Reading a blog post on Mashable about innovative ways for realtors to broaden their customer bases and integrate social media more effectively into their business prospecting efforts lead us to Occipital’s iPhone app, 360 Panoramic.
The images you can get using 360 Panoramic are stitched together in real time without any effort from you (bonus!) and can be a quick and easy way to add dimension to a website, landing page or some other customer experience that you want to make more impactful and interactive. This app doesn’t replace the need for web video, but definitely has a wide range of applications. And the DIY factor is huge.
Here’s a video showing how it works:
Now, go experiment. And if you do, let us know how you like it!
We learned about the Google Demo Slam competition a few weeks ago and were psyched to dive in and create something. And, if you’ve not heard of it, Demo Slam is a Google campaign that allows people to upload a video showcasing their use of a Google product (maps, docs, etc.) in a really funny or quirky way.
We love Google products and it was hard to pick just one. But we did. We chose Google Voice, a service that allows you to mask your phone number with another (or to route your calls from a variety of different numbers to just one number) and it also helps you keep track of your voicemails and texts. Well, we posted photos of our maintenance man dressed as Santa all over the city (see attached photo) and invited people to call Santa and let him know what they would like for Christmas. Haha!
The project was intended to be an absolute joke and fit right into the Google Slam video collection, but we also figured we’d wrap it up by making someone’s wish come true. It was great. We got a week’s worth of totally goofy texts and voicemails. People phoned in and left messages asking for everything from fire trucks, rainbows, college-themed sweatpants, the Chucky series, and the list goes on. We were even going to figure out how to deliver a couple of these items in a really weird and funny way. But then, one voicemail in particular changed everything – the one below.
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The laughter subsided and we realized our campaign had turned in a completely different direction. It was no longer about goofy messages and being silly, it was about someone real. And someone who really needed our help.
We talked it over decided as a group that we wanted to help Stevie Joe. We called the Kansas City Rescue Mission to make sure he was the real deal and then we asked our staff and friends who were interested in donating money to help out. Our CEO, Teri Rogers, agreed to match whatever the staff collected as donations and all told, we ended up raising about $500 to help Stevie Joe and grant his wish to get back to his children and family.
Once we had the money, we called Stevie Joe, but his cell phone was turned off. We finally managed to reach him and made arrangements to meet him outside of the KC Rescue Mission. Of course, he was curious, yet very happy to see us. He told us about the recent turn of events in his life; how he lost his job in July, how his wife left him and how he was separated from his kids and family who were living several hours away. He wanted to go home, but he had no means to make that happen.
When we handed him the envelope with the money we’d raised in it he was ecstatic. And in shock. And so happy that he would finally be able to see his family again. Check out the video ….
Doing something creative and goofy is really fun. Doing something that changes someone’s life at a moment when they need it the most is even better. Thanks, Stevie Joe, for being a part of our lives this holiday season.
It’s the holidays. The holiday season really means just one thing. You go home, hang with your parents, eat their food, lounge around, watch football or old movies, eat some more, take a nap, go out with friends you don’t see often enough, drink more than you should, recover, eat some more, then go home.
Unfortunately, parents often have a different idea. At least that’s what we find. It’s been our observation that all too often the ‘rents seem to think that when we show up it’s time to haul out their list of technology-related problems. That includes all the things that won’t work right on their computers, synching Gmail on the new BlackBerry, reprogramming the DVR player, uploading new antivirus software, getting Netflix to stream to the TV … well, you get our drift. It’s apparently our lot in life, since we HAVE computers and phones and a myriad of other gadgets (usually perpetually clutched in our sweaty hands), and USE them regularly, well, it just goes with the territory that we must become de facto tech departments for our parents.
This year, Google has made it easy for us ….
Tech Support for Parents
You love it. We know you do. And if you want to use the real deal, here’s the Teach Parents Tech link. We love it, too. Happy Holidays and Good Luck!
As a motion design agency with a passion for user experience design, when something truly creative crosses our path, we like to share it, share in it, and let our creative juices flow. An inspirational, creative, social, and just plain fun new competition has descended upon us. Google Demo Slam is really an innovative approach to marketing from the Search Engine’s viewpoint. But from our perspective, as motion design agency with a film production offshoot, it is a golden opportunity to flex our digital filmy fingers and create.
The Demo Slam has invited anyone and everyone with a little “maker juice” –not just motion design types–to be an advocate for one of the search giant’s products. You can choose to highlight the incredible user experience design and nifty features of:
Google Goggles
Google Voice Search
Google Instant
Google Translate
Local Search
Google Realtime
Google Image Search
Universal Search
Custom home page
Other Google technology
Basically you create a video showcasing why a product is cool, upload it to YouTube, then submit it to the contest. Every week two Slams compete against each other and users pick the winner.
Other motion design studios and filmmakers have already jumped on the contest. The range of ideas and creativity is incredibly inspiring. Not surprisingly, the amateurs using just their handheld cameras and an idea have really stepped up to the plate and shared their smiles.
The Search Mogul has hit a home run with this user experience design. A clever little old fashioned microphone swings with your mouse pointer while you decide which Slam contestant to watch and then which one to choose as the winner. The winner will actually be put into a Champion’s Hall of Fame.
This is Google’s way of getting you to “get the people who would never watch a tech demo — the people who ironically need them most … to not only watch them, but like them and share them with their friends.” Talk about a user experience design that engages!
So far the interest seems to still be in mounting phase…in other words we haven’t seen much in our motion design studio social networks…yet. But we expect that, just as Google hopes, Google Demo Slam will become “a place where boring tech demos become (hopefully) gotta-show-my-friends awesome–thanks to the creativity of Google users like you.” Once again, an incredible user experience design from the big guys with the weird name.
If you’re reading our blog, you might already know what we do. But just in case you don’t, T2 + Back Alley Films is a digital media company located in the Crossroads Art District in Kansas City that provides a full service offering from digital strategy through delivery. Think. Create. Deliver. It’s more than just a tagline, it’s what we do.
And please don’t make the mistake of thinking that just because we’re located in the Midwest that amazing design doesn’t happen here. It does – and we can prove it. Enough said.
Our specialties include 2D and 3D motion graphics design, editorial, experiential design, augmented reality, mobile app design and other forms of new media design. Additionally, through Back Alley Films, we produce digital content across all media platforms, including original films and documentaries. We like to get our hands in every detail of the storytelling process and are not afraid of pushing the envelope. Every aspect of our business is about creativity and we believe collaboration is the formula for success for any company today.
We’re looking for a truly passionate leader to inspire and guide our group of young and talented designers. Someone who totally gets how critical creative storytelling is — to us and to our clients. And understands how to translate that story into design. And, of course, you need to be able to pitch creative to internal and external business partners and be a part of the process of continually building and growing the business.
This is a Creative Director position and reports directly to the CEO. If you’re interested in the position, we would love to hear from you. We think that some of the things you need to be adept at (that aren’t specifically mentioned above) include:
At least 10 years of relevant experience in motion design
Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Fine Arts, Film, Graphic Design, or Digital Media Design
Extensive understanding of interactive and moving media
Proven hands-on knowledge of AfterEffects, Photoshop, Illustrator, Maya / Cinema 4D and Flash
Ability to solve problems quickly, collaboratively and intuitively
Experience in strategic planning and execution
Strong people management to provide clear creative direction and to motivate and inspire the creative team
Submit your resume to trogers at t2.tv and include a link to your online motion design reel. Please make sure your experience is appropriate to the position. We can’t wait to hear from you!
T2 + Back Alley Films is a visual design and storytelling company. For more information, please visit our sites at t2.tv and backalleyfilms.com or call 800-471-6554.
