Innovative Advertising

Gadgets, Internet Marketing, Online Learning, , , ,
Stukent Advertising

Open, and magically a video starts playing automatically.

I received a rather nifty package at work yesterday, one of the the more interesting examples of advertising I have seen for some time…

In the same way that some birthday cards play a message or tune as you open them, this mailer started to play an advertising video. A hidden magnet detects whether the cover is open or closed, and plays the video on a loop when open.

 

I was impressed.

Ad

The mysterious “Ad”

I don’t really have need of the service (stukent.com/special), but I started to experiment with the package. At the bottom of the mailer I could see a Mini-USB port. Connecting a cable allowed me to see that the device showed up as external storage (Ad), with a video directory. Providing I replaced the existing video file there with nothing larger than 97.4 MB, I could play my own videos on the device. Neat.

When I have more time to kill, I am going to cut away the cardboard exterior, and see how I can repurpose this. Possibly in a small frame. Could make for a clever animated wallhanging.

Thank you mysterious stranger for sending me this. I hope you get some business out of this…

Mini-Recording Studio Wishlist

Gadgets, Online Learning, , , , , ,

Earlier this year, I requested some equipment at work. Basically what I wanted was a room in which faculty could walk in and record reusable video content for online and hybrid classes. Something simple, yet flexible. My wishlist is below. This all could be accomplished using a Windows Surface Pro with Camtasia installed, but I think ScreenFlow is a better editing package. Having a dedicated room allows for more flexibility in presentation style, with faculty able to stand in the room (adjustable camera and desk), or sit at a stool.

I have been experimenting with the combination of ScreenFlow, Open-Sankoré, and the Wacom Cintiq tablet. So far I am impressed. Open-Sankoré  is prone to the occasional crash, but this might be down to my testing on older equipment.

Item Details Notes Cost
Mac Pro Quad-Core and Dual GPU 2,799.00
Snowball Mic Blue Microphones Snowball USB Microphone Not ICE Model 59.00
Pop Filter Blue Microphones The Pop Universal Pop Filter 28.99
Microphone Stand PylePro PMKS15 Universal Compact Base Microphone Stand with Adjustable and Extendable Boom $35.05
Webcam Logitech C920 Cam 69.99
Microphone Stand for Webcam On Stage MS7201B Round Base Microphone Stand, Black 21.95
Wacom Tablet Cintiq 22HD Creative Pen Display 1999.00
Table (Adjustable Height) Tubular Steel Adjustable Drawing Table with Multiple Supply Drawers – CraftMaster $149.97
Adjustable Height Cabinet Adjustable Height Cabinet Table with Casters 156.90
Stool Balt Trax Stool, Model 34430 (Black) 182.00
External Drive Portable Hard drives
With thunderbolt docking station		 654.95
Surge Protector Belkin Pivot Wall Mount Surge Protector with 6 Outlets 14.49
Softbox Lighting Kit ePhoto Digital Video Continuous Softbox Lighting Kit and Boom Stand Hair Light with Carrying Case H9004SB 109.99
ClipWrap http://www.divergentmedia.com/clipwrap 49.99
Monitor Acer B296CL 499.99
ScreenFlow http://www.telestream.net/screenflow/ 99.00
TOTAL $6930.26