flexistuff

Lights, Camera, Action: YOU Be the Star in Your Favourite Hollywood Film Scene

nospam@example.com (Anita Windisman) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:22:00 -0500

Remember in the movie Forrest Gump when the eponymously named lead character played by Tom Hanks was integrated into real historical news footage so that he shook hands with President John F. Kennedy? There’s no need to get a Hollywood special effects artist to do the same for you because now you can bring that same type of technology into your home.

US based YooStar lets you insert yourself into a number of popular Hollywood film scenes making YOU the star. In other words, you take the actor or actress out of a scene, and act the scene yourself. Here’s how it works:

You first have to purchase the YooStar system which will be available in the US only starting in August 2009, but you can reserve your system online. For $169.95 you get a hi-res web-cam, a remote control, a portable green screen, and easy-to-use software.

At launch, Yoostar will have content from five major Hollywood studios including Paramount Pictures Corporation, Universal Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc., Lions Gate Films, Inc., as well as the National Basketball Association and Sesame Workshop’s “Sesame Street” franchise. Here’s a small sampling of what’s available:

• Some Like it Hot – “What are you doing tonight?” featuring Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe
• Sunset Boulevard – “I’m ready for my close-up” starring Gloria Swanson
• Witness – “Something wrong with buttons?” starring Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis

Over time, you’ll be able to download more content directly from their website.

Here’s the next step in the process:

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Personalize a Poignant Music Video for Father’s Day: “Things My Father Said”

nospam@example.com (Anita Windisman) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:35:00 -0500

Last month that I wrote about being able to create a personalized news clip for Mother’s Day that reports on your mom being Mother of the Year. Not to be left out, I found a website where you can personalize a music video for your Dad for Father’s Day.

In conjunction with the launch of their next single, "Things My Father Said," from their second album "Folklore & Superstition," Southern rockers Black Stone Cherry have launched a uniquely touching way for fans around the world to celebrate their own fathers. For the song’s video, the band called on fans to submit photos of their dads. They have now expanded the concept and allow you to submit up to 4 photos and your own message to create a video personalized for your special dad.

This is a beautifully executed example of personalization of a video in a way that is very appropriate to the song and its lyrics. As the band sings, people are shown holding photos of their fathers and interspersed between these images are the 4 photos that you can upload through the website. The end result is a wonderful video that incorporates your own photos in addition to a personalized message to your dad superimposed on the video. The integration is superb! As with all viral video applications such as this that features user generated content, you are able to send an email to your dad.

The email that your dad will receive is cleverly crafted…

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Could this be true: A news aggregation site that knows what you like to read just by knowing your name?

nospam@example.com (Anita Windisman) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:56:00 -0500

Imagine if someone could tell you what you like to read just by knowing your name. That’s what the website the Daily Perfect does. Type your name into the search box, click on the yellow “Go” button, and the site’s innovative personalization technology, is able to predict a user's interests through an automated semantic analysis of publicly available information on the web and minimal or no input from the user. In other words, they troll the web looking for your digital footprint and aggregate information based on results found in the public domain.

Being intrigued, I decided to give it a try. There were 31 “topics” that the site thought I would like which included: marketing, web 2.0, Canada, publishing, personalization, eCommerce, open innovation and others which made sense to me. I further confirmed my interests in these topics by clicking on the “thumbs up” icon. Since I write about mass customization and personalization, I thought those topics would be front and center in my recommendations, but they weren’t, so I had to add them myself.

Now, there were also a fair number of topics suggested that made me wonder why they were chosen such as: “Category: Benelux countries”, and “East Coast of the United States”. I gave those suggestions a “thumbs down” and was puzzled why they were recommended. I kept on refining my interests in this way, and it seemed that there were an endless number of random words that were just siphoned off of my 160+ blog entries, my LinkedIn profile, and my Tweets. I was getting frustrated, and my news topics didn’t match my interests, so I decided to move on.

Next I decided to see what “people” they thought I would like. And again, seems I was only offered name of my twitter followers, and those who I follow. Yawn. Tell me something I don’t know.

I decided to give DailyPerfect one last chance…

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Build a Custom Video Workout at the Fitness Magazine Website

nospam@example.com (Anita Windisman) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:40:00 -0500

As the weather is getting warmer and the summer is almost here, it’s every woman’s goal to look her best in the less revealing clothes of the season, myself included. That’s why I was intrigued when I received an email from Fitness Magazine, which encouraged me to create my very own personalized workout video.

Naturally I was curious so I decided to test drive the site that claims you can built your perfect video workout in 3 easy steps:

1. Choose what body parts you want to target: abs, thighs, butt, shoulders, arms, chest, legs, back.
2. Specify how much time you have to work out, whether it is 15, 20, 30, 45, or 60 minutes.
3. Select the type of work-out equipment you have at home: chair, bench, yoga mat, step, exercise ball, 2 lb. ankle weights, 3 to 5 lb. dumbbells, 5 to 8 lb. dumbbells, 10 to 12 lb. dumbbells.

Lastly, click on the “Make My Video” button, wait a few seconds and you get a personalized video with exercises created with the options you’ve selected. Best of all is that you can tweak your video easily by modifying any of your previous selections. The exercises are professionally produced and are not only demonstrated well visually, but have a useful narration added too. You have the option of saving it and viewing it later, in addition to sharing it with friends. I just wish there was an option to download the video to your computer or iPod.

There are also 4 other videos that you can customize: 4-Week All-Over Workout, 20-Minute Miracle Workout, Lose the Baby Weight, and The Celebrity Workout.

But, that’s not all of the customization that is offered on the site:

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An “Eddiegram” Lets You Create a Talking Personalized Video That Brags about Your Green Lawn

nospam@example.com (Anita Windisman) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:57:00 -0500

Engine Eddie here. Welcome to my backyard! Have something to brag about - your lawn perhaps? Let an Eddiegram do the talking for you.

That’s the message that you are greeted with when you visit the "Backyard Bragging with Engine Eddie" a fun website that provides a great example of a personalized viral marketing campaign that combines user generated content.

To create your own Eddiegram, a personalized talking email that you can send to friends, you first upload a photo of yourself and are then transformed into a talking head with spiky grass green hair. Next you are asked to “choose your green” from a number of lawn scenes such as the White House. (Really, it’s a nice lawn!) You then “pimp” your lawn. In a previous post, I wrote that “pimping” is the hip new word for customization. By that I mean you can add yard art (a gnome), a dog, or elements of a party.

In the 4th step in the process you can brag about your lawn. You do that by typing in your own text which is then converted to speech - or choose from one of three pre-recorded messages.

As the final step, send your message to your neighbours who will not only be envious because you’ve bragged about your lawn, but because you’ve found this cute little application that antes up the competition for the best green lawn on your street. For the end result you get a slightly creepy, but utterly hilarious talking grass haired lawnmower that praises your lawn!

What is the company behind this initiative?

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National Geographic’s Custom Cover Initiative: Put Your Favourite Photo on the Cover

nospam@example.com (Anita Windisman) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:44:00 -0500

Is there anyone who hasn’t dreamed of either photographing for National Geographic or having one of their photos featured in the pages of the renowned photo-centric magazine? Well, now you can — and on the cover, no less! National Geographic, following in the custom-cover footsteps of such magazines as Wired, Time, and Graphic Arts, is allowing users to upload their favourite photo onto the cover of a special Your Shot collector’s edition, featuring “101 of the best readers’ photographs submitted to National Geographic magazine over the past three years.” For $19.99 US (plus shipping), you can see your own photo on the cover of one of the most celebrated magazines out there.

So…maybe your photograph won’t be viewed by the millions who subscribe to National Geographic, but it will be a very special keepsake for you and your family — not to mention a great Father’s Day gift, as the initiative came out just in time! Start by going to Your Shot and click “Create Your Own.” Upload your photo, and crop or expand as necessary. Preview your cover, and either proceed to checkout or go back and edit your photo (or upload a different one). The process is quick and easy. Check out my “winning” cover photo — a close-up of a daisy in the grass. The only thing that’s a little annoying is that your photograph has to be landscape, it can’t be vertical.

You actually have two options:

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Customized Jelly Bean Packaging Offered at My Jelly Belly

nospam@example.com (Anita Windisman) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:57:00 -0500

Jelly Belly has just launched MyJellyBelly.com, a way for jelly bean lovers to get the most out of their candy experience by customizing their own Jelly Belly containers with images and text, and by choosing their favourite flavours.

You start by choosing the container you like, from a small circular container to a jelly bean shaped one to a glass jar to a small wooden barrel. Sizes range from half an ounce to eight ounces, and prices range from $1.99 to $31.25. And unlike some other sites, there is no minimum order. After choosing the container you like (which, by the way, you can change at any time if you like), you customize it. Choose your preferred Jelly Belly flavours: pick one or two of your favourite flavours, or leave it up to them by picking the 20-flavour mix. Again, you can change your mind at any time. Next you can either upload an image to put on the container or pick from their selection of clipart and backgrounds, increasing or decreasing the size as you like. Then you add your text, up to three lines, with different fonts and sizes, and the ability to move the text as necessary.

What did I think about the website?

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Custom Printed News Now a Reality

nospam@example.com (Anita Windisman) — Thu, 28 May 2009 00:24:00 -0500

Remember back when I wrote about the custom newspapers The Daily Me and the Swiss Post’s initiative Personal News? And remember how I also mentioned that MediaNews Group would be offering Los Angeles Daily News subscribers the chance to create their own customized newspaper, I-News (short for Individuated News) - or what I call the mass customization of content.

Well, according to Newspapers & Technology, MediaNews Group started a trial run in April with guests at the Marriott Hotel in Denver, and, according to Poynter Online, they will very soon be starting wider distribution in Denver, Los Angeles, and Detroit.

For the trial at the Marriott, guests are asked upon arrival where they are from and if they want to receive a summary of local Denver news. Those who say yes will get a combination of Denver news and news from their hometown delivered to their room by 6am every day for the duration of their stay. (Those who say no will not receive a paper.)

This is what really sets I-News apart from the digital Daily Me and the printed Personal News…

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Design and Customize Your Own Golf Clubs at Lind Golf

nospam@example.com (Anita Windisman) — Mon, 25 May 2009 00:05:00 -0500

Remember when I wrote about MyJoys — the site where you could custom design your own golf shoes? Well, now you can have the matching driver, putter, iron, wedge, golf bag, and more! Australian golf company Lind is offering avid golfers the chance to create their own custom golf clubs and bags with MiClub.

Start out by finding the kind of club you’re looking for — driver, fairway, iron, hybrid, putter, or wedge. Then “get fitted”: enter your age, gender, handicap, height, wrist-to-floor length, hand size, finger size, and dexterity. Next, select your head, again choosing left or right hand. After that, choose your shaft. Here, depending on the club you choose, the options begin to vary more (but some clubs have very few options). The driver, for example, allows you to choose from various colours, brands, and materials. You can preview your choices immediately, and switch between different colours to find the one that suits you best. Next you choose the colour of your ferrule (if applicable), either matching it to the shaft or contrasting — whatever you like. Then move on to choose your grip. Here, again, the options are greatly varied in colour and material. You can select the standard grip (in the colour of your choice), or pick one with more of a comfort grip, which will cost you an extra $3 to $18 (Australian Dollars), depending on the manufacturer.

And that’s not all…

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The Obama Time Capsule: YOU Are Part of History in This Innovative Customizable Book

nospam@example.com (Anita Windisman) — Thu, 21 May 2009 00:32:00 -0500

Rick Smolan, creator of the best-selling “Day in the Life” photography series, has come up with a truly innovative idea: The Obama Time Capsule — a customizable history book! You can be a part of the printed history of President Barack Obama’s campaign, election, and his first 100 days in office. Sold exclusively at Amazon.com, the 200-page hardcover coffee-table book will set you back a mere $35US — a pretty great price, especially considering the quality of the book, which includes photos from 140 professional photographers as well as essays from Colin Powell, Joe Klein, and Arianna Huffington, to name a few.

To customize your own Obama Time Capsule, you have to first place an order at Amazon. Within 3 hours of ordering, you will receive an email from Amazon with instructions as to how to continue with the personalization process, which must be completed within 10 days of ordering, or else you’ll be shipped the standard copy. The process takes all of 5 minutes. To personalize the book, first enter your name and upload a photo. Your name will appear on the front cover, on the title page, on the official inauguration invitation, and (with your photo) alongside celebrity supporters such as George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, and Bruce Springsteen. In addition to your name and photo appearing on various pages, you can write the dedication and insert an image of your child’s Obama-related artwork (if it applies) and give them printed credit. Oh, and Obama’s victory email is also addressed to you!

Who’s behind this initiative?

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Chipotle’s Value Proposition: Personalize Your Meal

nospam@example.com (Anita Windisman) — Mon, 18 May 2009 00:56:00 -0500

I’ve written numerous articles about companies that offer mass customized consumer products such as lip gloss, running shoes, and toys. Now, the made-for-me concept has come full force to the food services industry – essentially the mass customization of food.

It was a few months ago that I wrote about Burger King being the pioneers of mass customization back in the 70s with a value proposition of “Have it Your Way”, while its competitors were touting sameness. Similarly with all of the combinations and permutations at Starbucks there are over 87,000 drink combinations, all customized to your own individual needs.

According to the R&I (Restaurant & Institutions) 2008 New American Diner Study, 51% of food service operators report that consumers are more interested in create-your-own, and mix-and-match menus, than they were a year ago.

Now the Mexican restaurant chain Chipotle has jumped on the band wagon. Brandweek reports that Chipotle has launched a 9 city ad campaign in the US that touts its vast variety of menu items and ingredients essentially drawing attention to the fact that a meal can be personalized by and for each customer. At the center of this initiative is the My Chipotle website that not only touts 60,000 meal combinations but asks customers to post their favourites by video, photo or audio clip.

Here’s how the site works…

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Design Your Own Custom Swimsuit at Splish

nospam@example.com (Anita Windisman) — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:50:00 -0500

How many times have you looked for the perfect swimsuit, only to come up empty-handed, or with one that “would do,” rather than one that had the perfect style, fit, and design just for you? Well, that happens to me almost every summer when I look for a new swimsuit, and that’s why when I read at fitsugar.com about Splish, a website where you could custom-design your own, I was really excited to try it out!

Unfortunately, when I got to the site I was disappointed to find that there was a limited number of styles — only five (a tankini, a bikini, a full-body swimsuit with either thin or thicker straps, and men’s briefs), and they were very much geared towards athletes. Still, the idea was a neat one, so I gave it a try.

After choosing the style of swimsuit I wanted, I had to pick the size. Now, bikini tops and bottoms are usually sold separately, so that women can choose the different sizes for each if that’s an issue (which I know it is for many), but at Splish, you can only choose one size, and hope that both parts fit. And if you choose the tankini, you can only design the top — the bottoms don’t even show up. When you’ve decided what style you want, choose the colour for each section (front, back, sides), and you can add a pattern (polka dots, zebra stripes, diamonds) for that too. Then move on to adding graphics and text. Choose the colour for your graphic (you can’t upload your own graphic, you have to choose from their selection). You can then add text, choosing from four fonts and then select the colour. You can increase or decrease the size of both the text and the graphics, and rotate them either direction by about 45 degrees at a time.

Here’s my verdict about the website…

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Virginia’s Lottery Contest Offers the Chance to Personalize a Ticket with Your Dog’s Photo

nospam@example.com (Anita Windisman) — Mon, 11 May 2009 00:19:00 -0500

Back in March I wrote about Purina’s viral marketing campaign, Beggin’ Time, which allows pet owners to upload a photo of their animal and dance alongside it in a video.

Purina realizes that many people consider their pets a part of the family and want to be able to include them in almost all aspects of their lives — and they’re not the only ones: the Virginia Lottery is holding a contest that will give competitors the chance to have a photo of their dog featured on new releases of the “Lucky Dog” scratcher tickets. Oh yeah, and up to $10,000 in prizes… but really, what’s more exciting: a prize potentially worth thousands, or the chance to personalize a lottery ticket with your dog, giving them that 15 minutes of fame that we all crave? You decide…

Here’s how it works…

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Customizable Viral Video: Perfect for Mother’s Day

nospam@example.com (Anita Windisman) — Thu, 07 May 2009 00:36:00 -0500

I don’t know whether many people know this…but they will. My mother, who I always knew was the best mother in the world, was nominated International Mother of the Year. About 99% of the population approved of the nomination — even President Obama and Beyonce agree that Mary Windisman really is the best mom!

Just take a look at the CNNBC video news clip if you don’t believe me!

Well, you’ve probably realized that my mom wasn’t really nominated for best mother of the year, and that it’s a customizable video that you can send it to all the mothers you know, personalized just for them. I did, and the response I got from each of them was great, as I’m sure was the response from all the mothers they sent it to, and so on… see what I’m getting at? It’s a viral campaign, but the customizable aspect of it makes each mother feel special, like it was made just for them. Plus, the video is really fun!

Remember when Disney dedicated their whole park to me for an entire year? This is a similar thing for mothers everywhere. The featured mother’s name is included about 12 times, written on various banners and other places (including as a tattoo on the shoulder of a die-hard mama’s boy). There are interviews with random people on the street who proclaim her worthiness of receiving the award, and the news reporter gives a “quote” from Beyonce, saying how she hopes to be as great a mother as mine, “but much richer.” Not only that, but, as I mentioned before, President Obama is shown giving a speech in her praise. The whole site is really well done and quite funny, especially when the reporter implies that Brad and Angelina were none to happy about losing the award to my mom.

So, who’s behind this viral video?

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Kids Can Design Their Own Custom Playhouses

nospam@example.com (Anita Windisman) — Mon, 04 May 2009 00:12:00 -0500

A while back I wrote about Summerwood Products, a Toronto-based company that allows customers to design their own sheds, gazebos, workshops, spa enclosures, and more. Well, now adults aren’t the only ones who get to have all the fun with customizable structures: based out of The Netherlands, qb allows children to create their own unique playhouses! Yes, it’s mass customization for the kiddies!

With three different shapes to choose from — Original, Tree, and City — and a wide variety of different colour and pattern combinations, the customization options are plentiful. To start, you first choose the shape of playhouse you want, all of which are variations on a barrel shape. Next choose whether you want Basic, which you can paint yourself, Colour, which allows you to choose different colours for each section of the playhouse, Print, which gives you a number of design options for the base and then lets you choose colours for the trim, or Custom, which allows you to upload your own design. Built out of wood, the playhouses are printed with UV resistant ink so the colours won’t fade.

The interface is fun and easy to use, and you can see your playhouse change colours as you choose them. However, the Custom option isn’t as well executed as it could be…

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