Category Archives: Technology

14 Million Americans Scanned QR or Bar Codes on their Mobile Phones in June 2011

By Guest PostAugust 12, 2011Technologybrand engagement, Comscore, kiosk, mark donovan, matrix bar code, mobile qr and bar code scanning, public transit, qr codes, quick response, smartphones

*Newspapers/Magazines and Product Packaging Most Likely Source of QR Code*

*QR Code Users Most Likely to Scan Code while at Home or Store*

RESTON, VA, August 12, 2011 – comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today released results of a study on mobile QR and bar code scanning based on data from its comScore MobiLens service. A QR (“Quick Response”) code is a specific matrix bar code (or two-dimensional code) that is readable by smartphones. The study found that in June 2011, 14 million mobile users in the U.S., representing 6.2 percent of the total mobile audience, scanned a QR or bar code on their mobile device. The study found that a mobile user that scanned a QR or bar code during the month was more likely to be male (60.5 percent of code scanning audience), skew toward ages 18-34 (53.4 percent) and have a household income of $100k or above (36.1 percent). The study also analyzed the source and location of QR or bar code scanning, finding that users are most likely to scan codes found in newspapers/magazines and on product packaging and do so while at home or in a store. (more…)

Colombian Online Travel Sector Grows 25 Percent in the Past Year

By Guest PostAugust 11, 2011Technologyalejandro fosk, avianca, Colombia, Comscore, copaair, despegar decolar sites, expedia inc, latin america, online travel agent, online travel market in colombia, online travel sector, travel websites

*Despegar-Decolar Sites Ranks as Top Online Travel Destination*

Bogotá, Colombia, August 11, 2011 – comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today released the latest results from a study on the online travel market in Colombia. The study found that in the past year visitation to the Travel category increased 25 percent to reach 3.2 million unique visitors in Colombia, as more online users utilized the web to research and purchase travel. Despegar-Decolar Sites led as the top travel destination in Colombia reaching 453,000 unique visitors in June, followed by Expedia Inc. and Avianca.com.

“Nearly 1 in 4 online users in Colombia visited a travel site in June,” said Alejandro Fosk, comScore senior vice president for Latin America. “Travel sites have witnessed rapid visitor growth in the past year as more consumers embrace the online channel for their travel needs while brands continue to improve the user experience by upgrading site features. Given that more mature online markets around the globe see upwards of half of their online population frequenting travel sites, there is much potential for continued growth in Colombia’s online travel sector.” (more…)

New Anticensorship Scheme Could Make it Impossible to Block Individual Sites

By Guest PostAugust 10, 2011Technologyalex halderman, Beijing, brainchild of computer science researchers, canada, censoring government, cryptographic protocol, cryptographic technique, https website, individual sites, internet, internet censorship, internet service providers, isps, proxy server, public key steganography, san francisco, steganography, telex, telex stations, university of michigan, university of waterloo, usenix security symposium, web, youtube videos

ANN ARBOR, Mich.— A radical new approach to thwarting Internet censorship would essentially turn the whole web into a proxy server, making it virtually impossible for a censoring government to block individual sites.

The system is called Telex, and it is the brainchild of computer science researchers at the University of Michigan and the University of Waterloo in Canada. They will present it Aug. 12 at the USENIX Security Symposium in San Francisco. (more…)

comScore Reports $37.5 Billion in Q2 2011 U.S. Retail E-Commerce Spending, Up 14 Percent vs. Year Ago

By Guest PostAugust 8, 2011Technologyandrew lipsman, computer hardware, computer software, Comscore, comscore chairman, consumer electronics, e-commerce, economic growth, event tickets, gian fulgoni, growth rate, us retail e-commerce sales

*comScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni to Present Update on Q2 2011 E-Commerce Trends in Upcoming Webinar*

RESTON, VA, August 8, 2011 – comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today released its Q2 2011 U.S. retail e-commerce sales estimates, which showed that online retail spending reached $37.5 billion for the quarter, up 14 percent versus year ago. This growth rate represented the seventh consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and third consecutive quarter of double-digit growth rates. (more…)

Microsoft Facility Helps You Make Yourself at Home in the Future

By Guest PostAugust 8, 2011Technologybing maps, craig mundie, digital photo frames, doorbell, eclectic prototyping team, executive briefing center, grace, graphical user interface, gui, jonathan cluts, kinect for xbox 360, microsoft home, microsoft veteran, mobile phone, musician, natural user interface, non traditional setting, nuclear physicist, nui, palm scan, powerpoint presentation, strategic prototyping team, Technology

*The first Microsoft Home was built in 1994 to show people how technology could transform everyday experiences, and now years later, the reinvented full-scale model home continues imagine a future in which interacting with computers is as comfortable as coming home.*

REDMOND, Wash. – Aug. 8, 2011 – If there’s no place like home, there’s definitely no place like the Microsoft Home.

There’s a doorbell, but a palm-scan or mobile phone will also open the front door. Sensors let you know your plants need watering. You can check the inventory of your fridge and pantry via your phone while you’re out shopping. Grace, the home’s computer, will even help you check on your grandmother, remember to take your medicine, study up for a big anatomy test, or make focaccia without the need for a recipe book.

“Grace, what’s up?” asks Microsoft Home tour guide Jonathan Cluts once inside the front door. A pleasant-voiced computer responds with updates about appointments, messages, and even information about the weather, traffic and the electric scooter that is charging outside the front door. (more…)

comScore Reports June 2011 U.S. Mobile Subscriber Market Share

By Guest PostAugust 4, 2011Technologyapple, blogs, Comscore, comscore mobilens, device manufacturer, google android, market share, Microsoft, mobilens data, motorola, oem, Samsung, smartphone, Social networking sites, symbian, u.s. mobile phone

*2 out of 5 Smartphone Subscribers Now Use Android Platform*

RESTON, VA, August 4, 2011 – comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today released data from the comScore MobiLens service, reporting key trends in the U.S. mobile phone industry during the three month average period ending June 2011. The study surveyed more than 30,000 U.S. mobile subscribers and found Samsung to be the top handset manufacturer overall with 25.3 percent market share. Google Android continued to gain ground in the smartphone market reaching 40.1 percent market share in June.

OEM Market Share

For the three month average period ending in June, 234 million Americans ages 13 and older used mobile devices. Device manufacturer Samsung ranked as the top OEM with 25.3 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers (up 0.8 percentage points), followed by LG with 21.3 percent share (up 0.4 percentage points) and Motorola with 14.5 percent share. Apple strengthened its position at #4 with 8.9 percent share of mobile subscribers (up 1.0 percentage points), while RIM rounded out the top five with 7.9 percent share. (more…)

Dressing for the Future: Microsoft Duo Breaks Through with Wearable Technology Concept

By Guest PostAugust 3, 2011Technology3d projects for microsoft, asta roseway, best concept and best in show, black and white rice paper, catwalk, designer for analog labs, electricfoxy, electronic entertainment expo, fashion, incubation for xbox technology, iswc, lady gaga poster, martin small, Microsoft, microsoft designers, microsoft research, old fashioned typewriter keys, prototype, research, san francisco, sheridan martin small, symposium on wearable computers, Technology, the printing dress, ugly things, xbox, xbox incubation

*Microsoft designers create “The Printing Dress,” an award-winning wearable technology creation that’s turning heads in design circles.*

REDMOND, Wash. – Aug. 3, 2011 – Microsoft and fashion aren’t often mentioned in the same breath – until now. In the heart of Microsoft Research is a dress that’s turning heads without ever being worn on a catwalk.

“The Printing Dress,” a project created by Microsoft Research’s Asta Roseway and Xbox’s Sheridan Martin Small, is one of the first pieces of fashion technology to emerge from the company. The women and their dress won Best Concept and Best in Show at the 15th annual International Symposium on Wearable Computers (ISWC) in San Francisco this June. (more…)

Online Banking Approaches 3 Million Visitors in Mexico

By Guest PostAugust 2, 2011Technologybancomer, banking websites, citigroup, composition index, Comscore, grupo bbva, hsbc, iván marchant, Mexico, online banking market in mexico, online users

*Grupo BBVA and Citigroup Rank as Most-Visited Online Banking Destinations*

Mexico City, Mexico, August 2, 2011 – comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today released the latest results from a study on the online banking market in Mexico. The study found that nearly 3 million online users in the country visited banking websites during June 2011, reaching nearly 15 percent of the entire online population age 15 and older. Grupo BBVA (which includes Bancomer.com.mx) led as the most-visited online banking property with 810,000 visitors, followed closely by Citigroup with 776,000 visitors. The study also found that although Mexico’s online audience skews largely younger, online bankers are predominately older in age with visitors age 55 and older being the most overrepresented banking audience segment. (more…)