Thursday, April 28, 2011
Week 4 EOC - There's an App for that
In a world like today, technology surrounds us everywhere we go. A perfect example is the rise of smart phones occurring today. The movement of smart phones has revolutionized the way we think and act. There's practically an app for everything in the smart phone world. There are new apps being developed on the daily, and it seems like there is something new, practically every minute. I think an excellent idea for a new app would be a "Happy Hour Locater" app. It would be awesome to have an app that shows you the nearest happy hour specials to you. It would also be a benefit to know what kind of different happy hours occur on certain days of the week. It would definitely come in handy for anyone who enjoys the nightlife (let's face it - in this town, who doesn't?). Another idea for a new app is a portable, digital recorder within your phone. They have a few apps that are similar but they only record a raw, microphone signal, with no access for manipulation. I think a digital vocal recorder would be an excellent idea for a new app; however, not just a basic recorder. I would also apply features such as flanger, delay, reverb, and maybe even a button that will allow you to access a song on your phone so you can even "sing" with it. It would be a cool and fun way to put some creative input on your favorite songs, or just a fun tool to have when you’re with your friends. I think another cool idea for an app is one that would be very convenient for those who like to bargain shop and compare prices. I think it’s a cool idea to have an app that will allow you to scan the barcode on a certain item in a grocery store, but will also tell you the comparing prices of any other grocery store around the area. It would make comparative shopping a lot easier and more convenient.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
EOC Week 3 - My demographics
According to experts, the generation I grew up in would be considered in the "millenials" generation. There was a lot of truth in what they had to say about us. For the most part, we all grew up with the digital revolution so a lot of us are very "tech-savvy" with technology. It's safe to say that a lot of us grew up with computers and cell phones while growing up, giving us a bit of an advantage in the world. Members of this generation are called Echo Boomers, due to the significant increase in birth rates through the 1980s and into the 1990s, and because many of them are children of baby boomers. Characteristics of the generation vary by region, depending on social and economic conditions. However, it is generally marked by an increased use and familiarity with communications, media, and digital technologies. In most parts of the world its upbringing was marked by an increase in a neoliberal approach to politics and economics.
“One thing that all of the Millennials have in common is their utter fluency and comfort with digital technology. They don’t just embrace technology, it’s a way of life. The Millennials were the first generation to grow up in a world filled with computers, cellphones, satellite TV, iPods, and online social networks. A recent study found that 91 percent of Millennials are on the Web, making up 32 percent of all U.S. Internet users. According to another study, 77 percent of Millennials frequent social networking sites and 71 percent use instant messaging. “All generations are comfortable with technology, but this is the generation that’s been formed by technology,” says a Yahoo! executive. For them, “it’s not something separate. It’s just something they do.” (Kotler,2011)
I completely agree with that quote. I couldn't agree more with what he said when he stated, we don't just embrace our technology, its our way of life. If you go to any college campus, you will see that it's flooded with laptops, tablets, ipads, etc. Technology is a booming industry with our generation because we are one of the generations that is never content with what we currently have. We are always striving to have "the next big thing." We're always asking the question of, "How can we make this faster?" or "How can I make this more reliable." We are always pushing for the next big thing.
EOC Week 3 - Making Money for Good
While conducting my research, I found a lot of different companies that make money for good causes, something that isn't too common nowadays. TOMS shoes are a prime example of serving a good dead for the global communities. For every pair of shoes they sell, they give one away to someone in need, somewhere in the world. Another company that find its sole purpose is to help promote literacy across the world, is 'Better World Books.' They claim the title of "the online bookstore with a soul." "In addition to selling new titles, Better World Books supports book drives and collects used books and textbooks through a network of over 1,800 college campuses and partnerships with over 2,000 libraries nationwide. So far, the company has converted more than 53 million books into over $8.6 million in funding for literacy and education. In the process, also diverted more than 26,000 tons of books from landfills." (http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/blog/2011/04/10/can-doing-good-and-making-money-go-hand-in-hand/) Another company is Keeper Springs Waters. They are an independent water bottling company who donate 100% of their profits to help America's waterways be kept clean. Another company who donate all their profits is Humanitas Wine, which is a winery in Napa, California. They donate all their profits to Feeding American, and Habitat for Humanity. (http://newhope360.com/companies-donate-100-profits-charity)
EOC Week 2 - Boston Consulting Group
The video game industry is one that was booming for several years, but lately it seems as if it has starting to head down towards a slippery slope. Through the years, there has been stiff competition between Nintendo’s Wii, Sony’s Playstation 3, and Microsoft’s Xbox 360.
“Where the Kinect is one single unit and the Wii only has a couple of things to put in place, the PlayStation Move requires several components. You’ll need the PS3 system, the Move controller, the Navigational controller, the PS3 Eye, and the proper software to read whatever you’re doing. Based on what we’ve seen, it will take the longest to put into play”
“The Xbox 360 generally appeals to more hardcore gamers, with games like Halo 3 and other first-person shooters. Xbox Live has been more successful than the Sony Playstation Network, despite the fact that Sony's network is free, where Xbox Live Gold service costs about $50 per year. All three have seen the addition of Netflix movie streaming. Microsoft offers social networking features with Facebook and Twitter. Nintendo offers online connectivity for game play and downloads, but it generally offers fewer options than Sony or Xbox.”
Everyone’s watching to see how this battle plays out, because each company is pursuing a very different strategy. Sony and Microsoft are gunning for pure performance systems, while Nintendo is shooting at fun, playable games that rely more on its unique controllers than impressive graphics hardware.
Based on the research I have done, I think it’s safe to say that the video game industry is quite the competitive market. Lately, it seems like every corporate company is sparking an idea off the competition’s ideas. I think, according to the BCG chart, that the SONY corporation is probably the “dog of the group.” The Playstation 3 is not only the most expensive of the four, but it is also the hardest to set up when it comes to the motion sensor gaming systems (The Playstation “Move”). I think that the Microsoft corporation is probably the “question mark” of the chart because they’re still quite successful from their online network services (Xbox Live.) Also, they have releases the newest of the motion sensor gaming hardware which is the Xbox Kinect. Sales are still rising since they are so new, so it’s hard to say where they stand at now, which is why I categorized them as the question mark. I think the Nintendo Wii is the cash cow. They also just recently came out with the Nintendo 3dS which has had booming success. Besides that, they have had immense success which the Wii itself. In my opinion, I think it is because the Wii appeals to more of a family audience, making it easier to sell, since it attracts not just the younger generation, but the older audiences as well.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Week One: EOC: Great Customer Service
I have had numerous encounters in various stores and had great customer service; however, there is one that sticks out the most. I was shopping at a Guitar Center and looking for another piece of equipment for my studio that is still in the works. At the time, I was searching for the perfect MIDI controller. When I reached the audio department, the specialist, named Mike, approached me and asked me just the right questions to help him get a picture of what exactly I was looking for. He listened to every thing I had to say and helped me find what I wanted, and made sure that with the spending money I had, that I would surely get good quality. He went out of his way to look up different brand product models for me and compared prices so I could get the best deal, and get the best quality for the price as well. In the end, I bought the M-Audio Axiom 49 and he even gave me a little discount. Since that day, I have been coming back to that shop ever since and I'm always asking for Mike because of how helpful he was. It's that kind of customer service that will keep consumers returning and purchase more products!
Week One: EOC: My Voice
Steven Jeria is an audio professional and specializes in all aspects of the audio industry and is a member of the AES (Audio Engineering Society). He graduated in the summer of 2012 and started traveling around the world as soon as he finished school. After a few months of traveling, he returned to his home in Las Vegas and started working as sound technician/ audio engineer on various shows throughout the city. Whether it was a music festival, or a theatrical show, he has worked through it all. He has also toured with numerous bands around the globe as their sound technician. Not only has he worked in live sound, he also produces/mixes music for artists of all kinds of genres in his home studio. When he’s not recording or mixing other artists, he is usually working on his own pieces of music. Aside from being an audio engineer/music producer, he is also a musician and plays various instruments such as the drums, guitar, bass, piano/synth, and also does some DJ’s on the side. He loves what he does and doesn’t consider his career as “work” at all. “If you’re going to be doing something for the rest of your life, make sure it’s something that not only can you enjoy, but something that will allow yourself to expand your horizons to their full potential.”
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