Adello has been introducing its machine learning algorithms (Artificial Intelligence, AI) to the advertising market since 2013 in order to achieve the best possible advertising ROI based on various AI techniques, to ensure 100 percent viewability or to guarantee brand safety. As the company continues to develop, Adello is expanding its data services.

The parent company in the USA has been run as a holding/incubator in recent months and renamed Lab51 Inc. This is intended to emphasize that the data platform is not limited to advertising, but can be used for services of various kinds.

To strengthen Corporate Development, Marcel Keller, previously Global COO at HPE (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise) in Palo Alto, California, joins Lab51 as Advisor. In previous positions as VP Global Sales, Marcel Keller has created the processes and prerequisites for successful business expansion.

Lab51 is a platform for research and rapid innovation developments that can be managed as spinoffs. The first new products and potentially companies based on the AI platform are expected as early as the second quarter of 2019.

The technology arm will now be known as "Lab51 Technologies" and will be supplemented by an additional product team in Lisbon.

AI's previous applications in the field of advertising will retain the name Adello Group AG and will focus on mobile advertising, as was previously the case with 100%. In January, Nele Dagefoerde, who is responsible for the Marketing Services division, joined Adello. Dagefoerde has more than 10 years of experience in e-commerce and knows the challenges of digital marketing.

When the brain makes decisions between different options, extremely efficient information-processing processes take place. Researchers led by Rafael Polanía of ETH Zurich have reproduced this process with a computer model that allows decisions to be predicted within a certain framework. The scientists recently reported on this in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

The model is based on a subjective evaluation grid stored in the brain. Taking the example of shopping in a supermarket, this grid contains ratings for food products based on previous experiences and memories. Similar to large online retailers, where users rate the products offered with stars, ETH wrote in a statement on Tuesday.

The individual evaluations on the brain's internal evaluation platform together result in an overall distribution of preferences that can be described and evaluated mathematically, it continued. This is the basis for the computer model, which can make predictions about which food a test subject will choose.

"With this model, we can look into people's heads and predict their decision-making behavior," Polanía was quoted as saying in the press release. According to the researcher, the model is correct in the vast majority of cases.

The scientists tested and calibrated their model with the help of test subjects who were asked to evaluate 60 everyday products from a Swiss supermarket. To do this, they were asked which of the foods they would like to eat after the experiment. In a second step, the test subjects had to choose between two products. Thanks to the data from the first step, the model was able to predict the decision in the second experiment.

The researchers are convinced that the model has many applications. Marketing experts could use it, for example, to assess which products people like. But it would also have potential in the health sector, as ETH wrote: "These decisions are also based on subjective evaluations, such as how healthy someone considers a certain product to be," Polonía says. The researchers now want to further develop the model for this application. (SDA)

Anyone who would like not only peace and quiet in the future, but also more comfort in their quiet little room, was encouraged to contact Geberit and request a no-obligation consultation.

"Companies like Facebook, which see themselves before and above the law, should not be allowed to act like 'digital gangsters' in the online world," says a report presented on Monday.

The Culture Committee had previously conducted an 18-month investigation. Committee chairman Damian Collins explained that the US company had tried to undo the committee's work "through incomplete, disingenuous and sometimes misleading answers to our questions".

The parliamentary committee had spent months investigating Facebook's role in disinformation campaigns and "fake news" and the impact on votes in the UK, such as the 2016 Brexit referendum. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg refused to appear before the committee of inquiry despite repeated requests.

The report now recommends that the British government carry out an independent investigation into previous elections and referendums with a view to foreign influence. 

The committee is also pushing for a mandatory code of conduct for all technology companies, which should be monitored by an independent regulatory authority. Online networks such as Facebook cannot "hide behind the claim" that they are only a "platform" and not responsible for their content.

In a response published by British media, Facebook stated that the company is "open to sensible regulation" and supports "the Committee's recommendation for electoral reform". At the same time, however, it said: "No other political advertising platform is as transparent and offers the tools we do." (SDA)
 

As part of the title partnership with Alfa Romeo, the Swiss Sauber team will compete in the 2019 Formula 1 World Championship as Alfa Romeo Racing, with 2007 world champion Kimi Räikkönen and young Italian driver Antonio Giovinazzi on the grid for the team.

Racerfish also realized the complete production of the car launch this year, with the highlight being the Car Reveal image film. This year's racing car, the Alfa Romeo Racing C38, is artfully staged in a dark, rainy racing scenario in this video produced entirely in the Racerfish studio. The focus is on the interplay and contrast of racing aesthetics and the highest level of Swiss engineering skill under extreme conditions.

In addition to the unveiling video, interviews with CEO and Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur and the two racing drivers Räikkönen and Giovinazzi as well as various B-roll, social media and beauty shots of the racing car were also realized by Racerfish. The image film has been online on all official channels of the Alfa Romeo Racing Team and on the official Formula 1 website since February 18, 2019. 

dddd

Throughout the year, we had a Programmatic Creativity campaign for Energie Wasser Bern. Data and market studies showed the way. At the end of the year, we landed at a point we hadn't imagined at the beginning. It was exciting to see how Data Driven Creativity brought together analytical thinking and creativity in our interdisciplinary project team.

In summer, a cool head after a swim in the Aare always makes for good ideas. Our agency itself has a creative room.

Aareschwumm, ping pong, table football or in the summer simply off into the garden. With us, everyone will find their own recipe to get going.

Do and let do. Our employees have a lot of freedom. It is not uncommon for a great deal of good to come to light unexpectedly.

Many personalities in the advertising industry once went through the "Maxo kitchen". With us, you learn a lot and can uncover your potential.

About one and a half to three years. That should put us pretty well in line with the industry average.

For the Bern site, we pay very decent wages compared to the industry average.

Work also comes in waves for us and can lead to peaks. At Maxomedia, however, everyone records the hours they work - even those for internal projects. Overtime is fully compensated by everyone.

We participate in continuing education without imposing conditions. All Maxos have a personal training credit. A fruit basket provides a free vitamin boost and we contribute to the coffee. In addition, everyone receives five weeks of vacation.

Our average age is under 30. Many Maxos are just coming out of training or are doing in-service training. Parental leave doesn't happen often at our company. It amounts to 16 weeks.

Home office is possible by arrangement. However, we believe that good things can only come out of interdisciplinary teams if people also meet as people. We do not have regular home office days.

Lilo. A loyal soul who loves our customers so much that she even puts on her giveaways sometimes.

We always have a few drinks chilling - especially our "Max". We wouldn't be Maxomedia if we didn't have our own beer - brewed in a local brewery from Bern.

We have those, too. However, it is more common for employees to spontaneously treat themselves to a drink after work. But our theme parties and Christmas celebrations are legendary.

When the trained printer Christoph Froschauer from Bavaria was granted Zurich citizenship on November 9, 1519, the foundation stone for Orell Füssli was laid. Thanks to Froschauer's publishing flair, a printing and publishing center with European appeal quickly developed, as Adrian Scherrer, archivist at Orell Füssli, explained to the media on Monday.

For also in 1519, Huldrych Zwingli took over the office of lieutenant priest at the Grossmünster in Zurich. The two men became friends, and Froschauer became Zwingli's publisher. In 1531, the "Zwingli Bible" appeared, a tour de force of early book art. According to Scherrer, the two-color title page is particularly unusual.

Since each sheet had to be printed individually, it took several weeks to complete the book. It also had a hefty price tag; Scherrer speaks of "two months' wages.

Froschauer died of the plague in 1564. During his lifetime he published over 700 books and also printed official pamphlets and maps.

Much has happened in the company since Froschauer's death. This is also reflected in the commemorative publication "500 Years of Printing. The lavishly designed illustrated book marks the start of the anniversary year.

Publishing is now only one of four business divisions. As a diversified industrial and commercial group, Orell Füssli operates the core businesses of banknote & security printing, industrial systems for the serialization of banknotes and security documents, book retailing and publishing.

Orell Füssli generates sales of some CHF 250 million with some 800 employees at locations in five countries. The company is listed on the Swiss stock exchange.

He looks at the company's history with awe, said company CEO Martin Buyle to the media. Such a long existence was made possible by innovation, proximity to the customer and the passion of the employees. Of course, a bit of luck and a stable political environment are also needed.

It is also important to allow for mistakes. This results in important learning experiences, Buyle continued. He is convinced that books will continue to exist despite digitalization. He assumes a "coexistential approach, not a replacement.

In 1914, Orell Füssli printed the first Swiss banknotes for the Swiss National Bank. It was "amazing how much innovation is contained in a banknote," Buyle said proudly. Christoph Froschauer must have been similarly proud when he held the "Zwingli Bible" weighing several kilograms in his hands. (SDA)

Among other things, this is due to a significant increase in advertising pressure at the start of the year from the automotive industry and the leisure, gastronomy and tourism sector. Looking at the media mix, the search sector in particular is once again growing steadily.

Development of advertising pressure as at January 2019

Compared to December 2018, two of the three podium places in the industry ranking are new. Leisure, gastronomy and tourism had the highest advertising pressure in January. With 82 million gross francs and an increase of 21.3% compared to the same month last year, the sector took the top spot. The service sector follows in second place with gross advertising pressure of CHF 66 million. Third place was snatched by the vehicle industry (47 million gross francs), closely followed by finance with 46 million gross francs.

Looking at the gross advertising pressure by sector in January compared to the same month last year, a trio stands out from the crowd. The telecommunications sector accounted for two of the three most advertised products at the beginning of the year, which is reflected in strong growth of 64.6% compared to January last year. The insurance product group also recorded a considerable increase of 63.8% compared to January 2018. However, IT, hardware & software saw the largest year-on-year increase (+70.1%).

After occupying first and second place in the industry rankings in the pre-Christmas period in November and December respectively, the retail trade fell back into mid-table in January with 37 million gross advertising francs. Compared to the same month last year, the retail trade sector also recorded the largest percentage decrease (-15.5%). The media also lost a lot of ground compared to the same month last year, with a drop of 14.4%, as did the initiatives & campaigns sector (-8.2%) despite the self-determination initiative. The last sector to show a notable loss compared to the previous year is the beverages sector (-7.2%).

Advertising pressure in the sectors with year-on-year comparison

The top 10 advertisers and most frequently advertised products and services (excluding product range and image advertising) in January

The integration of search data, desktop (January 2017) and mobile (July 2017) into Media Focus's advertising statistics has led to a significant increase in the internet's share of the media mix. Since January 2018, search data has also been collected for French-speaking Switzerland (share of search: 85% DE/15% FR).

The new website flirts with a clear mobile-first approach, in keeping with the young user base. The appearance is simple but sophisticated. The visual language is powerful and self-confident, without resorting to the overly made-up clichés of the industry. The Kets world is institutionally shaped, which is omnipresent. It's about careers, knowledge transfer as a service provider and it's about positioning itself as a market leader and making its offering accessible to the young target group on digital channels. No less exciting than the look of the website is the technology, Open Machinate, in the background, like the branding, also developed by the agency Nerves.

Open Machinata is a full-service backend and frontend system. The technology integrates the requirements of a modern CMS and templating system for everything digital with the corresponding mapping of business processes in the background. Curricula, courses, classes and students are managed and controlled centrally in the same environment as the website content management. 

The Zurich-based agency Nerves provided Kets with strategic support during this process and is responsible for the new appearance as well as the development and implementation of the technology behind it.

The new appearance of desire in balance does not conform to any clichés and focuses in its reduced design language on the goal of every yoga session: to find inner balance and strength - in the way that suits you best.

"This philosophy was the foundation for our branding," says Doris Bühler, Creative Director at bühler&bühler. "The new appearance of desire in balance should do justice to the owner's personality." 
 
"Your body. Your yoga. Your thing." is the motto that will be emphasized in all measures. In addition to the brand design, the centerpiece is the new website. Handwritten course posters and unique business cards with part of the logo stamped on them - bühler&bühler also deliver on the promise of individuality in these implementations.
 
desire in balance is currently planning its own yoga studio in Wangen bei Olten. The new premises will also be staged by bühler&bühler.

Sales in eSports are growing rapidly. It has almost doubled in the last two years alone. Industry experts expect up to 130 million euros in sales in Germany this year. Large companies are increasingly investing in eSports. Game developers and organizers know how much revenue can be made from electronic sports. Global reach with worldwide fans attracts sponsors. Nevertheless, only a few of the congress visitors held their hands up in the air when the question was put to the audience as to which of them had ever been to an eSports event. The industry is highly interesting, but eSport has not yet reached the center of the economy. The third edition of the eSport.Business.Forum provided 180 representatives from business, sports and sponsorship with first-hand information about the potential of electronic sports.

eSports have already arrived in society. According to a recent study by Nielsen, 33 percent of 16 to 29-year-old Germans are interested in computer sports. According to the study, this target group is very lucrative. So far, however, it is mainly electronics and technology brands that advertise in this environment, thus the so-called endemic brands. However, non-endemic brands are increasingly entering the market. "As a sponsor of eSports today, you are no longer the mega-first mover. But you are not running behind the development yet," said Michael Heina, Head of eSports Europe Nielsen. The study also shows that eSports fans are very positive about sponsorship.

Mercedes Benz has also been taking advantage of this for over two years. Mercedes turned its back on soccer a long time ago. The car manufacturer prefers to focus on eSports. After its commitment as an ESL mobility partner, the Swabians became the first car manufacturer to invest in an eSports team. Recently, SK Gaming has been wearing the star on its jersey. "Sponsorship is well received in the community," confirms Gunnar Schrage of Daimler. The strategy, he says, is for the brand to go beyond a broad logo presence. Mercedes lets the eSports fans have their say on the social media channels. "We have learned that with this target group, less is often more," says Schrage. You have to listen to the target group and respond sensitively to the young fans.

If Robert-Maximilian Fankhänel of Hologate has his way, eSports will soon be on the move. Hologate is the market leader for virtual arcades, with 200 halls worldwide and 1.2 million players a year. The Munich-based company will launch its own VR World Championship this year. Players will compete against each other in halls worldwide in a game developed in-house. "Virtual reality will make an enormous technological leap. We'll manage to get 18 million players through at some point," said Robert-Maxililian Fankhänel.

Shikenso Eye and vAudience, two German startups that use artificial intelligence and algorithms to evaluate eSports chats for sponsors, were on stage. "We can tell them whether your brand is currently being celebrated or booed by the audience," opined Tarik Amhamdi, CEO Shikenso. Thus, for the first time, real objective learnings from the eSports events are possible.

Recently, eSport has also been given a broad stage with eSport1, the first eSport TV channel. "eSport is fantastic entertainment that deserves a platform and attention," said Daniel von Busse from Sport1. The channel is intended to help bring eSports to the general public. "We don't see ourselves as a competitor to Twitch, but we will take the topic more towards the mainstream," von Busse said.

The virtual Bundesliga is also pointing the way forward for eSports. Dominik Hilpisch-Hahn, Head of Licensing and eSport at Bundesliga International, spoke of the league's own "football activity". This makes it clear that the virtual Bundesliga is clearly differentiated from shooter games. According to Hilpisch-Hahn, there is theoretically the possibility of playing out other formats as well, but this is not currently under discussion.

Five partners are on board: Flavio Niederhauser (CEO), Miguel Schweiger (Managing Director Europe), Woad Yuan (Managing Director Asia), Benjamin Luterbacher (Art Director) and Xie Anyu (Director Exhibition & Events).

The new agency brings a broad as well as international know-how in different competence fields. GLA United does not see itself as a classic full-service agency. "We think holistically and networked in every project, therefore we can develop new creative as well as innovative solution approaches for our customers", it says in the announcement of the agency launch. In addition to the European market, the focus is also on the Asian market. The agency is broadly positioned in both markets and has a global network. "Thanks to this network and our experience, we can point out completely new opportunities to internationally active companies in both markets," adds Flavio Niederhauser.

GLA United offers a wide range of services - from the development of holistic concepts, to implementations in the areas of marketing, branding, sports and art, to detailed performance marketing. Furthermore, the agency is a contact for new technologies as well as current topics in digitalization.

The agency's client portfolio already includes well-known companies such as Volvo, Champions Hockey League, Tencent, National Geographic, Arval, hummel and kjus.