Connecting the Dots / An Agency Blog

With over a half million apps now available for iOS devices, it’s probably a safe bet that there’s an app for pretty much everything by now. Great apps are often built on a substantial level of technology, infrastructure, intellectual property, proprietary data, or workflow. And that’s why our recent work for Ecotrust Canada’s ThisFish program was so interesting.

Accessible across Apple’s iPhone and iPod, as well as BlackBerry and Android WebKit-based browsers, the ThisFish mobile site provides app-like functionality inside of the mobile browser, helping users trace their seafood before they purchase it.

ThisFish helps consumers make informed choices about the authenticity, quality and sustainability of the seafood they eat by tracing the catch from the water to the grocery store or restaurant, including who caught it, when, where and how. The service also aims to promote the fishing industry by highlighting fisherman, processing facilities, and retailers, creating transparency in the seafood business and rewarding those who responsibly harvest and handle each catch.

If this sounds like a complex system, that’s because it is. With multiple stops along the supply chain, each group helps support ThisFish by updating data (often through the mobile site), providing the consumer with information about their seafood purchase. See how it works.

We’re excited to have helped lend a hand, to bring this amazing project to life. Having a greater sense of what we eat and whether or not it comes from a sustainable source is an incredibly valuable proposition for consumers. We’re sure the folks at Ecotrust Canada are on to something.

Be sure to visit www.thisfish.info on your mobile device and trace your next seafood purchase!

Is Flash on its way out? From where I sit, I can’t imagine it anytime soon. BC Business recently posted an article about the demise of the Flash website due to an increased interest in HTML5. While there are a few points in this article that we can appreciate, the whole Flash vs. HTML5 argument seems to be fueled by a very narrow view of the web combined with the momentum of Apple hype. We’re all for new technologies and advancements in the digital space, but assuming Flash to be irrelevant any time soon make very little sense.

Assuming Flash will disappear this year or even in the next few years is so completely misinformed, I don’t even know where to start. This whole notion, spurred by Mr. Jobs and his crusade for full control of, well, everything, is completely hyped up and based on little to no hard data. I don’t understand how anyone is even listening, let alone participating in the debate.

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If you’re a regular reader of the Engine Digital blog you’ll know that I’ve been chronicling the story of location based social broadcasting since Foursquare was released here in Vancouver last September. After spending months with the application and touting the benefits for Vancouver small businesses, stalking your friends, and mayor fights with complete strangers, I decided to enact an un-install.

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Stimulant recently asked Engine Digital to submit 5 examples of random things that inspire us on a daily basis. The only caveat was that we couldn’t choose anything related to advertising in any way, shape or form. You wouldn’t think it would be that difficult but since almost everyone here at Engine lives and breathes advertising and nothing else the job ultimately fell on me. I’m a well-rounded guy and frequently have conversations that have absolutely nothing to do with advertising of any kind so I thought it would be a fun little project. But you know the old adage about assumptions right?
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SoDA 2010 Digital Marketing Outlook – released today!

The Society of Digital Agencies released their 2010 Digital Marketing Outlook today and it’s packed full of great survey data from hundreds of executives from major global brands, traditional and digital agencies, and vendor / service providers. Some key stats and points of view that have caught my eye so far:

• 81% of brand execs expect an increase in digital projects for 2010
• “The most effective digital platforms have shifted from ‘disruptive’ to ‘productive’ by providing a service or utility…[they] fundamentally change the approach from “how we reach our customers” to ‘how we make their lives better.’” K. Blitz
• 59% of respondants say that cost-per-click, conversion, and ROI are the digital marketing metric they’re least interested in
• Most important technical skill sets to hire / contract in 2010 (in order): Flash, ActionScript, CSS, PHP, iPhone SDK – showing that the microsite is indeed still alive and kicking

Get the report after the jump…

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