Monday, November 06, 2006
The future of the commercial
This week I’m going to talk a little about computer security and turning your home computer into your home entertainment hub.
The Mid-Shore Computer Users Group will meet again this Thursday, Nov. 16. They will feature a presentation by John Terebey on “How to bullet proof your home computer.” That is important information for anyone with a home computer, especially with our new, fast Internet connections.
The meeting will be in the Talbot Tourism Office on the second floor of 11 South Harrison Street, Easton. It will start at 7 p.m. and should end by 9 p.m. As the meeting notice says: “Bring your questions – get answers.”
For further information you can call 410-822-8118 or 410-745-9932. All are welcome.
When I got my first computer, it was more a glorified word processor. It had little capability other than modifying fonts, organizing text and printing out neat letters. An Internet connection wasn’t a consideration.
Now I download songs, videos, manipulate photos, do my taxes, and modify fonts, organize text and print out neat letters.
Your computer will soon, very soon, be doing so much more.
Several months ago I wrote how Amazon.com had launched its own weekly, web-only, show called Amazon Fishbowl staring Bill Maher. It was a summer only show but it gives a glimpse of the future of home entertainment.
The show followed the basic talk show format. Maher gave a standup routine to start He would interview a guest—usually an author and then, the show would close with a musical presentation by guests ranging from Josh Ritter to the Indigo Girls.
What is so unique about this you ask?
While Maher was interviewing Stephen King or Dean Kootz a link to books by the author available on Amazon.com would appear just below the image window. While the Dixie Chicks were performing links to the album would appear. This is true point of purchase sales. The advertiser gets a truly focused audience.
But what if you were watching a television show and you got interested in the strange gadget the hero was using? What if you could pause the video, use your cursor to isolate the gadget and clicked on it so product information, location available and possible shipping methods would pop up? Cool right?
It will be happening soon on a home entertainment system near you. Say you are watching “The Essence of Emeril” show on the Food Network and you fall in love with the knife he is using. Freeze the frame, highlight the knife, get the product information and order it before you can boil water. Or, you right click, bring up the recipe, you computer scans it for items not in your cupboard and you click to order the missing items so they will be delivered or waiting for you to pick up at your grocery store. No, this is not science fiction. It will be common—and soon.
The same could be done with any product in an enhanced marketing system. Someone would have to create an interactive overlay on the video to make it react to your inquiries.
Think of the possibilities if you are a consumer. Think of the possibilities if you are an advertiser.
The remote control and the fast forward feature have numbered the days of the typical television commercial. No advertiser wants you to skip through their pitches. BUT, if the product were a part of an enhanced interaction show, it would be able to take advantage of your basic impulses. Where did he get that jacket? Where can I get those shoes? I want one of those tools used on that home repair show.
More than once, I’ve listened to a podcast and heard a novel or a song discussed and have immediately gone to either iTunes or Amazon to place an order.
This is why television shows, movies and other forms of mass entertainment and communication will be supplied through your computer in the very near future. The business model will drive it.
It will make everything so easy and quick. But we complain about couch potatoes now!.
You’ll order, download and view your movies and shows from the Internet. Choose your merchandize from what you view. Interact with your friends through video chats. If you want exercise, have your avatar run a marathon in Second Life to burn off the calories.
I don’t think so. You had better equip your couch with a treadmill or the only part of you that will get exercise will be your index finger.
Thoughts? You can reach me at rpolk@chespub.com.
The Mid-Shore Computer Users Group will meet again this Thursday, Nov. 16. They will feature a presentation by John Terebey on “How to bullet proof your home computer.” That is important information for anyone with a home computer, especially with our new, fast Internet connections.
The meeting will be in the Talbot Tourism Office on the second floor of 11 South Harrison Street, Easton. It will start at 7 p.m. and should end by 9 p.m. As the meeting notice says: “Bring your questions – get answers.”
For further information you can call 410-822-8118 or 410-745-9932. All are welcome.
When I got my first computer, it was more a glorified word processor. It had little capability other than modifying fonts, organizing text and printing out neat letters. An Internet connection wasn’t a consideration.
Now I download songs, videos, manipulate photos, do my taxes, and modify fonts, organize text and print out neat letters.
Your computer will soon, very soon, be doing so much more.
Several months ago I wrote how Amazon.com had launched its own weekly, web-only, show called Amazon Fishbowl staring Bill Maher. It was a summer only show but it gives a glimpse of the future of home entertainment.
The show followed the basic talk show format. Maher gave a standup routine to start He would interview a guest—usually an author and then, the show would close with a musical presentation by guests ranging from Josh Ritter to the Indigo Girls.
What is so unique about this you ask?
While Maher was interviewing Stephen King or Dean Kootz a link to books by the author available on Amazon.com would appear just below the image window. While the Dixie Chicks were performing links to the album would appear. This is true point of purchase sales. The advertiser gets a truly focused audience.
But what if you were watching a television show and you got interested in the strange gadget the hero was using? What if you could pause the video, use your cursor to isolate the gadget and clicked on it so product information, location available and possible shipping methods would pop up? Cool right?
It will be happening soon on a home entertainment system near you. Say you are watching “The Essence of Emeril” show on the Food Network and you fall in love with the knife he is using. Freeze the frame, highlight the knife, get the product information and order it before you can boil water. Or, you right click, bring up the recipe, you computer scans it for items not in your cupboard and you click to order the missing items so they will be delivered or waiting for you to pick up at your grocery store. No, this is not science fiction. It will be common—and soon.
The same could be done with any product in an enhanced marketing system. Someone would have to create an interactive overlay on the video to make it react to your inquiries.
Think of the possibilities if you are a consumer. Think of the possibilities if you are an advertiser.
The remote control and the fast forward feature have numbered the days of the typical television commercial. No advertiser wants you to skip through their pitches. BUT, if the product were a part of an enhanced interaction show, it would be able to take advantage of your basic impulses. Where did he get that jacket? Where can I get those shoes? I want one of those tools used on that home repair show.
More than once, I’ve listened to a podcast and heard a novel or a song discussed and have immediately gone to either iTunes or Amazon to place an order.
This is why television shows, movies and other forms of mass entertainment and communication will be supplied through your computer in the very near future. The business model will drive it.
It will make everything so easy and quick. But we complain about couch potatoes now!.
You’ll order, download and view your movies and shows from the Internet. Choose your merchandize from what you view. Interact with your friends through video chats. If you want exercise, have your avatar run a marathon in Second Life to burn off the calories.
I don’t think so. You had better equip your couch with a treadmill or the only part of you that will get exercise will be your index finger.
Thoughts? You can reach me at rpolk@chespub.com.
# posted by Richard Polk @ 11:58 AM 
