Digital Design Blog

Emerging Media Trends: Twittering House, Mobile Sweets, Virtual Festivals

1. Home Tweet Home: Energy-Savvy House Broadcasts on Twitter

What is it? A small number of nerdy homeowners are combining Web 2.0 and eco-consciousness. An increasing number of people are installing monitors on their houses that broadcast live tweets (or Twitter posts) about the physical environment in and around where they are. For example, Twitter user andy_house’s page updates when his lights are turned on or off, or when his power consumption has been reduced. While everyday people like you and me aren’t going to be rigging our houses with technology soon (Andy Stanford-Clark is a master IBM inventor), there could be a big eco trend on this micro-blogging site. (Sources: Wired and earth2tech)

Why is it interesting? From the major car manufacturers to the small mom-and-pop stores, everyone is talking about being green. What is arguably revolutionary about the Twitter/green tech convergence is that it makes content relevant, attainable and easy to digest. If some consumers don’t have the time to read lengthy articles about green living, the Twitter posts are snack-sized, real-time posts that could inspire readers to make small changes in their daily lives.

From an advertising perspective, businesses may want to think about how Twitter could help them communicate with customers. Could Niketown post tweets when people buy the latest shoes or gear? During the busy holiday season, can I find out when stores have moved the last Wii off their shelves? It could become an innovative way to create demand for products and push small pieces of content to loyal consumers.

2. Order Godiva Chocolate via Your BlackBerry

What is it? Godiva just launched a mobile application that you can download for your BlackBerry device. Called Godiva Mobile, it is powered by Digby (m-commerce service) and allows customers to get quick access to Godiva’s best sellers, complete shopping transactions, read product descriptions and get full color images. The application can sync with your address book, allowing you to quickly ship sweet treats to anyone in your list. And if you need a chocolate fix ASAP? You can find the nearest store with just one touch. (Source: Godiva.com and Popgadget)

Why is it interesting? Chocolate purchases are both impulsive (ex: the M&Ms calling to you from the vending machine) and associated with bigger occasions such as Valentine’s Day and Easter. Godiva is capitalizing on affluent consumers who need to make fast gift purchases on-the-go. Their site is touting the application as “The perfect way to send a thoughtful gift when you’re on the run.” In a world full of virtual gifting, it is refreshing to see a mobile application where transactions are tied back to real, tangible products.

3. Canadians Planning ‘First Massively Multi-User Online Music Festival’

What is it? You won’t even need to leave your computer to attend the New Music West festival in Vancouver from May 14 to 18. Virtual-Vancouver has partnered with the festival to recreate the entire thing in real time inside its 3D virtual environment. Users just need to download the software client and the festival is free to attend. (Source: Wired)

Why is it interesting? While the online version of a big music festival can never compete with the real life one, this is a unique way to extend the experience to those who don’t have the money or time to be there in person. The company is expecting 40,000+ attendees at the event, with the ability to accommodate millions more online. This can also help smaller bands get exposure to record labels and other figures in the music industry. Companies are getting more creative with music distribution platforms (Grand Theft Auto 4 songs can be tagged within the game and then purchased through Amazon) and we will hopefully see more live events streamed and hosted online in the near future.