Archive for the ‘industry’ Category

A Quick Look at QR Codes

In a recent post on Korea’s Tesco Homeplus stores, we mentioned their use of QR (Quick Response) codes to make grocery shopping more convenient. QR codes are 2D codes which are readable by smartphones and are used to provide additional information on a product or service. ComScore recently released a study of QR code use; here are some of their findings:

• Approximately 14 million mobile users have scanned a QR code
• Men were 50% more likely to have scanned a QR code than women
• Over half of the people who had scanned a code were between the ages of 18 and 34
• More than 1 in 3 QR code scanners had an annual household income of $100,000 or more
• Codes were most likely to scanned at home or at a store, and were most frequently scanned from a printed magazine/newspaper or product packaging

If you’re interested in finding out ways you can enhance your business through QR code technology and mobile marketing, give us a call.

Image Credit: University of Utah

Posted by Ramona on January 29, 2012 in industry, interactive, technology

Nike+ GPS: An App That Gets It

“There’s an app for that.” Apple’s catchy little phrase from its iPhone 3G commercials speaks the truth. There really is an app for almost everything, ranging from reading the news to seeing what you would look like obese. But so few apps really hit the nail on the head the way the Nike+ GPS app does. This is an app that does what every app should: makes the consumer’s life easier and bends to their individual needs.

The Nike+ app certainly isn’t new. Many of you are probably using it already, but not everyone knows just how successful it is. The app made it into iTunes’ 2010 Hall of Fame and continues to be an example of the potential apps have to connect people and enhance experiences.

The Nike+ app is an extension of Nike’s popular Nike+ online running group. The newest version takes advantage of GPS and accelerometer technology available in the iPhone 4. Nike+ GPS enables users to track their time and distance and map their route. It stores all of your run history, which enables features like colour-coded heat maps that show your average speed on different parts of your route, rewards and badges for when you break a personal record or hit a milestone, and challenges for you to improve. The accelerometer makes the app compatible with treadmill workouts as well, so users can choose how they want to run.

The reason behind the app’s success isn’t just its technical features, but the way it allows runners to connect and communicate with each other. Most apps only give the user a one-way experience, but Nike+ takes millions of people with one shared interest and gives them tools to interact. You can use the app to post on Facebook that you’re on a run, and if one of your friends “likes” the post, you hear applause. A game of virtual tag lets you challenge your friends to try to beat each others time and distance. The app does so much more than just adding a function to the user’s phone, it motivates, personalizes an experience, and facilitates interaction with others

The app is being applauded by runners and tech-junkies alike. It really demonstrates the potential apps have to give consumers options, connect them to a community, and give them an experience so amazing they’ll wonder how they ever lived without it.

Posted by Ramona on November 4, 2011 in industry, interactive, technology