Nike Free Run the City

What would it look like if you took all the data in NYC from Nike+ and mapped the runs over a year...what would that look like?

Lots of running round in circles through Central Park? Lots of Westside Highway runs? Bridge runs? Yeah...all of the above

Nike+ City Runs from yesyesno on Vimeo.

YesYesNo do an amazing job with these dynamic paintings....watch it, then realise that speed and run consistency are part of these paintings so watch it again

Nike are doing so many good things with data these days, how long before they use data like this to build a breakthrough social commerce strategy?

Bike Fixation

This comes straight from Autoblog Green - great idea!

Bicycles are incredibly efficient transportation tools, right? They're also a blast to ride. Well, they're a blast unless you get a flat tire and realize you've forgotten your repair kit. That's where Bike Fixtation comes in. If you happen to "break down" close to one of these, you'll be all set no matter what time it is.



Bike Fixtation offers self-service kiosks on an extended-hours basis. The vending machines offer tubes, patch kits, use of adjustment tools and even access to a pump to fill up your tires. Each self-service Bike Fixtation kiosk features:

Universal bike mounting system for on-site repairs
Aircraft cable tethered bicycle repair tools
Self-contained tire-inflation system compatible with presta and schrader valves
Snacks and beverages

Bike Fixtation kiosks are rare. In fact, they're so rare that only one (located in the Uptown Transit Station in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN metropolitan area) exists in the U.S. However, Bike Fixtation inventors Chad De Baker and Alex Anderson are trying to pitch the cyclists' dream vending machine to cities, organizations and individuals across the nation. Pair these up with some carsharing and public transportation offerings, and you've got yourself quite the non-traditional mobility options.

RoboPool

I sincerely hope this is not a sign of the future. Specifically for @MrStevePayne




There is a lot of work to be done before the robot starts putting a break together and stops fouling (check out 2.14) but given that this robot can pot balls at a success rate of 80% its not too long before we will all have to graduate to darts

Angry Birds Live

The people in this are too attractive and having too much fun for this to be the real deal - but then again, it's an ad and i love it!

Move over Big Data

Yeah I have got to say it, I am over 'Big Data' - Over. It.

I've heard the stories of 1 zetabyte of data being created every nanosecond at the intersection of business, social and location-based services. Still, aren't we missing the point?

'Big Data' and the second and third comings of IBM hadooping everything (yes it is now officially a verb) is being hailed as the next opportunity for business advantage but we still need to redux that data to identify the critical insight that will generate business value from it. Most analytic players today are living in a world of Analytics 1.0, its now remiss of us if we don't invent Analytics 2.0

Analytics 2.0 is the ability to spot patterns or outliers in transactional, behavioural and contextual data at lightning speed with high agility to make a change in your business and out-smart the competition.

The critical thing about this, in my mind, is that the window of opportunity to act on this information is short and decreases in value the longer it takes to capitalize on it. If you go to St Louis or Boston you can find High Frequency Trading companies that buy and sell large quantities of stock on the NYSE. The average time they hold that stock is seven seconds! At that frequency it's not about predicting outcomes its about jumping on outliers and gaining advantage from them

The way we are looking at this today is by capturing and analyzing data from potentially an unlimited number of sources. Some of that is highly structured from old-school databases like sales and customer profiles but augmented with live click-streams from websites and also Facebook feeds which are completely unstructured.

The trick and the opportunity is to conduct the analysis iteratively and act on it immediately rather than at predefined points in time. That phenomenon will kill the traditional ways of working and the legions of smart people who work in boutique agency shops unless they get with the 2.0 program

First the sex tape…

This is so simple yet so perfect, the best street art makes you look, then look again. It also helps to selflessly steal from popular culture and make you think. I love the way they documented this

First the sex tape…

GagaVille

I don't care for Gaga and I have never gone near Farmville but you still have to admire the lady - she is bigger and better than marketing



Unless you live under a rock or a huge compound in Pakistan Born This Way is Lady Gaga's new album and she is making this launch bigger than ever.

Not only does she own Facebook and Twitter (10 million followers baby), Zynga has 250 million players a month. Imagine the effort it would take to reach that many people in the 'real world'

It's also so consistent with her brand, she takes risks, viral and her whole set up is the idea of being different, a loner...she unites loners like bored Farmville players

That got me thinking about the money: When you look at Zynga, they make money out of transactions...think about the revenue stream of spiked leather jackets for your sheep and limited edition artwork for your barn

Pure genius

Your dreams on a business card

Our friends at Ogilvy Brasil recently worked with English school Red Balloon to develop these business cards

RedBalloon Kids Business Cards from digous machado on Vimeo.

Uplifting and insightful - love the work

Pepsi social vending

Aren't PepsiCo just good at innovation? I really love this "social vending" concept.

Interactive and touchscreen, enter a friends mobile phone number and a message and send them the gift of thirst quenchment! Is that a word? Who cares? It's way cool!



It's true that drinking soda is a social thing by nature however there are lots of companies bolting on social aspects to their brands and make it profitable undertaking - Pepsi engages customers, bags more sales and doesn't make it awkward. Surely the Facebook integration is next?

Super Mario Propaganda

Before Angry Birds there was Mario; in fact before everyone there was Mario. Mario is still the man; the story is simple and compelling but you spend hours and hours immersing yourself in it

This set of posters give you a sense of nostalgia but will still recruit new people into the franchise - when there's a touchscreen version...









At $80 for the set they are perfect for the games bunker

Google's biggest spenders

Good stuff from the Kantar Media family here giving us insight on Google's largest search customer. No real surprises here....



What is amazing though is that Google rakes in c$25bn in search revenue so the whole of the top 10 make up 1% of the total revenue.....that's a loooooooooooong tail!

Facebook vs Twitter

Seems I missed this one but just because I slipped it doesn't mean it isn't useful!

This infographic from DigitalSurgeons.com compares demographic data between Facebook and Twitter in a really nice style



It's the similarities around these two platforms that surprise me, rather than the differences. Facebook is 5 times the size of Twitter but their demographic profiles are similar

Unsurprisingly, Twitter skews a little older than Facebook. Facebook connects you to people who you used to know, Twitter to those you want to know. More people follow a brand on Facebook but less convert to actually buying anything.

Lots to take in from this - could look at it for hours!

Everything begins and ends in media

I am sitting opposite one of the WPP digital strategists today, holding court (in a GOOD way) with all the agency partners talking about an idea that incorporates communities and social and custom built technology that can fit into the product. Of course he is using words like 'experience' and '360'

Nothing new here, however it got me thinking that most clients buy services from agencies but we are urging ourselves to provide ideas for them. Problem is we don't get paid for the ideas themselves, we get paid for the time we spend thinking about and doing stuff on behalf of them

The traditional advertising agency is now facing competition on all fronts. Look up and you see the marketing consultancies, brand consultancies, media agencies and research firms—all claiming to provide the strategic thinking offered by agencies. Downstairs are media agencies again and production houses, some of which are now getting into the business of concept development.

It's a bad idea to call yourself an 'advertising agency' these days. Advertising is paid for media and agency tends to bring out a feeling that its some sort of short-term contract.

When we talk about 'Partnership' or 'Trusted Advisor' relationships agencies really need to get out of helping these clients create and place messages and get into strengthening the relationship clients brands have with their customers at all points of contact. That's a broader scope and in today's world increasingly has little to do with actual advertising

What is interesting about this thought for me is the unique position media agencies inhabit in both of 'Thinking' (what clients need) and 'Doing' (what clients pay for). It's all very well for a brand consultancy to come up with a 'marketing experience plan' but delivering on that in a consistent fashion is a challenge.

Any organisation that can put itself in the shoes of the customer and drive insights on how they process and use information about brands will be in line for agency of the future status. Those that can them deliver that information in the way those customers want it, without the associated spam will win the race.

Media is pervasive and that thinking begins and ends in media

Conversation is King

Social TV is big news, getting bigger as you are watching, reading and tweeting

If the UK is a barometer of the anything, by the time the X-Factor hits the US (irrespective of who is judging it) half the viewers will be 'chatting' about the performances, good and bad, via a second screen, such as a laptop or mobile.

However, before we start thinking about split screens on your 42" LED we need to understand behaviour. Engaging in social networks is still a personal thing, never shared....particularly not with your parents!

Here at WPP, Kantar Media's futurePROOF study found that awareness of IPTV had still not reached mainstream levels, with less than half the population understanding the connected TV proposition.

So what does that actually mean? It feels like the incarnations of social TV we are discussing now might be big on technology and thinking (now you can 'checkin to your favourite TV programme) but may be a little over engineered?

How about creating a seamless experience around that so-called 'virtual sofa' where the two screens co-exist but creating mobile-based app content that enables discussion 'likes', 'slates', comments, broadcasts or communities to re-live, act out or share experiences?

The Modern Media Agency

This is really good - what a simple business we work in!

Not really 'The Modern Media Agency' more 'Today's Media Agency' - this stuff is definitive



My favourite is OUT - Recession Cutbacks - advertising spend will increase. If you start to triangulate or Octognulate these insights the key take away would be that despite the dead cat bounce there are structural implications. As media agencies we need to change ahead of our clients to help them embrace this landscape but not to the detriment of dropping the ball in traditional marketing approaches

Never been a more exciting time to work in media

Stat - Dunk

I really like basketball.....and analytics. Last week in Boston MIT hosted their Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. How cool is that?

In basketball a few of the stadia have installed 3D cameras that capture 25 images a second to capture everything (I mean everything) that happens on court

Sandy Weil explains that San Antonio players shoot 60 percent after receiving passes from Tim Duncan. That's high! And purely a function of the fact that many teams double team Duncan.

A major finding of the report is also that catch-and-shoot attempts are much more efficient than other types of shots when you control for distance and the presence of a defender. A player’s shooting percentage jumps significantly when the last thing he does before the a shot is the act of catching a pass — and not the act of dribbling. He usually has more space when he catches.

But if you catch a pass and hold the ball for about 2.25 seconds, whatever advantage you gained from catching the pass disappears. This makes sense, since holding the ball gives your defender a chance to catch up to you and prepare to defend your next move.

Thia sort of Optical Tracking Data has the potential to revolutionalize basketball. Looking at the minutia of on court movement, to explain how Ray Allen finds himself so open. If great screeners create great catch and shoot opportunities for guys like Allen, and those are the best field goal opportunities, then what player screens most often? Who are the superstars of screening? And how do you find one in the draft to complement your dead-eye shooting roster?

Fascinating stuff

Transparency

Transparency and simplicity. Time to get with the program.

If we don't start today someone else will. As analytics guys we tend to bask in the glory of the complexity of our work. But that world has changed and will never return again.

More and more marketing is now digital, and as that happens more marketing plans have better measures of activity. At that point they get analysed, drivers get quantified and everything becomes understood. That's what is called transparency

So how do we, as analysts create a large scale change in how marketing gets done? This is my starter - not exhaustive and I would really like to hear your views:

1. Demand that every activity has a commercially focussed success measure.

No more eyeballs, footfall or visits - We need to hear revenue uplift and cost-per measures.

You might start by making these up, but if you commit to them you can adjust your forecast; the finance guys do every day, and they are being listened to

2. Create measurement partnership programs

Many of digital partners (GOOG, MSFT, YHOO, FB, OMTR etc) are collecting and storing data on behavioral activity and, in turn, creating better mousetraps that help us crack the ROI code. They also want to increase their share of client spend and are looking for proof points. Work with them, it's not a lose of face to accept we don't know everything

3. Do something different

Transparency kills the dark art of measurement somewhat and much about measurement in this new world is now around observation. Follow trends and explore new opportunities, set some expectations around effect and get on with it.

The concepts of 'Business' and 'Brand' used to be disconnected, however, in board rooms all around the world marketing is still undertaken to build business. We used to come up with a multitude of excuses as to why we could only measure what we could.

That time is over - this is the time of transparency

Everything you learned in Math class is wrong

Here's proof that 2=1

a = b

So...

a^2 = b^2

and

a^2 - b^2 = ab - b^2

and if we unpack that....

(a-b)(a+b) = b(a-b)

a + b = b

Which means that

b + b = b

2b = b

2 = 1

Back to the Tech Valuation Future

There was a great piece in this weekends Observer talking about the second Dot-Com bubble a lot of money around driving the 'next' tech company valuation up. You can read it here

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/feb/20/is-this-the-start-of-the-second-dotcom-bubble

What is interesting about this is the basic principle of valuations that are based on future, or even wishful, earnings. Groupon turned down $6n, Twitter doesn't make any money but is valued at $10bn and Facebook was recently valued at $67bn. This is all in the hope that the information that Facebook users or Groupon buyers provide the platform will provide relevant consumer information for targeted advertising messages

So if we do the basic maths Facebook is worth $67bn so revenues would be around $17bn...with 550m users it means that each 'fan' is potentially worth $31 to a marketer.

A good CTR on a targeted Facebook ad is 0.5%.....looks like a bubble

Who'd have thought it?

Let's get this straight, I have never been a fan of Victoria Beckham, or the Beckham brand. I always had Victoria down as a very driven but ultimately limited on talent.

How wrong I was.

What I have always admired about VB is she always looks polished; sure there have been some disasters - his and hers matching leather suits and high heeled baseball boots to pitch at Dodger statium. However that said there aren't many people who can rock the whole pencil skirt thing the way she can.

When she started the fashion designing I thought 'here we go, can't do music, can't do TV, try fashion...' and of course I don't think I was the only person who wondered whether her first collection was a too closely 'influenced' by Roland Mouret

However, as her fifth collection went down the catwalk last night at NY fashion week it really feels like she has grown as a designer and is stretching her creativity. There is a Japanese sensitivity that I love and that hooded dress is an instant classic.




Over the time Victoria has designed it seemed as though she wouldnt break out of the tight fitting corsety style thing, but this collection is loose and has structure. I am no expert but it feels difficult to pull off sleek without being harsh and this softer side of Mrs Beckham looks like a winner.

Linked InMaps

This is great, mapping my entire LinkedIn professional network. First thing I realise is that I have a very closed network...not surprising, I've only had 3 jobs and they are all related - with long lasting client relationships.

Colour shows my networks - Not surprisingly I see that my client colleagues and digital natives have huge networks - i need to connect into their hubs!



generate your own here....

http://inmaps.linkedinlabs.com/network

Oh...So I found the insights! #checkins

WOW!

Foursquare Checkins Nearby!

Thanks Neil for the PA GroundHog day heads up today...have you guys all got yours yet?

Despite the fact that there are no surprises here I love that Foursquare data has become available in this simple, beautiful format.



I desperately looked for a surprising insight in here but nothing really there - food checkins dominate, and spike when we eat. Office checkins when we are in the office...nightlife at night. Who'dathoughtit?

Battericine

I always always always seem to forget reload my vitamin container when I am traveling. I'm usually running around that morning, the car service waiting outside as I throw clothes into a case randomly. Frankly, vitamin B12 is not on the list of things to collect when its 6am and you need to get to the airport

However cool designer Adityaraj Dev has come up with an innovative pill container that keeps you updated about the number of pills or doses are inside.



“Battericine,” is a compact container in a battery shape allowing you to remove the top and bottom part with a simple click. The positive and negative signs, indicating the intake of pills and improved health, means you feel and look good simultaneously

London Street Art Walk

I just love this from @Chocoralie.... just fantastique!


A friend recently asked me for advice as to what to do and see in London. A fairly ambiguous question at the best of times, what with this town being so alive, and one which was made slightly trickier: outside the usual milestones such as the Eye, where could she go with her teenage son?
Shoreditch sprang to my mind. This may not be your usual neighbourhood, but it is ideal for street art hunting. On a sunny Sunday, it will bring the buzz of Brick Lane and offers a lovely stroll.



You talk of street art, nowadays, and the name “Banksy” will be the first name flung in your direction, but there are many more interesting artists out there. The pieces usually are short lived: maybe only a few days or a few weeks, before the weather fades them or the wall gets repainted. You might be one of the happy few to have seen it… It leaves you with a VIP feeling and a smile on your face. Some, however, are particularly loved and seem to survive quite well – follow me!
Take the tube to Liverpool station, and head down Middlesex Street. Just at the corner is a Space Invader piece. The artist found his inspiration in the 1970s video game and places those funny little icons around the world (one, most famously, was positioned on the Hollywood sign) you will find plenty around here, keep your eyes open. This one was inspired by the ever present CCTVs, hence the mirror eyes…
Stay in Middlesex Street which is now more known to locals as Alphabet Street. Eine started with tagging lovely letters around Shoreditch, preferring the shops roll down doors. The owners ended asking for them: success was on the way. You can track down your A to Z on the closed shutters. His art became so famous that David Cameron, actually, offered one of his pieces to Barack Obama – street art on the White House walls, now, that’s a first…You will also find a whole wall with flying letters and a colourful HAPPY: why not pause YMCA style, trying to mime the shapes, for a nice souvenir pic!



Walk to the Old Spitafields Market – on the weekend, it will be filled with colourful stalls of all kinds, modern, ravishing, with a range of world food to snack on on your journey. A little further is Corbet Place. There is plenty to be seen on the walls around. Look at the Root-master, a double decker bus turned into a vegetarian restaurant, is it hiding something? If you scout behind here you will find the most amazing Mary Poppins (unsigned):



The Stolenspace gallery always is worth a visit. It recently welcomed a Penguin book show with a variety of artists presenting a version of their favourite classic. The next one will open on February 3rd and will star David Bray‘s intricate black and white drawings. Search on the right side of their door for one of C215‘s fragmented faces…



Set off for Brick Lane, which intersects with Hanbury Street about half way down. A number of artists prefer to use wheat based posters: quicker to post around so they are less likely to be noticed. Roa goes the extra mile, with this building-sized crane!



I usually stop shortly after this point for a chai latte at the Vintage Emporium. The place is like a time travel while still being very cosy and welcoming. It’s a cutesy treasure trove, with lots of games and puzzles to flick through on its shelves, and a cupcake or two at the till…
Downstairs is an amazing vintage boutique. The clothes range from the Victorian era to the 1960ies and have a glamour touch to them. The lace is particularly exquisite, but it is not only about the ladies: I am yet to meet a guy not tempted by the top hats…



At the end of Brick Lane, cross over to Redchurch street, a great place for additions to your collection, including a squirrel by Roa and two walls by Eine – choose your side!



The pieces I have mentioned have been there for months if not years and are not likely to disappear yet. This art style, however, is constantly evolving and you will find new gems from one week to another – a constantly evolving urban landscape that mirrors the ever-growing population of local artists. For street art royalty, take Rivington Street and stop at Cargo: the walls are regularly redone by new artists and one of them, protected by a transparent pane, shows a Banksy… You’ll find interesting things around every corner in this part of town…



Down that street is Curtain Road, our last stop on this graffiti trail. The Cordy House is always worth stopping by. As it shelters Mutate Britain who host festivals, visiting artists often leave a signature on the façade… One of those at the moment is by Alicé:



You probably are starving by now – try The Book Club for a relaxed atmosphere, delicious treats (I love coming here for breakfast) or a party of table football or two, which is sure to be the perfect touch for any teenager! Old street station is now only a 5 minute walk away for those tired feet…

That is an afternoon in London Town well spent!

Life In A Day

Thanks to @SociableSport for this one....

Check out today's YouTube homepage masthead promoting the film premiere of LIFE IN A DAY, made possible by LG. The Ridley Scott picture, directed by Kevin Macdonald, is a chronicle of life's moments collected from user generated content created on July 24th 2010.

The feature film is an experiment in finding parallel stories from around the world, using tech innovation to make something special out of the ordinary. It will premiere at Sundance Festival on Friday at 1:00am GMT / 8:00pm New York time / 9:00am Shanghai time and will air globally as a live stream event on YouTube at the same time.

It will then be repeated once more on YouTube at 7:00pm your local time, Friday January 28th, wherever you are.

Please come along to the Facebook event by hitting I'M ATTENDING

And if you haven't already subscribed, go to http://www.youtube.com/lifeinaday for all the latest news from Sundance and YouTube.

LG and Mindshare are very proud to have put this project together. We're looking forward to sharing this uplifting story with the world.

Life's Good!

Why aren't we all banging on about Net-Neutrality?

Question: What's great about the internet?
Answer: You do everything there...Yes everything!

If you want to get a balanced opinion, and by balanced I mean views across the spectrum you go to the internet. Sure there will be some nut-jobs on there telling you that YouTube cats falling from trees are the work of the illuminati but that's what's cool about it

If net neutrality disappears, Google, Verizon and Comcast will control access and content. Isn't that what happens when you create a fast lane?

If they control the speed they quickly control our opportunity to voice our opinion. If you pay for speed access this blog (and hundreds of thousands much better ones than this) will die. There will be a much shorter tail and culture will be owned exclusively a small number of big players

I want to find my truth by listening to the world, surely we don't want the internet to look like Fox News?

Lovefilm Lovethis

Amazon is buying Lovefilm, the UK's version of Netflix

Apparently they paid $300m for 1.4m subscribers...you do the maths but it sounds liek a good deal and straight in line with the content pushing strategy that Amazon have been embarking on of late



Amazon get the understanding of streaming technology before they attempt to take on Netflix in the US and have a ready made user base to work with before Netflix enters the European market. This is significant and to make it even more fun who wouldn't bet against them making a play for Spotify to go against Apple?