Learning the Lingo Now in Turbulent Waters *re-edited

Concept became reality when, In 1982, computers became common enough for Allen Stoltzfus, his brother, and brother-in-law to create the computerized language immersion programs known as Rosetta Stone. The company currently offers 31 different language systems. 

theepochtimes.com

The program allows users to learn a new language as they learned their native language. The technology became an excellent tool for travelers, both of business and pleasure, wanting to communicate with the native people they met while traveling. 

For such a straight forward language tool, they sure have been cropping up in the news lately for many different reasons. 

It started March 23^rd. 

In the aftermath of the Japan earthquakes, tsunami, and the still present threat of radiation, a Washington Business Journal announces Rosetta Stone’s offering its services to relief organizations in the form of free Japanese lessons.“It’s our hope that by providing these organizations with the tools their members need to learn Japanese, we can help lessen their burden while increasing their ability to communicate with those in need,” chief executive of Rosetta Stone Tom Adams says.
 

The same day brought an additional announcement for the company. The software was going to be offered internationally; however, the success of this endeavor is pretty up in the air according to the MSNBCarticle by Ed Salwin of the Motley Fool. 

3.bp.blogspot.com

It all sounds great, people of the world learning to communicate together and Japanese being taught to help victims of natural disasters. This was all wonderful news as far as I was concerned until red flags started going up on March 27 and 29. Class action lawsuits are being held against Rosetta Stone.

Izard Nobel LLP is a law firm representing the investors of Rosetta Stone. In a press release issued by Izard Noble, the situation is such: “Rosetta Stone and certain of its officers and directors violated federal securities laws.”

I’ll admit that I know little about law, and am often baffled by law terminology, but through the Izard Nobel press release the Case Complaint is available to the public, page 16 outlines Rosetta Stone’s biggest problem

During the Class Period, Defendants materially misled the investigating public, thereby inflating the price of Rosetta Stone common stock, by publicly issuing false and misleading statements and omitting to disclose material facts necessary to make Defendant’s statements, as set forth herein, not false and misleading. Said statements and omissions were materially false and misleading in that they failed to disclose material adverse information and misrepresented the truth about the Company, its business and operations, as alleged herein.

Mike Flanagan, Cartoonstock.com

This essentially means, the people in charge are being investigated to see if they were honest about their financial situation during the most recent purchase period for stock.

It’s still up in the air for what will happen to the popular language learning software, but I thoroughly hope that these negative recent events will not prevent people from learning a new language and exploring someplace new.

Flying to new, strange heights in advertising

There is nothing so refreshing after a long flight than nipping into the restrooms to wash your hands and make sure you don’t look like you’ve been sitting in a cramped plane for a few hours.

Mirrus

Imagine looking up into the mirror, expecting to see yourself looking back, and seeing a blaring advertisement for Geico insurance zooming up into the corner of the mirror. I appreciate that little gecko as much as the next person, but he is not what I plan on seeing in the airport’s bathrooms.


This is what travelers from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport can expect to see when they stop by the rest rooms. Pepsi, Dove’s body care for men line, Pledge cleaning products, and Microsoft are a few of the advertisers looking to benefit from this newly targeted audience.

Clear Channel Airports’ spokesman Toby J Sturek told the UK’s Daily Mail in a March 8 article “These displays create unique opportunities for marketers to deliver targeted messages that are highly impactful and relevant to consumers.”

As Tnooz writer, Denis Schall, jokes in his March 7 article that from a marketing aspect, there is no better way segment an audience than a men’s room and a lady’s room.

These mirror-advertisement hybrids are made possible by Clear Channel Airports’ teaming up with Mirrus technology. At face value, the technology is rather straight forward and has already been installed in some sports areas. This video created by Mirrus captures the essence of the technology:



It may seem like advertisers are just tossing advertisements in every possible place people might pass in their daily live; however, Mirrus’ founder and president, Brian Reid, assured CNN in a March 6 article, the company chose to target audiences in the bathroom. He points out that bathrooms are often the last place people stop before boarding a plane and the first stop when the plane lands.

Reid also underlines the fact that these mirrors are over the sinks in the bathroom, so doing your business is still a private matter.

digital signage expo

While it was only a matter of time before advertisements crossed the boundary into bathrooms, I must admit that I have mixed feelings about this new technology. It does seem like a new and innovative way to reach the most ideal target audience. I totally agree with Mirrus and Clear Channel’s thinking there. But, contrary to what Reid and Strurek have told reporters, I don’t feel particularly receptive in the bathroom to messages being sent to me through a mirror. Maybe I am too focused to realize that I am incredibly focused, mistaking that amazing focus for an intense desire to wash my hands and move on with my day.

Focused or not, if these mirrors prove successful in Chicago, passengers can expect to see advertisements smiling back at them in the mirrors of other airport bathrooms.

The not so dangerous call after all? *re-edited

“We have just been cleared for takeoff, please disable and stow all portable electronic devices.”

W-cellphones.com

W-cellphones.com

If ever you have flown a commercial flight, you’ve undoubtedly heard these words and stashed you cell phones, blackberries, laptops, and music players. It seems unnecessary, especially considering you can take out iPods and laptops once the plane has reached cruising altitudes.

Why do we have to do this?

Well, all the electronic devices that we love so much emit radio signals that have the potential to interfere with instruments in the cockpit.

“Every regulation we are told to inform to people is a rule because chances are someone either died from it or a significant event transpired where we needed the rule,” says Cole Nesgoda, flight attendant for Compass Airlines. Within the first minute of the pre-flight video by Delta, passengers know what they need to do with their devices.




Why are some devices allowed to be used again but not cell phones?

The easiest answer is that, since 1991, cell phones have been banned on in flight aircraft by the Federal Communications Commission. Phones just emit a stronger radio wave, which leads to a stronger possibility that it could interfere with equipment, even the heavily shielded instruments, on planes.

This doesn’t mean that if you forget to turn off your phone and someone calls you mid-flight you’ll be using your seat cushion as a floatation device. The discovery Channel's Mythbusters even had an episode about the effects of cell phones on equipment. Some European and Asiatic airlines are beginning to allow passengers to take calls in flight.

Veteran pilot John Nance said in an 20/20 article for ABC, despite what federal air officials say, cell phones shouldn’t be a concern when on aircraft, the equipment is all heavily shielded.

Shielded equipment or not, Nesgoda still advocates for the necessity of not using cell-phones,

Cole Nesgoda

Cole Nesgoda

“The main reason why we want ALL electronic devices off is because we have to maintain something called the sterile period of flight, or sterile flight deck. A plane is most likely to crash below 10,000 feet. That is why we need everyone to have everything off with their attention focused on the current environment. If we need to evacuate the aircraft, we need to do it under 60 seconds, no matter how big the plane. Part of doing this falls on us as flight attendants, but it cannot be done if someone is sitting in the aisle seat listening to their iPod or if they are on their phone talking, they will screw the whole process up.”

Safety isn't the only concern when it comes to having phones in flight. Travel blogger John DiScala (or Johnny Jet) told ABC reporters, "it's going to be hell. people are going to be so tired from a long flight and want to sleep, and you're going to hear someone's annoying phone go off and then talking so loud, telling the person on the line everything."

crankyflier.com

For the time being, keep your cells and other transmitting gadgets tucked away while in flight, but it could only be a matter of time before you are as reachable thousands of feet in the air as you are on the ground.