Week 7 - MKTG 3349 - Apple Software

 One of the largest companies in the world is Apple. From smartphones, watches, computers, and now even cars, Apple has had an impact on most people lives in one way or another. Their power in the market is beyond any similar competitor and their use of software, especially on their iPhones, has kept customers coming back for years. Every year or so, Apple will push a new software update across all iPhone devices that gives users better compatibility with their product, new features to explore, and a better overall experience on their platform. 

(Ad pushed by Apple to show new features available through IOS 16)

IOS 16 is the latest software update Apple marketed which had many new features that got customers excited. The most popular of these features included a customizable Lock Screen. Being able to have multiple lock screen presets, Apple gave its customers a more personal experience that everyone can utilize and be proud to create. 

This software update was marketed towards being more creative, personal, and user friendly because they want their customers to be happy with their product and show that as a company, they want you to explore and use these new features provided by the company. By using the different features pushed out, Apple can then gauge how to go about future software updates, what works, what doesn't, and in what areas they need to improve. 

Week 6 - MKTG 3349 - Social Media Algorithms and Search Tactics

 With the introduction of software as well as different various search engines, each one is unique in their own way to how they refine searches, target a certain demographic of people, and make their product, service, or idea pop up more accurately and more often than others. Companies such as Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and many others use these tactics to target potential customers. 

Many third party companies and business use these social media platforms in an attempt to reach out to potential customers. According to Sproutsocial, they describe this activity as the algorithm being used by the company. Different companies have their own algorithms in place but they are all similar in the fact that they tailor your personal experience on their platform based on your likes, your interests, and other information specific to the individual. 

                  (Instagram explore page puts ones linked interests all in one spot)

For example, if someone loves dogs, follows dog related accounts, likes dog related pictures, they will be shown more posts, advertisements, and other people who have similar interests. This is the way social media companies grow interest, keep customers coming back, and allow third party companies to advertise their products on their website. Instagram is a great example because the feed on your own personal page reflects your interests almost perfectly. Next time you are on a major social media site, pay close attention to what is shown to you versus what is shown tom others. The results will be vastly different from person to person. 

Week 5 - MKTG 3348 - Google Ads Helpful Tools for Businesses

While taking my first practice run through the Google Search ad certification exam, I saw a lot of terms that I have been reading about and I also saw some that I did not recognize. Google ads provides extensive opportunities for a business to grow, track its goals, and plan for future campaigns. Google ads has many different tools to track this success and plan for the future and I wanted to highlight some of my favorite tools that I believe to be most helpful to businesses, large or small. 

Google trends is a great indicator for businesses to see user interactions in different time periods, using the same common keyword. For example, more people are going to be searching for swimming pools and beaches more frequently during the summer than the winter in Illinois. Some products and services are more in demand in designated time intervals during the year. By checking google trends and using that tool as a valuable resource, many businesses can plan their future and know what to expect in the market. 

Above is shown the Google ads Keyword Planner 

Another valuable tool within Google ads is Google Keyword Planner. This function is free to its users which makes it available for anyone to access and utilize. Google will give suggestions to key words that will get clicks, estimates the interactions, price per click, placement of the ads, and even shows a detailed graph of the expectations of putting that ad out to market. It is a very useful tool because a computer generated keyword is made from the many google searches typed in across the globe and makes it unique to your business and goals with the ad.

Week 4 - MKTG 3349 - Employers Renting Workers, Not Selling Products

While reading through chapter three in Surfing the Tsunami by Todd Kelsey, I came across several articles relating to AI and their impacts on the modern world, especially pertaining to employers, employees, and how AI has impacted a wide variety of job markets. The article that really stood out to me the most was Some of the World’s Largest Employers No Longer Sell Things, They Rent Workers by Lauren Webber and published by The Wall Street Journal. The article covers how most people would expect companies such as Ford, General Electric Co. and others to employ the most workers. However, these top known companies are not even close to being among the top employers. 

The companies that sit towards the top of the list commonly use outsourcing to help cut costs while being able to have their employees focus their time and energy on other products. Outsourcing is when a company will send tasks elsewhere, usually overseas, in order to cut costs. In turn, this is a driving factor of income inequality, underpaying workers, and supports poor workplace infrastructure. 

(Most common jobs that are outsourced)

For example, when a normal occupation for a company is then offered by an outsourcing firm, those employees can then be displaced, moved around, or moved into different positions. This usually leads to lower pay as well as employees not feeling secure. If all employees are under one large umbrella, wages and benefits are much more stable and predictable than when multiple outsourcing firms place employees at the same location. 

Week 3 - MKTG 3349 - Self Driving Vehicles

One example of physical artificial intelligence in our world is self driving cars, such as Tesla. By creating algorithms and a code for the car to operate, the vehicle is constantly taking pictures of its surroundings, making observations, and making decisions based its conclusions. Artificial intelligence in a vehicle is risky because safety is the most important factor while driving, and the vehicle must make the correct decisions or it could crash and cause damage to the passengers inside, other vehicles, pedestrians, and many other obstacles. Google and other companies are working towards the eventual goal of a fully driverless car that can function without a human, but time will tell until that happens. 

(Pictured above is a self driving Tesla with someone still behind the wheel) Tesla.com

Some might think to themselves, how is a self driving car possible? With the use of hardware and software, self driving cars are the way of the future and are becoming more and more popular, especially in the United States. Hardware is the physical computer chip that performs calculations and helps communicate to the vehicle on what tasks to perform, when to complete them, and starts thinking of the next steps all within rapid succession of one another. Hardware is more permanent than software which is changing all the time and constantly updating.

Hardware and software work hand in hand with each other to make things work, communicate the correct information, and complete tasks. Without software, there would be no direction and no guidance for a machine or self driving car to do what it is supposed to. Software can be uploaded from the internet, be included on the device, and upgraded. While trying to find answers to its questions and on its quest to complete tasks, software is like a human and tries to find its best and most effective path from one point to another. With self driving cars becoming more popular year by year, it won't be long until completely self driving cars are on the road thanks to the combination of hardware and software at work to make difficult tasks, seamless and without problems. 

Week 2 - MKTG 3349 - Artificial Intelligence

 Artificial Intelligence, or popularly known simply as AI, has been continually getting smarter, more efficient, and used in our lives every day. This article post would not be possible without the help and assistance of AI. Instead of humans being behind everything you do, machines have the ability to adapt to circumstances and situations to complete tasks. Most people, when they hear of artificial intelligence, think of robots and how they will eventually take over the world. Although the goal of artificial intelligence is to closely mimic human-like levels of intelligence, it is still in its early stages of its life and there is much to be done before AI can replicate true human intelligence. 

There are different types of AI and the most popular and well known are physical robots and software bots. When I use the term "robot" I am referring to the physical machine in use top complete automated tasks. These can be found in factories to build automobiles, fill up soda cans, or print the graphics on the shirt you are currently wearing. Automation is possible through the use of robots and companies take advantage of this for many reasons. Although these machines cost a steep fixed cost at first, over time the company saves money from not paying direct labor wages as well as being able to increase product output exponentially. 

Robots involved in vehicle automation process

Software AI is just as important as physical AI in today's world and you use it every single day without realizing its importance. Social Media, online shopping, and even calculators are all examples of software AI that we take for granted and do not realize the complexity behind such commonly used platforms and tools. Software AI completes given tasks with ease where the average human would take much longer to complete the same duty. For the time being, software and physical robots are not autonomous and are designed and coded to complete the task that it is given and that's all. The day AI becomes autonomous, is the same day humanity is at risk. 

 This is a test.