Year: 2014

Author: Michael Grass

“Don’t be afraid! We won’t make an author of you, while there’s an honest trade to be learnt, or brick-making to turn to.”

It’s a Dickensian quote that must’ve rung particularly true to many Google+ users when it was recently announced that Google would no longer be displaying authorship data or tracking authorship mark-up. Alas, a 3 year long experiment that had bloggers and assorted spokespersons vying to position themselves at the top of search engine results has been brought to a grinding halt.

Author: AD Communications

Imagine if your fridge ‘magically’ restocked itself with milk. Imagine if your cupboard was ‘magically’ piled high with biscuits so your tea never had to live without its faithful friend when you forgot to buy custard creams. Imagine if your dentist appointments were booked for you, without your consent, by a toothbrush that screened your dental health. Well, that last one would be much less pleasant. Imagine a world where you didn’t have to think, where every process was decided for you through the connectivity of objects. Are you imagining that this world exists? Well it already does, and the process is evolving every day. This is ‘the Internet of Things’.

Author: Ellie Bunce

On Monday 4 August 2014, people across the country turned out their lights at 10pm, leaving one single light or candle on, to pay their respects to our fallen heroes at the exact time when, 100 years ago Great Britain officially entered WW1.

Author: Patrick Anderson

In February 2014, LinkedIn announced the latest stage of its evolution by revealing that it was extending its publishing platform to all of its 300 million+ users, pricking the ears of budding thought leaders and their communications agencies worldwide. Following on from the launch of its Influencer program in 2012, which enabled the likes of behemoths Richard Branson, Bill Gates, David Edelman (McKinsey & Company), Joe Pulizzi (Content Marketing Institute) et al to publish content directly on LinkedIn, users will soon be able to publish their own content directly on the platform and reach a wider LinkedIn community.

Author: Kerry Rice

“Anyone who doesn’t love Twitter is an idiot. They’re being a ridiculous Luddite or taking a stance. Twitter is a way of filtering the news. You tailor your own timeline so who you follow reflects your interests.” So said TV history presenter and historian Dan Snow in an interview with The Guardian this summer.

Author: AD Communications

Earlier this summer, a friend and I embarked on a mini tour of Europe. As a pair of self-proclaimed culture vultures (geeks), we’ve always enjoyed travelling around and seeing the wealth of history that Europe has to offer. As we ventured around the eight major cities on our itinerary (Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, Ljubljana, Bratislava, Budapest, Krakow and Prague), print proved to be a vital part of our trip.

Author: AD Communications

Stepping into the shower at my brother’s recently, I was faced with a stark choice.  Use the MEN shower gel or face the prospect of crossing a marble floor soaking wet, as I went in search of GAL shower gel.

Author: Lucy Williams

A few weekends ago, I attended the Penn Street Beer Festival. Sipping on a cold drink while sitting on a blanket watching the cricket, I got talking to someone – one of those people who just LOVE to chat. They’re my favourite.

Author: Michael Grass

It’s been a busy year of exhibitions here at AD. Ipex, InPrint, FESPA, interpack… and last Sunday marked the closing day of a rather different kind of show I would also have happily attended were it not for a few minor issues, such as money and geography. I am of course talking about San Diego Comic Con ’14.

Author: Shireen Shurmer

Out and about in our Great Metropolis this weekend, I was struck by the limited use we Brits make of free vertical ‘real estate’ for advertising, promotion or pure aesthetic purposes. Our major cities are full of blank spaces which, used creatively, could meaningfully enhance our grey, urban environment.

Author: Cerys Traylor

Since seeing so many new technologies when I visited FESPA Digital 2014 in May, there has been one that has really stood out in my mind. One exhibitor was displaying a new POS display, which can determine your gender (although it did think I was a man at first – awkward!), your approximate age (young adult – yay!), the duration you looked at the display as well as judging how interested your face appeared.

Author: Patrick Anderson

“Show your face, Jorge Claros!” I hiss, as I feverishly tear open my umpteenth packet of stickers for Panini’s official World Cup 2014 album. Got. Got. Got. Got. GOT. Disappointment once again as that faceless Honduran midfielder player – that damned number 401 – continues to elude me and my friends, rendering our book incomplete once more. OH THE HUMANITY. And we’re not the only ones.