Omnia Connect Community

OMNIA CONNECT EMPOWERS SHUAA SECURITIES’ ONLINE STRATEGIES

Alexander Rauser — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:04:00 GMT

Omnia Connect has successfully launched the new SHUAA Securities online portal, integrating a highly interactive online platform that allows stock traders to access and procure important market information.

As the dedicated brokerage division of SHUAA Capital, SHUAA Securities brings astute regional insight and globally progressive services to investors seeking something beyond the ordinary.

Users are able to customize their homepage using live stock market information and view their account balance and other online trading flags with maximum convenience.
Omnia Connect’s vast array of web tools empowered the team to create a widget-based secure section of the website, allowing users to build their own homepage. Widgets such as stock symbols, market watch and alerts allow investors to be as close as possible to the stock market from any remote location.

“A clean, corporate visual look and a seamlessly secure members section make the website an attractive example of high-end finance sector identity”, states Alexander Rauser, Chief Executive Officer at Omnia Connect.

The portal gives direct access to the online trading platform using a single login technique, creating a seamless experience for the experienced investor.

Pablo Arguello, Interactive Producer at Omnia Connect comments: “Tying the portal to the existing online trading system was a vital part of the portal development, as it would keep users in their personalized page for a longer time without missing out on important information like their portfolio or cash balances. Rather than trying to replace the existing system, a partnership between both systems was created in order to extend the reach of an investor without necessarily stepping into the trading platform.”

Omnia Connect’s excellent structural back-up and impeccable CMS solutions resulted in a secure and scalable corporate website, inclusive of a customized MySHUAA Portal for the user – delivering a unique end product for the client.

Interactive Map | Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge

Alexander Rauser — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:40:00 GMT

Interactive Map | Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge

By Guillaume Jousse - Interactive Developer at Omnia

Competition: The Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge is a six-day race, 11 stages in different locations (biking, running, sea-kayaking, desert orienteering, mountaineering and rope activities)

Project: An interactive map displaying the route and all the activities. The map features pictures, video, GPS positions and facts along the itinerary.

Our challenge: The competition takes place in 6 different locations all over the country, including restricted areas in cities and on islands as well as long distance routes (e.g. 80km sea kayaking).

In order to present an overview of the competition and a better insight of each different stage we had to create 2 different maps. We used Adobe Flash and the 3D library PaperVision3D to create a general map of the country displaying all the stages at once as well as six detail maps, one for each stage, including a texture and the terrain.

Overview Maps

Using Papervision3D for the project allowed us to create a “bird view” animation by moving the camera above the country map, zooming in and out from one area to another.

The overview map is used with different zoom levels, from a large view of the whole country to a close view of a mountain, an Island or a city.

Our challenge:
When the camera displays a closeup view the texture of the ground appears too crisp and pixelated.

In order to display a clean map at all times a huge bitmap is needed (everything is converted to bitmap with PV3D).

Using such a large image would have caused a large CPU usage and slowed down the flash plugin’s frame rate way too much.

Our solution:
We used PV3D’s extension “vectorvision” for the country map which allows to load a light SVG file and render it as a “VectorShape” that keeps sharp edges no matter what zoom level is used. Vectorvision source can be found here.

Our Challenge:
We had to “draw” the route in synchronization with the camera’s movement so the lines of the route could not be part of the SVG file. These routes had to be animated using a MovieMaterial.

As the area where an actual sport challenge took place is only a part of the map it was possible to use a standard PaperVision Plane with a transparent-animated MovieMaterial and set it on top off the vectorshape by creating a viewportLayer for this plane.

Detail Maps

The dimensions of these maps are smaller so using a MovieMaterial is not an issue and it allows us to use the same movieclip for the texture of the ground and for the itineraries.
This movieclip contains a large bitmap representing the terrain (sand, city, rocks and vegetation). On top of this bitmap, other movieclips contain place marks and names and the paths of the stages with a drawing animation effect.

For the terrain we used a standard plane and a black and white image to create a bump map.
We use the grey values of this image to modify the vertices of the plane.

• 100% black pixels represent the lowest points.
• 100% white pixels are the highest points, in between are all the greyscale values.

1) the bumpMap
2) the plane with wireframe material
3) the plane with MovieMaterial

Displacement map demo and source : http://cyril.diagne.free.fr/lab/dmdemo/

Hotspots and Animations

All the locations (hotspots) displayed on the map are simple planes with a transparent MovieMaterial.

Simple transition

We use a hidden displayObject3D as a target for the camera.

When a hotspot is clicked the hidden object moves to the hotspot’s position, the camera rotates as the same time.

Advanced transition

The hotspots objects may have a “cameraPosition” property (x,y,z).

When this property is defined, the camera rotates and also moves to the new position when the hotspot is clicked.

Introduction sequence
An xml file contains a series of nodes : <keyframe>.
Each keyframe describes a tween for the positions of the camera and one for the target:

Position (x,y,z) , Bezier curve
duration, delay,
onStart argument, onComplete argument.

When the swf file starts, this xml file is converted into tweens (TweenMax) which are executed in a sequence:

When the tweens start, a callback function is triggered with the “onStart” argument from the xml which allows the application to perform any synchronous action (i.e. starting to draw the corresponding path on the texture).
Some tweens can feature an intermediate point creating a Bezier curve instead of a straight line (See below, the 1st and 2nd tween of the camera are curves).
When the longest tween is complete another callback method can be called with the “onComplete” argument. Then the Tweens of the second keyframe are executed, and so on until the end of the sequence.

See the final result here www.adacimap.com

Omnia Connect set to change the face of UAE Interactive Marketing

Alexander Rauser — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:02:00 GMT

Omnia, the international creative consultancy with established offices in Europe and the United Arab Emirates, has rebranded its digital division and launched it as Omnia Connect.
The region’s web and online communications playground is witnessing a burst of frenzied activity. With the prevailing economic climate influencing companies into seeking intelligent ways of making their marketing budget work harder, the spotlight on the web industry is stronger than it has been for quite a while. In this scenario, web firms with a strong point of difference have the opportunity to make a long-term name for themselves.

Explaining the company’s decision to rebrand its digital division as Omnia Connect, Omnia MD Adam Booth commented: “There is a vital need in this market for specialised interactive agencies that know what they’re doing. Through Omnia Connect, we are creating a focused digital niche for brands that demand excellence from their online presence. It was an important strategic step for Omnia to expand and create a centre of excellence in the interactive world – which is why Omnia Connect was created.

Booth continued: “Omnia as it stands at the moment has a substantial client portfolio – from branding, creative and advertising through to strategy - we do it all. We’ve grown rapidly, and Omnia Connect is a natural extension of that growth.”

Omnia Connect offers a combination of thoughtful strategy and cutting-edge web tools designed to offer plenty of ‘wow factor’. Executing everything from online marketing campaigns, websites and micro-sites to guerilla campaigns, viral messages, social media marketing and PR campaigns and online advertising, the agency caters to every conceivable online need, based on solid strategy.

As companies become ever more discerning and seek fresh ways to stand out in a cluttered marketplace, the region’s web houses need to be on top of global trends and headline-grabbing guerilla tactics.

Alexander Rauser, Chief Executive Officer at Omnia Connect, is clear on what his agency brings to the creative table: “Our bouquet of interactive solutions has just the right amount of verve and intelligence to help names grab their share of the spotlight in the digital world. Whether our clients are seeking an urgent online face-lift for their brand or an incisive injection of personality into their website, Omnia Connect delivers the goods.”

Specialisation is another key element at Omnia Connect. Its team of top-notch designers and developers are experts in their individual fields, creating a digital media skill set untypical in a traditional creative consultancy. As a one-stop creative hot shop developing real-time applications, online retail stores and other timely web creations, Connect is looking to set itself apart in Dubai’s interactive scene.

As part of Omnia, Omnia Connect has developed over 200 websites, more then 40 interactive projects and high-profile video productions. By delivering solutions that merge form with function in one irresistible package, the Omnia Connect portfolio is packed with premium digital projects for an international roster of clients.

With projects for the likes of Tamweel, Repton, Global Village, Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Dubai Holding, Dubai Properties, Tourism Development & Investment Company - Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Caledon and Deutsche Bank, the agency’s portfolio makes an impressive statement.

In terms of the agency’s future direction, Rauser is keen for Connect to fulfil its creative potential. He added:“It was an important strategic step for Omnia to expand and create a centre of excellence in the interactive world – which is why Omnia Connect was born. Now it’s time to make our mark by doing what we do best – impeccable interactive creativity – on a consistent basis.”

Rauser has recently been promoted from Digital Media Director to Chief Executive Officer at Omnia Connect, reflective of the importance the company places on its new web division. As part of the agency’s launch strategy, Omnia Connect will be offering complimentary consultations for companies seeking fresh digital thought.