Dr. Neil Hair

The Japanese seem to have taken RFID (radio frequency tags) to heart, and I think what were about to witness is a global uptake on this and other technologies that may or may not enhance the consumer experience. I like the idea of using RFID tags in lamp posts for tourists and I like the idea of tag readers beaming to you the latest offers as you drive around the mall (this is America after all - we dont walk do we?). As a Marketer I also like the idea of using these tags to identify how long consumers spend trying clothes and which clothes (Banana Republic), how far their products run on a daily basis (Nike shoes) and of course tracking peoples movements through other stores (perhaps assisting in better product placement and awareness of competition). However, as a consumer Im not so sure that we will accept this invasion of privacy in the name of a more enjoyable experience. Similarly I'm a little skeptical of RFID tags in all 2007 issued US passports (aimed at tracking peoples movements in airports - or anywhere else for that matter according to this months Wired magazine) or the ability for any rogue RFID reader to be able to scan biometric information from me. I am happy that children can be tagged in and out of school (Tokyo), similarly that I can track my friends movements (the latest cell phone ads), my cats, my car, my mobile phone, my Aunt who is in Hospital. Bah - it's too much to fathom as a consumer. As a marketer though the use of tracking technology represents perhaps the ultimate data treasure chest - true all round 24 hour monitoring of consumer behavior - a real time ethnography of the market of one.

So I thought I'd treat myself to a trip around one of Rochester's finest establishments today having waded through Gucci Wegmans for an hour. In a glass case they were (for their protection from the lager loving locals), several of them including the all important 1993 vintage. I am now the proud owner of two 1993 vintage bottles of England's finest ale, numbers 03709 and 03796. Yes, they are that rare that each bottle is numbered. At 11.9% (the average beer in America has an alcohol strength of 5%) the price of $20 a bottle seemed to me to be a good deal, especially after Mrs Hair reminded me that I should be spoiling myself this time of year. My father is also pleased, his name is on one of them for when he returns next summer. They are very hard to find in the UK (let alone America) and I am told they have a taste to DIE for. Who says you cant find culture in Rochester?

It came as no surprise to me really that Time magazine got in on the act of web2.0. How could you ignore it given the facts as reported around the world. We're experiencing a peak in blog use, the phenomenal growth of YouTube (the worlds largest television channel that Google for for next to nothing) facebook turning down offers of a $1billion (smart move by the way - you are worth more in projected advertising revenue alone), even the media getting in on the act (posting pictures from peoples myspace accounts in leading new stories). What we are seeing, as I recently co-presented at the one day advertising symposium, is a shift in the role and importance of the consumer in all things commercial. We are cementing our role as marketing channel. Personal brands will of course continue to play a role, how we market ourselves, represent ourselves, and most importantly to the marketer - how we associate with commercial culture. Ive also read my fair share of commentary questioning the life of web2.0, nearly everyone can point to a person who has no current interest in engaging with self publication online. Big deal. They may soon change their minds as the social in social networking takes over. Watch this space, another prediction for you - 2007 will see a phenomenal rise in the world of 'you'.

My wife Rose has completed her first full draft of her Phd thesis which almost reminds me of my own madness back in 2004. The world just seems a better place when you've completed a 60,000 word paper and it's out of your hands and into those of your supervisors. Similarly, it's a great feeling printing it off and seeing how thick it's become. Now I have to read it. So in celebration of this fact she dragged me around the shops buying ornaments to add to this years tree, the tree itself, oh and cat litter. Such an exciting life we lead. Well done Rose, I knew you'd get it done in the end (well, the beginning of the end at least) - and I'm dead proud of you! We can almost start to wind down for the holidays if it wasnt for all this reading to be done…

It is with great enthusiasm and excitement that I can announce a state of the art one day symposium being held at RIT and championed by Saunders and the School of Communication. Several HUGE names in this area will be speaking, Susan Napier from Partners and Napier, Howie Jacobson from Dixon Schwabl amongst others. Registration is limited and free to RIT students - the symposium is being offered externally to other colleges in the region and local businesses so my advice is to register NOW. Oh and if that wasnt enough I will also be speaking with Susan Barnes about our latest research on advertising in social networks. If you want to learn more about the latest in this exciting area - how you can get in at the ground level within this industry and how you can apply these new skills both personally and in business then I guess I'll see you there.

I have been seriously impressed recently with a group of students who are really giving their all in their work. I am of course talking about a group of students who are pursuing independent studies and honors theses with me. Chris Adams, Ryan Kearns, Nick Lin, DanielLa Ribinski, and Akira Simizu. All of them undergraduate students with research outputs that would put to shame most pre-doctoral candidates. All of them enduring perceptions research of a qualitative nature. All too often people see qualitative work as a fluffy way out of statistical analysis that is too readily seen as 'real' research claiming to speak for the masses. As one influential Professor, Alex Kouzmin (a White Russian who has published no less than 200 articles in scholarly journals) once said to me during my own studies - 'why do you persist with the childish games of numbers?'. It had a profound affect on me. Unfortunately that effect left over 6000 pages of text based community conversation to be analyzed before I was awarded the PhD, by that's life. Very much enjoying seeing the results of your hard work guys and looking forward to presenting these findings with you so the rest of the world can see them.

Sincerely. One of the joys of the job outside of being in the classroom.

Just finished reading a great article from the D&C on the areas universities and economic growth. Several things surprised me: the sheer numbers of the UofR in terms of employment for one - 12,701 people! Ah wait till we see RIT I thought… think again, 2,725 full time employees. Your dad clearly appears to be bigger than mine I thought. Well it's all those medical students and nurses isnt it? Anyways, the article does a good job of highlighting the importance of technology to the region and the RIT incubator which I am proudly associated with through my good friend Dr Demartino. The D&C continues to worry about Rochesters future, and as Ive written before I think were in good shape for things to come provided we continue to brand ourselves and reposition as a silicon valley of the East. Having many good universities in the area helps of course, students bring with them a great deal of money which provides the local economy with investment in return for a good education. A fair deal in my eyes. I regularly go back to my old universities in Cardiff, Sheffield and Cranfield (although the last ones a little tough as it's on the site of an old Royal Air Force base and sheep out number people a good 5 to 1) regularly staying over night and regularly eating out. What we need now though are exciting jobs for our grads so they want to stay and build their careers here with us. Rochester may well be a great place to raise a family, but graduating students may want a little more than that.

It was probably only a matter of time before they started offering new platforms for people to access their content but I am surprised at the speed with which YouTube appears to have beaten the competition (traditional television channels) to the post. I YouTubed my night away again the other day (literally) watching old music video's of Midge Ure (I'm sorry), Nick Kershaw (I'm really sorry), and the Pet Shop Boys (I'm beside myself with grief). It reminds me a little of an ultimate TIVO experience where you can go back in time and relive just about anything - including an old Erasure concert I went to in 1992 (but not unfortunately images of an old best friend trying to ride a bicycle with cross crossed hands). It's continuing to annoy the premium sports channels in the UK - the cricket federation back home is furious that live streams of the Ashes in Australia are being shown (the tolerance of some peoples levels of excitement never cease to amaze me, I'd personally rather watch Rachel Ray insult servers with offensive tips on $40 a day than bored people swinging boring bats on boring fields). These are then archived on YouTube by the masses who want to watch or share. What I love most about YouTube however is this community that supports it. I left some comments on a Talk Talk video the other night, only to find myself COMPELLED by the power of email (which informed me that someone had replied to my message) to engage in communitylouge. Fantastic stuff - I enjoy participating and I love the fact that YouTube have successfully manipulated me and continue to do so whilst making me happy. I'm loving it, and Google will be loving it all the way to the bank. Pity about the legal issues of copyright - still, google has deep pockets and will probably reach some sort of pay per view deal with anyone who threatens to spit out their dummy.