Does it still make sense to prioritise iOS in app development? (part 2)
This two part article looks at the changing smartphone landscape and considers whether an “iOS-first” strategy is still the correct one for app developers whether they work in Pharma or not. The first part covered the growth in apps both in mHealth and in general,...
Does it still make sense to prioritise iOS in app development? (part 1)
Since Apple launched the App Store in July 2008 the growth in apps has been staggering, with 40 billion app downloads from a library of over 800,000 apps by 2013. The Android Market (now called Google Play) launched in September 2008 and now has over 700,00 apps....
Pharmageddon
Is this the End of Days for the pharmaceutical industry? You would be forgiven for thinking so. The pharma press has always been full of dire warnings about the threats it is facing, but according to recent research, 3 out of 4 pharma companies now believe they are in the midst of a strategic crisis. Many in the...
Anyone for coffee and cake?
Such an affordable treat and oh, so civilised…
With all our talented bakers and gifted cooks relishing the chance to share their scones, sponges and seafood specials, and with the rest of us always eager to consume their creations, a coffee morning has become a well-loved charity fundraiser here at Life. As the cupcakes...
A Life affirming experience
Life was delighted to be named Communications Agency Team of the Year at the PharmaTimes Marketer of the Year competition in December 2012, especially after being nominated by pharma clients. So we would like to extend a big Thank You to our clients for nominating us.
Each year, the Marketer of the Year...
Second thoughts
Are you a rational person? Do you make choices based on appraisal of the facts and careful consideration of probability and statistics? Most of us think so. But then 80% of us think we are above-average drivers (which is at odds with logic).
The science of decision making has attracted a huge amount of study and generated lots of publications, some of which have become best-sellers. “Blink”, by Malcolm Gladwell, examined the role of...
Brainstorming and brandjamming
“We need more ideas. Let’s have a brainstorm”. Words to strike fear into any creative person’s heart.
‘Brainstorming’ is a word (and technique) loved by marketers who want to get creative, and loathed by most agency people. But we only have ourselves to blame. The term was...
Creative misdirection
What does it take to be a Creative Director these days?
In my day the criteria were pretty specific. The arrogance of a premiership footballer. The skin of a rhino. The constitution of an ox. The testicles of an elephant. The judgement of Solomon. Plus the interpersonal skills of Atilla the Hun.
Emotional intelligence has never been considered a core competency for a CD. The role is not touchy-feely, more kick-in-the-bollocky....
Facebook Graph Search and pharma
Graph Search
On 15 January Facebook announced Graph Search. Two of the members of the team were very high up at Google, but at the launch Mark Zuckerberg made it very clear that this is not web search. At its core level Graph Search is a system for performing personalised...
How close are we to a tricorder?
In the fictional Star Trek universe, a medical tricorder is a small device used by doctors to help diagnose diseases and collect bodily information by simply holding it close to a patient. The advent of smartphones, which are basically hand-held computers, have seen some tremendous strides towards a real tricorder.
Leading these have...
