Creative Awards

Once a month in this space we highlight apps and websites that we think might help to make your workday a bit more productive or enjoyable.  Here are this month's suggestions.

Vocabulary.com

A handy online dictionary that also includes a word challenge to test your skills.

Mailtracker

An app that sends real-time notifications of when people view your emails, for iOS. FREE.

Pushbullet

Never lose files again! This app connects devices and allows sharing files between them.  iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox. FREE.

ETA

Never be late again! An app that provides maps, traffic awareness, and the time it will take to reach a location. iOS, $1.99.

Have a favorite app, blog, or website? Nominate it for one of our app awards or website awards in the Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

Once a month in this space we highlight apps and websites that we think might help to make your workday a bit more productive or enjoyable.  Here are this month's suggestions.

Way2Ride

A 2014 American Business Awards Finalist from VeriFone, in San Jose, California, this mobile payment app allows passengers to simply get into a cab, tap to pay, and get out. Available for iPhone, Android. FREE.

Code Halo

It’s the information--the Code Halos--that your customers, products, partners, and employees build and share that make all the difference between success and extinction.  A 2014 American Business Awards Finalist from Cognizant, Teaneck, New Jersey. Available on iOS and Android.

ExpenseCloud

Another 2014 American Business Awards Finalist from Trinet, in San Leandro, California. ExpenzeCloud is a cloud-based solution that allows users to create, submit, and approve expense reports online . Available in iOS, Android & Blackberry.

Fleksy

A winner in The 2013 American Business Awards and a Finalist again this year, Fleksy helps the visually impaired to to use their Smartphones up to four times faster and is now available on Android as well as iPhone.  FREE.

Have a favorite app, blog, or website? Nominate it for one of our app awards or website awards in The International Business Awards (open to all organizations worldwide).

Once a month in this space we highlight apps and websites that we think might help to make your workday a bit more productive or enjoyable.  Here are this month's suggestions.

The Stevie Awards App

Our very own app to keep you informed about upcoming events at The Stevie Awards, including event schedules, event info, and networking with other event attendees.  Available for iPhone and Droid through the App Store. FREE

CardStar
An app recommended to us by ABA Chair Bob Nicoson of ConstantContact. CardStar stores all your rewards, loyalty, and membership card information in one place. Available for iPhone, Android. FREE

The Laughing Squid
Scott Beale's blog on art, culture, and technology.

The Laughing Squid: The Expert
A Laughing Squid video that might resonate with IT or Support people …

NutshellMail
A social media monitoring tool from Constant Contact, providing data on activity on sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Foursquare, Yelp, and more.  FREE

Fivethirtyeight.com
Nate Silver's website analyzing politics, sport, public affairs, science, and more.

Have a favorite app, blog, or website? Nominate it for one of our app awards or website awards in The American Business Awards (open to all organizations in the U.S.A.) or The International Business Awards (open to all organizations worldwide). Both competitions are currently accepting entries.

Once a month in this space we highlight apps and websites that we think might help to make your workday a bit more productive or enjoyable.  Here are this month's suggestions.

Local Vox
A tool for boosting online marketing presence, LocalVox enables busineses to publish news, events, and deal announcements across social media, websites, local directories, and online newsletters.

Alibaba
About to launch its IPO in the U.S.A., this massive Chinese online marketplace handles more sales than Amazon and eBay combined.

Grammarphobia Blog
Everything you need to know about English grammar but were afraid to ask from authors Patricia O'Conner and Stewart Kellerman.

Secret
Find out for yourself all the dirty little secrets of Silicon Valley.  This app from Whisper, LLC is currently only available in North America, but may roll out in other countries soon. iOS, FREE.

Have a favorite app, blog, or website? Nominate it for one of our app awards or website awards in The American Business Awards (open to all organizations in the U.S.A.) or The International Business Awards (open to all organizations worldwide). Both competitions are currently accepting entries.

Once a month in this space we highlight apps and websites that we think might help to make your workday a bit more productive or enjoyable.  Here are this month's suggestions.

TigerText
Originally designed as a business app for enterprise users, TigerText is like SnapChat for work. The mobile version lets you send text messages, pictures, or files that will automatically self-destruct. Available for Android, iOS.  FREE.

DesignNews.com
An online resource and 2013 American Business Awards winner providing news, opinion, analysis, case studies, and tutorials for engineers and engineering managers who design consumer and industrial products and systems.

tw telecom View
The blog of 2013 American Business Awards winner tw telecom, helping businesses of all sizes to access the most progressive, advanced technology in Business Ethernet and managed services.

Mixergy
Sign on to this site to read interviews with nearly 1,000 proven entrepreneurs.

Have a favorite app, blog, or website? Nominate it for one of our app awards or website awards in The American Business Awards (open to all organizations in the U.S.A.) or The International Business Awards (open to all organizations worldwide). Both competitions are currently accepting entries.

Once a month in this space we highlight apps and websites that we think might help to make your workday a bit more productive or enjoyable.  Here are this month's suggestions.

CardMunch               
A free app, from LinkedIn, which takes a picture of a business card and converts it to a contact, and displays LinkedIn profile information and any shared connections.

SlideShark 3.0                      
This Stevie Award-winning new version of SlideShark enables users to show PowerPoints from the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, and broadcast their presentations live over the Web. Free trial available for businesses.

Brazen Life                         
A blog that gives business advice for those working for companies or starting up a business on their own. It covers topics such as job search, social media utilization, advice for succeeding at your job, entrepreneurship, lifestyle design, and career growth.

The Sales Lion
Marcus Sheridan and his team have created a community of passionate people all eager to learn together, with the focus on inbound and content marketing.

Have a favorite app, blog, or website? Nominate it for one of our app awards or website awards in The American Business Awards (open to all organizations in the U.S.A.) or The International Business Awards (open to all organizations worldwide). Both competitions are currently accepting entries.

Egemen Ozcan, Director of Boogy The Event, a special events company based in Istanbul, Turkey, is Chair of the Committee for Final Judging of the website awards categories, app awards categories, and live event awards categories for The 2013 International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards competition. (By overwhelming demand, the final entry deadline for the 10th annual IBAs has been extended through 10 July. No additional late penalties or fees will be charged in association with the deadline extension. If you haven't already done so, you can request your entry kit here and it will be emailed to you right away.)

As director of a company that won last year’s Gold Stevie Award for Best Corporate Event with your work for Coca-Cola Turkey, what advice do you have for corporations looking to promote products to the Turkish market?
Remember that half the population of Turkey is under 30, so the mainstream current in the market is targeted at Generation Y or Millennials. This creates a dream opportunity for brands to gain lifelong brand loyalty by successfully reaching the Gen-Y lifestyle.

The Turkish market is unique: just 10 years ago teenagers still relied mainly on the telephone for conversation, while television was their primary form of entertainment. Today’s teenagers not only use alternative technology channels for communication, but are also major content creators. To reach this group effectively, you must provide them with exciting and interactive content.

Just as teens will always be teens, so marketing to these guys will always be about roughly the same things: Select the right messenger; use an effective delivery channel; and make the content compelling.  What has changed are the definitions of “right,” “effective,” and “compelling.” Marketing to today’s teens requires the same old principles, but a whole new bag of technological tricks.

Finally: Believe in them. Today’s youth will change the world. 

Do you have a favorite app that you use for business purposes?
Bizzabo is my favorite nowadays; however, I’m also working on an app that bans Candy Crusher requests!

If you could choose another profession, what would it be?
For me, it would be music for sure. I’ve been playing drums since I was a student and would love to do so in a more professional way. Maybe it’s not too late?

As someone at the top of your profession, what keeps you inspired or makes you hit the ground running in the morning?
Inspiration is simply somewhere outside, in the souls of non-professional people.  As you’ve no doubt seen on the news, millions of Turkish citizens have been outraged by plans to build a shopping mall on Istanbul's Gezi Park.  You can see Turkey’s creative skills at work in the many blogs, social media, and graphics that have sprung up during the past month. There’s even a new word for it: Chapulling.

We marketing professionals commonly believe that we are the only truly creative people, but the real creativity is somewhere outside. Society should be our inspiration. 

About Egemen Özcan:
Egemen Özcan is a Director and Board Member of Boogy The Event Company in Istanbul, Turkey. He is responsible for the creation, development, and execution of all events in a multidisciplinary system.   Egemen started his music and event career during his undergraduate studies at Turkey’s renowned Middle East Technical University. In 2006, after hosting a series of freelance events, Egemen joined Boogy The Event Company as the leader of the Event Department. Egemen is an expert in creative content and new marketing concepts—and he is still playing his drums. 

About Boogy The Event:
Established in 1991, Boogy has become a leading event and incentive company providing boutique services and customized solutions integrated with the marketing and communication strategies of its business partners. The company is based in Istanbul, Turkey, and has over 20 years of experience organizing corporate events and direct marketing. For more information go to: www.boogy.com.tr

The 2013 American Business Awards, the premier business awards competition in the U.S.A., feature a wide selection of categories to recognize the achievements of creative professionals working in web development, corporate communications, video production, app development, investor relations, and live events. (The second early-bird entry deadline for the 2013 ABAs is quickly approaching on December 12. Take advantage of discounted entries fees for entries submitted by December 12, request your entry kit here.)

Here are five ways to win creative media awards in The 2013 American Business Awards:

1. App Awards Categories
   These categories recognize excellence in apps for handheld and tablet devices, and for PCs, issued or updated since January 1, 2012.
2. Annual Report Awards & Other Literature Categories
   These categories recognize excellence in annual reports, brochures, marketing and sales kits, house organs (corporate magazines), and other publications issued since January 1, 2012.
3. Live Event Awards Categories
   These categories recognize excellence in live events staged since January 1, 2012.
4. Video Awards Categories
   These categories recognize excellence in videos produced for a business- or work-related purpose that were first released or otherwise made public since January 1, 2012.
5. Website Awards Categories
   These categories recognize excellence in web sites and blogs. There is no eligibility timeframe for these categories - it doesn't matter when the site or blog was first published.

Want more tips on winning creative awards? Download our 10 Tips for Winning Creative Media Awards in the Stevie® Awards tipsheet for helpful tips and tools.

Akihito Tsukioka, founder of Digitized Information, Inc., in Tokyo, Japan, is Chair of the committee for final judging of the annual report awards and other literature categories, website awards categories, app awards categories, video awards categories, and live event awards categories of The 2012 International Business Awards.  (Sign up here to receive information on how to enter The 2013 International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards competition, opening in January.) We recently caught up with him in his busy DigInfo TV office in Tokyo.

What do you think are most exciting ideas/innovations that have been posted on DigInfo TV in the past year?
In my opinion, the three most exciting new ideas I have seen recently, and which may well be available soon, are:

1. The Ubi-Camera, which takes photos composed by framing them with your hands. A research group at the Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences in Japan is developing this prototype miniature camera. When you draw a picture or take a photo, you sometimes form a rectangle with your hands to decide the composition. With this camera, you can take a photo using the exact same motion. The camera contains a range sensor, and the framing is determined by the distance between the camera and the photographers face. With the current system, which is still in development, the lens has a fixed focal length, and zooming is done digitally on a PC.
2. The True 3D display technology, developed by Burton, which uses a laser to create luminous points of light at desired locations in air or underwater. This system is an evolved version of technology co-developed by AIST and Keio University, first announced in 2006. It works by focusing laser light to produce plasma excitation from the oxygen and nitrogen in the air. The researchers state that this is the world's first technology to show pictures without the constraint of a screen. Most current 3D devices project pictures onto a 2D screen, and make the pictures appear 3D through an optical illusion. But this device actually shows images in mid-air, so a feature of this system is that it enables 3D objects to be viewed naturally.
3. A research group at the Tokyo University of Science, led by Associate Professor Shinichi Komaba, has confirmed that hard carbon obtained by pyrolyzing sucrose, the main constituent of sugar, is an effective anode material for sodium ion batteries. Currently, most rechargeable batteries are lithium ion batteries. Japan imports its entire supply of lithium, a rare metal, so lithium ion batteries are expensive. Sodium ion batteries are intended to overcome lithium's disadvantages of high price and scarcity.  The supply of sodium is unlimited. Also, sodium ion batteries can be made using iron, aluminum, and sodium, rather than cobalt or copper as before. What's more, results show that using carbon made from sugar as the anode can increase battery capacity. So high-performance batteries may be achievable using cheaper, more abundant materials. The Komaba Group has achieved a storage capacity that is 20% higher than that of conventional hard carbon. It's expected that many researchers will work on making sodium ion batteries commercially viable. The Komaba Group anticipates it may take about five years to achieve a practical version.

What is your favorite app?
Dropbox, a free service that stores info across computers, mobile phones, tablets, whatever.

If you could choose another profession, what would it be?
An actor.

As someone at the top of your profession, what keeps you inspired or makes you hit the ground running in the morning?
The awareness that I will discover something new with each new day.

About Akihito Tsukioka:
Akihito Tsukioka has been in the translation business for over 25 years.  He also has experience in public relations and communications.  Akihito founded Digitized Information, Inc. in 1986.  The company provides its customers with tailor-made video production and translation services. Its website, http://www.diginfo.tv/, receives 70,000 views per day on YouTube. 

Mr. Tsukioka received a master's degree in city planning from the University of California, Berkeley, and is based in Tokyo, Japan.

About Digitized Information, Inc:
Digitized Information is a Tokyo-based video production/translation company providing videos of the latest cutting-edge technology and products from Japan in both English and Japanese. Established in 1986, the company employs a small team of video production staff in Japan, and works with a number of translators in various time zones.

MAVI Interactive of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA, has won the Gold Stevie® Award for Best Training Application in the app awards categories of The 2012 International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards competition. (2013 entries will open in January. Join our mailing list and be the first to receive the 2013 IBA entry kit.)

First released in 2010, the Agent Surefire series of immersive cyber-security training games allow trainees to practice—in first person view—how to notice and avoid cyber-security vulnerabilities inside a workspace. The Stevie Award-winning Agent Surefire: Insider Threat is the third chapter in this series.

Bora Aytun, co-founder and CEO of MAVI Interactive, says: “Gaining critical-thinking skills is essential in securing an organization’s intellectual property.

“Cyber attacks are constantly evolving. It is next to impossible to keep up with all the new threats. We simply must learn to recognize the signs and avoid common mistakes.”

The Weakest Link
Adds Aytun: “Cyber attackers always aim for the weakest link in the chain of defense, which is usually vulnerability caused by an individual’s day-to-day actions. Technology can’t always save users from making poor choices, so users must become aware of their direct impact in securing sensitive information.”

Aytun concludes: “Unfortunately, the standard security awareness training methods—such as slideshows, text, and illustrations—are usually perceived by the trainees as boring and complicated, even punitive. This creates resistance to the training. In an immersive game setting, however, the learning is engaging, experiential, and natural.”

How it’s Done
Trainees are asked to take on the role of “Agent Surefire”, find and categorize Threat Vectors and Vulnerabilities, and to stop an on-going breach from happening. The human-interest storyline keeps the attention level high, while the original score—played by a 30-piece orchestra—enhances the multi-sensory experience. (MAVI has posted a teaser video on Vimeo. If you would like to try the training game for yourself.)

The game content is run on the MAVI Serious Game Engine, which collects time-stamped behavioral information on each trainee, and provides training administrators with a clear understanding of each trainee's critical-thinking skills as well as identifying their weaknesses.

Says Aytun: “At MAVI, we are absolutely devoted to playing our part in creating a fundamental change in the way we train people. We believe that a majority of the great content our educators produce remains unabsorbed by trainees because of inefficient methods of delivery devised back in the 19^th century. Neuroscience today is teaching us how to deliver content in ways the human brain can easily absorb. Our mission is to make the highest quality experiential learning available to the masses. With our powerful platform we create highly effective training simulations at a fraction of the cost and time.”

About Bora Aytun
Bora Aytun is the CEO of MAVI Interactive, LLC, which he co-founded in 2008.  He is also the co-founder of MAVI Film, specializing in Internet/TV broadcast integration and B2B product development for the broadcast industry. Prior to that, he was IS Project Manager at Alpha Scientific Corporation.  In 1990, Aytun started his own consulting company, MAVI Consulting, serving a number of media and marketing companies in Turkey from 1990 to 1998. Aytun has a degree in Business Administration and Communications from Ege University in Turkey.

About MAVI Interactive:
MAVI Interactive develops immersive training simulations and Serious Games. The company partners with industry leaders in training and education to create a wide range of engaging learning tools. MAVI’s partners and clients benefit from an award-winning gamification methodology and the MAVI Serious Gaming Engine and Platform to drastically reduce deployment time and costs in solving challenging training problems. For more information, call 888-708-6284 or visit the website at www.maviinteractive.com.