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Programming With Screen Shots, Not Just Code (Dr. Dobbs)
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Posted: 03/04/2010
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers have developed a new system that allows one to program with screenshots. For more than three decades, the graphical user interface (GUI) has dominated computer programing, but its underlying reliance on code manipulation means it’s still relatively labor intensive for computer programmers to customize or build programs. The new system, Sikuli, enables programmers to develop programs using GUI screen shots. While it requires some knowledge of Python, the system enables even casual users to create new programs without mastering complex programming language. The user simply draws a box around the desired content, captures the screen shot and then places it appropriately into the Python code. The research team plans to present a paper entitled GUI Testing Using Computer Vision at CHI, the premier conference on human-computer interactions, where they will describe new applications of Sikuli aimed at large software development projects, both for programmers and non-programmers.
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Industry:
Technology, Consulting, & Professional Services
Topic:
Experience & Interaction,
Technology Implementation
Region:
Global
Audience:
Business to Business,
Business to Consumer
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Nexus One Propels Google Into Online Retail (BusinessWeek)
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Posted: 03/04/2010
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Google Inc. has entered the world of online retailing with its sales of the Nexus One, an HTC Corp. manufactured and Android mobile system operated phone. Google will also sell additional Android operated devices, like Motorola Inc. phones, with aims to promote further adoption of the Android operating system. With support from Google’s online store, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless will also carry the Nexus One. "We hope that by partnering with us in offering the Nexus One and future phones from Google, operators will be able to drive even more customers to their network and will be able of [sic] offer their customers another innovative Android device," said Katie Watson, Google spokeswoman.
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Industry:
Retail & Products,
Telecommunications
Topic:
Content Strategy,
E-Commerce
Region:
Global
Audience:
Business to Consumer
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Sweet Tweets for Tasti D-Lite (BrandWeek)
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Posted: 03/04/2010
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Thanks to Tasti D-Lite, tweeting produces sweet results. With the TastiRewards program, customers’ loyalty cards are connected to their Twitter or Foursquare accounts. Each time a card is used, updates for Tasti D-Lite are sent through Twitter or Foursquare and the customer earns a point. Fifty points reward the customer with a free Tasti D-Lite cup or cone. "Clearly you can see if someone has 1,000 followers and visits Tasti D-Lite once a week that message will get out there," said B.J. Emerson, director of information and social technologies at Tasti D-Lite. TastiRewards will start with 10 locations, including Nashville, Tenn., Scottsdale, Ariz., Houston, and Miami and expand to 47 Tasti D-Lite stores nationwide this spring.
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Industry:
Marketing, Design, & Interactive Communications,
Retail & Products
Topic:
Content Strategy,
Experience & Interaction,
Marketing Communications
Region:
North America
Audience:
Business to Consumer,
Peer Groups & Communities
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Tapping Into Customer Life Cycle Via Emails (BtoB Online)
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Posted: 03/04/2010
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Experian Marketing Services’ “The Remarketing Report” recently reported significant findings regarding the efficacy marketers experience when they send targeted emails to their customers based on where they are at in the sales cycle. From responding to new customer sign ups to bringing them back from the brink of abandoning their shopping carts, marketers that send emails when a targeted event occurs expereince as much as double the open rates and quadruple the click-through rates when compared to other email campaigns. Such campaigns not only influence consumer purchasing habits through cross-sells and up-sells, they also help build customer loyalty. The report clearly demonstrates that, when handled with care, marketers benefit from building campaigns around your visitors’ and customers’ life cycle events.
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Industry:
Marketing, Design, & Interactive Communications,
Retail & Products
Topic:
Business Intelligence,
Experience & Interaction,
Marketing Communications
Region:
Global
Audience:
Business to Consumer
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FranchiseOpportunities.com Increases Own Opportunities (BtoB Online)
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Posted: 02/18/2010
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In an effort to increase its leads in finding potential franchise owners, FranchiseOpportunities.com changed its usual e-mail marketing tactics. Rather than sending the standard monthly e-mail newsletter highlighting six or seven franchises to all 100,000 of its prospects, the company now sends out targeted e-blasts. These e-blasts, which are sent to specific, smaller groups of prospects, highlight a single franchise (based on prospects’ industry, geographic location, available liquid capital, and net investment capabilities), and provide a direct link to the franchise owner’s page. E-blast copy is also more action-oriented. “It’s all about semantics—taking an active voice that uses language our prospects use,” said Garth Snider, president of FranchiseOpportunites.com. An increase in leads resulted. “From 2008 to 2009 we have increased the number of leads coming from e-mail campaigns by 50% to 75%,” Snider said.
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Industry:
Marketing, Design, & Interactive Communications
Topic:
Content Strategy,
Experience & Interaction,
Marketing Communications
Region:
Global
Audience:
Business to Business
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