Category Archives: Presentations

See what you can do with 3D printing

Posted on August 7, 2011 at 10:24 am UK

I’ve been hearing a lot about 3D printing lately. It’s not been wholly clear to me, though, exactly what it is (especially after I read the Wikipedia entry). From a layman’s perspective, you tend to think about ink, paper and a printer and how on earth do you get three dimensions on that outside of augmented reality.

Then I saw 3D printing demonstrated in a video and in a way that instantly gave me the clear understanding of what it is and how it works.

(If you don’t see the video embedded above, watch it on YouTube.)

It’s a very good demonstration and presenter Joe Titlow of Z Corporation, manufacturer of the 3D printing equipment, knows his stuff and is able to explain it well in simple terms.

Look out for the "Holy cow!" moment by David Kaplan, the man who’s looking to have his wrench (that’s a spanner to us Brits) "printed." He’s a theoretical particle physicist and if he’s impressed by this technology, it must be something to pay attention to.

What happens on the web in 60 seconds

Posted on June 18, 2011 at 1:42 pm UK

Infographics are quite the rage at the moment. There is something quite compelling about a well-constructed visual piece of story-telling that helps you understand complex information quickly.

Click the image for full-size version ...

Here’s one with a  difference – a “stats infographic” that is equally compelling, telling you what happens on the web in sixty seconds. Things like:

  • 98,000 tweets
  • 13,000 iPhone apps downloaded
  • Over 125 WordPress plugins downloaded
  • 695,000 Facebook status updates
  • Almost 695,000 search queries
  • 168,000,000 emails sent
  • 100 new accounts created at LinkedIn
  • 20,000 new posts on Tumblr, the up-and-coming microblogging platform

Even though no source for any of the info is cited, it’s ideal for that PowerPoint deck to help you explain what’s happening on the web. Mind-expanding stuff!

Nice work from Shanghai Web Designers. Via AdverBlog.

Brian Solis keynotes at next Dell B2B Social Media Huddle in London

Posted on February 23, 2011 at 11:37 am UK

huddle11If social media can transform business-to-business marketing, as Paul Gillin and Eric Schwarzman argue in their new book, Social Marketing to the Business Customer, then the Dell B2B Social Media Huddle taking place in London on March 17 couldn’t be more timely.

This will be the third such event that I’ve been involved with, working with Kerry Bridge at Dell UK to put together a programme that enables participants to exchange some best practice thinking and learn what others are doing in an area of business that too often is over-shadowed by its B2C compatriot.

As with each previous huddle, we offer an experience that includes the interaction with others with an interest in this area, and includes an informal social get-together after the event for drinks and conversation aka a tweetup.

briansolis-smThe spotlight of this huddle, though, is the participation of Brian Solis who will deliver the keynote presentation.

Brian is globally-recognized as one of the most prominent thought leaders and published authors in new media. A digital analyst, sociologist, and futurist, he has influenced the effects of emerging media on the convergence of marketing, communications, and publishing. He is principal of FutureWorks, an award-winning new media and business strategy consultancy in Silicon Valley, and has led interactive and social programmes for Fortune 500 companies, notable celebrities, and Web 2.0 start-ups. He blogs at BrianSolis.com.

We’re thrilled Brian is able to be part of this event during his time in London. He’ll also be signing copies of his book, Engage!

We’re also thrilled to partner with Google UK who will be hosting us at their London office.

We’re encouraging participants to lead an unconference session on the day. This could be a topical discussion (roundtable), sharing a case study or discussing industry insights. As spaces for this event are limited, it’s being organized on a by-invitation-only basis. Invitations have already gone out and we’re expecting a full house on March 17.

But there are plenty of ways you can participate virtually. There’s a hashtag, of course – #dellb2b – so you can see and participate in the conversation via Twitter. There will no doubt be blog posts, photos and presentations posted to Slideshare. And we will be recording Brian’s presentation and the unconference sessions and publishing them as FIR Speakers & Speeches podcasts.

Plenty to look forward to on March 17.

FIR Speakers and Speeches: Rob Shimmin at Dell B2B Social Media Huddle

Posted on June 29, 2010 at 12:26 pm UK

dellb2b92 The second Dell B2B Social Media Huddle (hashtag: #dellb2b) took place at Microsoft in London on May 25, 2010. The aim of the one-day event was to bring together senior in-house communications and marketing professionals to exchange and share experiences on business-to-business social media for mutual benefit.

Each of the presentations, and some of the unconference sessions, were live-broadcast via UStream (see the video recordings) and audio-recorded for FIR Speakers & Speeches podcasts.

In this FIR Speakers & Speeches podcast, branding expert and public relations professional Rob Shimmin presents the case for why B2B CEOs don’t tweet. It was one of the most popular unconference sessions at this event.

  • While listening to the audio, you can follow the presentation itself with the PowerPoint deck embedded below (or see it at Slideshare).
Rob Shimmin – Why CEOs Don’t Tweet #dellb2b

View more presentations from Dell Inc.

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About the Dell B2B Presenter

robshimmin Rob Shimmin set up Shimmin Ltd in late 2004 after 10 years with Ogilvy PR where he was Managing Director of Europe, Middle East & Africa.

Rob helps spokespeople build and protect brands through message development, media training and crisis simulations.  He currently works with: Biogen Idec, Cisco Systems, CropLife International, Dell, DuPont, Kaspersky Lab, NATS (National Air Traffic Services), Nokia Siemens Networks and VistaJet.

Twitter: @RobShimmin.

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Share your comments or questions about this podcast, or suggestions for future shows, in the FIR FriendFeed Room. You can also email us at fircomments@gmail.com; call the Comment Line at +1 206 222 2803 (North America), +44 20 8133 9844 (Europe), or Skype: fircomments; comment at Twitter: twitter.com/FIR. You can email your comments, questions and suggestions as MP3 file attachments, if you wish (max. 3 minutes / 5Mb attachment, please!). We’ll be happy to see how we can include your audio contribution in a show.

To receive all For Immediate Release podcasts including the weekly Hobson & Holtz Report, subscribe to the full RSS feed.

This FIR Speakers & Speeches is brought to you with Lawrence Ragan Communications, serving communicators worldwide for 35 years. Information: www.ragan.com.

(Cross-posted from For Immediate Release, Shel’s and my podcast blog.)

FIR Speakers and Speeches: Mel Carson at Dell B2B Social Media Huddle

Posted on June 16, 2010 at 9:56 pm UK

dellb2b92 The second Dell B2B Social Media Huddle (hashtag: #dellb2b) took place at Microsoft in London on May 25, 2010. The aim of the one-day event was to bring together senior in-house communications and marketing professionals to exchange and share experiences on business-to-business social media for mutual benefit.

Each of the presentations, and some of the unconference sessions, were live-broadcast via UStream (see the video recordings) and audio-recorded for FIR Speakers & Speeches podcasts.

In this FIR Speakers & Speeches podcast, Mel Carson, Community and Social Media Manager at Microsoft Advertising in the UK, talks about Learning and Earning and offers some practical ideas of how to get the best from social media marketing and your business presence on the web.

About the Dell B2B Presenter

melcarson Mel Carson’s role at Microsoft Advertising is to build relationships within the online advertising community, supporting and educating through the Microsoft Advertising Blog, evangelising through social media, and by speaking about internet marketing at conferences, trade shows & other events.

Mel began his digital advertising career as an editor at the search engine LookSmart in 2000, spending time at 24/7 Search as an Account Director before moving to Microsoft in 2005. He was part of the team that planned and executed the UK roll-out of Microsoft adCenter in August 2006, and it didn’t take much persuasion for Mel to join Microsoft Advertising Community Team when it became apparent that social media marketing was going to be huge!

Mel has spoken about Internet Marketing, adCenter, Search, Social Media & Digital at conferences and events all over the world including US, UK, Canada, Middle East, Ireland, Spain & Iceland.  He also lectures on MBA, MSc and online marketing courses, advising syllabus decision makers at Cranfield School of Management and Birkbeck College, part of London University.

For the last three years, Mel has been writing a digital blog for Media Week at www.MediaWeek.co.uk/Blogs and at his own site www.MelCarson.com.

Twitter: @MelCarson.

FIR on Friendfeed
Share your comments or questions about this podcast, or suggestions for future shows, in the FIR FriendFeed Room. You can also email us at fircomments@gmail.com; call the Comment Line at +1 206 222 2803 (North America), +44 20 8133 9844 (Europe), or Skype: fircomments; comment at Twitter: twitter.com/FIR. You can email your comments, questions and suggestions as MP3 file attachments, if you wish (max. 3 minutes / 5Mb attachment, please!). We’ll be happy to see how we can include your audio contribution in a show.

To receive all For Immediate Release podcasts including the weekly Hobson & Holtz Report, subscribe to the full RSS feed.

This FIR Speakers & Speeches is brought to you with Lawrence Ragan Communications, serving communicators worldwide for 35 years. Information: www.ragan.com.

(Cross-posted from For Immediate Release, Shel’s and my podcast blog.)