National Retail Federation “The Big Show 2009″
Posted by Vectorform – January 13, 2009People were out at the NRF this year and Vectorform’s retail multi-touch applications were well recieved. The NRF, in partnership with Hybridia Design, produced a conceptual music store called the Sonic Bar, which showcased how technology can be immersed in the customer experience. Vectorform was invited to contribute to the experience by creating a couple of POC’s based on a retail music store using the Surface and WinTouch platforms.
Once again, multi-touch was a big hit. The audience was very global and really excited by the technology, our applications and the possibilites, which are seemingly endless. Other features in the Sonic Bar customer experience were the Xbox 360, touch kiosks, promotional scanning systems, Microsoft Snag it tagging system, a DJ booth and an experiential marketing video wall presentation featuring a full audio and lighting rig. Another really cool thing to point out was the Wayfinding kiosks around the convention that used Win7 and touch technology to help guest find vendors by company or offering and then printed out a little map for you to take with you, along with the contact information for that company. While it was very kiosk-like, it offered a nicer interface and an overall better user expeirence.
As we wrap up here, I’ll be headed back to Detroit and will be sure to keep you posted on the events happeining at the NAIAS 2009. Vectorform, automobiles, multi-touch, iPhone, Surface…innovation. I can’t wait!
CES 2009
Posted by Vectorform – January 10, 2009First off: Wow!
Vectorform has had a blast at CES. Our NBC Universal apps and the managed experience has been a huge hit. The NBC reps handed out 2GB SD disc jump drives in a Surface tagged package that were coded so that as people set down their package, they either received a notice saying “Winner” and received really cool novelties like a toaster powered by USB, or another message to visit the wall of media to download content to their new jumps. People were fanatic about it and NBC ran out of jump drives at the middle of day two. Mobbed! So, today people are slowing down to take the time to interact with the Surface and discover the content, which is really the magic of it.
Now I’m taking a little break here to blog from the NBC blogger lounge, appreciate the gratuity of the NBC folks over the past few days as well as throughout our projects with them and to view the crowds’ continued interest in the Surface. People are really taking the time to engage with NBC’s content, likely spending more time with it then they may have in the past and having a better experience overall. Adding a whole new dimension to what media can do to people by adding the sense of touch to sight, audio and emotional connections. Its just the beginning of something really big in the Multi-touch realm. As we wrap up here, things seem to be a little more quite today. We are continuing to meet some fascinating people and see interesting technologies.
Me? I’m getting geared up for what lays in wait for us at the NRF…not necessarily geared up for the red-eye that I’m catching tonight. More from New York tomorrow!
As seen in the New York Times
Posted by Vectorform – December 3, 2008Sifting through some of the new press Vectorform has received post-BMW Configuration release, and was surprised by a write-up in the New York Times. The article is an oldie but goodie, referencing last month’s highlights, including: the Vect-O’Lantern, NBC, and SNL’s MegaPixel Touch Map.
Check it out:
Microsoft Surface in the wild
Beemin’ a Surface Auto Configuration
Posted by Vectorform – December 3, 2008It all started with the BMW x6 Surface Configurator Prototype. We kicked that out in abnormally fast time…thanks in part to our world traveling German Creative Director who spent at least six sleepless weeks in our Michigan office. In all fairness, our tech team didn’t sleep either. The end result: The prototype was a huge success, for Vectorform and for BMW.
This led us to the BMW 7-series Surface Configurator, created by Vectorform to ultimately enhance the BMW dealership purchasing experience, starting with the mother dealership—BMW Welt. And yes, many, many more sleepless nights…
So what is it?
The BMW 7-series Surface Configurator allows customers to personalize and fully experience the BMW brand through an intuitive and Natural User Interface (NUI). While customizing their automobile, customers are immersed in a sensory experience by using real paint chips, leather, trim and rim samples. Interactive designs allows a 360° view of interior and exterior images, giving customers the ability to fully explore their custom configuration. The BMW Surface Configurator allows for saving and building a virtual garage of configurations and to further the overall experience, customers can view BMW lifestyle videos, digital images, spec sheets of various automobiles and copy them to an external USB drive.
BMW 7-Series Surface Configurator
We think this was a perfect use of the Surface platform and real world objects. Being able to configure a car or anything for that matter, by use of tactile real world objects opens up a ton of possibilities. We are excited where this will lead Surface application development in the B2C market.
Big thanks to everyone who made these projects possible from the Surface guys at Microsoft, the wonderful folks at BMW and the Creative and Tech teams at VF who pulled it all together.
SKOAL!
We have a PhizzPop Winner!
Posted by Vectorform – November 13, 2008Some of the hottest design firms in New York came together in November 2008 to compete for the PhizzPop Design challenge 2008 with a focus on creating a K-12 Learning Interface. Congratulations to Team Vectorform for producing the winning application “Study Right”. A convergence and Interactive Media application using Silverlight 2 and Expression Studio to create Web and Surface experiences for Teachers, Students and Parents. Check out this VIDEO here on the PhizzPop Website.
Vect-O’Lantern
Posted by Vectorform – October 20, 2008Halloween is right around the corner, and here at Vectorform we are setting the mood with our newest Surface Experience: Vect-O’ Lantern. Created using Microsoft Expression Blend, this application is proof that developers can make unique and engaging Surface Experiences with simple controls that come bundled right in the Surface SDK. Vect-O’Lantern is made by using an Ink Canvas layered with effects to make a highly addictive Pumpkin Carving Experience.
So this year, instead of going through the trouble of buying a pumpkin, carving tools, and covering kitchen tables in newspapers, we can all draw on our pumpkins on a Surface. Save as many custom Vect-O’Lanterns as you like, then watch it come to life, flickering with a soft candle glow and cycling through other pumpkin creations. Okay, okay maybe this year we don’t all have a Surface…next year then!! (~_^)
