#HackAHairDryer wasn't the best way to break stereotypes about women in STEM

Oh, IBM. What were you thinking? In a fiasco similar to the European Union's ill-conceived "Science: It's a Girl Thing" video, IMB has been called out by actual women scientists and engineers for this video:

The Twitter response is at once angry, hilarious, and sad:

I code. But it's to mess around with salamander DNA sequences, not hair dryers. Minor details. #HackAHairDryer

— Cathy Newman (@cenewman0) December 7, 2015

I like makeup and hair care. I also like building robots. Guess which one I'd like to see @ibm promoting to women? #HackAHairDryer

— Randi Lee Harper (@randileeharper) December 7, 2015

Tell this woman to #HackAHairDryer - I dare you. pic.twitter.com/vkr4PHARzj

— Miles Kurland (@Malacandra) December 7, 2015

@IBM shame I don't use a hairdryer. I guess that's the end of my career in STEM. Brb quitting my astrophysics PhD. #HackAHairDryer

— Jessica V (@ThatAstroKitten) December 7, 2015

Here's to every woman at @IBM who tried to stop #HackAHairDryer but wasn't listened to

— Shannon Turner (@svt827) December 7, 2015

Are we #womeninstem going to get a 'mea culpa' apology for the patronising #HackAHairDryer nonsense, @IBM?

— Dr Mel Thomson (@DrMel_T) December 7, 2015

According to Business Insider, IBM has declined to respond.

UPDATE: It's been pulled.

Is this any way to change the perception of women in tech?

An specialized underwear company called "Dear Kate" had a cheeky idea to promote its wares while also celebrating diverse women who are crashing the technology industry "boys' club": get a bunch of female CEOs of tech companies to pose in their skivvies for the online catalogue.

Dear Kate is not an ordinary lingerie company. Its products were originally designed as a less-Dependsish for women suffering from incontinence, and has since branched out into promoting leakproof "period panties."

The Drum reports that the Ada Collection is named after Ada Lovelace, the woman who created the first algorithm intended to be carried out by a machine. And despite criticism, the women participating felt they were doing the right thing:

Adda Birnir, founder of SkillCrush [seen below] admitted to Time that she did have doubts: “I run a company and you’re trying to have gravitas when you’re a CEO. I was a little bit like, ‘Is it a bad idea to participate in an underwear modelling shoot?'” 

“But it’s a feminist company…and I think it’s so important to support companies that are doing work like that. That overshadowed any of my concerns.”

These women are clearly not just models, but willing participants in whatever this is trying to say.

Adrants quotes Dear Kate CEO, Julie Sygiel: "I think a lot of traditional lingerie photo shoots depict women as simply standing there looking sexy. They're not always in a position of power and control. In our photo shoots it's important to portray women who are active and ambitious. They're not just standing around waiting for things to happen."

However the blog's author, Steve Hall, counters:

Hey, I'm all for women wearing underwear and lingerie as often as possible but when so many are doing so much to battle stigmas and stereotypes relating to the perception of women in the workplace -- and the world at large, this just smacks the face of logic.

I'm not so sure, though. While this could have come off like the European Union's appalling "Science: It's a Girl Thing" video, it just doesn't feel the same. The photos are contrived, sure, and even a little silly. But SOMEONE has to make and model underwear for women. Why not use the opportunity to also demonstrate and inspire female leadership in business and technology?

All images via Dear Kate

It's not really up to me to decide if this is good or bad for women overall, because I'm not a woman. In my opinion, this campaign doesn't feel degrading or objectifying. But I urge women readers to weigh in.

Using sex to train the next generation of sexist techies

Think the tech industry isn't sexist enough already? Now a company called "CodeBabes" wants to teach you marketable internet skills while you watch women strip.



The company uses teaser videos to provide "free" starter lessons, in which women with prominent breast implants read a script and try to act nerd-sexy:



According to Salon:

The site has obviously prompted good deal of outrage. Silicon Valley is riddled with sexism — from a dearth of women engineers, to allegations of harassment at GitHub. CodeBabes has a litany of issues. For starters it turns women’s bodies into a commodified reward, and codifies the structural idea that men should make money in tech and women do it by being sexy. Though they have announced that CodeDudes will be rolling out soon, the objectification of both sexes hardly makes either OK.

No, it doesn't. And the feedback, in terms of both outrage and reactionary support, was as predictable as ever.

The idea behind CodeBabes does not sit well with us. http://t.co/P0IC64YTih
— HuffPostWomen (@HuffPostWomen) April 30, 2014

By a woman who codes: RT @ruhee_ I wrote a quick thing about why CodeBabes and sites like it are really harmful http://t.co/yY7JgKF9Pd
— Allison Sparling (@Allisomething) April 26, 2014

We can't tell if "CodeBabes" is fake. But we hope so. http://t.co/RM8Jb9oOuK pic.twitter.com/rW2BEVQKV7
— Fast Company (@FastCompany) April 25, 2014

Well, that escalated quickly
— CodeBabes (@CodeBabes) April 25, 2014

Obviously those that give @CodeBabes only negative feedback lack a sense of humor.It's just a fun new way to learn😉👓 http://t.co/I6fQB1y3rw
— Veroni©a LaVe®y™ (@VeronicaLavery) April 28, 2014

I find it funny the backlash @CodeBabes is getting. It was fun & I'd do it again! Lighten up, people.
— Cami Li (@CamiLiModel) April 28, 2014

People hate us so much that we've streamed 9.23 TB of lesson videos in 2 days ;)
— CodeBabes (@CodeBabes) April 28, 2014

Of course they did. Because no matter how many naked women get objectified on the internet for free, there is always a buck to be made by adding more.

Ironically, studies show that sexual arousal on does not help learning. In fact, it makes you stupid. But then, we already knew that, didn't we?

You can criticize me for giving CodeBabes further attention if you want, but I'm a believer in sharing information with people so they can decide what they want to do with it.

Bowie sells Sony the best jingle it will ever have

For years, David Bowie has been making good use of his 1977 techno hit, "Sound and Vision" to promote his own retrospective products. But finally, a consumer technology company has realized it's probably the best jingle they could ever have:



The classic song is remixed into a haunting nostalgia by by Sonjay Prabhakar, as retro visuals show us how iconic Sony products have been part of people's lives for generations. (No idea why the '70s roller girl has a late-80s Walkman, but anyway...) It's all to position their new Xperia Z smartphone as "the best of Sony in a smartphone".

And no, I can't blame Bowie for selling out. He was "selling out" before I was even born.

Tip via Adrants

How to piss off every woman in tech

Adrants' Steve Hall made me aware of these appalling promotions that were sent in an invitation e-mail to VentureBeat's Jolie O'Dell in advance of the Consumer Electronics Association's annual International CES trade show.

Her public response is worth repeating:

Voco, I regret to inform you that I will be unable to visit your CES booth this year. I moreover regret that I will never review, recommend, or use your products, no matter how interesting and innovative they are. I most deeply regret that you don’t have enough respect for me to put yourself on my level and look at the world and your ads through my or anyone else’s eyes. 

I regret that the only consumer or reviewer you care about reaching is the man who likes women’s disembodied sexy-parts. I regret that you don’t know any men who think women’s brains are sexy, too. 

I regret that you didn’t have a woman on your leadership team with the authority to nix these ads as the irrelevant smut they are. I regret that you’ll probably pass the buck to Dirk Marketing for designing the ads, and also that Dirk Marketing doesn’t employ strong women in leadership roles. 

I regret that not enough little girls in my kindergarten class took an interest in technology and went to college to study computer science and flooded the tech industry, making this kind of marketing out of the question. 

I regret that the only women you think this industry can relate to are a smattering of tarted-up body parts — not even a whole person, not even a whole face.

Voco is a voice-control technology company trying to make it in an extremely competitive market. 

Ms. O'Dell is an extremely influential tech writer with connections to Mashable, ReadWriteWeb and mainstream media.

Ouch.

Microsoft's new value proposition: IE 10 sucks... less

This new ad is part of Microsoft's new ironic campaign for Internet Explorer 10, "The Browser You love(d) To Hate".



The responsively-designed campaign site is full of weird self-deprecating content about people's perceptions of previous IE releases, while pushing the line that new IE is completely different.

It also stuffs in as many pop culture references as possible around the message of "comebacks".

I have to say, I admire the campaign's bold and unconventional approach. I'm a ad guy, though, not a tech one. So I'll let The Verge have the final word:

The approach is fresh, but Microsoft faces some significant challenges against an increasingly popular Chrome browser and offerings from Mozilla and Apple, all of which offer varied and additional features. Internet Explorer is hovering at around 50 percent market share worldwide, so it's certainly time that Microsoft attempted to reverse the bleed it has experienced over the past several years. But, will it work?

Clickable fashion video wants you to buy in to its fantasy, RIGHT NOW

Back in September, I took a look at Target's new approach to e-commerce — creating entertainment webisodes with product placements that allowed viewers to buy the products they see online without interrupting the show.

It's brilliant, or evil, or both.

Now, as Adrants reports, Juicy Couture is getting into the act, and taking it one step further.



The video, directed by Terry Richardson and starring model Candice Swanepoel, features a frame-within-a-frame. By mousing into it, you are prompted to click directly to the online shop (in a new window).

The story and images (the beautiful woman, living a dreamlike life of luxury) combined with easy and instant access to the superficial trappings of the fantasy create a perfect incentive to impulse shop. In this case, the female consumer would be out $200 before she might even know what hit her.

I've been writing a lot about sensory experiences that impair our judgement, but I've been focussing on how they affect men (because we're such damn easy targets). But what are the irrational factors that cloud the judgement of female consumers? Do you think this includes any of it? Does it make a difference if you're gay or straight? Would it work on you? 

Perhaps not yet. Fast Company quotes Darrell Whitelaw Executive Creative Director at IPG Media Lab, who calls this rollout of YouTube's new click to shop technology "the Sony Walkman of ecommerce and video". It's a reference to how personal cassette players were a game-changer, but it took the iPod to perfect the idea.

“The thinking is spot-on, but the execution is just awful." 

What's awful about it, Whitelaw says, is that every time a user clicks on a product they're interested in, the video stops. This is an experience-busting flaw that most shoppable video shares. It's what's likely to separate the Walkmans from the iPods.

... 

“Every evolution starts with something like this,” Whitelaw says. “I’m not taking away from the quality of it. It’s amazing that someone actually did it and got a client to say yes, let’s jump in and do this new thing. But you still have to look at the fact the next one – that perfect, beautiful experience—that’s going to be the one that gets people to buy.” 

Finally! A computer for women!

WARNING: Post may contain sarcasm

Braving ignoring all backlash, big brands just keep coming out with increasingly gendered products for women.

So if the Bic women's pen is too low-tech for you, Fujitsu has introduced Floral Kiss:

The Floral Kiss series features a unified design sensibility that has been developed for the female consumer—from the PC's design to accessories, such as the mouse and case, and optional add-ons. Users can select their favorite color from among three variations: Elegant White, Feminine Pink and Luxury Brown. 

The top casing has been constructed with an elegant and refined gradation with gold trim, and it features a flip latch that can easily open the display—even by users with long fingernails. The power button is adorned with a pearl-like accent, and the power status LED and Caps Lock key are decorated with diamond-cut stone for a sophisticated look. An exquisite gold ring frames each key on the transparent keyboard, highlighting its elegant style. In addition, the outtake and intake vents all feature a floral motif design.

Get it, ladies? You won't even have to worry about breaking your nails when you open it to read Jezebel, or Cafe Mom, or whatever damn thing their market researchers tell them you do.

The computer also has built-in scrapbooking, a diary app, and horoscopes included with the operating system!

No word yet on whether it will help track your menstrual cycles, or feature a personal digital assistant with a voice like Ryan Gosling, but when technology is on the march — in heels, no less — you never know where it will take you.

You can find out more about this product at their Facebook Page. Have fun.

Tip via Daily Mail

LG makes people think they're about to die... to sell monitors

Ads of The World's Ivan Raszl shared this guerrilla marketing stunt by LG, in which monitors were installed in the bottom of an elevator car to simulate the bottom falling out.

Understandably, passengers were a little startled:



Very effective way to get attention, in theory. But is it responsible advertising? While most of the people shown seem to "get" it almost immediately, a few were momentarily terrified. And those are just the ones LG chose to show us. (And who agreed to sign the release.)

Shocking people like this is fun when you're an observer. But I would not have been happy to be a patsy for this type of thing, even if it does show the product benefit.

On that note, if you go to the YouTube link, you'll see that there's quite a bit of controversy over the authenticity of this video.

Here are the top two:

The perspective down the lift shaft is always correct for the POV of the camera - NEVER for the lift's occupants. You can't make screens that create correct perspective for ANY angle of view! FAKE! 

- Mobilearn 

The perspective would look all wrong to the "passengers". Plus the image would be two dimensional. 

Did the makers of this ad really think people would believe this was real?
It's actually quite insulting. 

- Ami Yamato

And here's a recent, particularly damning one:

It's more that LG have obviously gone in and adjusted the imagery in order to attempt to make it look as if there actually is a shaft from the hidden camera's perspective, which shows that they are not showing the actual true account of what happened on the screens, ergo they are not telling the truth. That is all the "fake" claims are, LG have been shown to be happy to lie to consumers about their products.

- Arkesus 

LG UK doesn't seem to be engaged whatsoever in this conversation on their own social media channel.  Which might be the worst thing about this whole campaign.

Future Shop celebrates 30 years of tech retail with vintage flier

How awesome is this? I owned the Atari, the Vic-20 and the Sanyo walkman ripoff. How about you?

Via Techvibes

This outfit shows a little too much skin... (nudity)

Not the open front. Breasts are no big deal. I'm talking about the bizarre, inflatable tubes and pockets of synthetic human skin.

I am at a loss for rational words. Here is how Suzanne Labarre at Co.Design describes it:

You know how some people’s temples pulse wildly when they’re mad or spooked or nervous? That’s more or less the idea behind Like Living Organisms, by Dutch fashion designers Cor Baauw and Leonie Baauw of Local Androids. A futuristic neckpiece (or dress, depending on whether you think boob coverage is a requirement for the latter), it’s made of freakishly life-like fake skin and has “veins” that beat visibly in the company of other people, then deflate when touched as a “sign of trust,” the designers say.

It was created for the Technosensual show, "where fashion meets technology".

And nightmares.

Atari celebrates 40 years with an infographic

Good lord, I'm older than Atari. But I like to think I have considerably less "pong".

Happy Birthday, Atari. If I knew where my old 2600 ended up, I'd open up the Adventure party room and raise a chalice to you.

Ad hackers play into admen's hands #FdAdFriday

The defacement of public advertising can be brilliant and entertaining, as in the recent Mad Men teaser poster hacks in NYC. And then there's this:

The Drum writes:

Peter Davis, executive creative director of [Powownow agency] gyro Manchester, commented: “Our new campaign for Powwownow has been made to court with controversy, so we’re pleased to see it’s already doing just that. If our character is already causing widespread offence then many people won’t like some of the things we have planned for him - this is only the beginning! We all have preconceptions about free services – ‘if it’s free, it must be bad!’ To confront this idea, we’ve created an obnoxious fictional businessman that spends money lavishly and dislikes anything that’s free – especially Powwownow. Our "more sense than money" campaign drives the idea that actually, you don’t have to pay a premium to get a great quality service.”

In Plain English: the guy in the ads is supposed to be an asshole and the copy is supposed to piss you off.

So, whoever got enraged enough to risk arrest and fine by stating the obvious on this ad actually did the advertiser a tremendous favour. I wouldn't be surprised if future campaigns of this kind actually hire people to deface the ads. (Maybe that's what's happening with the Mad Men meme - you never know.)

Being an ironic asshole in your advertising, by the way, has a history of backfiring. Remember the Groupon dogpile during last year's Super Bowl? People are just not that clever.

1995 AOL commercial

Isn't that Apollo and Starbuck from the first BSG series?

In 1995, I got my first agency job (after 5 years of freelancing). This is how much things have changed since then:



I'm also amazed how crappy the ad is. The acting and production values made me worried they were about to get naked. But then again, what possible connection could you make between the internet and porn?

Bert & Ernie tell you where to go

Cute spot. Although I miss Jim Henson's voice.

What would make it really funny is if the totally not gay couple argued so much over which way you were supposed to turn that you ended up in a ditch.

Via Illegal Advertising

F'd ad Fridays: New dress turns invisible when you get excited

This high-tech dress by Studio Roosegaarde could bring a whole new meaning to "wardrobe malfunction".



Here's the explanation:

INTIMACY is a fashion project exploring the relation between intimacy and technology. Its high-tech garments entitled 'Intimacy White' and 'Intimacy Black' are made out of opaque smart e-foils that become increasingly transparent based on close and personal encounters with people. 

Social interactions determine the garmentsʼ level of transparency, creating a sensual play of disclosure. 

INTIMACY 2.0 features Studio Roosegaardeʼs new, wearable dresses composed of leather and smart e-foils which are perfect to wear on the red carpet. In response to the heartbeat of each person, INTIMACY 2.0 becomes more or less transparent. 

Currently Studio Roosegaarde is inviting haute couture designers to develop their own vision for the next INTIMACY. 

Specifications: 2010-2011. ʻBlackʼ and ʻWhiteʼ dresses, length 100cm, width 40 cm. Smart foils, wireless technologies, electronics, LEDs, copper and other media. 

Via Jezebel

F'd Ad Fridays: Rich people problems

This campaign reminds me of Hunter S. Thompson's rant about the wealthy, when he covered the Pulitzer divorce trial:

If we were "a generation away" from robots in the early 80s, then I guess these ads are just in time. Too bad there are so few rich people left in the world to appreciate them.

Via AoTW

F'd Ad Fridays: Using technology to tell us what our instincts have forgotten?

This branded viral ad for Cosmo For Guys, featuring tiny hidden cameras to catch women checking out a fake hunky tourist's physical assets, has been making the rounds:



It's clearly inspired by the runaway hit "Rearview Girls", which was an initially unbranded Levi's jeans promo:



And, of course:



What I find strange about this is how much work we're putting into telling us the obvious. I mean, it's amusing and all. But it's also another example of how we use technology to accomplish tasks — like conversing, flirting, or knowing when we're being checked out — that used to just come naturally.

Skyping in 1968

What will those crazy scientists think of next: Talking maps? Personal tracking devices? Computerized books?

Via BoingBoing

The Shat does O Canada

Do you know how I know we're living in the future?

My 69-year-old Mom, who has an iPhone and texts, Skypes and Facetimes me regularly as she travels the world, shared this cool NFB video with me via Facebook message:



(If you can't see it, click here)

Here's the official explanation:

When William Shatner gets a Lifetime Achievement Award from Canada's Governor General, he shows appreciation as only Shatner can. In this short film, the most famous space cadet in showbiz takes helm of our heritage and treats us to a memorable rendition of Canada's national anthem.

Produced by the National Film Board of Canada in co-operation with the National Arts Centre and the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation on the occasion of the 2011 Governor General's Performing Arts Awards.

I would also like to mention that my Mom has gone from small town '50s good girl and '60s housewife to feminist handywoman, straight gay rights activist, and most recently as the United Church of Canada's equivalent to an elected Bishop.

Thanks, Mom. William Shatner is awesome. But you, you are even awesomer.