According to the research firm Nielsen, about two-thirds of tablet and smartphone owners use their gadgets while watching TV. They tweet, they post, they check-in on what‘s referred to as their “second-screen.”  Marketers are thrilled! Imagine the possibilities for Super Bowl XLVI!  It was only a few years ago when Super Bowl viewers would excitedly wait to view commercials, which were kept highly confidential until the game.  The ads came, the ads went and people would talk about it for a few days. In recent years, marketers have been trying to get their money’s worth with pre-Bowl buzz. Many commercials to be featured on the big day have been building suspense with teaser ads.  For instance, here’s the teaser for a Star-Wars themed Volkswagen ad that will be featured on game day.

Some commercials have even been released in their entirety in hope to cash in on the pre-Bowl buzz. Will you watch early? Or will you resist? Haven’t we been conditioned for years and years to wait patiently for the commercial to be aired during the Super Bowl? Isn’t that part of the excitement of the Super Bowl?

Mike Sheldon of Deutsch L.A., the agency that created this year’s VW commercial, explains that viewers “like to be let in on the joke, let in on the story, early.” By doing this, viewers know which ads to look out for and pay close attention to.

In addition to traditional TV commercials, there are a slew of apps, promotions, and incentives allowing viewers to take their Super Bowl experience to the next level. Both USA Today’s Ad Meter and YouTube’s Super Bowl Ad Blitz let game-watchers vote for their favorite commercial. Ad Meter, which was started in 1989, is finally allowing participants to submit votes through Facebook.  NBC has partnered up with YouTube to bridge social media gaps through their Super Bowl Ad Blitz. For the first time, viewers will be able to vote on nbcsports.com as well as the YouTube page.

Chevy’s Game Time app will provide viewers with trivia games, polls and prizes (granted they pay close attention to the Chevy commercials that air during the game.) NFL Pro Tweets will let Twitter users follow players and sports- media outlets throughout the game.  Other apps will keep game-watchers up to speed with the happenings of their favorite Super Bowl team, learn the history of the Super Bowl and view old Super Bowl commercials.

How will you watch the Super Bowl? Will you be using any apps this year? Will you sneak a peek at commercials before game day? Tell us how your Super Bowl viewing experience will change this year!

So what can we expect for mobile in 2012? A recent survey of industry leaders sheds light on what to expect. Survey respondents believe the following:

• The rise of Android was the most newsworthy story of 2011
• Steve Jobs was the mobile person of 2011
• In 2012, mobile payment will be the breakthrough category and most popular consumer app
• Financial institutions will define the mobile commerce space
• Android and iOS will dominate the tablet market, with iOS at a slight advantage
• Mobile Web will start to become more relevant versus apps
• The retail industry is the industry that will be most impacted by mobile innovation

Do you agree with these predictions? Read the whole survey here.

In light of this recent controversy, Harvard Law professor Johnathan Zittrain proposes a way for cell phone users to stay informed. Why not find a way to track what is tracking us? Zittrain says that our phones should include a function to show where any collected data is going. What a great idea! I hope cell phone manufacturers and carriers take a cue from Professor Zittrain and push for keeping cell phone users more informed!

To learn more about cell phone carriers’ use of Carrier IQ, read this article from CNN Money.

Small signs around the mall will notify shoppers that they are being tracked. If they do happen to see these signs, they will be informed that they can opt-out from being monitored by turning off their cell phones. But what happens when a shopper is not interested in being tracked and has to make a phone call? Or perhaps a shopper did not see the sign altogether. Should this be a situation when shoppers should be able to opt-in rather than opt-out?

Sharon Biggar is the CEO of Path Intelligence, the company responsible for Footpath Technology. Biggar assures shoppers that their movement has been tracked for years through other methods, such as security cameras and people counters. Is this supposed to be reassuring? Although the practice of tracking consumer trends is not new, the method of using cell phone signals for this purpose is.

No matter what your stance is on this issue, make sure you are fully aware of your options. To find out more about this issue, here is an article from CNN Money.

Hashtags can clarify a message by putting it into context. People frequently communicate with text; Twitter is no exception. However, there is a small problem in communicating via words on a screen. There is a lack of non-verbal cues! Although it’s disputed exactly how much of an impact tone of voice, facial expression and body language have on communication, it’s safe to say these actions help with interpreting a message. How many times have you received a text and are not sure if it’s meant to be sarcastic or sincere? Hashtags can clear up the confusion.

The words in a hashtag hint at the real meaning of the message or reference a trending topic. Whether it’s Hollywood gossip, a political jab or a personal reflection, a hashtag can clarify the information being conveyed. For instance, “I love missing the bus #badday.” Who knows? Someone may actually like missing the bus. It may give them time to relax before work. Perhaps there is a nice view at the bus stop. But with #badday attached, there is no misinterpreting what is being said.

In addition to putting words into context, hashtags can track how an idea grows by creating a digital trail. The origin of a trending topic is easy to pinpoint when it’s categorized with a hashtag. For instance, an article featured on technologyreview.com shows how #OccupyWallStreet spread through Twitter. You can track the movement from it’s humble beginnings to what it is today.

What are some other uses for hashtags?

An article from technologyreview.com highlights five organizations that have found use for the excess heat created by data centers. For example, the University of Notre Dame directs the heat from its servers into a greenhouse. Simultaneously, air is pulled from outdoors to cool the servers. This method not only puts heat waste to good use, but reduces the cost of heating the greenhouse. Imagine if more organizations found ways to turn something wasteful into something useful!

Greenhouse Effect: 5 Ideas for Reusing Data Centers’ Waste Heat

An article from fastcompany.com highlights what they call “The Great Tech War of 2012.” One thing is certain- each of these companies will need vision and flexibility to hold on to their corner of the market. The way we communicate is constantly changing and these companies will have to anticipate and reflect that change. So who do you think will come out on top?

Here comes the sad news. On Wednesday, Steve Jobs passed away. The longtime CEO of Apple lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. The world is abuzz with Steve Jobs tributes, videos and quotes. Jobs was an innovator who had his hand in game-changing products and captivating marketing campaigns. So what does the future hold for Apple?

While similar technology already exists, this particular window switches transparency automatically based on outside temperature. Most comparable windows require the transparency to be switched manually. Read more about smart windows here.