Preparing today for an AdClub event in which I’ll be participating in a discussion on metrics and insight.  As I prep, I’ve been reflecting on the incredible progress we’ve all made as it pertains to data accountability.  One thing is true – it seems that innovation is always pushing the conversation to new level.  As we talk to our clients about new digital marketing tactics / vehicles such as 4Square, the changes to FaceBook coming out of the F8 conference on the west coast and the iPad and iAd, it seems metric sources are becoming more variable.  It will take a keen focus in 2010 to connect the dots to reveal the true story behind the data.  More to come …

As 2010 started, a new practice has been put into play by many pharmaceutical companies. They began to utilize digital technologies and their own pharma brand web site to communicate with the physician more efficiently. The question is, just how effective is the communication? As the recession begins to reverse and the economy comes back, many industries are looking for new, smarter ways of doing business. Many pharmaceutical firms reduced their rep force dramatically last year and worked hard to elevate their web presence to ensure they had a digital connection to the physician.

We know through the examination of countless studies how web enabled today’s medical professionals are. This seems like a logical step. New firms are beginning to web cast information sessions on pipeline / clinical trial information and continue to embrace this new culture.

To read more from an earlier AdAge story, click here: http://adage.com/digital/article?article_id=101841

As more studies become available, e-details may grow exponentially as 2010 comes to a close and 2011 starts a new.

Not to be outdone in the iPhone apps department, Yahoo! is getting onboard with a few additional apps of their own.  Yahoo!’s recently launched Sketch-A-Search and Yahoo! Search App take Google’s Mobile App to the next level.

The Sketch-A-Search allows users to quickly find restaurants (other categories to launch on an ongoing basis) simply by drawing a circle around the general area on a map.  This comes in handy when you have neither the zip code nor the name of the area where you’re searching.  Once an area of the map is identified, a list of restaurants appears on the screen; by clicking on a restaurant one can read reviews, see pictures, prices and can even narrow down by type of cuisine, ambience and/or rating.  It’s fun to play with too.

The Yahoo! Search App offers “a fast and beautiful experience that integrates voice search, embedded maps, and information from Yahoo! Finance, Yahoo! Movies, Yahoo! News, and other sources that appears directly in the results.”

Read more…

A close pal sent this to me not too long ago and I thought I would share. I bet you can probably make as many calls on this phone as your real iPhone – especially if you live in NYC.

Japan has taken things to the next level, designing the ENTIRE side of a building into a QR code. A special iPhone app was built that allows users to access dynamic info as to what is going on inside.

For example, Alex could be tweeting about the latest and greatest at T3 while I’ll stand outside and receive the tweet by reading the code via my app.

In this particular case, consumers can make reservations, stay on top of office gossip. The main point is that you can visit the building without actually visiting the building . Welcome to the future.

Every morning as I drive to the train station I keep one hand on the wheel and the other on the horn. Some people say I have fits of road rage. I prefer to think I am just an aggressive and capable driver.

There are rarely, if ever, parking spots near the train and things start to heat up when 2 cars are racing around the corner for the same coveted spot.

I’m sure the creators of ParkShark must have had similar experiences.

ParkShark is a new parking space sharing app, designed to reduce the aggravation that comes with trying to find a parking spot in NYC. Basically, members of the ParkShark community will share their spots in real-time. All you have to do is specify the time your space will be available for other members looking for a spot in your area.

Check it out here.

Contagious Magazine, based out of England, just released their 2009 Most Contagious report. The free report includes the most contagious trends, campaigns, innovations, and technologies leveraged in the last year.

Click the link to download the PDF….worth the read, and your time: Most Contagious 2009

Toshiba sent a biodegradable Space Chair up 98,268 feet using balloons and 4 GPS systems. It was filmed using Toshiba IK-HR1S cameras.  This concept is nothing new, and in actuality was originally done by four Spanish students back in March, who put together an inexpensive digital camera with a GPS attached and sent them all into near-orbit to snap some images of Earth from above.  The story and images received millions of media impressions and was later copied multiple times around the world.  – original story

Now, my point is not to knock Toshiba or their ad.  I actually think the final video above is very well done.  My comments are more to show that sometimes UGC can be right for your brand without even knowing it.  Next time you are searching for ideas, spend 30 minutes searching YouTube and/or blogosphere, chances are someone out there may have what you are looking for.

Ladies…get ready to say goodbye to dressing rooms. Last week Tobi.com (an online shopping portal) launched their augmented reality application, Fashionista. The virtual dressing room allows consumers to see how an item would look super-imposed over their bodies prior to purchase. You can even snap a picture and share with your friends to get their advice.

Ever find yourself struggling to find the perfect hotspot in your city on a Friday night? Or perhaps you’ve taken a last minute trip to Montreal without really being too sure what you’re going to do once you get there. Of course iPhones generally solve such problems, but too often I’ve found myself waiting for the browser to load with 5 or so very impatient and slightly agitated friends standing around, waiting to hear what the next move is.

Keeping this in mind I’m sure, the folks at Lastminute.com have just launched a new iPhone app TopSee (unfortunately only available in London but coming soon to the US!).

The GPS-based guide, designed for city-dwellers and tourists alike, is written by established bloggers featuring their choices of things to see, eat, do and buy near your location. Though there have been rumblings of including user-generated content at some point, as of right now the closest consumers can currently come to participating is by sharing the app on Twitter and Facebook.

The app layout features a photo touch interface with full content including articles, maps, distance from your location, and phone number amongst others. Perfect for those true travelers who are never quite sure where they’re going.