CES week in Las Vegas is basically the Super Bowl for tech-heads. It’s a week that always seems to deliver a perfect mix of weird and wonderful; your typical and your not so typical tech products. This year is no different. On one side of the spectrum, you have a sea of TVs on display, and on the other side you have the slightly more . . . unique showcases like BreadBot. 

But make no mistake, CES never fails to preview some of the hottest up-and-coming tech of the year. Here are 5 trends to watch in 2019.

IoT

Sure, IoT isn’t exactly a new trend, but when a major player like Bosch uses their CES appearance to introduce an entire campaign dedicated to IoT then you know it’s a category to pay attention to this year. Smart home will dominate this segment but look for other industries like healthcare and auto to amp up their IoT efforts in 2019.

LiDAR

This technology is a key ingredient in autonomous vehicles. Pulsed laser light is used to measure distance to a target, which helps detect the edges of roads and identify lane markings. However, 2019 will bring us expanded use cases for LiDAR technology. Quanergy’s LiDAR tech for example is branching out to address border security,  while companies like Microvision envision more indoor, consumer based applications for their LiDAR technology.

Digital Health

The Apple Watch seems to have started a bit of a digital health trend in recent years. Expect to see a big boost in products aimed at promoting overall healthier lifestyles in 2019. Everything from smart mirrors and sleep aids, to medication management and heartrate monitors. Lots of the wearables being shown at CES all have a focus on health and wellness.

Augmented Reality

Mobile AR might be the second hottest tech trend of 2019. ARKit and ARCore set the mobile AR wheels in motion last year and things will only continue to heat up in that space. But with Microsoft set to introduce their next-gen HoloLens this year, I would guess that the race to mass adopted, consumer based AR wearables will officially begin in 2019.

5G

While the switch won’t happen overnight (or even by the end of 2019), this massive upgrade has already started to take shape, and will no doubt be the biggest, most important tech trend of the year. Why is the 5G upgrade so important? This 5^th generation of wireless technology will be BLAZING fast, have SUPERSONIC responsiveness and will allow for ENORMOUS capacity. It’s going to have a huge impact on pretty much all connected devices. Check out the video below if you want to geek out on 5G.

Watching future trends and keeping an eye on inspiring technologies is part of what keeps us sharp like ninjas here at Yalo. While not quite augmented reality, virtual technology that empowers digital virtual events such as virtual trade shows or even virtual cocktail hours is certainly another tech trend that is fully upon us, and we’re excited to offer it to our clients as part of our experiential marketing services. Find out about our Virtual Events service and all the ingredients that Yalo adds to the mix. Please communicate with us here for more info, or email our virtual guru, Scott Efferson, at Scott.Efferson@digitalyalo.com.

Microsoft and Samsung recently announced their new Windows based Mixed Reality(aka VR/AR) offering, HMD Odyssey. Sporting integrated headphones, a 110-degree field of view, 90 Hz refresh rate and coming in at $499.99, this can easily be considered thepremium Windows Mixed Reality HMD thus far. The cherry on top though…the display specs are crazy good! Dual 3.5” AMOLED display with each one pumping out 1440 x 1600 resolution. Look out Oculus Rift and HTC VIVE, you’ve got some serious competition here! Is it time to start taking this whole VR thing seriously? 

These Windows based Mixed Reality headsets are being offered by several different companies, at varying price points. Acer-$299, Dell/Lenovo-$349, HP-$450, Samsung-$499 and Asus-$535. This new line of HMDs is just another signal that VR/Mixed Reality/AR is here to stay. The competition is clearly heating up and the pricing will continue to come down. In a world that is clamoring for more experiential marketing, now is the time to start giving VR/Mixed Reality/AR a good hard look. This technology is shaping up to be an essential marketing tool of the future. 

Early adopters have already started leveraging this technology, creating new ways to reach their audiences. For example, Wendy’s recently sponsored Fox Sports’ social VR live stream experience for the Notre Dame vs Michigan State game. Users of this social VR app could hang out and watch the game in a virtual, Wendy’s branded, suite with their Facebook friends. Another big brand name, Audi, took things to the next level with their Audi: Enter Sandbox VR experience…check it out!

B2B companies need to start jumping into the VR action as well. Training and simulation are perfect areas to leverage this type of tech. It seems like there could be solid potential on the recruiting side of things for corporations as well. And these days, a majority of your buyer’s journey is done digitally. What better way to differentiate your brand and help move them along that path than with an easily accessible VR experience?! It’s an entirely new medium to tell your company’s story, and let your prospects engage with your product/service in fun, interactive environment. Trade shows, job fairs and customer experience centers are great places for B2B organization to test the VR waters.

If you haven’t yet tested a quality VR system, it’s about time you did. Go get mixed up in this new reality! 

This past Tuesday, Apple announced their much-rumored iPhone X (it’s totally pronounced TEN btw). Steve Jobs introduced us all to the iPhone a decade ago, so it’s only fitting for the 10th Anniversary Edition iPhone to be called X. It features 5.8 inches of edge-to-edge, OLED display with an all glass design that allows for wireless charging. Sorry, the headphone jack is still missing. Although, I’m sure the Strange Parts dude could hook you up. The coolest feature of iPhone X however, is the new TrueDepth Camera System, which ushers in this next generation of smartphones. 

What’s TrueDepth, you ask? Well, it’s pretty standard stuff really. Just combine an infrared camera with a flood illuminator, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, 7MP front facing camera and a dot projector. Flood what? Dot huh? It’s basically the first step towards full blown Augmented Reality! Apple’s iPhone X, combined with ARKit, will set the standard for mobile AR moving forward. This technology is going to take your Snapchat filters and emojis to the next level. Yes, I’m happy to announce that in 2017 you will finally be able to communicate with your friends, family and colleagues via talking poop emojis. We have arrived!

Seriously though, what better way to introduce this seemingly complex technology to the masses than with simple little emojis?! Animojis to be exact. That fancy dot projector will shine 30,000 tiny, invisible dots onto your face. This then creates a face map that tracks and detects 50 facial muscle movements. Voila! Your facial expressions are captured and transformed into emojis that come to life, creating Animojis. While it’s a bit silly, it’s also a kinda fun and it will change the way we communicate and share experience with each other. Hey, it has its practical uses as well. TrueDepth also brings us a new, even faster way to unlock, authenticate, and pay using Face ID. The new A11 bionic chip learns your face, recognizes you even in the dark and adapts to your physical changes. A quick glance is all it takes now! Apple AR doesn’t stop at TrueDepth though.

There will be plenty of other entertainment and commercial based AR applications that exist, thanks to the backbone of Apple’s mobile AR strategy, ARKit. The AR app revolution will be unleashed on September 19th, with the release of iOS 11. Check out my blog on Apple’s ARKit to learn more about some of the AR use cases that are being developed for these next gen devices like iPhone X(TEN).

Cedar Point, an amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, is currently piloting a VR experience on Iron Dragon, one of its less-popular roller coasters.

Cedar Point says they chose Iron Dragon because it has “smooth transitions, without any unexpected jolts or turns.” Built in 1987, Iron Dragon is a family-friendly roller coaster that’s great for young riders who are having their first experience with bigger rides, and for older riders who can no longer handle the thrills of rides like Top Thrill Dragster, which launches riders 400 feet in the air at 120 mph. In short, VR might be the way to make Iron Dragon relevant again, without changing the actual ride.

‘Iron Dragon: VR’ is only available after 6:00p, and only on certain days throughout the summer. Cedar Point says they chose this “half and half” model to ensure a great guest experience for everyone.  Before 6:00p, when VR isn’t available, Iron Dragon operates two trains, and transitions are quick from one set of riders to the next, making the lines move pretty quickly. After 6:00p, when the VR experience is available, only one train runs, and each 2-minute ride requires roughly 7 minutes to load/unload passengers, significantly increasing the ride wait times.

Each rider is given a Samsung Gear VR headset while on the train platform, right before boarding. When boarding the coaster, riders are instructed to lower their shoulder restraints, then put on their headsets. When the ride ends, the shoulder restraints aren’t released until everyone has handed in their headsets.  Most riders choose the VR experience, but some do not – and riders must be at least 13 years old to use the VR (Cedar Point says “this is a headset manufacturer requirement”). The ride operators are constantly managing two sets of VR headsets – distributing, collecting, sanitizing, and assisting riders.

Good News… The experience is really cool. Viewing a VR experience while physically moving is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before. Instead of flying past people waiting in line for the ride, you get to fly through fantastical mountain valleys, avoiding fire-breathing dragons along the way. 

Bad News… It’s physically and mentally overwhelming. When my 2-minute ride ended, I felt so nauseous that I had to immediately remove my headset. As we pulled into the station, my 9-year old son (we lied about his age) said “Wow, that was amazing… I have a headache.” As far as I can tell, everything worked perfectly for us, and I was amazed at the technology, but I’m not sure I would ever do it again. And I told my wife she wouldn’t enjoy it.

Geeky Stuff: Each headset must be calibrated for each specific row of the train. For example, the VR movie must turn left at the exact same moment that each rider physically turns left. Iron Dragon swings, sways, and goes up and down hills. The front of the train is never doing the exact same thing as the back of the train at any given time. If my VR movie ever turned too early or too late, I think I would have really gotten sick.

While not quite virtual reality, Yalo’s Virtual Events offering can help your customers and patrons to experience your company’s products, services, and all-around brand bounty digitally whenever being there just isn’t possible. We can even white-glove the whole experience for your team. Reach us here to discuss virtual trade shows and more with Yalo. Or, contact Scott Efferson directly to get started, at Scott.Efferson@digitalyalo.com.

While Facebook was first to announce their entry into the world of AR, Apple is the one that seems to be making all the noise since announcing their ARKit platform. Last month, Apple essentially told the world they would be turning all their iPhones and iPads into 1^stGen AR devices. This is pretty big news! Come Fall 2017, augmented reality will hit over 100 million Apple devices capable of running iOS11 and ARKit.

Based on the recent collection of ARKit examples being shared online, it appears the developers are already salivating over the endless possibilities of this augmented reality technology. Let’s looks at some of the coolest examples.

Volumetic capture combined with ARKit can make for some true mobile AR magic. It will open a new door for the film, art, music and sports industries. These Back to the Future-style holograms can also be used to help your brand connect with audiences and tell its story in new, entertaining ways.

Of course, developers will obviously take advantage of the low hanging fruit…GAMING! Expect to see ARKit being leveraged by most of the mobile gaming companies out there, especially with new Apple hardware (iPhone 8) being released this Fall. ARKit is a natural fit in this space.

But AR tech will most certainly extend beyond gaming. It could change the way we order our food in restaurants. Combined with your smartphone and an online ordering experience like Kroger’s ClickList, it could create an entirely new way to shop for your groceries.

Heck, it will change most online shopping. Digi-Capital is forecasting AR revenue to hit $120 billion by 2020. With companies, like Nike, starting to turn towards new channels to help sell their products, you can bet that these new ARKit capabilities have marketers and advertisers finally starting to sit up and take notice.

What about other enhancements AR tech could bring? Using ARKit to create new interactive AR elements for your trade show presence could become a common practice. Perhaps AR powered guided tours? We could use it for ordinary purposes, like replacing the traditional tape measure. We can also just have some fun with the extraordinary, like landing a Space X Falcon 9 in your backyard!

Apple’s ARKit was announced just last month, but we are already seeing some amazing applications being created by the developers out there. Be sure to follow @madewithARKit, @ARKitNews and @AppleARWorld on Twitter for more amazing examples of what is to come in the world of ARKit.

Keep in mind that this is all just phase 1. Both Facebook and Apple know that AR on smartphones is the gateway to full-fledged mixed reality wearables aka AR glasses.  Our Yalo tribe is excited to see where these technologies lead us.

We’re also excited to now offer Virtual Events to our clients. When you can’t be there physically, virtual trade shows, Q&As, demonstrations and virtual product reveals are the next best thing to being there. Let us tell you more about how we can work with your team for the perfect digital experience. Feel free to contact Scott Efferson directly, here: Scott.Efferson@digitalyalo.com.

See great Cleveland website designs right here in Northeast Ohio.

Digital is hot, hip and now. Everyone’s doing it! And if you’re NOT doing it, where have you been hiding for the past decade and a half or so?!! As a Cleveland web design agency, the Yalo team loves seeing what other designers have designed and built to manifest a company’s digital persona – in other words, their websites! We have no problem celebrating the excellence and skills of others in the web design world because, frankly, there’s a LOT of work to go around.  

In this post, we’ll be highlighting some great website designs for Cleveland-based companies. See what YOU think about American Greetings, Great Lakes Brewing Company, and Progressive Insurance – giants of industry in the Cleveland area and pretty famous nationally as well.  

American Greetings  

For more than 100 years, American Greetings has been the go-to company for meaningful and caring cards, gifts and party supplies for every holiday and occasion. 

The company’s digital persona is colorful and seasonal. What’s great about their website in Yalo’s mind is their stand-out photography, attention-grabbing headlines and sub-headlines – strong copy-writing! They also have that classic website design look – perfect for the company they have grown to be in a market where they want to relate to every demographic. Why not present a design that users are comfortable with? Another standout about American Greetings’ website is that they are promoting what is trendy and technology-driven these days – environmentally friendly and super-convenient Ecards! It’s always good to see a business that knows how to tap into current market desires and to hype what is popular and “hot” with consumers. 

Great Lakes Brewing Company 

The Great Lakes Brewing Company is an Ohio, Cleveland-based company that was started by two Irish brothers in the late 1980s. It offers a sophisticated, diverse selection of craft beer with a focus on celebrating the abundance of the Great Lakes region in every bottle. 

As a web design company, we think it is very important for companies to keep consistent themes in all their branding. Great Lakes Brewing Company does a great job with this through their colors, typography and images. They excel at creating images with a consistent artful style that have meaning beyond the face-value of the images – usually historic in nature. When you visit their site you instantly recognize the brand. GLBC has fun with their products and their customers’ tastes by presenting imagery that introduces new, limited-edition, and brand-standard beers. Their new, year-round Great Lakes IPA – a popular American IPA – recognizes the company’s independence and employee ownership, for example. Great Lakes also mentions in their banner slider about delivery service – a timely bit of marketing when their facilities are closed to visitors. 

Progressive Insurance 

Progressive is an insurance company that was started in 1937 in Cleveland, Ohio and has a long and storied history that is very …. well, progressive. The company even has an impressive art collection and curatorial staff that takes the artwork on the road to their various offices for displays and educational lectures. Progressive provides peace-of-mind and protection for vehicle, property, finance, personal and commercial claims. Their objective as a company is to sell you on their services and overall affordability. 

Progressive’s website does a great job in showcasing qualities that customers care about when it comes to insurance policies – savings, support and customer trust. What we like about their website is that they make finding specific types of insurance – say motorcycle, condominium or recreational vehicle – very easy via graphic icons right on the Home page. The process of getting a quote for each type of insurance is quite simple – in our industry we call this User Experience or UX, a set of best practices and tactics that help site visitors to enjoy their experience on a website. Bad UX leads to visitors abandoning a website before any kind of engagement transpires – NOT GOOD if you want to be successful.  

We’re also delighted as a Cleveland marketing agency at the genius of their marketing “mascot,” the comedic Flo. The company has basically rewritten the rules about marketing for what was once considered too serious a topic for humor in advertising – insurance. Ongoing gags, visual puns, even a faux musical on ice – Progressive has set the bar high with this advertising gimmick and many other insurance companies are now following suit and trying humorous ad campaigns to keep up. Go, Flo, go! 

So that’s Yalo’s micro-tour of some great website designs and campaigns for Cleveland, Ohio companies. As a Cleveland web design company, Yalo is always checking-out local companies’ websites to drive inspiration in OUR house. We believe success comes from feeding off each other, learning from each other, improving upon what has come before. Art is rarely created in a vacuum. 

If you are interested in learning more about Yalo as a web design company and what we can do for your digital profile and branding in order to make you rock, please get in touch with us and we’ll communicate shortly. We’d love to chat with you! 

Insanity you say?! Oh there is nothing insane about AR/VR technology at all. These are not simply the next new fads in tech. We are witnessing the beginning of an entirely new user interface revolution. This will change how we interact with the world and with each other. It will also change the way we work, the way we play and how we consume media and content.

Does your company have an updated and effective website? Can I download your company’s mobile app? Are you properly utilizing social media, like Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, to help increase brand awareness? Hopefully the answer is yes! If the answer is no, then I’m sorry to tell you this, but we are about to throw yet another question into the mix. That question: Does your company offer an immersive AR/VR brand experience? Technology is changing at an ever increasing rate. It’s getting harder and harder to wow people these days too; to capture their attention and entertain them. Your company must be able to keep pace, especially with new technologies like AR/VR starting to emerge. 

According to YouVisit’s Virtual Reality Brand Power Index, 75% of Forbes World’s Most Valuable Brands have used VR or AR in an activation with customers or employees, or are interested in developing the technology. Big players like Google, Facebook, Sony, Intel, Samsung and Microsoft have pieces in place to push the hardware. While companies like Boeing, Caterpillar, Coke, Disney, Ford, Lowe’s, Marriott and Volvo are already using this technology for applications on the consumer & enterprise side. Tech prophet, Robert Scoble, claims that Apple is also about to make its AR/VR presence known in a very big way. Scoble predicts that, “Apple will sell more VR by the end of next year than all others combined.” That’ a bold claim, but Scoble’s sources lead him to believe that Apple will introduce an iPhone with some form of mixed reality capabilities by the end of 2017. The world has been waiting for further innovation from Apple, and a move like this would only help legitimize AR/VR as much more than just another glorified “3D TV feature.”

The possibilities for this technology are endless . . . education, healthcare, journalism, manufacturing, real estate, shopping, tourism and of course, video games. But for you marketers out there, if you are not already looking at ways to take advantage of this shift in technology, then it’s time you sit up and take notice. Yes, we are still in the early stages of this revolution but make no mistake about it . . . early adopters who are willing to pump some of their marketing spend into AR/VR experiences, will be rewarded. This ROI reward will come in the form of “buzz factor” that helps lead to increased social media awareness, brand affinity and loyalty, repeat business . . . MORE REVENUE!

TLDR version: According to TechCrunch, AR/VR is a potential $150B industry by the year 2020. This will prove to be more than just the next new tech fad. Websites, apps, and social media are all pretty much requirements for companies looking for relevance in 2016 . . . AR/VR brand experiences are next in line. These experiences are already starting to be utilized by companies like Zaxby’s. The time to explore AR/VR applications for your company is now.

The time is also NOW for companies and organizations to explore Yalo’s new Virtual Events service – a new way to market and present your brand and messaging when your audience can’t be there with you in-person. Allow us to walk you through our virtual events process, won’t you? Feel free to contact Yalo’s Scott Efferson directly too if you’re really eager to get started – Scott.Efferson@digitalyalo.com.