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Gencia Media has created an augmented reality app that allows people to access discounts at Manchester retailers and leisure venues.

Users who have downloaded the free app are encouraged to find 'hearts' - with graphics inspired by the Park Inn's mosaic branding - around the city at various points of interest.

Using the GPS systems within their smartphone they can wander the city and, upon finding the pictured hearts, download and unlock offers at Tiger Tiger and Papa Gs at the Printworks, retailers such as Nicky Clarke and Calvin Klein and attractions including the Manchester Big Wheel, Manchester Ghost Walks and Manchester Museum.

More Info: http://www.how-do.co.uk/north-west-media-news/north-west-digital-media/augmented-reality-app-unlocks-discounts-in-manchester-with-park-inn-2011080410095

Here's a sample itinerary involving a few of our partners. If you are planning a weekend out in Manchester over the next few weeks you really should check out the parkinnwin.co.uk website. Saving galore!

Lots more offers are still being added! O, and I forgot, the biggest, a chance to win a whole years stay at the ParkInn Manchester!

I was proud to be apart of the development team on the He-says/She says mobile campaign whcih picked up two Public Services Awards last week.

The social marketing and digital specialists Gencia Media won the coveted first prize for 'Most Innovative use of New Media' and a Highly Accredited 2nd place in the category of 'Most Integrated Communications Campaign' from around 150 local and national entrants.

The accolades were shared with their client Wrexham Community Safety Partnership, whose effort and commitment to the campaign on the ground were both key to ensuring successful deployment and response.

Entitled 'He-says/She says', the campaign embraces mobile media and web to engage young people on their thoughts and attitudes towards a range of scenarios surrounding sex and alcohol.

Coverage ran further than the local area, with radio stations and the BBC picking up on the innovative nature of delivery. The Home Office also commented favourably on the manner in which such a sensitive and traditionally difficult subject managed to engage so many young people.

Speaking about the achievement Gencia Managing Director Tony Braide said:

"The subject of sexual violence is an extremely sensitive one and using mobile media enabled us to reach more young people in a private, engaging and measurable way."

"This approach - coupled with the commitments of Wrexham Community Safety Partnership and Yale College - meant we were able to receive extraordinary results."

Christine Elmitt, Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator within the Wrexham Community Safety Partnership (pictured left) commented on how partnership working helped to stretch the budget and impact of the campaign.

"We're absolutely thrilled to receive recognition for what was a very successful campaign," She added.

From left to right: Christine Elmitt, Wrexham Community Safety Partnership, Rhian Jones, Wrexham CSP, Gary Lovatt, Gencia Media Limited, Ian Rafftery Gencia Media Limited, Tony Braide Gencia Media Ltd

Using any new technology bares pitfalls. I understand the appeal of new technology. However, before investing in time and effort one must first invest time and money into making sure that a technology adds real value to a client.

So how do you do the former without first doing the latter?

Monster Hunt is Gencia's first Augmented Reality Campaign. They have already run successful mobile campaigns for government and local authorities and know what makes a campaign successful... "user involvement".

By running mobile marketing campaigns for the police, schools and local government, it would be easy to assume that making the leap to AR was a decision taken lightly and with much haste. But the reality (no pun intended) was very different indeed.

Before Monster Hunt in Manchester kicked off the meeting room was full of ideas. But one must resist the appeal of new technology if it does not add value. The questions one must ask is the following...

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Gencia Media Limited has received FOUR Public Sector Awards Nominations for its innovative campaign on sexual violence in the UK.

The campaign - commissioned by Wrexham Community Safety Partnership - has been shortlisted by How Do in the 'Most Innovative use of New Media', 'Best Community Relations Campaign', 'Best Integrated Communications Campaign' and 'Most Effective Use of Social Marketing' categories.

The campaign written in ColdFusion using the Framework ColdBox and JQTouch embraces mobile media and the web to engage young people on their thoughts and attitudes towards a range of scenarios surrounding sex and alcohol.

Coverage ran further than the local area, with radio stations and the BBC picking up on the innovative nature of delivery while the Home Office commented favourably on the manner in which such a sensitive and traditionally difficult subject managed to engage so many young people.

Speaking about the nomination, Tony Braide Gencia Company Director said:

"Educating young people on Sexual Violence is an extremely sensitive yet vital issue and mobile media has enabled us to reach more people in a private, engaging and measurable way.

It was a challenge delivering such a serious campaign in the 3 week timescale we had and we're absolutely thrilled to be recognised for our part in the campaign."

Gencia is now working extensively with schools around the UK to combat attitudes and perceptions around a range of risky behaviours including alcohol, drugs and unprotected sex.

The feedback and press have started to come in for the She Says, She Says campaign created by Gencia Media which used ColdFuson and the framework ColdBox to power a mobile application to help awareness of teen sexual violence and rape. Read the full article on the BBC here

The start of several Government projects including a mobile application that helps teenagers become more aware of what constitutes as rape and how to get support was launched today. The applications both mobile and web needed a fast and reliable approach. After a short debate the development team including myself decided to use the ColdBox Framework by Luis Majano along with jQTouch (A jQuery plugin for mobile web development) we first heard about on a CF Podcast (CFHour).

The first campaign is using a version of Gencia's new survey based system written with the ColdBox framework. It's designed for Schools allowing them to create both mobile and web campaigns which then local authorities get live statistical data on how each area is doing including detailed analyse of changes in patterns of behaviour.

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