With the asinine bullshit we’re consistently beaten over the head with about how Web 2.0 and Social Networking is the wave of the future, I fail to understand why people can’t arrive at the logical conclusion its greatest fucking attribute is its ability to deliver uber-cost-efficient audience aggregation for advertisers. Hello… This isn’t brain surgery here! But, having said that, the key is not to create yet another homogenous, wankfest, Web fucking 2.0 site produced by teenage douchenozzles that ends up like, God forbid, MySpace or Facebook, but to do something in the uber-targeted fashion of my all-time favorite social network, SuicideGirls. Because, sites like that deliver content capable of attracting, and holding on to passionate tattooing, piercing and weirding community members while building a super rich, desirable audience for advertisers. Recognizing this, two Mad Ave vets, John Fawcett, formerly Creative Director of Bates Worldwide, and John Garland, recently COO of JWT, New York. (Disclosure, both are old drinking mates. But, so fucking what – It’s my blog!) Have created a very clever, social networking community by the name of Headstrongbrain.com, which takes this principle of catering to a highly targeted and receptive niche market to its logical conclusion. Based on the current interest in Neuroscience as a marketing tool, and recognizing that the brain’s well being is a factor in developing healthy life styles, the site is designed to develop cognitive skills, even delay the decline of those we’ve abused over the years with too many “Mad-Men” three martini lunches. But, unlike sites that are based on fucking esoteric medical principles and sound like a load of horseshit, Headstrongbrain.com is a Gymnasium for the brain, where members can access exercises, tests and games, even have a cognitive profile created while enjoying a “brain training” regime that determines how your brain is functioning, then like a personal trainer, it stays with you to enhance your mental abilities. The beta site launches this week at www.headstrongbrain.com If it’s not too late, I’ll sign up… After another martini.
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Don't think hair... Think brain!
John Garland walks on water...he's a really smart good guy...if anyone can figure it all out, John would be the one! I wish them luck!!!
Posted by: LAM | March 31, 2008 at 08:51 AM
Finally a blog not about Miley Cyrus or Brad Pitt. Looks interesting. I noted that they will update the exercises "regularly." Hope they will make that "daily" for keeping traffic up.
I always score very high on those IQ tests that are based on mathematical principles, spatial relations etc. Doesn't really make me smart, only that I could figure out how to get a chicken, fox and myself across a river with two rowboats. Hope that gets me somewhere in life.
Posted by: Auntie Christ | March 31, 2008 at 09:09 AM
Very cool site, albeit very blabby! Ix-Nay the auto sound! What if I want to waste time at work doing the tests? Isn't that what social networking is really for? :P
Seriously, I belong to MySpace, Facebook, Inked, Inc., Twitter, LinkedIn, TalkBass and Guitarnoise and yes, I joined this one too to see what it was about.
Not particularly entrenched in any of them -- too busy having a life to spend a whole lot of time talking to others about the about.
Or maybe I'm just sore because I only got 57 percent on the first memory test!
Posted by: Flacktory Worker | March 31, 2008 at 02:51 PM
Nothing like the brain training that has been out on the Nintendo DS for years then I imagine.
And is it a coincidence that in JWT's trend scout report for this year "brain training" makes an appearance?
But having said all that, you can't knock people for trying. Its a good enough idea if its executed well.
Posted by: sean | April 01, 2008 at 02:31 AM