trouble at the hen house

Via geekfill: 

BMW used an interesting technique to have a lasting image on the audiences in a German movie theater. A giant Profoto Pro-7B was hidden behind the screen, a studio flash unit that pumps out enough light to flash the BMW logo for a moment. While the cinematic ad was playing they illuminated the harmless photo flash into the audiences eyes and with persuasion through the advert asked them to close their eyes. That’s when the audience sees the letters projected onto the backs of their eyelids. “BMW”

Quite the story about Harrisburg University of Science and Technology’s week-long blackout of social networking sites on campus. While there are some concerns about the validity of the so-called experiment, some of the results are pretty interesting. 

Apparently, students found that being forced to unplug:

• made their lectures more interesting
• gave them more time to do homework
• allowed them to concentrate better
• made them “actually have to talk to their professors”, as student Eric D. Darr put it

All of which I tend to believe, not on the basis of this particular experiment but on that of common sense. Not having Facebook to check would definitely allow for more concentration and time to do homework - just check the computer screen of any student claiming to be “writing an essay” for proof of how much time is spent on social networking sites. 

I’m not entirely sure of the point of this exercise, which took place in September, since I seriously doubt many college campuses are considering full blackouts of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Still, that students admit to being distracted by such things is very interesting. 

Some interesting news in my hometown today. Cogeco Cable is partnering with Invidi Technologies and CHCH Television for a trial of “addressable advertising”.

From Marketingmag.ca:

 

Using Invidi’s Advatar system, Cogeco will be able to deliver “tailored messaging” to individual households within the CHCH footprint. So while, for example, residents of an upscale neighbourhood might see a commercial for a luxury vehicle during a particular commercial break, residents of a working-class neighbourhood watching the same program could see an ad for the latest minivan or compact car.

The system uses public domain demographic information to accurately pinpoint “consumer needs and interests,” said Cogeco in a release. The result, it added, is more relevant TV commercials for audiences.

Pretty neat. I know targeted advertising freaks some people out, but the information used here is all public domain, so if it allows media outlets to continue to create art and broadcast the news, I’m in favour.

But I am curious: If ads were tailored to you, what commercials would you be seeing during breaks in your favourite show?

Hmmm…The Black Eyed Peas’ new album cover sure looks like Blur’s “best of” album cover. 

I know pop music can be cyclical, but come on! Are there no new ideas out there?