Conversational Virtual Agents and Google+

July 1, 2011 By

We really like the look and feel of Google+ — It will take a good half year (at least) to gain traction, but once University students start tapping into it for both academic and social applications, it could be a winner.

So, the first thought was:  Can our virtual characters and brand agents flow through Google Plus?  Looks like it’s Gtalk, where we’ve been for nearly two years. . .

So, voila!  We’re there.  What we’ll test next is how using Picasa and YouTube Links within the chat will enhance the UX  — The indication is that the files will open within Google+ and not require leaving the page. . .

Is this the only branded marketing or ad unit that can flow through Google+?  Maybe?  For mLearning?  Great potential too…

Back to testing…

Filed Under: Brands and Mobile, Conversational AI, mLearning, mobile marketing, Products Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Conversational Mobile Web…Reaching Everyone…

June 29, 2011 By

OK, not quite everyone…but, a lot closer than with native-apps. . .

We’re trying out new mobile web analytics this week; which include graphical representations of the devices which are accessing our mobile web applications – AND, our native-apps (Android, AppUP, etc.).

In a 24-hour period, this is the picture that’s painted:

 

Filed Under: Conversational AI, mobile marketing, Products Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kids…Early Adopters…Talking to Cereal Boxes…

June 24, 2011 By

This was a brilliant post over on @RWW with the outstanding line:

“The majority of kids (77%) imagined future technologies with human-level responsiveness…”

Full post here:  http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/to_understand_the_future_of_tech_listen_to_kids.php#more

This is one reason we often suggest applications for “talking to characters on cereal boxes,” or extending children’s film and television properties to include interactive conversations with the characters…

It’s what kids are waiting for.

The full .pdf of the study CHILDREN’S FUTURE REQUESTS FOR COMPUTERS & THE INTERNET is here:  http://latd.tv/kids/kidsTech.pdf

Filed Under: AI conversation, Brands and Mobile, Friendly machines Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

More Thoughts on NFC and QR-2D: Defining a New Mobile Lifestyle Story

June 16, 2011 By

I’ve been mulling over how NFC could be a catalyst for cross-over, higher-budget and higher-profile, QR-2D applications in advertising and marketing, which in turn will drive greater user adoption as part of defining a new mobile “lifestyle.”

While “payments” may be the primary application with early NFC use, the range of it’s applications span a fair bit of territory where QR-2D currently resides.  From what I see, QR-2D is not delivering high-value campaigns that also serve to define QR-2D as being an essential part of  a User’s  mobile lifestyle – they seem stuck on delivering “information.”

There’s a big difference between saying “I’ll get you information when you need it,” and “I’m going to make your life more interesting.”

Looking at the video promotions for NFC here:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/06/10/nfc_videos/

NFC is being promoted as becoming part of everyone’s daily life — and, improving it –  OK, the Nokia clip is pretty cheesy, but the message is clear.  They’re selling a good story.

This Barclaycard NFC spot is extraordinary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWp3pxatDyU&feature=player_embedded

As more money goes into NFC-based campaigns, someone is going to recognize that in many cases they should be complemented by QR-2D access as well.

I’m certain that NFC is both complementary to QR-2D in many applications as well as being a facilitator of defining how these related technologies are part of a new mobile lifestyle “story.”

We all know that we can launch more QR-2D campaigns today than NFC, simply due to market penetration.  That will level out over the next year.  The issue is how, or whether, QR-2D will leverage itself  to be part of the larger mobile lifestyle story that’s being told?

As a “mobile content company,” we see that using both technologies together will make sense in many cases; but the public perception of QR-2D needs to become part of the same story that NFC campaigns’ are promoting in order to legitimate media buys that result in high scan rates.

/adapted from LinkedIN post

Filed Under: Brands and Mobile, Conversational AI, Mobile, mobile marketing, NFC, QR TAgs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Mobile Conversational Marketing – Conversational Analytics

June 15, 2011 By

We don’t spend a lot of time featuring the value-add that goes on behind the scenes; and the conversational analytics that are available to marketers.

But, as we evolve from showing off our technology and platform to defining product, the value of the conversational analytics becomes more apparent.

What are people talking about in-store today?

What do they like and what do they want?

They’ll tell you, without feeling like it’s a survey, through the course of conversational engagement:

 

Filed Under: Brands and Mobile, Conversational AI, Friendly machines, mobile marketing, Products Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

How Much is that Conversational Mobile App in the Window?

June 7, 2011 By

Right.

We don’t have a “price” page on site.  Typically, within :01-:15 minutes on a phone or SKYPE call someone remembers to ask “how much do these cost?”

Currently, we price all builds one-by-one; which is how we build them too.  One size does NOT fit all!

But, it’s pretty simple to get to a pricing model based on the “length” of the story, the “width,” and the “depth.”  MOBILE FAQs are unique, in that they are “depth” only and therefore faster to build and more economical.

But, what does seem to be a (pleasant) surprise for our partners is that all of our quotes have been less than they anticipated.  Our engine is very efficient and makes building apps efficient.   We know how to work with a client’s “story,” or characters and to extrapolate that into an interactive narrative.

So, don’t forget to ask “how much?”  You’ll enjoy the answer.  CONTACT US HERE to learn more, including price!

Filed Under: AI conversational network, Brands and Mobile, Conversational AI, Mobile, mobile marketing, Products, Virtual Agents Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Entertain Customers with Mobile – Invite them into the narrative

June 3, 2011 By

We enjoy the @anthrostrategist (http://anthrostrategist.com) posts — This one in particular caught our attention:

http://anthrostrategy.com/2011/06/01/entertaining-the-customer/

This is the line that bounces off the page:

What this means for shopper marketing is that the best retail experiences, those with the highest degrees of loyalty and sales, are those that project a story and invite the shopper into the narrative

 

Filed Under: AI conversation, Brands and Mobile, Conversational AI Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Thoughts on MobilePortland’s “Myth of Mobile Context” Evening

May 26, 2011 By

Last night MobilePortland held their monthly meeting themed around “The Myth of Mobile Context.”

It was terrific to see a panel gathered from a range of perspectives within Mobile – Including panelists from Nokia and Opera (almost felt like living in a real city): @globalmoxie, @ourmaninjapan, @tyhatch, @Hinman and @tkadlec

The premise of the evening was that all of our perceptions about mobile context are in flux.  People use their mobile devices in places, situations, etc. all co-mingled in such a manner that “contextual” awareness is, at best, fairly muddled.

So, what was the upshot?  Can “Mobile” add contextual value or not?

The general opinion was that it’s too early for mobile devices to be truly intelligent in terms of contextual awareness — While “location” is valuable contextual information, it can’t differentiate between (for example) being in Wal-Mart while casually wandering about and killing time (if that’s where you  kill time?)  and being in Wal-Mart with specific shopping intentions — Therefore, delivering a mobile experience that presumes one, or the other, fails to add true contextual value to the End User.

/////

So, what was the take-away?

*  First, it was interesting that the discussion of “what constitutes “mobile” continues?  To my way of thinking, “mobile” is first and foremost a device that is a COMMUNICATOR.  We purchase them so that we can have two way communication with friends, family and business colleagues, whether by Tweets, Wall Posts, SMS, IM (continues to increase on mobile by 30% annually), in-App messaging – And, occasionally, voice.

Then, the cherry on top, are all the other features a “mobile” device can offer — but, at it’s heart, it’s a COMMUNICATOR FOR 2-way conversations.

*  While waiting for device and software “intelligence” to grok relevant contextual analysis and awareness — and provide added value to the End User — There’s a far simpler solution available today: Just ask them.

i.e. Use the 2-way “communicator” channel to engage and allow the User to specify the information that will add contextual awareness to the engagement.  Mobile devices are now packaged and sold as “messaging devices” (low data plan IM and light mobile browsing) — But, Developers seem hell-bent on bypassing the non-sexy text-level engagement that would add instant contextual value, in favor of future allusive technology solutions that are years away (not that people shouldn’t work on it; but, why not add value today?).

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As we consider the range of advertising/marketing, mHealth and mLearning opportunities on mobile, we remain convinced that contextual value is readily added via textual communication (inclusive of communication via mobile web and in-Apps, where we deliver 2-way chat applications).

Of course, that’s what we’d think, since that’s the foundation of http://contentAI.com and our mLearning spin-off, http://ESLai.com

@MobilePortland is increasing in both size and sophistication — It’s becoming a “must attend” event, rather than something to occasionally drop in on — the conversations and perspectives are much needed as we all endeavor to create truly valuable mobile experiences for global users, in a plethora of contextual circumstances.

 

 

Filed Under: AI conversation, Conversational AI, ESL, mobile marketing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

How NFC will Save QR

May 25, 2011 By

Here’s a theory that’s been brewing in the office. . .

First, we’re “mobile content folks,” so we’re technology agnostic when it comes to device, carrier, OS or “how” someone reaches the content.  We just want to encourage traffic and make it as intuitive and genuinely pleasant as possible.

Broadly, QR/2D Barcodes are now seen everywhere.  The only thing missing seems to be any evidence that anyone is scanning them. It’s been nearly a year since any hard and fast scan numbers were released.

Now, before it’s even viable (not enough devices in the market), the new kid on the block is NFC.  NFC test campaigns are already rolling out, stepping directly on the turf that QR hoped to exclusively own (or, were pleased to battle over with MS Tag and some image recognition technologies).

Here’s why NFC will save QR:

QR campaigns, to date, appear to have been run by print departments and in many cases they resolve to recycled  video footage to access from mobile; or, someone set up a really dull mobile landing page that is about as exciting as a piece of cold toast.

NFC is attracting “interactive” and “mobile” Creatives — and, bigger budgets.  Is it possible that NFC campaigns will succeed, but, that success will then spill over to QR-based campaigns?

That seems likely.  QR needs to get interactive Creatives and dollars behind it with a focus on the End User’s mobile experience; some of that attention may emerge from a new breed of mobile marketing team who start with NFC, but, will consider QR as well?

We see QR and NFC as being complementary and increasing the size of the pie, allowing plenty of slices for everyone.

Some recent NFC posts that set this whole theory brewing. . .

http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/new-x-men-film-uses-nfc-advertising

http://www.mobilemarketingwatch.com/%E2%80%9Cnfc%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%93-not-always-synonymous-with-mobile-payments-15638/

http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/01/25/so-why-should-you-care-about-nfc/

http://blog.kimtag.com/2011/05/nfc-and-qr-code-combined.html

 

Filed Under: Brands and Mobile, mCoupons, mobile marketing, NFC, QR TAgs Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Our ESL Conversational Simulations now on APPup (Windows)

May 25, 2011 By

Our http://ESLai.com unit have now released their “build once” conversational ESL apps on Intel’s APPup store for Windows devices.

Here’s are the Links:

http://www.appup.com/applications/applications-ESL+AI+Conversational+Simulation+1

http://www.appup.com/applications/applications-ESL+AI+Conversational+Simulation+2

APPup appears to have a strong commitment to educational content — We’re pleased to be flowing through their channel, in addition to mobile web, Android, and NOOK.

Filed Under: AI conversation, AI conversational network, Brands and Mobile, Conversational AI, ESL, mLearning, Mobile, mobile english, Products Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
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