The study was carried out by Etherlive, a technology solutions provider for live event hosting companies. For the research, a large number of event professionals were surveyed to find out if technology did make a difference in their working process.

Results showed that more than 90% of the event hosting companies use smartphones over landlines. Social media has also become an essential tool for communication and promotion for a live event.

The survey was carried out between June and July 2011 close to a 1000 event management professionals were surveyed.

Out of the respondents, only 9.3% of the people used traditional technology like landline phones on a daily basis. The remainder preferred an Internet operated smartphone to carry out their activities.

Almost 88% of the sample felt that technology like Wifi, remote sound monitoring, stock control and access control were essential to carry out large scale live events.

Social Media was considered as an important factor as well with 42.6% of the professionals depending on Twitter to interact with their target audiences before and during the event. 33% of people used social networking websites to share images of the events and 19.1% used the business network LinedIn for creating better B2B events.

Currently, the trend of creating industry specific software applications is being followed by many developers. With this new report, it can be expected that many developers will soon be turning towards creating tech support for the Event Management industry.

The research shows that Skype users showed ‘high levels of happiness and laughter‘ when they saw their friends on the portal. The study was presented at the British Science Festival held at Bradford University.

Dr Sam Roberts who conducted the research came to the conclusion that  there were high levels of user interaction on Facebook and it was a good platform to gossip. Yet, it could not replace face to face interaction over video or in person.

Facebook has been making major changes in its platform since the last few weeks. Just a couple of days back, they introduced new changes in posts which were similar to Twitter.

A while back there were rumours of Facebook starting video chatting on users profiles. With this new research, Facebook would seriously consider the idea of face to face interaction for keeping their users happy.

Digital Media shouldn’t just be used as a tool to feed cluttered information intended at profit. It is rather a podium for conversation, a threshold for two way communications and not just a money churning machine.

Today more and more business houses are investing in digital advertising while ignoring the traditional channels. The sector has increased by a staggering 10% in recent times. While it promises to engage and promote through a multitude of channels, it fires up an argument surging on ethics and authenticity. However, there’s a lot more in the offing. At every turn we chance upon new innovations that break multiple grounds followed by a few versions of the same.

Granted, there is no end to innovation and the medium in question is yet to mature. But what we probably overlook is that Digital marketing is a product of the traditional process and it still holds up on the latter’s crutches. A concoction of the two is what makes for a strong marketing strategy with high-end returns. After all how long do you expect the end-user to be glued to his PC? He is bound to step out at some point and breathe some fresh air. Moot point: Retail therapy is not something you’d relate to shopping on EBay, now would you?

Hence, it’s essential we don’t underestimate the whole conventional scene. Finally there are no conventional barriers here, just the cerebral ones.

But Google India claims it has no control over the blog as Google Inc. USA has all the authority leaving Dr. Mehta in doldrums. Google India even claims it has no connection or relationship with the US entity, and both work as separate units.

The startling fact is that Dr. Mehta was informed about the blogs by a person who received an SMS with defamatory statements. Apparently the SMS was sent to several people by an individual who even wrote over 20 blogs demeaning the cities top cardiologist.

Blogs and emalis are choicest weapons to defame and demean individuals or brands. The Mayawati case is the best example where Orkut users had posted several profiles of the Chief Minister with defamatory personal details.

This surely is a growing menace that needs immediate action. Especially from our snail-paced cyber crime units.

An enhanced Web browsing experience with feature-rich Opera Unite
Designed to change the web’s ‘old client-server computing model’, Opera has just released a beta version of Opera Unite. This browser-based sharing and collaboration service has been subjected to a range of security concerns. Also, businesses seeking control over copyrighted content have vehemently opposed it.

Unveiling a new Opera technology
Opera Unite promises to turn any computer or device running it into a Web server. In simpler terms, any such computer is part of the wider fabric of the Web, instead of just interacting with it. It directly links a host of personal computers, so that one can connect with as many friends at the same time. All this happens through the browser, and no additional software needs to be downloaded. It will function wherever Opera works (Mac, indows, Linux, and later mobile as well as other wireless devices).

While providing an insight into the technology on his blog, a product analyst for Opera Software, Lawrence Eng believes that among various new features Opera has introduced none filled him with anticipation as Opera Unite.

According to the analyst, Opera Unite applications can be well about anything. It’s up to companies, entrepreneurs, end users, developers, and anyone with a vision of what the interpersonal Web means, to build the next generation of applications and bring people together online in newer ways.
The key features of Opera Unite?

Let us check some key features of Opera Unite:
•    Opera Unite is positioned somewhere between a file sharing application and a personal web server, conceptually and technologically.

•    The straightforward interface is divided into panels for each service you choose to ‘host’. This versatile application platform can turn a computer into a server from which one can share photos, notes, files, music, and different sites.
•    Opera Unite gives developers an opportunity to develop applications (called Opera Unite services).
•    Its services are largely based on the same open Web standards as websites today, so creating a full Web service gets as easy as coding a Web page.
•    Opera Unite acts as a convenient tool to share vast amounts of content.
•    On the flipside, the load of computers acting as web servers will have a major impact on the traffic load on corporate networks. According to security experts, equally worrying is the impact of malicious code when a user sets files permission levels to ‘completely open’.  Opera Unite does not feature encryption, making it vulnerable to hacking.

Opera Unite is largely a collection of existing services, albeit in a simpler or more consolidated way. The initial applications offered are just simple demos like a media player and ‘messenger’ application, which replicate existing services and current online functionality by featuring them in the context of Opera Unite.

Typical applications for Opera Unite are largely personal. There are hosted chat services, and ‘Fridge’, a hosted quasi-Facebook wall for Opera users, to drop notes on.

For now there’s no video service, but Opera Unite is extensible, meaning that anyone can opt to design and add a plugin to the program’s ‘default file-serving capabilities’.

Opera Unite’s Web server is essentially a component of the latest experimental version of the Opera 10 browser. But viewers can get to access the content from any browser. Once you have downloaded the ‘preview browser build’, you can start using it by clicking the logo in the lower left of the beta browser and logging in with your unique Opera ID. Here is a video explaining the functioning of the browser …

There are plenty of Twitter clients out there and it can get confusing. Hence we have drilled down the 5 most handy from the lot.

If you too are using or want to get started on Twitter, to promote your brand or personal profile than these 5 cool tools will surely make your task manageable.

1.    Splitweet

Splitweet is a web based Twitter client that allows you to manage multiple twitter accounts from one single interface. You can follow, reply and DM users across multiple twitter accounts. With Splitweet you can also monitor brand mentions tweeted in real time, a very handy feature to track messages pertaining to your brand or competition

2.    Tweet later

As the name suggests, this web based Twitter clients allows you to schedule your tweets so they can be relayed at a specific time. You no longer have to stay glued to your computer or mobile screen, Tweet Later will do the job while you attend that all important meeting or  a party.

3.    Twlnbox

If you are someone who is buried in Microsoft Outlook all day, then Twlnbox is perfect for you. With this tool you can manage your twitter account right from your MS Outlook interface, so basically you can read your e-mails and tweets at the same time. Group Tweets and Keyword Tracking are two very useful features that come with this application

4.    FlashTweet

FlashTweet enables you to follow or unfollow mass users at one go. You can follow all your friends followers or unfollow them. A very handy tool for building that mass follower base in just few minutes.

5.    Bit.ly

Bit.ly is a url shortening service, that not only shortens the url you want to share on Twitter but also tracks the number of clicks. Using this tool, you can track the performance of the url tweeted

Hope these tools, making you twitter management simpler and effective. If you would like to share your favorite Twitter tools and clients, please feel free to post them in the comments section

as they ingeniously drift from their online persona.

In fact Google is creating infallible offline solutions in collab with varied companies. Here is what he has to say about Google’s changing interests.

Driven by the increasing popularity of the Net, parties are turning to Google and Yahoo. In fact, top search engine giants have launched the dedicated websites for Indian general elections. Yahoo took the initiative, and Google followed suit.

Both the websites have user-friendly features to attract online audiences. Voters all across the country can check their voter registration status; view their constituency on a well-illustrated map; locate their polling booth; get election-related news, blogs, quotations and videos. The voter can examine key data highlighting, for example any changes in poverty, literacy, and employment rates in the constituency.

Managing director, Google India, has been quoted as saying “An informed voter is a pre-requisite for the Indian democracy’s healthy functioning. This is especially true during all election cycles. We have this year taken up many initiatives, which have promoted access to election-related data in India.”
The election-related websites help voters in understanding the progress of development in their respective constituencies, and consider important data related to their representatives in Parliament. Vice-president, Yahoo! India (Emerging Markets and acting country head) Gopal Krishna, quipped: “The Internet has emerged as an all-pervasive medium. It is playing a significant role the way people collaborate and interact on topics, which matter such as the elections.”

Importantly, voters may consider the educational credentials as well as attendance record of their Member of Parliament and the qualifications of the key candidates contesting this year. In order to draw youths, several of whom could be first time voters, the special election websites are focusing on voter educating and awareness. You will also get election schedule and result updates on, expert analysis, discussion forums, online polls, and action-packed photos from the  election battlefield.

The new age is all about woman power, and it is evident in every aspect of human life. In fact women are carving a niche for themselves with  various verticals across many mediums, art forms and aspects of life. So I decided to pay an ode to the “fairer sex” by listing various online properties dedicated to them. Here it comes!

iDiva – It’s who you are
Well after settling for that baseline Indiatimes.com (part of the BCCL group) launched a vertical aimed at the fairer beings in November 2008. iDiva is a womans portal which ads up to the clutter of women’s websites. But the highlight of iDiva.com is an exclusive email service for women. The pink website has varied sections catering to all that women need:

iDiaries – reader contributions, celebrity and photo blogs.
Astrology – Choose from Chinese Zodiac, numerology, tarot readings, Feng Shui, and even a DIY guide
Lounge – A listing of the preferred movies, music, food and other ‘girly’ things to do.
Relationships – This section keeps the urban chic’s emotional, personal and social moral high.
Style & Beauty – The title itself is self-explanatory.
Work & Life – Includes career guidance and advice on working smartly. You can even find academic advice on these pages.

India Today Group Online has what women want!
India Today Group Online has been working really hard to create online properties for Indian women. We feature two of their famed online propositions for women:

Cosmo Blog:
In October last year the Group launched the Cosmopolitan Blog. Cosmopolitan is a widely read women’s magazine focusing on their issues, tribulations and the advantages of being a woman. The blog designed as an e-magazine has many interactive elements. The “confessions” page is simply amazing and is something new. The “quickies” section talks about everything from pleasure seeking tactics to hormone-free  pills for men. Cosmopolitan engages its readers with typical sections like Cosmosutra and Guy Candy.

The e-magazine format really works well for the online property. But one thing I really don’t understand is why many celebrities and models pose semi-nude in a women’s magazine? In fact why do they have show semi-nude photographs in a womans magazine? I always thought it was a tactic to attract the opposite sex to subscribe to the mag (correct me if I am wrong). Well, Cosmopolitan even offers tips on love, beauty, health, and regular news via SMS based services. They route the same through their short code 52424.

Woman:
With “Making a Difference” as their baseline India Today Group Online launched Woman around mid-2008. The website covers every aspect of an Indian womans lifestyle. On Woman you can measure your Body Mass Index (BMI) which was the only striking feature of the website.

An Ad Network for Women
In around Oct 2008 the guys at WebChutney had toasted on cracking a real ‘big’ idea. DivaNation, a specialised ad network targeting women was the reason to celebrate. In fact it was launched as India’s first womens media network. The niche ad network from the interactive agency WebChutney (funded by Capital 18) is part of Networkplay.

The website seems to be “currently in a testing phase” and I could not locate any news on the current functioning of the ad network.

IndiWo.com
In early 2007 IndiWo.com was launched. The Web 18 property was marketed as an Indian woman centric portal. Compared to other women websites IndiWo.com has exclusive sections on money, pregnancy, motherhood. Their highlighted sections are photo, video, forums and one dedicated to ‘experts’ featuring Leena Mogre, Micky Mehta, Dr. Anjali Mukerjee and more.

IndiWo.com was in the news for harping on its video section with exclusive content for its readers. Keeping fitness and women’s health issues in mind the IndiWo.com team roped in health and fitness expert Mickey Mehta for the Holistic Health Show. The 10 minute online video show has gone down well with the target audience. In fact they had even covered the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week 2008 on their website.

Alexa ranks the traffic of IndiWo.com as 70,884. It even shows the highest page views for the website during Oct-Nov 2008., currently the site has minimal traffic. See more statistic of the website.

Girls Gang Up!
In July 2006 Indian FMCG giant Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL) launched a social network that took the country by storm. Sunsilk Gang of Girls (GoG) was designed specifically for women (or girls to be specific) promoting the beauty shampoo brand, Sunsilk. The social network was an instant hit. GoG has blogs, expert advice, hair care, fashion tips, a job site and much more. Users were urged to create ‘gangs’ which picked pace once introduced.  The most popular feature was the Makeover Machine where in users could upload pics and get an online makeover.

Other than participating and encouraging college events GoG started their own brand of events for members. In other offline efforts Sunsilk Hair Bars were set up in Bangalore and Delhi. GoG TV was the next to hit its users in 2007 by which the social network had half million users and about 30,000 gangs.

GoG is a case study for the perfect juxtaposition of print, outdoor and online advertising.
As an interactive Copywriter I have been harassed by many clients to create a GoG for their brand. I do not deny the success but many fail to notice the massive offline and online branding vested behind GoG. Why wouldn’t everyone be curious about a hoarding, event or TVC that screams out to women?

Alexa shows higher ranks for GoG in September 2008 while a steep down curve in the start of 2009. I always wanted somone to share the traffic flow of  men to GoG. Well, till then you could check out statistics from Alexa and Komli Media’s ViziSense for the social network.