KPCB Internet Trends 2013

Super solid internet trends report. Must read for all people in the industry.

Linds Redding

It is a universal truth that all artists think they a frauds and charlatans, and live in constant fear of being exposed. We believe by working harder than anyone else we can evade detection. The bean-counters rumbled this centuries ago and have been profitably exploiting this weakness ever since. You don’t have to drive creative folk like most workers. They drive themselves. Just wind ‘em up and let ‘em go.

– Linds Redding

From his blog Lindsredding.com

Advertising Consistency

An oldie but a goodie from Things Real People Don’t Say About Advertising.

Chanel’s Multitouch Table

Chanel’s new interactive table is one of the better examples I’ve seen of these technologies. We’ve been promised interactive tables from Microsoft’s Surface to applications like Audiopad’s. So far, each of them has been more of a proof of concept and not monetizable in any relevant way. Chanel’s table is just an experiential branded toy, which frankly is a great use of this tech.

3 metre Multitouch Table from Muchomedia on Vimeo.

In January 2011 Muchomedia delivered a giant 3m50 x1m30 multitouch table for the French Luxury company Chanel. The context was an exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Shanghai “Culture Chanel”. The table is entirely conceived and built in Muchomedia’s workshop in Paris. The software runs on the AAASeed platform by Mâa Berriet with interactive design by La Forme Interactive.

The table has five full HD Optoma projectors and uses our homegrown LLP (laser) technology. More than 10 simultaneous users and limitless touch points.

We are presently perfecting the technology to make the experience even bigger and brighter for upcoming made to measure solutions.

The Fold and the User

From Things Real People Don’t Say About Advertising

Twitter Brand Pages

Twitter announced that they are developing brand pages similar to those on Facebook. I understand why they’re doing it from a business perspective, but I’m not sure it’s such a great idea.

Why I Work at an (Ad) Agency

There’s a sentiment among some UX folks that working in advertising and marketing is somehow a waste of time. The belief is that ad agencies are inherently evil and that creating “products” or “solving-problems” is the only real UX role that’s worth a damn. I think there’s some basis for this belief but it’s quite narrow at the same time.

Email Marketing vs. Social Media Marketing

My Twitter stream today is buzzing about social media marketing trends. @loomisgroup (my current employer) linked to an article by Jay Baer that got me thinking. The article is titled, “Have We Seen This Social Media Movie Before?” The blog post posits that social media marketing is analogous to the basic structure of email marketing and nets similar results. While this may seem like an easy concept to agree with, I think accountability and immediacy are fundamental issues that make the two quite different: