So, every day we hear how technology is changing our lives and how it is ever changing.
It made me think of what forms of technology / equipment I have actually worked in my short life and that are no longer used or around.
So, I started thinking of what my dad used in his business, what I used while studying and even as far back as primary school.
So, I am not talking about outdated calculators, slow PC’s or video machines. No, I’m referring to technology that was very “in” at the time and that I personally have not used ( or even seen ) in at least 15 or 20 years.
So, do your recognise the pieces of equipment in this image, and what they’re used for?
From left to right, clockwise:

1. Telex machine: communication between two businesses ( before fax )
2. Roneo machine: manual copy machine
3. Adding machines: adding before calculators
4. Typewriter: writing before Word and the PC

Do you have any to add?

I have been pondering what to say regarding the Rage gaming expo that we attended over the weekend for the last two days. At first I though not to mention it at all – get something else to talk about, but then I realized that even though I wasn’t blown away by the innovative new wide range of gizmos and gadgets (there wasn’t any I could see expect the Wii) it’s still worth a mention. I guess the most interesting thing about the expo is the people that attended. It is clear that the gaming world is made out of a whole range of different types of people. You could easily spot your serious gamers but funny enough there were also those who are only mildly interested, those who brought their kids and those who see this as a good place to pick up a bargain or two. The displays were big and bold with lots of equipment and games to test out. And of course the Nintendo Wii took up a whole area to showcase their new product. In terms of the gaming I would say that Rage was probably a success but unfortunately in my opinion it lacked on the side of the new and innovative ideas in terms of technology …

What is .Mobi?
Is it a whale? Is it a mini car?

No! .Mobi (pronounced, Dot Mobi) is the all new revolutionary tool being used by mobile phone users to access a mobile version of a brand.

Do you wish you could check your mail on Yahoo! without having to go to an internet café or all the way to the office or do you wish you could scan a concert ticket for entrance to a concert without having to carry an actual ticket around with you? Wish granted! .Mobi has accomplished this task and is rapidly becoming the most inexpensive, versatile and popular way of advertising one’s brand.

Imagine being able to access an entire website with your cellphone.
Stop imagining, it’s being done as we speak!
So far Google, Microsoft, the entire Vodafone Group and Nokia have all jumped onto the .Mobi bandwagon.

Believe it or not, but South Africa is actually a forerunner in developing .Mobi sites and are currently trying to extend their services aside from being able to access a website but also being able to make internet purchases via ones cellphone!

If you want stats, let us ponder this. It was estimated that in 2006 that 986 million cellphones were sold meaning that the market is expanding exponentially. This number is being compared to the 900 million internet users as well as 1 billion television sets.
We will let you do the math.

Mobi sites are the answer to the internet via a PDA/cellphone. The DotMobi domain was launched late last year and is the answer to the frustrations that users, who have been trying to access the internet on these devices, have had over the past few years.

A DotMobi site is customised to make for easy viewing on a cellphone. The content is primarily text-based with limited use of images and animation, and the layout/navigation is simple.

Riaan Groenewald, Multimedia Solutions Operations Director, says that since the launch of the DotMobi domain in October last year, over 600 000 domains have already been registered.

According to the 3 cellphone networks in South Africa there are over 36 million registered subscribers. With the ongoing issues about the internet becoming a mass market medium due to accessibility, Mobi sites are the answer.

We, as marketers, need to create awareness of the advantages of this channel and continuously highlight the importance of lowering costs so that it does indeed become accessible to all.