Posts – Gordon Marantz

28 Feb

Metawhat?

What is the metaverse? That's the big question because different people and different companies define the metaverse differently. For some, it's the next evolution of virtual and augmented reality. For most, it's an immersive internet that you are part of. Meta (formerly Facebook) did not create the metaverse. Some think the metaverse was a concept that Zuckerberg and others came up with but that simply isn't true. The term metaverse can be traced back to Neal Stephenson and his dystopian novel Snow Crash. The novel was released in 1992. In this book, the metaverse is a combination of virtual reality, augmented reality, and…

15 Feb

TV or not TV? or OTT?

Television finds itself in the midst of continued disruption. There are shifts that are not only changing the consumption of entertainment but also creating new distribution channels. Here's what's happening in television today. What is OTT? Over-the-top (OTT) services refer to any type of video or streaming media that provides consumers access to movies or television shows by sending the media directly through the internet. SVOD (Subscription Video-on-Demand) - viewer sets up a monthly or yearly streaming subscription agreement for a flat montly feeTVOD (Transactional Video-on-Demand) - earns revenue via singular transactions aka "pay per view"AVOD (Advertising Video-on-Demand) - earns…

10 Feb

Appointment television is NOT dead.

It's been said that appointment television is dead. When content started streaming in bulk (e.g. Netflix, Amazon) media pundits started warning of the eventual demise of television. Well, television in the general sense, is no longer referenced as the electronic box that receives broadcasts via the air waves. Television is the old school network broadcast but it's also the cable provider and online streaming service enabling us to watch on a multitude of devices. We watch a lot of television these days and there's no sign of content consumption slowing down. Appointment television is what it sounds like: television watched…

26 Nov

UPDATE: Disney Stuntbots

It's official, Disney has announced it will be using its "stuntbots" at the new Avengers Campus which is planned to open at Disney California Adventure Park in 2021. We're going to see Spiderman brought to life like never before. Developed by the Disney Imagineering stickman project, fans will be able to witness advanced robotic technology capable of performing various acrobatic combinations of flips, twists and poses in mid-air. https://youtu.be/6BIMS8ZDBd0 Spiderman will be flying within the rooftops of the Spiderman attraction building. Aerial photographs have identified a load platform and landing area. I can't wait to see this technology in action…

09 Nov

Drew Baldridge – Innovation During a Pandemic

Think Big, Start Small I recently had the pleasure of attending a private, intimate concert performed by Drew Baldridge. Drew has taken a rather unique approach in fulfilling his love of performing in the midst of a pandemic. While most artists disappeared into seclusion and as states slowly began to "come out for air" (releasing restrictions), Drew Baldridge decided to change his approach in reaching fans with his music. It all started when a friend of Drew's called and asked if he would be interested in playing a private party at a Kentucky Lake. It was Drew sitting on a…

17 May

Robotic Process Automation

Robotic process automation (RPA) is the application of technology that allows employees in a company to configure computer software or software robots (bots) to capture and interpret existing applications for processing a transaction, manipulating data, triggering responses and communicating with other digital systems. Any company that uses labor on a large scale for general knowledge process work, where people are performing high-volume, highly transactional process functions, will boost their capabilities and save money and time with RPA software. RPA technology consists of bots that can mimic a human worker. RPA bots can log into applications, enter data, calculate and complete tasks…

06 Mar

AR Shopping

The real world simply isn’t enough. Augmented Reality (AR) is beginning to grow throughout the retail industry. AR trends nowadays significantly influence a brand’s marketing strategy. Not surprisingly, mobile devices have become a vital element of the sales process, especially in decision-making. Following this trend, AR has emerged as an innovative tool that allows brands to interact with consumers on their mobile devices. AR creates a new digital experience that enriches the relationship between consumer and brand and can be used in any location, be it PC at home, mobile devices or kiosks in stores. Integration of AR in marketing…

05 Jan

Location Based Entertainment Follow Up

This is a follow up to my post on Location Based Entertainment. I recently had the pleasure of experiencing the LBE-Virtual Reality facility Two Bit Circus. Two Bit's VR arcade is designed to take advantage of the technology gap and provide guests a VR headset, a VR backpack, and a custom-designed space enabling guests to move freely within their VR environments. They provide guests immersive VR experiences in a manner they wouldn't be able to experience in their own homes. In addition they've also incorporated technology to enhance their other experiences (e.g. escape room, space mission room, interactive gaming, etc.) Upon entering…

18 Nov

Disney’s Human Speaker

Imagine if you could simply touch someone’s ear to make them hear something. A project out of Disney Research makes it possible. Disney Research has crossed these wires in a project called Ishin-Den-Shin (a Japanese expression for communicating through an unspoken mutual understanding). Developed by Olivier Bau, Ivan Poupyrev, and Yuri Suzuki, the system records sounds through a device fitted to the microphone that creates a "modulated electrostatic field" around the user's skin. When touching another person's ear, this modulated electrostatic field creates a very small vibration of the earlobe. As a result, both the finger and the ear together form a speaker, that makes the…

09 Nov

Announcing Disney+

Bob Iger has officially revealed the name of the new Disney streaming service which will be called Disney Plus. The House of Mouse has also set up a new registration site where users can sign up to receive further information as it becomes available. Disney+, scheduled to launch in the US in “late 2019.” As far as what Disney+ will include, its vast library will be comprised of content from Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and, of course, Disney, according to the website. It's clearly a promise that original content from these five brands will be at the core of Disney Plus. A second Star Wars…