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October 19, 2009 | Greg Ness: Gone: The Average Consumer

According to a new Advertising Age white paper, the face of the American consumer is now so diverse that it is difficult to categorize any group as “the average.” In addition, the concept of an average household is also out the window: only 22 percent of households are now married couples with children.

September 11, 2009 | Greg Ness: Never Forget

In remembrance of the 2,752 people who lost their lives that tragic day. More here.

July 21, 2009 | Paul Bourdeaux: How They Built it: The Software of Apollo 11

Rarely do I simply link to another blog, but Todd Weiss’s How They Built it: The Software of Apollo 11 is a phenomenal piece that I simply have to pass along in its entirety.  In honor of the recent 40th anniversary of the moon landing, it is my pleasure to invite you to read about the software that sent Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins on that historic 8 day, 500,000 mile round trip to the moon and back.  It begins with “When Apollo 11’s Lunar Module landed on the Moon 40 years ago today, the software that helped take humans to another celestial body was essentially built using paper-tape rolls and thick cardstock that was punched with special holes…”

April 06, 2009 | Ben Hamilton: Developer Soft Skills

In the last few years, I can’t help but notice the increase in direct contact between developers and clients. This is often necessary for both the client to fully understand the work that is being done, as well as for the developer to hear directly from the client what they expect.

December 30, 2008 | Ron Lee: SmartyPig pairs social media with savings accounts

Move over ceramic piggy bank. SmartyPig wants to change the way 20- to 30-year-olds save money using an online savings account with built in social networking functions. It’s kind of like an “ING Direct meets Twitter and Facebook” savings account with a virtual twist.

November 24, 2008 | Ron Lee: Financial Industry Meltdown Means Prime Time For New Competitors

Amidst headlines of yet another multi-billion-dollar bank bailout, non-bank competitors appear to be swarming at the proverbial bank-vault door. Consumers now have more choices and new ways to obtain and manage their money, presenting a challenge to banks at a time when financial institutions can ill-afford to lose customers, deposits and fee income. 

November 05, 2008 | Greg Ness: A New Communication Age

As I watched election coverage last night, I was keenly aware that I was witnessing an astonishing piece of history in the making, not only from a political perspective, but also from a communications viewpoint. The announcers on both CNN and FNC, kept referring to Obama’s rise from relative obscurity to winning the Democratic nomination, and eventually becoming president-elect, as fueled by an Internet strategy and groundswell. It seems the torch has been passed from TV to the Web.

July 02, 2008 | Sara Litton: Generation “Why-Not” – Do you really understand a currently empowered cardholder?

Have you noticed how many “Baby-Boomers” are beginning to retire?  Well, not so slowly but surely they are. Coming into the work force, right on their heels, are members of Gen Y who are expecting to step into those very jobs the Boomers are leaving behind.  If you tell them they can’t have those big jobs right away, they’ll most likely ask, “Why-Not?” (therefore, Generation Why-Not).  If you tell them they have to work their way up the corporate ladder, you’ll probably hear them ask, “Why Should I?”

March 30, 2008 | Ron Lee: Virtual safe deposit boxes open for business

Tired of making trips to the bank to stuff legal documents in a safe deposit box? Now consumers can lock up their important documents online, thanks to electronic document archiving soon to be offered by banks.

March 17, 2008 | Greg Ness: How Do You Hide The Internet From 1.3 Billion People?

Stories were all over the place this weekend about China denying its Internet users access to YouTube because of videos posted about the crackdown in Tibet (see NY Times story). Other countries such as Pakistan and Turkey have recently done the same.

Considering the viral nature and growing pervasiveness of the Web, it will be interesting to see how these countries attempt to control future information they deem unacceptable. Many governments administer the Web portals in their borders, but even with legions of censors, it is going to be difficult to slam the door shut on information.

February 20, 2008 | Ron Lee: Starbucks to serve up free Wi-Fi with its lattes

Starbucks reported last week on its ambitious plan to provide free Wi-Fi at more than 7,000 company-owned locations across the nation beginning this spring. That means you can get your fill of a double-tall non-fat no-whip half-the-mocha mocha plus a serving of free broadband to boot.

February 11, 2008 | Greg Ness: Another Marketers’ Holiday Approaching

Most marketers wish there were more holidays. As Forbes reveals, this Valentine’s Day will be worth about $17 billion. President’s Day weekend will be worth billions, too. So will Easter, Mother’s Day, Memorial weekend, the 4th of July, etc. Then of course there is the granddaddy of all holidays—Christmas—when consumers spend a whopping $475 billion. Every holiday provides reasons (well, actually implores) people to spend money in one way or another. The spending might be for gifts, food, travel, entertainment, or for all of them combined.