Twitter Search Solves the Facebook Cartoon Profile Picture Mystery

This Saturday I saw something peculiar on Facebook. It appeared all my friends were turning into cartoon characters..

In an effort to understand what was going on I consulted my go to for finding out about real-time trends, Twitter Search. Simply by searching 'cartoon' I already got a sense of what was going on.

It seemed Facebook users were changing their profile picture to a photo of a favorite childhood cartoon to raise awareness of child abuse.



While some Twitter users believed this to be affiliated with NSPCC, the organization has not yet confirmed its involvement. This has lead some Facebook users to be skeptical of the campaign's effectiveness.

Regardless, the Childhood Cartoon Faces campaign is quickly catching on. What do you think about it? Will you be changing your profile picture to a favourite cartoon?

Pattie Maes and Pranav Mistry demo SixthSense Computing

This has been my longtime favourite TED talk. Pattie Maes and Pranav Mistry demo SixthSense computing and show how advanced this technology already is. When I imagine the impact this technology would have on our lives it simply boggles me.

What do you know about ICANN?

Who ICANN is


To reach another person on the Internet you have to type an address into your computer - a name or a number.

That address has to be unique so computers know where to find each other.

ICANN coordinates these unique identifiers across the world.

Without that coordination we wouldn't have a global Internet where we can find each other.

That makes ICANN unique.

As seen on the ICANN website

ICANN was formed in 1998. We are a not-for-profit partnership of people from all over the world dedicated to keeping the Internet secure, stable and interoperable. We promote competition and develop policy on the Internet's unique identifiers.

ICANN doesn't control content on the Internet. We can't stop spam and we don't deal with access to the Internet.

But if you are interested in the names that can be used on the Internet; if you want to make sure there are enough numbers to allow the Internet to expand; if you care about how the Internet evolves and want to have a say, join ICANN.

Participation is free and your contribution will be unique.

I think ICANN is a really cool organization and intend to have an active participation with them. Stay posted for more ICANN info!

The Power of YouTube Promoted Videos

YouTube launched the Promoted Videos program two years ago in an effort to boost revenue and site profitability. Although Google and YouTube keep fairly quiet on the breakdown of YouTube's revenue, the YouTube blog says the Promoted Videos program has seen a six-fold increase in viewers in the past year.

The Promoted Videos program works by promoting creator-sponsered videos in search results, on the YouTube homepage and on video pages. Advertisers get to pick their target demographics, keywords and only have to pay for people that watch their videos.

I think this showcases the strength and benefits of online advertising. Advertisers pay relatively little and get to focus on their key audiences. By having original and interesting creative their audience becomes engaged and eager to interact with the brand.

The video below showcases the OfficeMax Promoted Video Penny Pranks campaign.

Gap Goes Back to the Original Logo!

After receiving much criticism via Facebook and Twitter, Gap has reverted to its original logo.

Last week, Gap unveiled a new “more contemporary” logo. The retailer’s customers were not so thrilled about the change, sending thousands of negative tweets and Facebook status updates about its design and protesting with a fake twitter account.

Gap took the hint and decided to reverse the decision with this announcement on its Facebook Page.

“Ok. We’ve heard loud and clear that you don’t like the new logo. We’ve learned a lot from the feedback. We only want what’s best for the brand and our customers. So instead of crowdsourcing, we’re bringing back the Blue Box tonight.”

While social media wasn’t the only reason that Gap felt compelled to revert to the old logo, it definitely was a major factor. Social media mobilized and spread the word about the logo change. In this case, the company listened to its customers and worked the rapid feedback of social media to their advantage. Way to go Gap!

The New Yorker by iPad

Thanks Reens for the tip ;)

Future of Screen Technology

This is the result of TAT's Open Innovation experiment. It is an experience video showing the future of screen technology with stretchable screens, transparent screens and e-ink displays.

Best Wedding Surprise!

Clever design: Eco Urinal

This clever design by Yeongwoo Kim saves water and time.

Grand Central Terminal NYC

In honour of my two leading ladies :)

Unreal Indian Pole Gymnastics!

Love the way you lie: Cover Collaboration

The More People that Dislike Comic Sans the Better

Make a Disco Ball out of old CDs

Creative Crafts:
How To Make A Disco Ball With Junk CDs

One Windmill to a Better World

Trust yourself, and believe. Whatever happens, don’t give up. These are the words of William Kamkwamba, author of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. While still a teenager William taught himself some science and physics and built a windmill using scrap materials. This wind mill supplies electric power and pumps water for his family in Malawi.

Beyonce painted on an iPad

Wow, this was done with the brushes app on an iPad with one finger! Uk-based artist Kyle Lambert spends 6 hours on this creation. Condensed to under 2 minutes for your viewing pleasure.

Nike Ad proves to be world cup curse!

Bondi Beach Flash Mob

There are few things I love in life more than a good flash mob. Take a peek at a recent one that went down at Bondi Beach in Sydney Australia.

Magic Tricks with an iPad

After viewing iPad+Velcro it seemed that Apple was making good on its promise of the iPad being 'magical'. Now watch what happens when Japanese magician Shinya Uchida gets his hands on one..

Grooving Baby!

There are few things I love more in life than a good dancing baby. Brazilian baby dancing samba does not disappoint!

Ice cream machine trades smiles for desserts

Augmented reality ice cream machine trades smiles for desserts. Customer experience company SapientNitro and ice cream makers Unilever are teaming up to make us smile for ice cream. They’ve developed what they’re calling the world’s first smile-activated vending machine.

SapientNitro is currently testing out the machine at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival. When you step in front of the screen your face is framed with a mustache and transported to the augmented reality of Unilever.

After it prompts you to smile, the dessert-vending device measures the wideness of your grin using facial recognition technology, snaps a pic, and, with your permission, uploads that snap to Facebook. Next, you choose the free treat of your choice via the touchscreen at the front of the machine and collect your sweet reward. (Treats will only be free at Cannes.)



You can check out a gallery of smiles now on Cannes Sapient Nitro’s Facebook Page.

iPad + Velcro = Love

Apple just announced that its iPad has already sold 3 million units. These whopping sales figures come less then 3 months after the iPad was released. Have you held an iPad yet? If so, what do you think about it?

Has the iPad become part of your daily life yet? And if so, how can the addition of velcro to the mix help revolutionize this product?

Let's Get Inspired!

Sweet lil song

The Black Apartment: Cindy Gallop

Cindy Gallop is a consultant, speaker, entrepreneur and coach. She runs IfWeRanTheWorld a platform for people and businesses to turn good intentions into actions as well as MakeLoveNotPorn, a website designed to inspire and stimulate open, healthy conversations about sex and pornography.

Dwell takes a look inside Gallop's incredible Chelsea apartment filled with many curios and treasures.

YouTube Celebrates 5 Years!

Can you believe YouTube is only 5 years old? It seems like so much longer to me. This video is a nostalgic look at the history and highlights surrounding YouTube's first five years. How has YouTube affected you over the past 5 years?

Awesome laser light show!

Someone has fulfilled my dream of making their own laser light show, kudos to you Superbien!

Jim's Pancakes!

This is super cute! Jim makes cool character pancakes for his 3 year old daughter Allie. She prefers the princess variety, but Jim has also branched out to giraffes, cheeseburgers and even 3D cranes and bridges!






Check out Jim's blog and facebook page and watch him get social with pancakes!

Telephone: The Afganistan Remake

Youtube -malibumelcher — April 23, 2010 — This is a couple guys located in afghanistan, that re-made the music video by Lady Gaga....Telephone. Prepare yourself for a fantastical journey.

Facebook Privacy Facts - Did you know?

Fact: Facebook is monitoring and censoring your private messages. Facebook users are not allowed to link to Pirate Bay torrents.

This little-noticed policy that was first reported by TorrentFreak last month who noticed that Facebook was blocking members from sharing The Pirate Bay torrents on the site.

Now legal experts say Facebook may have gone too far, blocking not only links to torrents published publicly on member profile pages, but also examining private messages that might contain them, and blocking those as well.

Facebook private messages are governed by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, which forbids communications providers from intercepting user messages, barring limited exceptions for security and valid legal orders.

Facebook's violation of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act have not gone unnoticed. Last wednesday 14 Privacy organizations filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission charging Facebook with "unfair and deceptive trade practices in violation of consumer protection law". This complaint goes further than not liking the new privacy settings, it's about calling Facebook out on its actions that, "violate user expectations, diminish user privacy, and contradict Facebook’s own representations." Meaning "Facebook has broken US Federal law by doing this".

Science World Whale

Grey Whale spotted hanging out by Science World in Vancouver, B.C.

Teen captures this remarkable sight from beyond the concrete railings. After taking it all in -- "Woah!" he skates over to the other side to catch something absolutely breathtaking, the magnitude that is a Grey Whale.