readings in social media and pr fro september 19th 2011

This brought a smile to my face - We have a family joke on how Mom always wanted me to be Snow White for Halloween (which I did a few years ago) and Kristin sent me an ornament and coffee mug as a house warming present. Very sweet sis - but it's on now!!! 🙂

Here is what I am reading today:

• for those who have ever considered advanced studies

“If you are a graduate student, you are more than likely aware of the popular Piled Higher and Deeper, or PHD, Comics created by Jorge Cham. These comics cover the everyday struggles that scientists face while in grad school in a humorous and accurate depiction.”

• current technologies that will change your world

“In 20 years our technology will reach a level of personalization that will enhance every moment of our lives. We’ll be more physically comfortable with the furniture we sit on and the products we hold; only the most relevant and personalized information from friends and family will reach us; and our movement in the digital world will be near telepathic.

I foresee several of today’s technologies as relevant to this particular vision of the future. They will evolve to not only be more powerful, but also more integrated with one other.”

• software for facial recognition

“Facial recognition software has been an element of science fiction stories and television shows for decades. The truth is that real facial recognition software has been used for social, security and creative reasons for more than 10 years now.

Marketers are now getting into the game when it comes to clever uses of this technology. As the future of PR marches down the technological road, ask yourself the question, could facial recognition become part of your marketing mix? How could it be used in PR campaigns of the future? Too Minority Report for you? Think again. “

sharing creative visualizations

“What if we told you that in 2009, the US national defense budget was $726 billion, Wall Street saw $371 billion in revenue and the global pharmaceutical market made $425 billion? And what if on top of that, we added a dozen or more mind-numbing numerical statistics that were impossible to get your head around? Your eyes might glaze over, or you might ask why we were trying your patience.

But instead of telling you any of those things, what if we simply showed you this?”