This video parody - ofone - of Apple's eventually to be released iPhone is reportedly produced by Microsoft. First, it's amusing, second, with Microsoft's history, it takes a bit of time to understand that it is a parody. But the interesting aspect is what it says about how advertising (or spreading the message or mocking your competition) is happening. Entertainment is blended with advertising seamlessly. In a recent this week in tech podcast, Leo Laporte presents advertising as integrated with content, so viewers/listeners are not aware of the product placement. This isn't really anything new - we see it in movies and TV programs. I'd prefer an ad to be an ad...and content to be content. I start to distrust sources when I'm unsure of whether they are serving as a mouth piece for a company, or whether they are presenting a personal opinion. Increased consumer choice over how people interact with media content (in skipping commercials with Tivo, watching videos on Youtube) requires corporations to rethink how they package their message. If consumers can skip commercials, the more indirect/hidden the presentation of the message. On the other hand, perhaps this is what education should become - inject a quick learning activity on quadratic equations during Survivor or Spiderman or Sponge Bob...yes, I can see a brave new future for education.
Posted by gsiemens at May 17, 2007 10:39 AM | TrackBack