rVue Blog

Is NFC the way to be?

 

Not too long ago, Sony admitted that their Playstation Network was, indeed, hacked. Their members were heavily urged to change their password to aleviate any chances of their account being infiltrated since they had to provide contact information and (more importantly) credit card information when enrolling. These hackers can not only steal vital information but render a handful of features on the Playstation (playing online games, using netflix, software udpates, etc) useless. 

Well, with phones evolving with media players, GPS's, and now the integration of NFC (Near Field Communication), the devils advocate in me can't help but make a cameo. Hearing how your credit card can be scanned through your wallet (video below) can be a bit of a chilling, paranoia-inducing thought, no? Think about how many times you've heard a friend or co-worker that had to get a new card because someone stole the numbers while paying the bill at a restaurant or shopping online. Since its origin in the early 1960s and many advancements later, people are still being able to steal credit card numbers. 

What defenses can we look forward to in this newer, easier, faster advancement of mobile commerce? With the avenues that we're connected to with our phone (WiFi, 4G Networks, Bluetooth, Facetime/Tango, etc) while letting the world know where we are at all times (Facebook, Twitter, FourSquare, etc); is this a recipe for hackers to use as a backdoor into our personal information? 

Maybe my cautious skepticism is no different from the many back in the 60's who thought credit cards were a dangerous step in exchange for easier shopping. Other than having a bank that will reimburse you for stolen cash, what tech advancements could help? Could there be:

• Cases that could shield/lower the range hackers need to connect?
• Detection software on the phone that would put up a firewall or lock the phone temporarily?
• Detection software at store entrances that would detect illegal scanners (the same security detectors that shoplifters set off)?

Not only do we have to worry about other people stealing our cash and identity, but we also have to acknowledge that we have to beware of our own spending activity. Would you be more inclined to shop knowing its that much easier? If we're making technology that makes it easier to spend, wouldn't we be placing ourselves even closer to debt?  Some find it beneficial to get rid of cards entirely.

Don't get me wrong, I'm very intrigued by all this and could very well be inclined to try it first hand. However with the introduction of any new platform, software or hardware - there are going to be bugs and kinks to work out - and when it deals with your hard-earned money, are you willing to take that chance?

You might have already heard that Japan has already utilized these mobile wallets and has grown in popularity with its introduction back in 2005. However did you know who's been providing the standard technology used for these wallets?

 

- Spoiler Alert - 

 

Sony.

 

 

Blogged by Nick Sears - Motion Designer - rVue
  

Follow Up: Become the Content

As a follow-up to the previous blog I posted on the concept of the "every-day" consumer being able to upload/submit content through a motion capture device(in this case the XBOX360 Kinect), I found this video where a guy has hacked experimented with the Kinect and motion tracks his movements. Those movements are then transferred to a simple 2D version of himself. 

 

Though its very basic, the motion couldn't be more dead on. Why not harness this into an installation at a bus stop, mall or theme park? Would you agree this would be a magnet for curious minds and an outlet for direct consumer interaction? I think the potential is great here to really engage customers. Plus it reminded me of this...

 

 

Blogged by Nick Sears - Motion Designer - rVue

  

 

iPhone Geo-Tracking Debacle: Wherever you go, there you are.

Through this past month, Senator Al Franken has been face to face with Apple to come to the conclusion whether or not iPhone/iPad software is accurately pinpointing and storing your location.The reference to this piece of software is being known as the Locationgate. 

Personal privacy has always been a cornerstone of what makes our country great. Its kind of peculiar that when Bush indoctrinated the Patriot Act back in 2001, people were outraged, calling it a threat to our right as an American citizen - Privacy was threatened - Paranoia set in - Babies Cried. Three years later, Facebook was released and nearly 700 million(and this number probably has increased, I'm sure - but I'm not counting the users that will fall off the map) members around the world have willingly shared every single who-what-where-when detail about themselves. People have been more than fine with the fact that their entire lives now resides online. We did a 180 without even blinking.

 

“People have a right to know who is getting their information and a right to decide how that information is shared and used,” said Senator Franken.

“I still have serious doubts that those rights are being respected in law or in practice.”

What difference does this make that there's a technical bread crumb trail left on your phone? If you ever looked at the "Places" tab from your iPhone Photos app, you'll see every single picture you've taken geo-tagged on a Google map - so this is shouldn't be shocking news to learn that our digital Swiss-army knife IS as advanced and innovative as we've been boasting about.

That makes me wonder, well, IF PEOPLE CAN TRACK YOU, THEY'LL FIND YOU - THEN WHAT?! Well, scary loud font, if you're not breaking the law or running from it, you really don't have to worry, do you? When the Patriot Act came out, do you think they're tapping your phone so they can hear you talk for hours about how confused you were about the show Lost?

I mentioned to a fellow colleague, "Well if you're not doing anything illegal, you shouldn't have to worry, right?" He made a good point. "I know my intentions are good, but I don't know the intentions of those who can acquire this data."

I felt this was a legitimate point. This isn't just privacy for the sake of keeping a low profile, but for privacy that each one of us deserves. We certainly need to have a firm grip on technological advancements, considering they tend to evolve quicker than we can keep up. I'm glad people in higher chairs like Senator Franken are trying to steady the course ahead of time by addressing our privacy concerns towards larger communication and technology corporations. Yesterday Senator Al Franken requested from both Apple/Google that their apps distributed via their online marketplace to require "a clear, understandable privacy policy".

How do you feel about this? Do you think is a major breach in privacy or an opportunity to take this information and do some good? Could this help provide Census data for traveling trends? Will there ever be a balance? I would love to hear your feedback on this. Below is a an initial video(one of many) of Senator Al Franken grilling Apple/Google about the technology. 

 

 

 

Blogged by Nick Sears - Motion Designer - rVue

  

 

Save a tree with a Panda

As hard as we may try to recycle, lets face it, we just don't have that convenient blue bin at hand, at all times, to dump our trash in. We end up printing out copy after copy of paper without properly disposing them. Well, the ingenious people over at World Wildlife Foundation have taken the friendly "Please do not print" note a step further and developed a new green file format, dubbed WWF. Once you convert your PDF into this WWF format, it then restricts you from printing it out.  Word of this clever method is already spreading, gathering attention and popularity.

Do you think this will take off and make an impact or a fad that fizzles out? 

Click Here to get the WWF software now!

   

 

 

 

Blogged by Nick Sears - Motion Designer - rVue
  

Angry Birds Goes Chrome!

Well, there goes productivity! At the Google I/O developer conference today in San Francisco, Rovio President, Peter Vesterbacka, announced they are offering their ever popular and addicting game Angry Birds to the Google Chrome store... FOR FREE! I know.. crazy. Google has been making more and more steps towards developing their online operating system. Not that this is a big one, but as a pop-culture phenomenon, it draws the masses in!

Are you addicted? Did you get all the golden eggs? Click below and start smashing some pig forts!

 

SQUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKK!

 

Blogged by Nick Sears - Motion Designer - rVue
  

rVue Spotlight: AMI Jukebox

Here's our second installment of rVue Spotlight, where we feature JP Mulligans that hosts the AMI Jukebox Network. We'll continue to personally introduce you to digital out-of-home networks, the locations they're in, and helpful tips that improve campaign success. These videos can help any fresh face to the digital out-of-home industry or a seasoned vet trying to increase the value of their media plan.

Let us know what you think!

 

 

Blogged by Nick Sears - Motion Designer - rVue
  

Monthly Trends: April 2011

From demographics, to venues and markets, we track these popular industry trends within the rVue demand-side platform and will continue to bring this information to you every month. If you're curious to see these numbers evolve more often, the are available exclusively on the rVue dashboard - so be sure to log onto rVue.com now!

 

 

 

Blogged by Nick Sears - Motion Designer - rVue
  

So Many Types. Still QRazy.

While at the AMC movie theater in Aventura, FL, I encountered a cardboard installation promoting the upcoming film "Priest". Once spotting the the QR code in the corner, naturally I whipped my phone out to tag and see what it's about. It brought me to the films mobile site that had a link where one of the star actors Maggie Q introduces a short animation that acts as the prologue of the film. 

As I've pointed out in a previous blog, QR Codes are versatile, chock full o'data codes that act as portals to mobile web sites. However, there's not one universal QR reader appllication simply because there's not just one type of QR code. So I thought it was important to revist this topic to talk more about the types of 2D codes/tags you'll encounter. From most popular to less known, these codes are...(feel free to insert Family Feud Bell)

QR Codes

This is your standard issue code. Highly recognized, known for its 3 anchor points; making it very easy for phones to pick up.

 

 

 

Datamatrix Codes 

 

If there were a code race, these codes are biting the ankles of QR codes. Except having three anchor points, its has a perpendicular lines running up the left and bottom side of the code. 

 

Microsoft Tag Codes

   Developed from Microsoft, these tag codes may have a climbing popularity due its world-dominating developer. This was the kind of code I encountered with the 'Priest' installation above.

 

 

Everyone else... and beyond

You're going to see that QR/tag codes can be as customized as business cards. Developers can create these codes/scanners however they want. Shapes, colors, arrangements and even pictures can be integrated into the code. I created this tag using the BeeTagg Generator. Expect to see many more classes and hybrids of codes to surface. There are already enough out there making it hard to keep up!

 

 

 

Blogged by Nick Sears - Motion Designer - rVue
 

Industry Insights: The Power of rVue Analytics

Discover how third-party verification of network data can make ANY agency interested and confident to buy digital ad space. Utilize rVue analytics to give your network integrity and see the results.

 

Blogged by Nick Sears - Motion Designer - rVue

 

Bar Wars: Return of the Jukebox

 

Have you gone to a bar or lounge and just hated the music being played? Did you wish you could just hop behind the turntables and hook up your own playlist? Well..you can.

It's been out for some time now, but the the Apple Remote App allows you to setup a playlist on iTunes that offers anyone else within WiFi distance to vote for the next song off your library. Whether you're DJing a party at your apartment or at a local bar, your guests can feel a bit more 'part of the scene' when hear the song they voted for off their iPhone. 

The popularity of the jukebox certainly has plateaued, even diminished, over the years to be a common feature in bars these days. However, integrating mobile interaction into the process gives a bit more of a refreshed novelty to it, no? Bar patrons can show up to their favorite bar time and time again, but wouldn't be subjected to the same playlist or overplayed live artist. Instead, its as if they're getting acclamated with what everyone else is in the mood for. It's easy, free, and pretty hip to say the least. I can definitely see this becoming a standard in bars, restaurants, clubs, theme parks, etc. Can you think of other places this could be popular in?

Click here to learn how to set it up!

 

Blogged by Nick Sears - Motion Designer - rVue
 

So QRazy.

If a bar code is a police officer, then a QR code is a SWAT team.

Confused? I'll make sense of that right now. 

 

QR codes, or Quick Response Codes, are a two dimensional, high-data barcode that's designed to be scanned at a high speed. Compared to a regular one dimensional bar code which are limited to only 20 digits, a total of 7,089 characters can be encoded in one symbol alone.

Once scanned, your smartphone will load up the mobile web address that was embedded in the code or even a prompt to download an app straight. That SWAT comparison is starting to make sense now, huh? 

You may be surprised that these actually created in 1994 by Japanese corporation Densowave (surprised it was in 1994, not Japan), but since all of our phones were so technologically basic at the time, QR codes didn't really get the attention it deserved. Now that everyone spends more time on their phone then they do sleeping, and that phone applications are as popular as fashion trends, QR code ultilization has skyrocketed... and will continue to do so.

So how does this process work so efficiently?

 

There are three anchor points or 'Finder Patterns' that allow your mobile device to quickly align andidentify the rest of the code layout. The design is then read and decoded horizontally and vertically. Those anchor points allow the code to be scanned at any angle, making the scanning/capturing process very easy to achieve.

You can imagine that these codes are being used on all fronts of printed advertisings, but that's certainly not where it ends. From clothing and jewelry, prescription bottles, to even wedding cakes, even embedded into video games, the limitations are only defined by where you can't point your camera phone. 

As I'm sure you've already thought about a dozen other methods using a QR code, but have you thought about how companies can profit from them? It's almost as abundant as the methods provided. Coupons, newsletters, videos, downloadable wallpaper/ringtones, marketplaces, census data, sweepstakes, tracking and much more can be offered to customers. For your sales department, these codes are turning everyones phones into direct response devices. I don't have to show clever statistics to prove that this is going to be one of the most profitable (and inexpensive) marketing strategies for companies, big and small, to use this year (and the next few years to come). 

We know the potential, we've seen a ton of examples out in the real world. Now we're all waiting for that captilizing moment where a company, viral video, or SNL skit will blow up this trend from being a blip on the radar to defining its place in our everyday lives.

 

Blogged by Nick Sears - Motion Designer - rVue
 

Motion Poster Radar: CONAN

As I posted last month about the success of motion poster installations in movie theaters, I recently came across another newly released poster that I thought deserved merit.

CONAN THE BARBARIAN returns to theaters this summer as a fresh reboot shown in 3D. Now, as you may remember from my previous blog(if you missed it, click here), the featured motion poster was for the DRIVE ANGRY movie, starring Nicholas Cage. That poster contained everything you'd expect from a high-octance action movie - explosions, fast camera angles, gunplay, gristled heros and the blond bombshells that adore them. For Conan however, it's a minimal moving shot of our anti-hero standing on what seems to be a very large pile of skulls. 

I thought to myself, well, both posters work so well and yet are still so different - what common ground do they share? These posters have multiple elements working for them, but the most effective is the ability to engage and communicate to the audience. Going guns blazing will always catch attention, but the strongest asset the CONAN poster has is communication. We all are familiar with Arnold's role as the barbarian, but the eery music and apolyptic rolling clouds tells you something more. It's as if it warns us, as if its a subtle disclaimer to prepare the audience what they're in for. 

No doubt, if I saw a still poster of this, I'd be intrigued with a solid "Ohhh, no wayyyy" kind of a response. However, this motion poster succeeds so much more that it figuratively tightens that screw toward my decision to purchase that ticket. What feelings do you get from watching this? Creeped out? Excited?

Two things are for sure.

A lot of heads will roll in this movie, and with this motion poster.. a lot of heads will turn.

 

Blogged by Nick Sears - Motion Designer - rVue
 

Google Street View Mashup Now Available for rVue Managed Services

Have you ever wondered where exactly your DOOH advertisements will be shown? You have selected the venue and demographic, but what type of area is the location in? Is it a strip mall or stand alone location? In a suburb or bustling city? 

rVue's technology team has created a custom integration of network location data with Google Street VIew's mapping technology. The mashup will illustrate touchpoints to the managed services division, allowing them to leverage the data when targeting a location. The state-of-the-art feature provides the managed services accounts a 360° horizontal and 290° vertical panoramic street level views provided by Google Maps within a networks location page. Advertisers who are selecting the target audience to whom their ads will be shown, are now able to see exactly where the advertisements will be shown. The rVue technology is constantly evolving and we continue to remain one step ahead of the technological curve. rVue uses mashup technology to combine tools, like rVue and Google Street Views, to further the ability to help narrowcast your message based on geographic location, demographics and type of network.

 

Once logged in to the rVue user account, the Google Street View will be viewable on the network location page of your profile where you will have the ability to view the exterior street view shot provided by Google, as well as the current interior still shots each venue offers. Users can scroll through the 360 views while remaining in the Media Planner dashboard and never leave the site. 

 

What is a "Mashup" and does it taste good with chicken?

By Corky Kaericher, Senior Web Developer @ rVue

Greetings, rVue friends and fans!

If you've been paying attention to Internet trends over the past couple of years than you are probably familiar with the social network phenomenon that has brought millions of people together on highly interactive web sites where they can share news and information about themselves with each other, either publicly or in private groups. With all these people engaging across personal and business social networks, it seems logical that the next trend worth noting would be the similar exchange of engaging data and information between disparate social and business network systems themselves. What a concept, systems sharing information automatically with other systems, so that busy people don't even have to take the time to do so manually anymore. As we all know, anything that automates a tedious manual task, or simplifies something complex or which simply saves us some time is a boon in the business world!

Such system to system interactions or combination's of internet resources and data are known as mashups. An internet mashup is the result of taking two or more separate web applications or internet resources from one or more different companies and combining them in such a way as to allow a real time exchange of data and a flow of information between the systems in order to create a new, hybrid resource. Mashups aim to either improve on usability or just to simplify access to parent resources in new and useful ways, combining selected benefits from each parent to create something new and exciting that would not have been possible with just half of the mashup if left standing on it's own. Just a like a social network where people are the source of the exchanged information, mashups are akin to a social exchange between web connected applications, resources or platforms.

The DOOH industry is just coming of age online and many involved companies have begun to move their business models into the online world using internet technologies in more and more innovative and exciting ways. So how can internet mashups apply to us and benefit the DOOH ecosystem?  Many smart companies have given this great thought and are already underway creating some exciting new mashups. One example of this type of integration is actually near and dear to my heart, as it's the very work I myself am involved in which comprises an effort to connect media planning tools directly into the back-end technologies and systems of digital advertising player software companies via Application Programming Interface (API) integrations. This level of direct and programmatically automated platform interactivity between companies inside our industry will enable a kind of speed and efficiency in delivering digital campaigns and collecting the ensuing analytical data that has never been seen before in the DOOH advertising niche or that was even possible in our industry to date.

Doing all this transparently will ultimately automatically simplify the entire campaign execution to a just a few strokes on your keyboard to set up the details and click of your mouse on the "submit" button to launch the process. From there, many of the time consuming manual processes such as media file encoding or file delivery will simply just "happen" or will be minimized to the absolute basic necessities of human interventions, approvals and authorizations, with the rest of the ugly technical stuff happening behind the scenes almost auto-magically! This isn’t just a neat, geeky idea; it is an imperative and game changing one. DOOH needs to be easier to do, if you'll pardon the rhyme, and mashups between industry companies will be the first step in making that easy future come sooner.

Here’s to hoping the DOOH days of summer will get easier!

Corky K.

BroadSign Gives Its Client DOOH Networks Access to Ad Agencies and Advertisers via the rVue(TM) Demand-Side Platform

In addition to facilitating the planning and booking of cross-network digital signage campaigns, the integration also automates the multi-network campaign execution cycle

BroadSign International, the premier global provider of digital signage software, and rVue, Inc., provider of the first demand-side platform for planning and buying Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) media, announced today that the Open API integration between the two platforms has been completed.

BroadSign carried out the initial phase of integration with rVue last year, becoming the first digital signage software company to do so. This stage of integration has coincided with the launch of the new version of rVue's web interface earlier this year.

To date, 21 of the DOOH networks running on BroadSign have opted in to be part of rVue's inventory.

BroadSign-powered networks can now be visible to the advertisers and agencies who use rVue to find DOOH ad inventory that meets their demographic and geographic criteria. Once the required inventory is discovered, media buyers can proceed to booking their campaigns. They can negotiate the rates, create insertion orders and follow the campaign's progress through the same interface.

The rVue Media Planner simplifies the usually cumbersome process of creating DOOH media plans by allowing media buyers to quickly find the required screen locations within different networks and consolidate them into a single buy.

Brian Dusho, President and Chief Strategy Officer of BroadSign, states, "Our integration with rVue is a precursor of the future industry-wide automation of cross-network DOOH campaigns. The irony today is that while our medium employs cutting-edge technology, when it comes to aggregating cross-network buys - the coordination is for the most part manual. Together, rVue and BroadSign resolve that challenge and bring DOOH inventory to the media-buyer's table in an easy-to-buy, transparent and accountable way."

The rVue demand-side platform is free to enroll and requires no inventory aggregation or subscription fee. Networks can create a comprehensive profile featuring such critical information as audience demographics, reach, locations and estimated CPM values. Networks stay in control of their assets by being able to accept or reject an offer.

Ad agencies and advertisers can create an rVue account and build an agency/advertiser dashboard. This information helps marketers evaluate and target appropriate locations in their media plans via the intuitive, user-friendly web interface.

"This integration was developed to respond to the needs of both the advertisers and networks. By increasing the quantity, timeliness and accuracy of accountability data of BroadSign's networks within the platform, the connection provides advertisers with the analytics that builds additional confidence in the media while reducing the network's data management time," said Jason Kates, Chief Executive Officer of rVue, Inc. "We are proud to continue our valued relationship with BroadSign in this important endeavor."

rVue has enrolled networks in major DMAs across the United States and Canada with European expansion underway.

About BroadSign

BroadSign International Inc. is the worldwide provider of the premier software platform for digital signage networks. BroadSign's technology resolves the challenges facing modern digital signage networks: the need for acceptance by the mainstream advertising community, time to market and the need for full campaign execution functionality, accountability and true scalability. The software enables operators to target out-of-home audiences, sell network airtime, reliably play back scheduled content on each screen, and account for campaign performance. Various levels of managed services are included in the per-player monthly fee, depending on the subscription package.

BroadSign also provides cross-network campaign execution for DOOH media aggregators via its Open API platform.

BroadSign combines extensive expertise in digital signage software, media, advertising, and information technology, and is a member of the Digital Place-based Advertising Association (DPAA), OVAB Europe, OAAA, the Screen Media Association, Digital Signage Federation and CODA. Over 230 digital signage networks in 25 countries run on the BroadSign platform. The company's corporate office, Operations, Support and Development facilities are in Montreal, Canada.

To acquire a BroadSign software subscription, email: welcome@broadsign.com

Real Digital Media Selects the rVue™ Demand-Side Platform for Digital Out-of-Home Media Planning and Buying for Integration into its NEOCAST® Platform

Integration between the platforms provides media buyers using rVue with access to the most current location and playout data from networks powered by NEOCAST®

rVue Holdings, Inc.'s (OTC Bulletin Board: RVUE) subsidiary rVue, Inc., the leading demand side platform (DSP) for the Digital Out of Home (DOOH) industry with over one hundred eighty thousand digital screens across the country operated by over fifty network owners, announced today that Real Digital Media (RDM), a provider of the innovative NEOCAST® Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform for managing digital signage networks, has selected the rVue DSP for DOOH media planning and buying as its first external integration partner. Under the agreement, rVue will provide current and future network operators using NEOCAST® with the ability to deliver location-specific details about their networks required by ad agencies and advertisers seeking to make informed media buys through rVue's DSP. rVue will also provide campaign playout and compliance data to agencies through its direct feed from NEOCAST®.

"This integration is important to Real Digital Media and our customers because it removes a barrier between buyers and sellers, which is an essential element to not only our mutual growth but for the digital signage industry as a whole," said Ken Goldberg, CEO of Real Digital Media.  "In order for the DOOH industry to establish credibility within advertising circles, we need to adopt practices that make it easy to buy, encourage standards that establish a uniform experience, and create an ecosystem that benefits all participants. rVue's selection of NEOCAST® represents an initial effort to bring these principles to our clients and the ad agencies making DOOH part of their advertising mix."

The open and intuitive rVue Media Planner streamlines the creation of DOOH media plans by promoting awareness of the various participating networks, providing relevant information about available networks, establishing communication between the networks and agencies, and reducing media planning time through a real-time search and selection of available touchpoints/screens, impressions and cost. The rVue demand-side platform consolidates all of this information into a single buy that is comprehensive yet easy to execute.

"We are pleased that RDM has selected rVue to provide the demand-side platform for DOOH," said Jason Kates, rVue's Chief Executive Officer. "We believe our ability to streamline the process for advertisers and advertising agencies to purchase DOOH advertising differentiates us from other participants in this rapidly growing sector. Our ability to provide resources that remove barriers to entry, and streamline the management, planning and purchasing of DOOH media creates value for all of our constituencies. Our relationship with RDM was developed to provide the accountability, data and transparency ad-based networks need to further attract advertisers, while shortening or eliminating their data management time. On the other side, this connection enables advertisers to receive the data and analytics they need for greater adoption of the media."

How it Works

Enrollment into rVue is free and available to any agency, advertiser or network provider by simply logging in, creating an rVue account and building their agency/advertiser or network profile.  Each network profile features such relevant information as audience demographics, location geographics, target venues and overall impressions to help advertisers evaluate and target their locations for media plans. With the announced integration, rVue network profiles powered by NEOCAST® can now be provided with the majority of this location-specific and compliance data automatically. This allows network operators to leverage the data already acquired throughout the course of their NEOCAST® rollout and operations in a seamless manner. This saves time, effort and ensures consistency of their data across platforms, which is essential for ad agencies requiring confidence in the accuracy of the media plans designed and executed for their clients. Once a media buy is complete, a single digit transaction fee is extracted.

Currently, rVue has enrolled networks in major DMAs across the United States and Canada with European expansion underway.