. Although it appears to be in it’s infancy as far as final applications are concerned, this tech allows phones to charge without wires, food to heat itself whilst in it’s packaging and even animation of the packaging design itself through the use of conductive ink! All you need to do is place said item on an eCoupled countertop or shelf – lets get then in stores pronto!

Finally, some other things to look out for:
3D printing, literally Ink-jetting a solidifying resin into a 3D object from a 2D data file.

Near Field Communications – using mobile devices as secure travel passes, wallets, travel cards etc. Major players like Samsung, Orange and Google are backing this one and a similar tech is already established in parts of Asia.

4G mobile networks – O2 are already testing the super fast 4G system with rumored speeds of 20x faster than today’s home broadband on your mobile device!

Then there’s folding, paper-like touch and display screens to be the norm in 2018, Ultra HD TV is set for launch in 2020 although initial tests have resulted in sickness due to the image appearing as ‘too real’… after that, quite possibly time travel.

Well, the day was an educational and insightful one and although I wouldn’t say my mind was blown, it was certainly frazzled. – lot’s to think about.

Check out the official GSL website here for more information and to sign up for public tickets or watch videos from the show.

(Opinion: Jon Price – Designer)

Opinion: Jon Price – Designer:

A while back I read an article that shouted out loud about QR technology, and couldn’t help but get more than a little tetchy over the use of media buzz words such as ‘cutting-edge,’ ‘interactive’ and ‘augmented reality’ being thrown about in the context of a simple QR code.

For those who do not know, a QR code in its current form is essentially a pictorial piece of data (a matrix barcode), in most instances the scrambled mosaic simply contains a URL that needs decoding through a device with QR reading capabilities. In the case of the article, it’s suggested that the viewer of a so-called ‘interactive’ billboard must first download a QR reading App for their smart phone before using the in-built camera, focussing on the code before being redirected to a website (that would have taken less time to tap into a browser – especially if it had been tiny’d). It all seemed a little backward to me but at the time I thought it not worth the rant…

Fast forward a month and after spending a few days at a conference in Exeter recently, I was again astounded at the frenzy that QR code technology was stirring within the media-savvy alumni. The nicely designed conference brochure was even (in my personal opinion) polluted somewhat with a 45mm square QR code in each section…

Would a tidy ‘www.website.com’ or ‘@name’ not have sufficed? I was also baffled at the apparent revelation of QR codes being dynamically flexible so that the user can be sent to different web locations in the future. This (unless I’m missing something) I found ludicrous. This is the exact same principle of redirecting a web page URL or re-pointing the domain, as DNA have done recently with their holding page, while the shiny new site is in development.

I first encountered QR codes back in 2003 whilst in Japan, where they have been in wide and conventional use. On my return I was spotting them everywhere in the UK, from bus stops to toothpaste tubes. My old mobile phone could even read QR codes natively. Therefore, I’m not sure if I would class an established technology created in 1994 (originally for use in vehicle manufacturing) as cutting edge in 2010 – and there is certainly no futuristic augmenting of reality to be had whilst simply scanning a pixilated barcode. These codes could present a gateway to better content and there may be some creative uses of QR codes to be had (many of which will always require internet access), that’s all good but it’s just nothing new. Maybe when the West wises up and creates better in-built smart phone readers and internet access is constant, things might move forward – but I won’t be running over to my TV in an ad break to scan the screen or scanning a billboard whilst driving past for that matter. That will, I’m sure, remain quite illegal.

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Opinion: Simon Farrow – Web Development Manager:

People by their very nature will find easier ways to complete tasks quicker (inherent laziness), and increasingly have less and less time in this busy modern world we live in today. Anything that will save them time and effort will be welcomed into their lives with open arms, hence the ‘Labour saving device’, and this is exactly what the QR code is. Media Guru’s can call it what they want, ‘cutting edge’, ‘interactive’ or ‘augmented reality’ but to me it is simply an exceptionally simple labour saving device.

Personally, I’ve always hated typing on a phone keypad, and now with touch-screen qwerty keypads in most smart-phones, I still hate typing in a phone keypad. Maybe I’m lazy, maybe I have fat fingers or maybe I’m just the wrong generation but it still frustrates and annoys me. At its simplest level the QR code allows me to go to a webpage with one click and a wave of my phone, brilliant! I find it so simple to do I find myself doing it when I’m not even interested in the content! (I’m sure this novelty will soon wear off!)

These things are brilliant from a practicality point of view too. Try scanning the code below…

It contains my complete contact details, from one click you can save my address, phone number, email, website address into your phone! Beyond this you can send me an email, phone me or add my address on your sat-nav enabled Google maps App. Imagine having one of these on your business card, you’d never need to guide people to your place of work over the phone again!

From a marketing point of view to the possibilities are endless; imagine a today only discount in store by scanning a bus-stop ad outside or a film billboard where you could point the phone at it and watch the trailer instantly! (try the code below – a shameless promotion of my daughters talent but a good example of instant media to your Smartphone).

Lastly, I think this technology could help enrich the lives of many people with disabilities. I know I ‘dislike’ using a keyboard on a phone but for the visually impaired, mobility impaired or those with learning disabilities for instance, it can be frustrating if not impossible to input text, web addresses and other information.

This technology isn’t new but it serves a purpose and I’m sure we will be seeing it creeping into everyday use and it will start being used in more and more innovative ways.

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Well? Does QR hold a future of fantastic possibilities, is it just a passing fad, are we making a fuss over old technology that we’ve just discovered a little late? Let us know what you think!

Article by Paul Mabin – Creative Director / Managing Director

Earlier in the week I wrote an article on the Canon 5D MKII, shooting HD content for the last episode of House. While writing that article I was interrupted by the sound of Naaa, Na Na, Na Na Naaa. Yep, you guessed it – the intro to Coronation Street. Not a programme that I generally watch, but my beloved wife Donna loves it – I wonder how many men say the same thing? Anyway, I glanced over to see the intro and noticed that, at last, it has changed after being the same intro for about a million years or so. Apparently it’s to coincide with the first episode being broadcast in HD.

Don’t worry though, you hardened Corrie fans, the cat walking across the flat roof and the image of outside the Rovers Return are still present. However, those of you that don’t like drop focus imagery are not going to like it. I think it’s a welcome addition to the Street. Let’s hope that the rest of the programme gets updated – spoken by a true ‘Enders’ fan.

Well done ITV.

Article by Paul Mabin

As a budding amateur photographer, I always keep abreast on what is happening in the digital arena. I have recently purchased a Canon 5D MKII after much research. The reason for my purchase was to add something extra to my photography – higher resolution (21.1MP) as well as a better image sensor and full HD video capture.

I have been extremely impressed with the camera so far, after only a couple of weeks of use. However, I have been more impressed with some of the work produced by other companies using the 5D MkII.

The last episode of House aired on 17th May and was shot entirely on a Canon 5D MKII. The House director Greg Yaitanes was available after the programme to answer any questions viewers may have had by using twitter. One of the questions asked was “how was the quality compared to the cameras traditionally used?”. Gregs’ response to this was “I loved it and feel it’s the future – cameras that can give you these looks”.

Greg also used the entire range of Canon Prime lenses as well as Canon 24-70mm and Canon 70-200mm zoom lenses. The effects are amazing. By combining the use of such a competent camera, twinned with Canon prime lenses, the style of imagery created is simply stunning. The subtleties, the use of depth of field, the clarity and colour help make this episode a visual treat.

The outcome was as engaging as any other House episode. I don’t think this will be last time we’ll see a Canon DSLR camera being used in the same way for TV film production or for movies. You may even see a film from me in the future – if I ever find the time!

Article written by Paul Mabin

The recently launched Apple iPad may not instantly deliver the commercial impact of the iPhone, but it represents another important step towards the inevitable convergence of the personal computer and the publishing industry. Whether we like it or not, the way we design is going to change forever.

Before long, graphic designers (and photographers) will have to start working in a different way. Using devices such as the Apple iPad, the consumer will be able to access all kinds of ‘publication’ electronically – which will undoubtedly feature both still images and, increasingly, video content and animation. Not only is video more engaging, it is also easier and faster to consume – an important factor in today’s ever-busier society. Like it or not, most of us that don’t currently ‘do’ moving pictures are soon going to have to learn. (There are already professional cameras on the market, such as the Canon 7D, which can capture both stills and full HD video. This is no accident.)

Currently, many agencies deal with, say, press advertising entirely separately from digital, television and video; indeed clients often use a different agency for one than they do for another; but increasingly there’s a call for integrated campaigns and for agencies that can deliver value across multiple channels. Promotions are becoming multi-dimensional, which adds complexity (and an interesting challenge) for the agencies that dream them up. Ultimately the agencies that will gain an advantage are those that can become truly media agnostic – those that can combine static content with rich media and whose ideas can work across all types of platform.

It’s up to the design and photographic industries to embrace new technology and to guide their clients on this fascinating journey we’re all taking. Sure, this will mean investment and upskilling for many of us, but the benefit will be the ability to offer a more holistic approach to corporate communications and, with it, client retention and loyalty (not to mention how interesting all of our jobs will become!).

The iPad is another signal that the publishing and design industries are in the middle of a revolution.  We wait with bated breath to see where it will lead!

[Opinion: Paul Mabin - Creative Director]

There are many ‘Web Design Myths’, usability and design constraints that clients request having once heard that this is best practice. Most of these have come from the good old days of web design or even from constraints imposed on printed media. It is very often the job of a web designer to gently dispel these myths and dissuade clients from forcing them upon their site designs.

One such myth is the myth of the page fold, the point at which a user needs to scroll down to access content on your site. It was said that users would not scroll the page down meaning all content on your homepage should sit above this virtual line. The term originates from newspapers where the attention grabbing headlines would appear ‘above the fold’ so as to be seen on the newsstands.

Although Jakob Nielson, the self confessed usability guru and friend to all web designers was a big advocate of ‘above the fold’ content layout recent studies utilizing eye tracking software have shown that users almost always spend some time looking at the scrollbar to assess the size of a page.

The study carried out by U.K.-based design agency, CXPartners of 800 users recorded only 3 occasions where users struggled to scroll beyond the virtual fold line. The study also found having less above the fold actually encouraged exploration below the fold, completely dispelling the page fold myth.

As web designer’s we know that usability is as important as compelling content, leading users to the stickiest content first is common sense but trying to cram everything above the fold is just not good practice.

Next week: Debunking the Myth of the Tavistock Badger.

(Opinion: Simon Farow – Head of Digital)

Anyone thinking of going into web design or development should watch this video of Jeffrey Zeldman, one of the people credited with founding web standards. Click here.

(Si – NOW I understand why you keep banging on about AA this and AA that! Jim)

And then something very interesting happened…

I received a parcel, which I assumed would be a chocolate ‘thank you’ from a grateful supplier or a Christmas gift from a hopeful prospector.

But it wasn’t. It was a box of tea bags….

Look at that lovely kitchen furniture

Until I received this parcel, I must admit I had no idea this brand of tea existed. I haven’t seen it in any supermarkets (although I’m told it’s now available in Morrisons) and I’m sure I’d have noticed it with that in-your-face packaging, so different from all the other tea brands (although guys… the builder’s bum??? Not exactly mouth watering!). But I loved the fact that I could write a seemingly meaningless and slightly silly blog and some clever, web-literate marketeer managed not only to find it, but also to find a simple way to make use of it.

For you see now I’m writing this…
…and this will appear on our Twitter page…
…and who knows who will get hold of it from there?!

With such an instant, joined-up network of consumer-driven, interactive media channels, it’s definitely an interesting time to be in marketing. Technology has created so many more possibilities and invariably it’s the more intelligent marketeers who first make effective use of it. The guys behind the ‘Make Mine a Builders’ brand also run a creative agency. Clearly they’ve seen a gap in the market and they’re using their knowledge of the various marketing channels to their advantage. And who can blame them?

The truth is that marketing has entered a whole new era, in which consumers hold a lot more power and marketing campaigns need to become a lot more integrated. Of course, large budgets will always have their place, but more and more the consumer is able to choose what it consumes and when. Subscription and Sky Plus-style television means we can fast-forward through the TV adverts; while interactive marketing and social media gives consumers the ability to affect each other’s buying decisions directly. The time has come for brands to think more cleverly not just about how they reach their target audience, but also about the honesty of their marketing messages, the validity of their USPs and the true strength behind their products. In other words, it’s no longer possible to hide behind propaganda.

The playing field is well and truly being levelled, which, for all of us as consumers, has got to be good news.

So what about ‘consuming’ the tea?
Delicious AND original. Now there’s a compelling reason to buy.

(Opinion: Jim Green- MD)

OK, well this might be a bit of a techie rant against the Microsoft machine and its shoddy, market dominating browser, Internet Explorer, but firstly its a valid one and secondly its more about recognising the huge achievements of a lesser known browser, Opera. There are a myriad of different browsers and different browser versions being used all with different capabilities and different ways of displaying the same website content, this makes our jobs as web content creators very tricky. One thing that is fairly unanimously agreed upon throughout the industry is that Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser is by far one of the worst and has gained its share of the market through dirty tricks and lack of user knowledge. Less known though is that a little browser called Opera has been at the forefront of browser innovation for many years, creating new tools to make your life easier that most of us only discover when we auto-download the latest version of Internet Explorer three years later.

Today, we reinvent the Web.

Opera’s latest innovation is called ‘Opera Unite‘. This claims to allow non-technical users to serve and share content and services directly from their own computers via the browser instead of traditionally just viewing content. Time will tell on this latest innovation, but if it’s as good as it claims to be you can expect to see it integrated into Internet Explorer in a couple of years time! The following article highlights some of the browser innovations that are now common place in nearly every browser but started many years previous in the perfectly crafted underdog that is Opera.

www.geektechnica.com/2009/06/8-browser-innovations-started-by-opera

Want to join the 2% of Opera users -  www.opera.com

(Opinion by: Simon Farrow – Web Development Manager)

Simply put, no. Hard disk failure, fire or theft could wipe out many irreplaceable files as well as requiring many hours of studio time to re-create lost artwork.

Our first line of defence in this respect is that our fileserver uses a RAID system to protect against hard disk failure. This uses an array of separate disks where the data is spread across all disks in such a way that, should one fail, a new one can be installed without loss of data. Click here to read the full article >>

(Opinion by: John Dawkins – IT Manager)