HP Hops on Tablet Train with TouchPad

July 28, 2011 • Blog • 1 comment

By now, tablet PCs are fairly de rigueur in almost any household with a need for fuss-free technology. Initiated first by Apple with its legendary iPad launch in April 2010 – barely 15 months ago – the market for tablet devices has swelled tremendously with major technology players launching a range of devices operating on Apple, Android, Blackberry, and Windows 7 Operating Systems (OS).

The latest player to jump into the fray is computer giant HP. Its tablet device the HP TouchPad runs on a proprietary HP WebOS 3.0, and comes with a 9.7 inch diagonal flush capacitive multitouch display, support for Adobe Flash, a virtual keyboard and instant-on access.

Can Religions be Branded?

July 26, 2011 • Business and Management • 1 comment

One of the most universally recognised symbols (Courtesy of Proclaim the Truth)

My curiosity was piqued when I read this recent post on Branding Strategy Insider about Brands and Religion.

According to the post, “religion is highly branded”, and this can be seen in the differences in how different religions are divided and further subdivided into denominations, sects, and branches.

Making History at Singapore Blog Awards 2011

July 24, 2011 • Blog • 1 comment

Singapore Blog Awards 2011 has upped the ante yet again. As a long-time supporter of the awards (we hosted it at Asian Civilisations Museum in 2008, and I helped judge last year’s event), I can safely say that this year’s competition organised by Omy.sg has set new milestones in many areas – categories, sponsors, prizes, event attendees, and of course the fun factor.

Managing Visitor Fatigue in Museums and Attractions

July 22, 2011 • Blog • 3 comments

Museum visits needn’t be a yawn if you design them well (Courtesy of BelieveJay)

While doing some desktop research recently, I came across an interesting article by Gareth Davey titled “What is Museum Fatigue?” in InformalScience. The academic piece explained why visitors get tired when visiting museums, and proposed how we can better manage visitor behaviours when designing exhibitions.

Apparently, from research conducted thus far, the following findings are derived:

Employee Engagement: Lessons From Universal Studios

July 20, 2011 • Business and Management • no comments

Managers should lead by example and be there when it matters (Universal Studios Singapore)

Leadership and management are two of the most difficult tasks any manager needs to do in today’s organisation.

The new rules of work mandate that hierarchical ways of bossing people around will no longer work. Against such a backdrop, how can you and your leadership team engage your team members more effectively and impactfully?

Celebrating Our Home @ Singapore HeritageFest 2011

July 18, 2011 • Blog • 1 comment

With the theme “Home – What We Love About It”, Singapore HeritageFest 2011 kicked off yesterday, across multiple venues around the island, in colourful fashion.

Ready for the 30 Day Challenge?

July 17, 2011 • Blog • 1 comment

Source of image

Have you always wanted to do something but somehow didn’t have the time, guts or will to see it through? Do you want to see a positive change in your life while embarking on a fresh adventure in an otherwise humdrum existence?

Why not try the 30 Day Challenge?

Keeping Your Attractions Fresh and Appealing

July 14, 2011 • Blog • no comments

Good storytelling helps to sustain consumer interest (Universal Studios Singapore’s Madagascar Crate Ride)

One of the greatest challenges faced by theme parks, zoos, museums, and other visitor attractions is that of getting one’s visitors to keep returning. While adding new rides, exhibits and enclosures can help to draw repeat patronage, their prohibitively high costs make such strategies unfeasible over the short term.

What then should one do to renew one’s product and keep guests coming back?

A Colourful Twist in Advertising

July 12, 2011 • • no comments

At lunch recently, I was attracted to this simple bus stop poster ad by Jurong Bird Park. Even though the copy isn’t factually correct (one can’t really feed colours), the metaphor associating avian species with their colourful plumage is cleverly and imaginatively conceived.

While text is kept to the absolute minimum, the brand imagery is clear. As most Singaporeans would know where the bird park is, there isn’t a need to include a map or an address in this poster.

Would such an advertising approach work for your business? If not, why?

Event Marketing Strategies from a Disney Veteran

July 10, 2011 • Business and Management • 4 comments

The annual Flower and Garden Festival at Walt Disney World’s Epcot is the world’s biggest (courtesy of WDW Parkhoppers)

How can you continually engage your guests at a theme park, zoo, museum, or other themed destination?

While building new attractions (rides and exhibits) can add value, showcases innovation and drives attendance, they are rather expensive.