Comic Book Styled App Review Guidelines

Through scanning comic books, many people learn to read and piece together sentences. It is a really neat concept that Apple decided to release its developer guidelines though a visual story.  Apple decided to take a new approach to their updated guidelines; a visual story comic book style that engages individuals…

Distracted Driving: The Problems and Solutions for Safer Roads

  In our era where technology has taken over our everyday lifestyle, it has resulted in different problems we were never faced with in the past. Distracting driving has always been a problem but has recently taken off due to the abundance of mobile devices. Drivers who engage in text messaging on a cellular phone are 23 times more…

Facebook gets interactive with 360 Photo

There is a new Facebook feature that you might not be aware of called Facebook 360 Photo. This feature allows you to add images that become interactive, as you can view images from different angels and discover what is above, behind and next to you.  The new feature was announced on June 9, and already brands and celebrities such as Sir Paul…

The Myth of #HowTheyRoll

Sitting by the pool or camping with a beer in your hand is the perfect remedy to a hot summer day.   A couple of weeks ago, I was shopping at my local Beer Store and one beer caught my attention. I can't tell if it was the brand name or the packaging design. I’m not a Beer expert but I tasted the beer and I liked it.…

Apple Update

Apple’s annual WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) begins today and ends on Friday in San Francisco, CA. The WWDC is used to bring Apple developers together from around the world. Apple is more of a culture than a brand. Those with Apple products find comfort and class in using a sleek and seemingly simple device.  Though Apple tends…

Virtual Reality: Extending the Music Experience

Virtual reality is not a concept to be put between parentheses or mentioned in a science fiction book. Google Cardboard and Oculus Rift (to name a few) have transformed the concept of virtual reality from clunky helmets to systems that transform your own device into a virtual experience. The majority of virtual reality experiences remain…

Summer Company Kick-Off

I had the pleasure to present for the Waterloo Region Small Business Center Summer Company students for the second year in a row. As well, this year I was joined by the newest Mad Hatter, Kalob Witzell.    Our presentation focused on the importance of social media in regards to defining and creating awareness about your brand.…

Facebook Live Broadcasting

Facebook Live has arrived in Canada, enabling users to broadcast or watch live videos from the app.     Related: Social Snapshot: LinkedIn and Facebook    To start a live broadcast on Facebook: Navigate to the Page, group, profile or event where you want to publish your live stream. Tap the Live button at the bottom…

Integrated learning begins with technology partnerships

Integrated learning, the learning theory that has gain popularity in classrooms across the country, centers on this idea of “identifying opportunities to link related content and/or skills in two or more subjects and to give students practice in meeting expectations from two or more subjects within a single unit, lesson or activity (Ministry of…

A+ for Prezi

Prezi is a presentation software which is based on the cloud yet also has an app to download for one to work on, and view Prezi's when not online. Prezi is popular due to the user interface zoom function.  Founded in 2009, Prezi has over 160 million presentations and 60+ millions users across the globe. Originally created to…

A mask, a retailer, and the joy of marketing

Late last week, shopper Candace Payne posted a Facebook video of herself wearing the new Star Wars Chewbacca mask she'd bought at Kohl's.   The video, shows Payne laughing wildly as she wears the mask.  It's been viewed hundreds of millions of times, breaking a Facebook Live record and earning Payne the nickname "Happy Chewbacca Mom…

GOOGLE: INSTANT APPS

Google continued to impress at this year's 2016 I/O mega event. They announced upcoming latest features, devices and latest apps with the highest expectations, and did they ever deliver. The hot topic and highlight of the day was Google’s teaser of Instant Apps.     BASIC BREAKDOWN     With countless apps for all…

Managing the Madness Recap

Our final Social Media Madness Series was all about Managing the Madness and putting the knowledge, information and lessons learned from the previous sessions into action.   Participants discovered industry software platforms and technology tools that make the management of social media easier and more time efficient.   Social Media…

Smart Cities and the Funding Applications that Sustain Them

A Smart City is a city that utilizes technology, integrating it in all public spaces. This can be everything from a mobile application that tells you, in real-time, when your bus will reach your stop to having free wi-fi in all public spaces, open data on city demographics to interactive zoning maps. With so many fantastic apps available, it is no…

We The Marketers

Let's begin by giving Lowry uber kudos for scoring just less than half of the teams points during game four of the NBA Conference Finals. The Toronto Raptor's played hard the entire game, representing the North, resulting in a well deserved win for Toronto.  #wetheNorth  "Basically, we were a team that…

Hurray for Apple Pay

What is Apple Pay? Apple Pay has arrived in Canada! Apple Inc. is now offering Apple Pay is a payment system that operates with mobile payment as a digital wallet service, enabling users to use their iPhone 6 (or any version after that), as well as devices that Apple Watch is compatible with (ie: iPad mini).   Canadian’s…

Common census: how to utilize census data

Like many other Canadians, I received my census document in the mail and filled it out early last week. Alas, I only received the short-form version much to my data-loving, statistics-adoring heart. Puns, dad jokes, and Shakespearean guffaws aside, the census is often an overlooked, underutilized tool for marketers and techies alike. The…

Instagram rebrand causes reaction

It seems the Internet is quite vocal when a brand introduces a new look. On May 11 Instagram, the popular online mobile photo-sharing, video-sharing, and social networking service, unveiled a new logo.    Related: Instagram Influence Mad Recap     People did not hold back their opinions on social media, and outlets…

Science Influencers and Inspiration

Social and mobile technology has changed the world we live, play and work in. Communication and collaboration are constantly occurring with social engagement driving awareness and contributing to innovation.  Aside from constantly emerging - technology spreads awareness, encourages conversation, and…

Choose Your Own Reality: VR in the Classroom

As a kid, I would pull quarters out of couches, complete chore lists, and hide my allowance to avoid using it just so that I could go to 3D movies. There was something about feeling like I was in the film that just changed the experience completely. In those brief hours, I too was exploring Pandora with the Na’vis as an Avatar (Avatar) or…