Monday, March 30, 2009

What do people do on social networking services

• Connecting with existing networks, making and developing friendships/contacts

• Represent themselves online and create and develop an online presence

• Viewing content and/or finding information

• Creating and customising profiles

• Authoring and uploading your own content

• Adding and sharing third-party content

• Posting messages – public and private

• Collaborating with other people

by Young People and Social Networking Services: A Childnet International Research Report 2009

Social Networking

• Two-thirds (67 percent) of the global* online population, “Member Communities,” which includes both social networks and blogs, has become the fourth most popular online category – ahead of personal email.

•One in every 11 minutes online globally is accounted for by social network and blogging sites.

•The social network and blogging audience is becoming more diverse in terms of age: the biggest
increase in visitors during 2008 to “Member Community” Web sites globally came from the 35-49
year old age group (+11.3 million).

•Mobile is playing an increasingly important role in social networking.

*Australia, Brazil,France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the USA.

by the Nielsen Compnay's "Global Face and Networked Places" 2009
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• More than half of the adult online population is between 18 and 44

• The biggest increase in Internet use since 2005 is among ages 70-75, which almost doubled, from26% in 2005 to 45%.

by Pew Internet & American Life Project Surveys "Generations Online in 2009"

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Definitions of Technology

The practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area and a capability given by the practical application of knowledge.

by Merriam-Webster Dictionary
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Technology is practice, the way we do things around here.

by Ursula Franklin, in her 1989 "Real World of Technology" lecture
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Technology is the practical application of knowledge so that something entirely new can be done, or so that something can be done in a completely new way.

by ESA- European Space Agency
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Technology is a system. It entails far more than its individual material components.
Technology involves organization, procedures, symbols, new words, equation, and, most of all, a mindset.

The Real World of Technology by Ursula Franklin

Upside-down Ketchup Bottles



When Heinz ketchup was packaged in a glass bottle, consumers feel the ketchup is difficult to pour from the glass bottle. Consumers have to shake the bottle, inverting the bottle and hitting the bottom with the hand, and then will cause the ketchup to begin to slowly flow.

Recently, Heinz has introduced an "upside-down" plastic bottle. This bottle has a 2-inch wide white plastic flip-top cap, which will allow it to seat “upside-down” steadily. By turning the bottle upside down, consumers no longer need to shake and no need to wait patiently for the ketchup to pour out. The rectangular shape bottle with a narrow middle bottle design allows consumers to grip the bottle, squeezing and pour easily. This new “upside-down” package solves many of the product's previous issues.

Pull-Tab Can





The early metal beverage can was made out steel. In order to open a can, consumer needs a tool called “Church key” with a sharp point. The can was opened by punching two holes in the lid¬–a larger one for drinking, and a small one to admit air.

Iron Cit Brewing in Pittsburgh tested the first pull-tab in 1962 in Virginia. The first generation pull-tab had lots of sharp edges on the opening, and there were complaints from customers about cut fingers and lips. And some people also needed some instruction on how to use the pull-tab. . By 1965 three quarters of breweries in the U.S. were using them, and are still using the pull-tab can today for most soft drinks.

Flip-Top Box


Tradition cigarette packed were in a soft pack, which is a box packaging made of thin paper, usually containing 20 cigarettes. People complain about the soft cigarette packaging are not very convenient, they rumple easily and cannot be resealed. Also it will leave some tobacco in the shirt pocket.

In 1955, Marlboro introduced the new filter and flip-top box cigarette In New York; the modern flip-top box protects the consumer’s cigarettes yet it’s easy to open and easy to access the cigarette when they want it. The hard carton box sturdy enough to keep cigarettes from crushing, this is important for those consumers who wear jeans. And the flip-top box fits into a shirt pocket nicely and no loose tobacco in your pocket.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Electronic Smart Packaging

Electronic smart packaging will be as much about improving the human interface as about providing new functionality. And the improvement in the human interface will be dramatic. For example, when packaging will sense, speak and display, the package will warn you that the product inside contains sugar and should not be consumed since you are a diabetic, or that the product contains iron and would be good for you since you are showing signs of mild anaemia. No longer will the elderly struggle to open pharmaceutical packaging or forget to take their medication.

International Paper Power Paper

Power Paper's technology produces caseless, low-cost, environmentally friendly power cells that are ultra-thin and almost as flexible as paper, allowing them to be customized in virtually any shape and size.

The new technology will allow IP to offer customers e-packaging solutions with audiovisual effects such as lights and sound for packages. These multimedia effects can add important point-of-purchase appeal as well as product or company information that can help influence the consumer purchasing decision. They can also be used to help ensure that customers receive manufacturers' original products, reducing the risk of counterfeiting.

www.power-id.com

www.powerpaper.com