Admit it— ever since you saw Minority Report (more specifically, the scene where Tom Cruise plucks data and images from the air and interacts with the information  via a transparent, floating ‘screen’)  you wondered how far off into the future you’d have to wait to see this kind of tech in action.

Well you’re in luck because the Russian-based team at DisplAir is making this sci-fantasy into a reality and the possibilities for its application are sky high.  What are some of the cool features of DisplAir? Well, aside from being the  “Most Amazing Display In The World, DisplAir boasts a fully interactive floating screen that is wind-resistant and permeable. (Oh, and it reduces eye strain as well)

Relatively new, DisplAir had spent 2011 going through prototyping  and recently entered the world advertising market earlier this year with its debut in Germany.  Prior to its debut, DisplAir had gained attention from Microsoft, Intel, and Google’s Russian counterparts and is now currently looking for partners in Silicon Valley.  It’s pretty exciting to think about how such large scale players in the tech industry will develop and integrate their products to function and interact with DisplAir.

What’s interesting to note is that representatives from DisplAir’s PR team are reaching out directly to advertising agencies around the globe to further demonstrate how this technology is positioned to be a game changer in the world of display advertising.  There’s even talk of a feature that allows ‘scents’ to be installed into the display which would undoubtedly open the door for multi-sensory user experiences.

Excited yet? We are. For more information, check out DisplAir’s Blog to stay in the know. In the meantime, Back To The Future tech junkies have some serious catching up to do. After all, aren’t hoverboards way past due?

*image courtesy of DisplAir

Innovation is now moving at the speed of thought with the onset of new, wearable tech— think Google Glass ,  Myo- the gesture controlled armband, and Apple’s  iWatch.  It will be interesting to see how these technologies will be either embraced or shunned by the general public.  Glass naysayers have already begun to voice concerns regarding  how privacy will be an ever-increasing issue when the ability to spy-record interactions without consent falls into the hands of those who would use it for nefarious purposes such as being a creepster.

Will these examples of new, wearable tech elevate us to what our past plaid shirt and flared-jeans-wearing-selves envisioned as the “future”?  ( Hoverboards, you’re next) Maybe not quite as far-fetched as what we saw in Minority Report (yet), but we feel like it’s headed in a great direction from a creative standpoint.  These technologies will provide a whole new way for consumers to engage and interact with brands and create an entirely new playing field for the world of advertising and design.

We’re always looking for ways to improve how we experience the world and our daily lives— and while there is truth in the thought that simplicity is best, there’s no denying that technology and its potential innovative applications can be so much fun.

Image courtesy of Google Images.

Brands are going to have to think beyond the “like button” if they want to reach the highest level of consumer engagement. We were surprised to learn that when it comes social media, there are major strategic differences between marketing on Twitter and marketing on Facebook. A recent study by Buddy Media revealed that top brands and Fortune 1000 companies need to start looking at what works and what doesn’t in order to get maximum engagement, and the greatest degree of virality. Some Twitter tips from Buddy Media include: tweeting on weekends, using hashtags sparingly, and including links in your posts.

To learn more about Twitter marketing strategies, Check out this article!

Pre-Shopping is the “new normal” for consumers to prepare to go into the grocery store. Gone are the days of flipping through the weekly circular to decide what to buy that week, especially when it comes to private label brands.Consumers are going above and beyond and expecting more from their retailer.

Shoppers are looking up products online, visiting the retailer website, and looking for a retailer app to access via their mobile phone. In order for private label brands to stay relevant and in the consumer mindset, retailers should create an integrated approach to reach their shoppers. Brands are reaching out in various ways to ensure shoppers have access to their brands. We think that retailers should ensure growth of their own brands by exploring their options in the pre-shop, as well.

Full article, here.

Stonyfield is doing something really exciting for its consumers who are interested in learning more about where their food comes from. They launched the “Great Food Find”, an interactive scavenger hunt online. As consumers check out different brands around the web, they are able to earn prizes and chances to win. Many brands are involved in the contest including Annie’s Homegrown, Happy Family, Sambazon, Woodstock Farms, Nature’s Path, Organic Valley, Applegate Farms, and more.

We think this is a unique and exciting way to engage with consumers and educate them at the same time. Consumers of Stonyfield will probably see the brand as providing great value to them by bringing this food information to them easily, online.

Check out the hunt, here.

Google Glass is coming and when it does your real life and your digital life will be seamlessly integrated. When you hear Google Glass, think smartphone in the form of glasses. Imagine walking around just saying what you want/need and your glasses taking care of it for you. No more holding your phone up to text, take a phone call, or take a photo – your glasses will do it all.

We know there are ups and downs to having the ability to being constantly plugged in from hands free chatting to even more distractions as you walk down the street. When the first cell phone many years ago, people were shocked to be able to walk down the street while talking on the phone. While Google Glass may be strange and exciting now, for younger generations, this may just be the new way they use they live their digital lives.

Check out the Google Glass promo video below and the full article Here.