Put Simply

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Is all this technology necessary
2007-04-25 08:22:00
I know it?s dangerous for a technology PR to ask this question. However one thing reminded me recently about it.  I?ve been enjoying the Torygraph?s recent coverage of 10 years of Tony. The relevant one was from a 15 year old girl called Bryony Gordon taking her GCSEs  Now. I?ve no idea how much spin was placed on it. Nor how accurate it was. If her school is the standard. Or just a one off.  However, the one thing that did catch my eye was that there was a laptop for everyone. But, and there is of course a but. There was no paper available because there was no remaining money.  I know I?m a technology PR. And worse still (for this piece) have promoted education PCs for a major brand. But I still write rather than type. I still proofread on paper not screen. And importantly, I still value English, maths and science above lessons in IT. Especially when a textbook costs £5-£30 depending on the subject and a computer costs £400.&nbs...
More About: Technology

Is it me or are the French becoming less? well French
2007-04-25 08:21:00
Ah finally, the most hectic period I?ve ever had to do is nearly over. Two pitches, two client reviews (one annual one quarterly) and the biggest tradeshow that one client attends in just over a week. I finally have the opportunity to write the blog again.  So I?m going to kick off with a nicely jingoistic piece.  And what its made me realise? Other than air travel sucks, English really is the de facto language these days.  In Nice, everyone spoke English. Nine out of every 10 press packs had no local language versions. Attendees asked for food from the French staff in English. Not so much as a parlez vous in sight.  Is everyone now learning a more relevant language, Chinese for example? Are the Europeans realising that their languages matter less?   Somehow I doubt both are true. But the one thing that did astound me was the French reaction to a big fat American waddling up to the counter and (in a loud voice) saying ?Hi. W...
More About: The French

Stop or my robot will shoot
2007-04-24 16:35:00
Following the movie theme from my last post, anyone remember the film I, Robot ? A story on the BBC news online technology section caught my eye - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/658 3893.stm   Scientists in their wisdom have boldly expressed concern about the use of autonomous decision making robots in military use ... call me a technophobe, but I for one hope the people making these robots listen to them (for now anyway).  Alarmingly, autonomous robots are increasingly being used in military applications. For example, Samsung has apparently developed a robotic sentry, armed with machine guns and cameras to guard the border between North and South Korea.  I can cope with robot vacuum cleaners that 'decide' for themselves when to move from room to room or back to the base station to recharge. If it breaks down or makes the wrong decision I'm just left with a bit of pet hair to pick up. In contrast the consequences of a machine gun totting 'Rambo...
More About: Stop , Shoot

Campaign for catchphrases
2007-04-23 15:01:00
Reading in Guardian Media (April 16) about the 'Death of the Catchphrase' in advertising brought a tear to my eye.  No more 'go to work on an egg', 'You're never alone with a Strand', 'Put a tiger in your tank ', 'Probably the best lager' or 'for mash get Smash' - the latter still being said to a tune in my brain.  The problem is that the new generation of advertising executives do not have the 'write' skills to come up with these phrases. They are not wordsmiths - their training has been in the visual and impact aspects of advertising. I agree that ads need to be more sophisticated now but nothing will stick a brand better in the viewer's mind than a good catchphrase linked to it.   I remember many visually interesting ads but have no idea what it is for. In fact, in my family we play a game of trying to guess what on earth an ad is about before it gets to the brand - and usually end up looking at each other and going "what was that ...
More About: Campaign