My Five: Five things worth sharing from the last week (or so), brought to you by a different member of the Browser Media team every Friday.
This week’s My Five is by Ashleigh
1. Google is developing a lie detecting tattoo
A patent application has revealed that Google could be in the process of creating a microchip that you can tattoo onto the side of your neck to work as a lie detector.
The Motorola Mobility division filed the application with the US Patent and Trademark Office and the document describes a “system and method” for tattooing a microphone onto your throat that sends voice commands to your smartphone. The device could also be useful when needing to talk on the phone in a noisy environment, or when you can’t hold your phone in your hands.
The document also says that the device could be used as a lie detector: “The electronic skin tattoo can further include a galvanic skin response detector to detect skin resistance of a user,”.
“It is contemplated that a user that may be nervous or engaging in speaking falsehoods may exhibit different galvanic skin response than a more confident, truth telling individual.”
What will they think of next?
2. Are teens deserting Facebook?
Facebook announced this month that they have seen a “decrease in daily users, specifically among teens”.
It has been reported that teens are not logging on to Facebook as often, they still have their accounts, they are just not checking them as regularly as they once were and are instead using apps such as Whatsapp, WeChat and KakaoTalk.
The theory behind the switch is because Facebook has become so popular mums, dads, aunties etc are now signing up and therefore the teens are neglecting the social network for less open channels of communication, where their parents and family members cannot see what they are posting.
3. Battle of the Christmas Adverts
Now that we are well into November and Christmas is less than 6 weeks away (eek!) the battle of the Christmas adverts is well and truly in full swing with the big players like John Lewis, Tesco, M&S, Debenhams and a few others releasing their 2013 TV ads.
We’ve had many discussions about the ads around the office, but which is your favourite?
Mine has to be the £7m animated ad by John Lewis, although the Sainsbury’s one is a close second:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqWig2WARb0
4. Twitter Updates
Twitter is now offering new custom timelines through Tweetdeck, the new feature allows users to create lists of tweets around specific subjects.
Twitter said in a blog post, “Share the best tweets about a topic you care about, or an event – planned or unplanned – that’s happening right now.”
“Whether you want to collect the best tweets about a TV show or help people find the latest information about fast-moving real-time situations, custom timelines let you give everyone a place to follow along.”
Also Twitter is now allowing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK, Ireland and Canada to use its self-serve advertising platform. Until now the service was only available to advertisers in America, but Twitter is now selling ad space directly to small businesses in these areas too.
5. Gosling’s Birthday
This week saw the 33rd anniversary of the life of Mr Ryan Gosling.
Need I say anymore?
If you are a fan of the Gos, as many of us are here at Browser Media, then check these out:
http://seoryangosling.tumblr.com/
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-33-most-moments-in-ryan-goslings-33-years-on-planet-eart?bftw
