We all know that Snapchat has been getting a ton of attention lately, with its recent new features including Memories and the upcoming Spectacles. It is no surprise that Facebook watches Snapchat closely and tries to maintain its own competitive edge.

Just two months ago, Facebook rolled out Instagram Stories globally, allowing users to share photos and videos that last 24 hours. Sounds familiar, right?

Less than a week ago, TechCrunch learned that Facebook is secretly testing another new feature in Messenger: “Messenger Day” in Poland. It lets people share illustrated filter-enhanced photos and videos that disappear in 24 hours, just like on Snapchat. Users can draw or add text to images and share them to friends. The innovative part lies in the graphic filters. They suggest “Feeling…”, or “Who’s up for…”. The suggestions remind me of Facebook status updates add-ons: “Feeling…”, “Traveling to…”, and “Thinking About…”.

It’s amazing how quickly Facebook can clone, test, and scale a product. The social media giant knows how to leverage its 1 billion Messenger user base, and select the countries where Snapchat hasn’t fully penetrated yet. Currently, Snapchat has more than 100 million active user; out of the 100 million, 60 million users are from the United States and Canada. Though Snapchat’s user base is much smaller than that of Messenger, the Snapchat’s growth rate is jaw-dropping. eMarketer forecasts that by the end of this year, Snapchat will have a larger user base in the U.S. than either Twitter or Pinterest. Facebook’s strategy of testing Messenger Day in eastern Europe countries certainly is a smart move by grasping the first mover advantage by keeping Snapchat out of the way.

Messenger Day is a feature using existing technology and business strategy: luring users to share more candid, authentic contents on Messenger instead of Snapchat. Since Messenger is already an app people use all day with close friends, Messenger Day can slow Snapchat’s growth. Though we don’t know whether Messenger Day will eventually be rolled out globally, Snapchat should be wary that the battle with Facebook will be tough especially in countries other than the United States and Canada.

What are you thoughts? If you are a Snapchat user, will Messenger Day incentivized you to stop using Snapchat?

Resources:

Top Snapchat Demographics That Matter to Social Media Marketers

Facebook “Messenger Day” is the chat app’s new Snapchat Stories clone

Gentlemen, step aside (or not, if you are curious or have a sister or aunt who experiences the-time-of-the-month-pain). Ladies, you definitely know what I’m talking about. Many of us experience discomfort, or worse, acute pain during menstrual period. Heating pads is importable, pain-killer effect takes time to kick in, it’s not uncommon to hear ladies complain in school or work that they simply can’t do anything but to lay down.

Livia, a pain-reliving device, created by iPush Medical, claims to switch off menstrual pain with the simple click of a button. It offers a more natural form of long-lasting relief through electrical stimulation, which is said to block pain receptors. The device was clinically tested with 163 women with ‘very successful results’ according to the company. Since more than 50% of women experience menstrual pain and many rely on heavy dose of painkillers, this device is receiving attention in the tech and medical world.

The technology, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), is not new. It is the use of electric current produced by a device to stimulate the nerves for therapeutic purposes. The first modern, patient-wearable TENS was patented in the US in 1974. What Livia is doing, is a classic example of leveraging the Internet and big data to repackage and market existing technology in order to attract a group of targeted customers (women who experience menstrual pain with substantial disposable income). Livia understands what its customers want: quick, effective pain reduction in a convenient, adorable device. With 17,000 likes on its Facebook page, 560,700 Youtube video views, and big publishers’ buzz (TechCrunch, Buzzfeed, Mashable, etc.), Livia’s mission has resonated with many women. Potential customers are eager to try this tiny device; engagement rate on social media account is high. On Indiegogo crowdfunding site, Livia has raised more than $1.1million since April this year.

Does it actually work, or is it just a hoax after all? I personally can’t wait for Livia to be available publicly and see how the company positions itself to win all the struggled women’s heart using information strategy.

Sources:

Livia’s video campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7iZZRMToqo

Buzzfeed: https://www.buzzfeed.com/laraparker/we-tried-a-device-thats-supposed-to-erase-period-cramps-and

Indiegogo funding: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/livia-the-off-switch-for-menstrual-pain-women-health

3D printing and virtual reality (VR) have come a long way and have recently received groundbreaking achievements in various industries, including medical.
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing or rapid prototyping, has emerged quickly over the past three decades. It has become more affordable and widely acceptable. The main applications of this technology can be found in medical device manufacturing including prosthetic limbs, dental implants, etc.
From the perspective of business, 3D printing technology has fulfilled the need of personalized medical devices at cost-effective level and has enhanced the manufacturing possibilities in terms of complex designs and materials. Also, 3D printing has reduced lifecycle cost by eliminating expensive tooling requirements and simplified supply chain processes.
However, there are a few limitations: high benchmarks for product quality and FDA approval and low or no insurance coverage by medical providers. These can slow down the acceptance process for patients. Nevertheless, further development of 3D printing technology and evolution in medical industry will gradually overcome these challenges.
Moving on to virtual reality. VR is the use of computer technology to create a controlled, simulated environment. Unlike traditional user interfaces, VR places the user inside an experience. Instead of viewing a screen in front of them, users are immersed and able to interact with 3D worlds. This technology is starting to revolutionize the healthcare industry. Its positive effects are already seen in multiple examples such as: exposure therapy, PTSD treatment, pain management, surgical training and brain damage recovery treatment.
One of the successful examples of VR use in the healthcare industry is SnowWorld VR video game. Developed by the University of Washington, the game is intended to create a distraction for burn victims, in order to ease their pain. Its success was proven in a study on military soldiers with burn injuries, conducted in 2011, which showed that SnowWorld worked better than morphine.
As research continues, more applications will be implemented. However, repeated VR exposure to traumatic experiences can cause desensitization. There is also the risk of incapability to tell between what’s real and what’s virtual, hence VR might become the tool for the ones who want to escape real-life. The high cost of the equipment is another downside to VR use, but scientists are already working on ways to make it cheaper.
The future of 3D printing will reach beyond prosthetic organs or implants. We will see bioprinted disease cells for research purpose, 3D print-out drugs, and more.
As for VR, it’s still in its early stage in the healthcare industry, with the scrutinization from the medical professionals and regulatory organizations. Proving clinical efficacy takes time. But in the not too distant future, we should see more integration of 3D printing and VR with existing technologies including artificial intelligence and big data to bring more effective training for future medical professionals, and better treatment for patients.

Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy1vhhfz-_w