Press Releases & News

VAR-PROVENCE CRUISE CLUB, HOME TO TOURIST HOT SPOTS SAINT-TROPEZ AND THE FRENCH RIVIERA, EXPECTS DOUBLE THE PASSENGERS FOR 2010

Please click the thumbnails below to open high-resolution images. Photo 1: Port at Sanary Photo 2: Hiking on Porquerolles Photo 3: Brigitte Barbot exhibition poster Photo 4: Var Provence Cruise Club logo

Chicago, February 26, 2010 (word count: 497)
The Var-Provence region is the second leading touristic destination in France just after Paris. Located on the southern coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea and drenched in sun for at least 300 days of the year, this region is a commonly called-on tourist location. Its home to famous places such as Saint-Tropez and the stunning lush valley of the Verdon River Gorge. The Var-Provence Cruise Club reports that more than 175,000 passengers visited the region last year and expects double the amount for 2010.

Aware of the huge potential and the growing cruise deployment in the area, the local community, which includes the Var Chamber of Commerce and Industry and General Council, decided to create the Cruise Club in order to promote the Var-Provence region as one of the most valuable destinations in the Western Mediterranean.

Launched in 2008, the Var-Provence Cruise Club (VPCC) is a network of ten ports: Saint-Cyr, Bandol, Six-Fours/Les Embiez, Sanary, Toulon/La Seyne, Hyères/Porquerolles,  Le Lavandou, Cavalaire, Saint-Tropez and Saint-Raphaël, offering a wide range of excursions in both authentic and secret Provence and the attractive French Riviera.

With 175,250 cruise passengers welcomed in 2009 and more than 320,000 passengers expected in 2010, Var-Provence is an increasingly popular destination among cruise companies. Around 70% of these passengers have been welcomed in Toulon-La Seyne, the only port where cruise ships, among the largest in the world, can berth.

“There are three big reasons that come together to explain why we’re expecting such a dramatic increase in passengers for this year,” says Delphine Beudin, cruise operations and promotions manager for VPCC. “First, the VPCC ports are gaining more notoriety in the business world and in the media thanks to marketing initiatives like hosting trade shows and educational tours. Next, Var-Provence caters to all types of clientele, offering nautical and tourist attractions for young, old, athletic or leisurely visitors. Lastly, the region is renowned worldwide for its varied natural spaces — from forests to islands to river gorges.”

The Var-Provence Cruise Club will be exhibiting at the Cruise Shipping Miami trade show from March 15 to 18, 2010, on the French Pavilion at booth 959 in Hall A.  During the show, the VPCC will launch its new website www.varprovence-cruise.com: a unique and ideal tool for professionals within the cruise industry. This website delivers complete information on both technical and touristic aspects to help cruise executives and partners organize and schedule their calls in Var-Provence. Individual sessions demonstrating the new site will be provided by the VPCC team during the trade show.

Additionally, the French Mediterranean Leading Cruise Ports are hosting a cocktail reception at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16. During the reception, the VPCC will welcome one of its most prestigious ports: Saint-Tropez. The managing director of the Saint-Tropez tourist board will attend and will be able to provide exclusive information about the launch of a special Brigitte Bardot (“B.B”) exhibition which will take place in Saint-Tropez in Summer 2010.

For more information, please contact:

VAR PROVENCE CRUISE CLUB
Delphine Beudin
Cruise Promotion & Operations Manager
236 Bd Maréchal Leclerc – BP 5501
83097 Toulon Cedex
FRANCE
Tel.: +33 4 94 22 88 18
Fax: +33 4 94 22 80 81
E-mail: commercial@varprovence-cruise.com
Web: www.varprovence-cruise.com

or:

FRENCH TECHNOLOGY PRESS OFFICE
205 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3740
Chicago, IL 60601
Tel.: (312) 327-5260
E-mail: contact.ftpo@ubifrance.fr

Chicago, February 26, 2010 (word count: 427)
NINSIGHT, a specialist in software solutions aimed at the television, audiovisual and multimedia sectors, will be introducing its latest innovations at NABSHOW 2010 in Las Vegas from April 12 to 15: BB-TV, a Mac application for broadcasting digital videos and graphic compositions; NINSIGHT E-XS, a solution replacing sets of static and broadcast graphic-layering equipment as well as the graphics generators needed by broadcasting channels, and PROTITLE Live, a software solution for live subtitling in TV programs, conferences and symposiums intended for the hearing-impaired. The company will be exhiting on the French Pavilion at booth N1005.

NINSIGHT is revolutionizing broadcasting by providing all of the tools and techniques required to meet the demands of users like local channels, Web TV, digital film, museums, internal and remote broadcasts etc. BB-TV is an all-inclusive professional TV broadcast solution installed on a single Mac computer. With BB-TV, everyone can watch their media at their convenience before or after broadcast, or find what they want by searching through their own libraries. Users import their media into BB-TV, arrange them into categories and create media listings, broadcast listings, blocs, libraries, graphic templates. They can broadcast as they see fit, and this can be automated, done manually, looped or over several days. BB-TV handles SD or HD formats, adding appropriate signage, text or logos. The software alone retails for €499 (about $680 USD), which makes it the least expensive solution on the market.

With E-XS, the benefits and confidence provided by autonomous equipment are gathered into an all-inclusive solution. This new solution can process both SD and HD video signals. It makes creating sophisticated graphic layering simple and intuitive. E-XS allows real-time text, logo, animation, video and subtitle embedding. E-XS is an economical alternative to traditional equipment, since a single station can, for instance, favorably replace the following items for a TV channel: two logo generators, two synthesizers, one text generator fed by SMS or news, and subtitling equipment. All graphics processing is in real-time, and several software apps can be launched simultaneously, locally or via the network to meet user requirements. Its price is three to five times below that of existing solutions.

To meet new requirements in vocal recognition and speed-of-sound subtitling, NINSIGHT introduces PROTITLE LIVE, a comprehensive subtitling solution designed for live work, but which can be favorably used in production. Based on the latest in vocal recognition technology, PROTITLE LIVE is also used anywhere transcribing cannot be pre-recorded (symposiums, lectures etc). PROTITLE LIVE is available in a closed-caption version intended for countries broadcasting in NTSC.

For more information, please contact:

NINSIGHT
Jean-Marie Barthelemy
President
175 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau
92130 Issy les Moulineaux
FRANCE
Tel.: + 33 (0) 1 73 19 00 00
E-mail: jm.barthelemy@ninsight.com
Web: www.ninsight.com

or:

FRENCH TECHNOLOGY PRESS OFFICE
205 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3740
Chicago, IL 60601
Tel.: (312) 327-5260
E-mail: contact.ftpo@ubifrance.fr

FIND YOUR WAY ON MULTIPLE TRANSIT ROUTES WITH KAPTEN FOR iPHONE AND KAPTEN NG GPS ON THE MOVE

Chicago, February 25, 2010 (word count: 627)
Kapsys, a specialist in portable GPS devices, has launched the Kapten  for iPhone application, a comprehensive navigation application for use with the iPhone, and Kapten NG, the smallest pocket-size multi-transport GPS device on the market.

Following the successful launch of Kapten, the first voice-controlled GPS for use in cities, Kapsys is extending its range of GPS products with its Kapten for iPhone application and its portable Kapten NG. Thanks to this new range of products, Kapsys is extending its multi-transport GPS product offer, helping users find their way around cities whether on foot, or by public transport, car, bicycle or motorcycle. Kapsys’s products offer extensive coverage of North America, as well as Western Europe.

For the first time on the market, Kapsys is offering an iPhone navigation application at a highly competitive price. Since such an application is not necessarily required every day, Kapten for iPhone is available on the basis of a monthly subscription rate at $7.99 for unlimited use over a 30-day period, which can be renewed at will. Kapten for iPhone also offers the option of transferring to a permanent license via the in-application purchase mechanism, for $74.99.

Kapsys has also launched the innovative Kapten NG, the smallest pocket-size multi-transport GPS device on the market. Because of its compact size (H100 mm x L55 mm x W13 mm) and weight (90 g), the Kapten NG can be carried inside the user’s pocket. Its multi-transport functionality is suitable for navigation on foot, with or without the use of public transport, as well as driving or cycling.

The Kapten for iPhone application is on sale as of today through Apple’s online iTunes App Store. Two versions are available: one for the United States/Canada and one for Western Europe. These applications will turn any 3G or 3GS iPhone into a true multi-transport navigator, usable in a multitude of geographic areas.

The main functionalities offered by this application include multi-transport navigation, unique coverage of public transport (underground, suburban trains and trams), genuine voice guidance and extensive visual displays, and “Ktag” creation for tagging and sharing favorite locations.

The Kapten for iPhone North America application includes a map of the U.S. and Canada. It costs $7.99 for a monthly subscription and $74.99 for a permanent license.

The Kapten for iPhone Western Europe application covers 22 countries and territories – Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the Vatican. It costs $7.99 for a renewable monthly subscription and $74.99 for a permanent license.

Kapten NG offers the following functionalities: multi-transport navigation in a pocket-size format, unique coverage of public transport (underground, suburban trains and trams), which can be used with pedestrian navigation, genuine voice guidance and extensive visual displays, and Ktag creation to record favorite locations. Kapten NG has been available as of February 2010. Kapten NG North America includes a map of the USA and Canada and retails at $224.90.

The cartography behind these applications has been developed by TeleAtlas. The Kapten for iPhone application, as well as Kapten NG and Kapten models, are available for testing by members of the press.

Kapsys attended the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, from February 15 to 18, 2010 (Hall 2F49, France Pavilion); and will exhibit at CeBit in Hanover, Germany, from March 2 to 6, 2010 (Hall 7A10, France Pavilion).

About Kapsys:
Kapsys is a French start-up based in Sophia Antipolis, near Nice, in southeastern France. Founded in February 2007 by Aram Hékimian, its core business is designing, developing, marketing and distributing a range of mobile products and navigation applications featuring voice technology, intended mainly for urban and multi-transport use (public transport, pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles and cars).

For more information, please contact:

KAPSYS
Manuel Nau
Marketing & Communication Manager
790, ave. Dr Maurice Donat
Le Marco Polo A1
06250 Mougins
FRANCE
Tel.: +33 4 92 28 88 82
E-mail: manuel.nau@kapsys.com
Web: www.kapsys.com

or:

FRENCH TECHNOLOGY PRESS OFFICE
205 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3740
Chicago, IL 60601
Tel.: (312) 327-5260
E-mail: contact.ftpo@ubifrance.fr

Pebble Learning, creators of PebblePad, has launched an iPhone app for the online personal learning system. Universities and professional bodies using PebblePad have been keen to see the introduction of an iPhone version of the software to support a range of learning activities. Users can now record their thoughts, or upload photos straight from their iPhones to their online personal learning space, wherever they are.

The growth of wireless zones has contributed to the cost of mobile internet browsing dropping considerably in the past year, and the costs are likely to drop further under pressure from consumer watchdogs.

Colin Dalziel, Operations Director at Pebble Learning, comments, “The massive increase in the number of applications for the iPhone and Android-based smart phones has been phenomenal and now the 100,000+ applications include a PebblePad app. We anticipate use will include recording and reflecting upon activities immediately at the point of action, as well as collecting photographic evidence to support research, project work, professional development and work-based learning.”

The items recorded on the iPhone can be sent directly to a blog to allow users to keep an ongoing record of their activity. Any item recorded on the iPhone can also be reused in a number of ways within the online system to present rich portfolios of work for a variety of purposes. These may include peer review activities, formal assessment or as supporting material to enhance a job application or career progression.

Colin continues, “The convenience of having a device in your pocket to record evidence and activity is likely to make online portfolios a rich and powerful medium for presentation.”

The new application will be discussed at Pebble Learning’s inaugural conference: 8-10 June 2010 in Shifnal, Shropshire, UK.

For more information on the iPhone app, including a video, visit: http://www.pebblepad.co.uk/iphone.asp

For more information on the PebblePad Conference, visit www.pebblepad.co.uk/conference , call +44 (0)1952 288300 or email conference@pebblelearning.co.uk. Conference bookings close on 5 April 2010.
- ends -

Notes to editors:

About PebblePad http://www.pebblepad.co.uk
PebblePad is an innovative personal learning system designed to support any learner, learning at any level. Its unique interface hints at the user friendly system which allows users to build and share a broad collection of items related to their studies, personal development, continuing professional development or any event of personal significance.

For more information contact Pebble Learning: info@pebblelearning.co.uk or phone 01952 288300

About Pebble Learning Ltd
Pebble Learning, with its blend of technological and pedagogic expertise, offers a wide range of services designed to help the UK educational community develop expertise in the use of innovative personal learning technologies to meet the challenges and realize the opportunities elearning offers.

For more information contact Pebble Learning: info@pebblelearning.co.uk or phone 01952 288300

Press enquiries:
Catherine Dhanjal, TheAnswer Ltd
Tel: 01883 650434 or 07941 669925
Catherine.dhanjal@theansweruk.com

25 February 2010 TA-595

Brooklyn, New York, February 25th 2010 – TemplateMonster.com, the Internet’s largest templates provider, has announced the special offering of the Globe Video Effects Pack from VideoSmash.com.

Globe Video Pack is a set of 10 special video effects of high quality that depict glossy 3D model of the Globe. Each video effect is enclosed into real HD quality (HD 720p) and is musically illustrated. Besides that all video effects from Globe Video Effects Pack were created using the Quicktime JPEG Codec.

From this day on and for a limited time period, the current Globe Video Effects Pack will be offered at a 50% discount price (that will be $19 instead of the $38 full price offered at VideoSmash.com). The terms of purchasing remain the same: the customers purchase any product from TemplateMonster and afterwards they are offered the Globe Video Effects Pack on TemplateMonster checkout.

David Braun, CEO of the Template Monster, said, “We don’t know if you have noticed this but among the most popular templates that we deliver for our customers, there is a huge deal of designs based upon an impressive globe imagery. These themes are now extremely sought for, being a token of professional mastery and sensible website design approach. In this case Globe video effects offered within this pack are a great way to enhance the quality of web design and web animations as well as various multimedia presentations, news projects, video production, television, or science. We are happy to share this indispensable treasure with our devoted fans and followers.”

Before the Globes video effects pack there was the Abstract video effects pack offered at TemplateMonster on a regular basis, also as a special offer at a 50% discount. This year within the St.Valentine’s promo the customers could purchase Heart Flash animation pack available on as a limited-time offer. TemplateMonster and VideoSmash have been in a productive cooperation for almost a year now.

About TemplateMonster.com

Template Monster – is our anchor. It is a first-rate E-commerce project in web design. Started in 2002 as a project of Artvertex, Inc., it was the first company to offer high quality website templates. TemplateMonster.com enjoys more than 150,000 unique visitors daily.

AFFITOME® TECHNOLOGY IS BEING USED FOR THE FIRST TIME AGAINST HUMAN HORMONES.

Vienna, 25 February 2010. With immediate effect AFFiRiS AG is starting a development program for vaccination against hypertension. For this project the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) is providing development funds of up to EUR 1.2 million. With today’s announcement four of the current seven vaccine projects of AFFiRiS AG are in the public domain. As with the other vaccines under development – to treat Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and atherosclerosis – the new vaccine will be based on the company’s own AFFITOME® technology. However, for the first time it is now being used against a human hormone. The reason for this announcement is the gratifying approval of significant development funds by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency, FFG.

Today, Viennese biotech company AFFiRiS AG announced the start of a new program to develop a vaccine against hypertension. This means that there are now four of the company’s current seven development projects in the public domain. The specific reason for the “outing” of project no. 4 was the approval of public research promotion funds by the FFG. The vaccine is targeting angiotensin II, a peptide hormone that can cause narrowing of the blood vessels and thereby hypertension.

Dr. Walter Schmidt, CEO of AFFiRiS AG comments on the company’s development pipeline: “With projects in seven different indications at the moment, AFFiRiS AG has achieved a broad diversification of potential development risks. While building up this pipeline we were consequently guided by our strategic focus, which is targeting disease areas with very large numbers of patients and lack of optimal therapies. We believe that systematic risk distribution, together with a focus on indications with a high market potential is the key for substantial success of a biotechnology company. The early VC investment by MIG Fonds AG, Munich, was of substancial importance for the establishment of our strong development pipeline. Our first licensing agreement on our Alzheimer’s vaccination approach valued at up to EUR 430 million, shows that the pharmaceutical industry does already believe in our technology.”

So far AFFiRiS AG had announced the development of two vaccines for Alzheimer’s disease as well as one each for Parkinson’s disease and atherosclerosis. These diseases affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide. The development of a vaccine for the treatment of hypertension is now of similar importance as hypertension is one of the major causes of diseases of the cardiovascular system and thus one of the most frequent causes of disease-induced deaths worldwide.

AFFiRiS AG is once again able to take advantage of its unique AFFITOME® platform technology which allows the generation of vaccines targeting autologous structures such as proteins and peptides. With Angiotensin II AFFiRiS AG is addressing a human hormone for the first time. This peptide hormone brings about vasoconstriction thereby increasing the blood pressure and is therefore presenting a promising target structure for intervention in chronic hypertension.

With regard to this therapy approach CSO Dr. Frank Mattner states: “Although chronic hypertension can be treated with drugs, the patient has to be precisely attuned to them and must then take medication constantly which often doesn’t work out. Our vaccine is intended to lower the burden of strictly following this medication dictate, thereby contributing to ensuring lasting success. Taking into account the long term aspect of how hypertension leads to the often fatal sequelae such as heart diseases, stroke and kidney problems in the long term, sustainability is key for treatment’s success”.

The idea of intervening in the body hormone regulation of blood pressure by means of a vaccine arose in recent years. Dr Schmidt explains: “In order to develop a vaccine that can reduce hypertension, it must be able to trigger a highly specific immune response. The blood pressuring- increasing angiotensin II and the blood pressure-reducing angiotensin 1-7 differ by only one amino acid, while the remainder of the structure is identical. Our AFFITOME® technology allows us to adjust the immune response such that only angiotensin II is addressed. There was a similarly tricky problem in our first project, the Alzheimer’s vaccine which we also solved successfully.”

About AFFiRiS AG (date February 2010):
On the basis of the company’s own patents, AFFiRiS develops tailor-made peptide vaccines against Alzheimer’s disease, atherosclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and four other conditions with an urgent medical requirement and attractive market volumes. Alzheimer’s is the current guideline indication, and here two potential products have just completed the phase I clinical studies. In October 2008 GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals became the licence partner for the Alzheimer’s vaccine. The contract envisages (milestone-dependent) payments of up to EUR 430 million. A payment of EUR 10 million was triggered in October by the positive completion of two clinical phase I studies. At present AFFiRiS has 60 highly qualified employees working at the St. Marx campus in Vienna, Austria (www.affiris.com).

Contact AFFiRiS AG:
Mag. Agnes Meyer
Karl-Farkas-Gasse 22
1030 Vienna
Austria
T +43 / 1 / 798 15 75 – 390
E agnes.meyer@affiris.com

Copy Editing & Distribution:
PR&D – Public Relations für Forschung & Bildung
Campus Vienna Biocenter 2
1030 Vienna
Austria
T +43 / 1 / 505 70 44
E contact@prd.at
W http://www.prd.at

The Hague, 25 February 2010, ID Control, the specialist in strong and easy authentication and encryption has integrated its’ solutions with Securepoint, the Unified Threat Management solution which protects the gate to your network resources or your remote office from a mixture of risks and threats. Sensitive information from your network or application can now be securely exchanged with Securepoint’s VPN access to the right persons, who are really who they proclaim to be.

A lot of organizations that offer remote working facilities to their clients, subsidiaries, branche offices, suppliers or employees enable private tunnels to internal network resources or applications through VPN. Securepoint manages the network related security threats and risks in a blended easy protective approach and provides the VPN from one centrally managed secure point at the gate. Together with ID Control users need to authenticate themselves when accessing the VPN, which was before with only a user name and password, which is a relatively weak authentication mechanism. ID Control empowers the authentication procedure by providing strong authentication tokens with dynamic passwords on your mobile phone or on a hardware token.  Next to One Time Password authentication the user’s legal binding digital signature on a USB token can be used to sign-on to the access of  Securepoint’s VPN.  ID Control’s solutions are affordable and very user-friendly and available for Securepoint’s VPN but also for web based email and other services such as web application, network and remote desktop access.

Hans Kortekaas, CEO of ID Control, says that unauthorized access is probably the most significant vulnerability to your organizations’ network environment. This can put the availability of your network, the confidentiality of business data inside your network, and your entire business activity at risk. And it also exposes your company and its management to potential compliance issues with regulations and data privacy laws. Controlling the identity and access of the users to VPN are ranked high in priority on the list of security measures nowadays. With ID Control and Securepoint in place, confidentiality, integrity, and proof of origin of any communication before entering the tunnel into your network can be ensured.

Securepoint, www.securepoint.de, founded in 1997, is the fastest growing Unified Threat Management (UTM) solution in Germany and develops and markets innovative IT-Security Technology for the total protection of an organization’s network. Securepoint UTM-security solutions (Unified Threat
Management) with Firewall, IDS, VPN, Virus protection, web content/spam filtering and high availability features meet all of the security demands and wishes of today’s IT security manager. Securepoint excels in the easy web based configuration and administration of the system for all security modules. Securepoint is available as Appliance, or Software which can be installed on any computer or server, or VMWare image. All Securepoint solutions are distributed over a network of 2.000 partners securing already more than 32.000 networks worldwide. Customers range from small businesses, lawyers and doctors, to large industries and ministries.

ID Control, www.idcontrol.com located in The Hague, provides strong and easy authentication tokens and unified authentication management. The range of strong authentication tokens for secure online access is composed of HandyID, MessageID, KeystrokeID, the ID Control OTP Key and USB Token.
HandyID is an OTP generating application running on your mobile device, the ID Control OTP Key is an OTP generating hardware token, the ID Control USB Token stores and generates digital signatures and OTPs and KeystrokeID recognizes users on the basis of their typing behaviour while logging in. At the same time ID Control offers e-mail encryption, decryption and authentication with MailID which uses MessageIDs One Time Passwords (OTP) via SMS for opening up e-mail with attachments.

February 24 2010 – If you disagree with the above, then there is an event on the 1st March which may be of interest to you. It will take place in the Oak Suite, University of Surrey 12.30pm – 4.30pm.

This event gives you the opportunity to have your say on what the future of Broadband services should be in the south east area, a highly topical subject at the moment in the light of the “Digital Britain” report. Whether provider or potential user of this new level of broadband service, we would very much welcome your views and feel that you could contribute greatly to the success of the event.

The event is hosted by the Digital Communications Knowledge Transfer Network (DCKTN) and the University of Surrey, Guildford.

As the speed of broadband has risen over the past ten years, services available have also kept pace, with email and web browsing giving way in bandwidth terms to music downloads, live TV, interactive gaming and peer-to-peer services. In turn, it’s these new services that have also placed higher demands on broadband access for higher download speeds and increased mobility. It is becoming clear that current mainstream access speeds, whatever the operator or technology, are unlikely to be able to provide the variety and quality of service that consumers will require in the future. A number of operators are beginning to invest in improved access technologies (fibre to the home and WiMax, for example) but there is not yet a clear business case either for a particular technology or for investment overall, nor is there a clear view of the services that users will require once the higher speeds are available.

With 73% of people now feeling that broadband is as important a utility as electricity or water the views of users about future services are important. This forum provides broadband users the opportunity to hear about the future for broadband access and services and to give input on their interests and needs. This event is one of several being held in regions of the UK and the output will be used to inform service providers, government and regulators about the services and packages that people will want as higher-speed access becomes generally available. Our presenters will set out their view of the future for broadband technology and services. Participants will then be invited to join the debate to help to formulate a view of the future landscape of services by joining one of three facilitated workshop groups. The information recorded from these groups will be combined with output from other regions and will be used to inform the industry debate on the technologies, architectures and industry structures needed to deliver future services.

Further details are available from the DCKTN website: www.dcktn.org.uk

You can register for this event at http://digital-communications-ktn.org/tinc?key=d95cAHGK&formname=BBGuildford

Contact:

Eddie Murphy

Digital Communications KTN

Tel: 07966 404 813

E: eddie.murphy[at]dcktn[dot]org.uk

Distributed on behalf of Digital Communications KTN by NeonDrum (http://www.neondrum.com)
Nicky Denovan
Tel: +44 7747 017654
nicky[at]neondrum[dot]com

If your business were a colour what would it be? and what would it be if it were a photograph or a flavour? and what would it be – and this is the most interesting – if it were a song?

These are just a few questions to help you understand how to produce and how to make effective a corporate video. As everybody should have noticed these days, corporate videos are usually dull, boring and generally tedious. In our opinion instead they should capture the attention and the emotions of your target, either it is your staff, your clients and other public.

First of all corporate videos are not about big copies like brochures are. When we work on video production we work on the emotional level. Speaking of your corporate video if if you overload your target with too much information you will just cause boredom.

So here are some simple suggestions to create an effective corporate video:

1) Write down the words or better the keywords that best describe your business and his unique style.

2) Pick up the music. Not something repetitive but something that is able to suggest images and movement in your head.

3) Those images are your storyboard. Photos, footage, animation… just take care that they aren’t too repetitive. Also… they should be able to tell a story by theirself.

4) And now you, just now, you can put the information you need to include. Now that you have the emotional core of your video, you can deliver more effectively your message!

5) Edit your video and watch it, show it to other people and see what they say: they probably won’t be able to tell you what’s wrong but they will help you understand if something is wrong.

Go back to that list until you are not happy with your corporate video and ready to show it to the world!

Takeone: Video Production Sydney

The partnership between Amnis and the Institute of Operations Management (IOM) is entering its fifth year with the first of six one-day masterclasses that are scheduled to occur throughout 2010. Over the last five years the partnership between Amnis and the IOM has produced over 50 joint events, involving several thousand participants.

In addition, Amnis and the IOM have announced two further versions of Amnis’s flagship Lean training programme – known as the ‘Accelerated Lean Skills Programme’ (ALSP).

The three-day ALSP takes participants from beginner to practitioner level and gives them the skills to lead their first projects within the healthcare sector. The programme, which has over 3,000 successful graduates at present, fits into Amnis’ Lean Leader Programme – a scheme of study for those wishing to further develop their Lean-related knowledge and expertise.

Participants receive all materials, guides and follow-up telephone and email support, as well as a book by Amnis’ Mark Eaton, the programme lead. The three days of training broadly cover:

• Day 1 – Lean Basics & Core Lean Tools (Part 1)
• Day 2 – Value Stream Mapping & Core Lean Tools (Part 2)
• Day 3 – Lean Simulation & Making Lean Programmes Work

Among the comments from participants on previous ALSPs are:

• “It was an all-round excellent theoretical and practical course which has given me real confidence in leading colleagues through a structured approach to continuous improvement.” (Mike Hill, Head of Trading Standards, Essex County Council)
• “This course was a useful and informative introduction to Lean skills and has provided me with ideas and a means to put them into practice.” (Laura Castell, Network Manager, Shell)
• “It was highly interactive. The programme had a good pace, great content and I really enjoyed the simulation exercises.” (Alicia Dermott, GM Distribution, Asda)

The series of one-day masterclasses covers:

• Understanding Lean (9^th March, London) – Covering the basic principles of Lean and providing an overview of the key tools
• Value Stream Mapping (23^rd March, Corby) – Focusing on those who have already gained an understanding of Lean and its principles
• Lean for Managers and Executives (20^th April, London) – Exploring the management systems and structures that are needed to make Lean work and to create a culture of continuous improvement.
• Standard Work (4^th May, Corby) – Examining 5S and Standard Work, tools used in Lean programmes.
• Expert in Lean (8^th June, London) – For those who have extensive knowledge of Lean, this masterclass reviews Lean tools and concepts including Heijunka, Jidoka and TPM.
• Sustaining Lean (22^nd June, Corby) – Examining the key skills required to deliver successful improvement.

For further details about the Amnis/ IOM ALSPs and the series of one-day masterclasses, contact Ruth Bodman (ruthbodman@amnis.uk.com) or visit http://www.downloads.amnis.uk.com/IOM2010.pdf.

End

About the Accelerated Lean Skills Programme (ALSP)

This fast paced and highly interactive programme gives participants the understanding and experience to enable them to successfully participate in Lean programmes within healthcare organisations. The programme covers all the basic concepts of Lean and how these can be turned into successful Lean events and programmes. The programme is accredited by the Institute for Healthcare Management (IHM) and involves three days of training and a short post-training project for which telephone and email support is available.

The three days of training broadly cover:

• Day 1 – Lean Basics & Core Lean Tools (Part 1)
• Day 2 – Value Stream Mapping & Core Lean Tools (Part 2)
• Day 3 – Lean Simulation & Making Lean Programmes Work

The course is aimed at those with little or no knowledge of Lean and those looking to take their basic knowledge to a higher level.

The Accelerated Lean Skills Programme is accredited by the Institute of Healthcare Management and provides recognition under their CPD scheme. Successful graduates of the programme receive an endorsed certificate. The Programme is intended for senior staff, managers and above working with healthcare organisations which are being tasked with either participating in a Lean programme or are required to look at making Lean work within their own areas.

About Amnis Limited

Working with both public and private sector organisations, Amnis is a consultancy which specialises in innovation, transformation and organisational improvement, helping clients plan and deploy strategies for successful transformation. Its goal is to help clients not only deliver sustainable change but also to develop their capability to tackle their next challenges.

Providing both consultancy and training services, Amnis’ team includes specialists in Lean/Six Sigma, organisational development, strategic planning, change management and systems thinking.

Further information from:

Ruth Bodman, Amnis, 00 44 (0) 870 446 1002; ruthbodman@amnis.uk.com

Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 00 44 (0)1727 860405; bob.little@boblittlepr.com