Contextual advertising FAIL

*Sigh*

By the way, this is the 2,000th post on Sentient Developments! Thanks to all of you who have supported me over the years.

Nokia + Burton: Self tracking and viral advertising

Via Information Aesthetics:

It had to come to this. Now the "viral" infographics has engulfed us so much we cannot longer communicate a simple fact without some sort of Photoshop-crazy or weirdly-angled, textual chart (wonder-o-wonder, where do I get these examples from?), the next frontier seems to become the world of the quantified self.

And of course, the first people to adopt self-tracking viz for viral purposes are always the coolest of the bunch: mobile communications company Nokia and snowboard manufacturer Burton recently joined forces and hooked up a snowboarder to a powerful smartphone and a series of custom sensors in order to capture 5 different measurements during a snowboard run: speed, the 3D orientation of the board, feet pressure, heart rate and physiological rush (i.e. galvanic skin response).

Nokia and Burton now invite people to "interpret" this data in a creative way, ranging from unique visualizations to original installations that are triggered by the data. Their goal is to show the winning entries at the Burton US Open in March.

As any common data geek is also a star on the black-labeled snow slopes, winners will receive VIP tickets, plus accommodation and travel. For anyone who happens to live far, far away from Stratton, US, and has a bunch of free time around the middle of March, this seems like a sweet deal. Note that the submission deadline is 21 February! Others can wait until they release all the required information to develop and make your own data-augmented snowboard.

Be sure to follow the link and check out the embedded videos.

Neuromarketing: Ads that whisper to the brain

According to the New York Times, the "brain whispering" industry, or what is more colloquially known as neuromarketing, is booming:

A handful of neuromarketing firms, like EmSense, Sands Research, MindLab International and NeuroSense, now specialize in the latest mind-mining techniques — EEGs, M.R.I.’s, eye-tracking — or in older biometric methods that track skin, muscle or facial responses to products or ads.

Companies like Google, CBS, Disney, Frito-Lay and A&E Television, as well as some political campaigns, have used neuromarketing to test consumer impressions. And, in 2008, Nielsen invested in NeuroFocus, the largest of these firms, adding credibility to the field.

More.

Jacked in space! [cool ad]

This Bridgestone ad makes me laugh.

Taste the future in your mouth

Carlton Natural Blonde beer ad.

Via io9. Blame them.

Heineken fembot

Heineken also has an area on their website where you can upload your image and watch a robotic version of yourself taking part in a 'dance party.'

Commune Media website is live and on the air

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For those new to Commune Media, we provide content services for customers who need fast, accurate, clear and compelling words for their websites -- and with results that can be forecast and measured.

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PUMA's portrayal of cyborg athletes

PUMA takes you to the world of football in the year 2178 AD where they launch the v1.178 Speed Legs and transform the game as we know it. Oscar Pistorius, eat your heart out.

You can see a much better version at the PUMA site.

Sexist Kia ad under attack

Several weeks ago I blogged about a Kia car commercial in which a female police offer pulls over a male driver so that she can make out with him. I complained that the ad was a typical example of the double-standard that exists today in male-female power relations.

Well, the ad is now under attack in Canada and will likely soon be banned (if not already). The complaints are slightly different than my own; the ad offends on several levels.

The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police are asking for the full withdrawal of the ad. According to Deputy Chief Sue O'Sullivan, the "commercial implies that female police officers are unprofessional and perpetuates the stereotype that women are not suitable for police work by objectifying them in this matter."

Tony Ciccia, the VP of the ad agency that created the spot, countered that it was meant to be humourous and he's "shocked" that police groups are outraged by the ad.

Peterborough police Chief Terry McLaren echoed O'Sullivan's sentiments in a written statement: "This commercial is sexist and demeans our entire profession, particularly our female officers who serve their communities with professionalism and dignity," The association is also asking Kia for a public apology.

For those who are curious, you can see the ad on YouTube (of course).