Google is one of the largest search engine in the world and we all know that. More than that, we trust Google and, once we trust a brand, it’s hard to switch to anything else. Bing, however, has been trying to get people to do just that: use their search engine instead of Google or any other. Recently, Bing came out with a new campaign that really got people talking about. It’s called “Bing Summer of Doing.” This is how it works: Bing started picking up some of the main search words on the web (swimming, camping, BBQ, etc) and paired them with awesome images that were then the canvas for great typographers. The results were quite amazing (check image below!!!!!!). After that, Bing promoted this campaign everywhere! The results? 200,000+ Facebook Fans, 1,452 crowdsourced songs, 4 Instagram contents with more than 1,000 likes, 1,500 tweets, and an increase of 1,451% community growth on Tumblr. Yep. People liked this a lot!

http://creativity-online.com/work/bing-the-summer-of-doing/36302

Why it’s hot:This was a great way to make searching fun! It definitely drove people to Bing and grabbed their attention for good. For some reason, we (I in particular) love seeing images with great typography. It’s art and so fun to look at. Bing did it right, and by promoting all of it on different platforms, they got what they wanted — more users to have fun while searching for their next summer adventure.

“Data” seems to be a big word nowadays. People are looking into data more and more to solve their company’s challenges and come up with creative solutions. While many companies like to collect and analyze data in a subtle way, other companies are not that discrete. Verizon, for instance, is now trading rewards for people’s location and web browsing information. If you allow them to track your data, then they will reward you with “Smart Rewards” that offers customers credit card-style perks like discounts for shopping, travel and dining.” The data is used by Verizon to get some insight into people’s usage habits and demographic data.

Why it’s hot:
“The program is novel in that offers Verizon users some compensation for the collection of their data, which has become big business for telecom and tech companies.” While other companies are collecting data without providing any compensation, at least Verizon is making it “economically worth while” for people to give out their data and have it be looked at anonymously. How much are people willing to trade for some goodies?

Jaguar Land Rover recently came up with a technology that allows its drivers to have the experience of a lifetime. Most of us don’t race really because we don’t have the experience to do so, and if we can’t, then we usually find ourselves taking that adventure to the video game platform. Jaguar Land Rover, however, created something that will make racing fans go crazy. It’s called “Jaguar Virtual Windscreen.” The windscreen will be able to pull up “speed, navigation and hazard data before drivers’ eyes.” This new virtual technology “turns the road ahead into a race-track like experience, creating racing lines and “ghost car” visualizations that allow drivers to pace themselves against previous laps or those from other drivers.”

Source: http://creativity-online.com/work/jaguar-virtual-windscreen-concept/36369

Why It’s Hot:
Some people will say this new tech is dangerous because it’s encouraging drivers to drive faster and more reckless. This was, however, designed to give the driver more control over his or her vehicle, enhancing their driving skills while on the road. It also alerts you when there’s a hazardous situation, so you’ll know better how to react. It is an awesome addition to the hundreds of things that are coming out in the market that is meant to make our lives safer and smarter. Plus, who wouldn’t want to be “in” a video game, anyways?

This week I stumbled upon a digital and social campaign that really restored my faith in the world. A campaign made in Spain brings out the hardships that homeless people encounter everyday, but instead of focusing on what they don’t have, they decide to help the ones living in the street by using the only thing they do have: their handwriting. The handwriting that they use usually to write on their cardboard was transformed into fonts that can be viewed, bought and downloaded online by brands. When the brands enter the website they’re also able to view the stories of many of these homeless people, being able to understand and live part of their story. On top of that, people were able to download the fonts through an app and customize their own social media platforms, therefore sharing this experience and spreading the word.

Watch the video here

Why it’s hot:
This campaign is now one of my favorites. It is so creative in finding a way to help the homeless other than simply showing people the difficult life they have and then asking for money. It is also engaging in a way that it attracts people online, but also big brands from all over the world. This could be a major turning point in the lives of many. It shows that when we have smart ideas and think outside of the box, we can make the world a better place for everyone.