The U.S. Army, experiencing a stagnant recruiting situation, is going experiential.
The Army plans to unveil a pilot concept recruitment center in late August that was inspired by the interactivity of Apple Stores. The center, opening in a city that’s yet to be determined, will be built around virtual simulations and other experiential marketing techniques to engage visitors…
The first new recruitment center is designed to be less intimidating and more “like walking into a NASA center,” said Walters. It will consist of three large simulators with full-scale mock-ups of Army equipment and wrap-around 270-degree video screens. “The modeling command and control systems are like those used in Iraq…”
The Apache simulator allows a pilot and co-pilot to experience the aircraft and its weapons systems. The Black Hawk helicopter simulator provides four door gunner positions. And, the armored HMMWV vehicle simulator has positions for a driver and several gunners. The centers also will include an area where visitors can compete in America’s Army, a videogame released in 2002…
They may be aggressive; but, I doubt that Apple store designers are literally out to kill the competition.
…”based on Apple concepts.”
BS of the Nth degree. Conceptually. As a lead line.
Try some others: Breathing. Based on Apple concepts. Motherhood, pi and the flag… based on Apple concepts. All would be equally idiotic.
#1 – clicking on and reading the article was “too much” trouble, eh…?
#2 What part of “as a lead line” did you miss?
Obviously the Apple reference two words down from “killing simulation” is a juxtaposition created to suck readers in, not to provide any core value. It’s the fire in the title that is misleading. Just like headlines that pose bogus questions that blow past reason. Some examples:
“Is Obama a Suni Muslim or a Shiite?” “Just how doddering is McCain?”
Notice that the ACTUAL story leads with a much less Dvorak-style headline.
“Army imitates Apple to draw new recruits.” …has hardly the charge of the lead line here.
I actually want headlines that avoid this level of yellow internetism.
Your tax dollars at work. Where do you put in the quarters?
#3 – those surely are narrow interwebitubes you live in. So, the linked article has a headline that states “Army Imitates Apple To Draw New Recruits”. Gasp!
The interviews make it clear the dweebs designing “Army stores” look at how other successful stores work. Apple being an example of commercial success anyone in retail knows about – providing about 20% or more of their revenue.
Sorry that reality gets in the way of your hangups, pippin.
As an OnT aside, Dan Rather did a fine HDNet report on TV a few months back on the 20,000 sq.ft. “Ignited” prototype. But, I guess you wouldn’t have seen that either.
Does the “killing simulation” also include a “getting killed simulation”. Or a “getting both arms blown off, along with most of your face and spending the rest of your life in a hospital bed in horrible pain simulation” ?
It’s fun to play “Crysis” in god-mode. But in Iraq you can’t play in god-mode.
Army having Recruiting Problems ??? Well, HELL YES !!! They seem to have a WAR ON, AND ONCE YOU JOIN, YOU ***CAN’T GET OUT*** UNTIL HALLIBURTON AND MOBIL/EXXON CERTIFY THAT THE WAR IS WON OR THE US IS ***BANKRUPT*** AND CAN’T PAY FOR ANY MORE ***NO-BID, BLANK-CHECK CONTRACTS FOR HALLIBURTON*** !!! They will keep the “WAR” GOING WITH “NEW MISSION STATEMENTS” AND STOP-LOSS UNTIL THEY ARE “SATISFIED” !!! Meanwhile, Army Personel are FED TO THE MEAT-GRINDER !!! Yeah, that could cause “Recruiting Problems” !!!
I’ve translated JimD’s comments for the benefit of those put off by ***ALL CAPS***!!! ???:
Army having Recruiting Problems?
Well, Hell, Yes! They seem to have a war on, and once you join, you “Can’t get out” until Halliburton and Mobil/Exxon certify that the war is won or the U.S. is bankrupt and can’t pay for any more no-bid, blank check contracts for Haliburton!
They will keep the WAR going with “New mission statements” and Stop-Loss until they are “satisfied”! Meanwhile, Army Personnel are fed to the meat-grinder!
Yeah, that could cause “Recruiting Problems”!
Chuckee Cheese for Young Adults
Thanks, Chuck ! But these NEO-CONS PISS ME OFF SO MUCH, I HAVE TO YELL AND YES, ***I HAVE TO SCREAM*** !!!