Abstract: Technology is described for providing an engaging and interactive advertising experience to a user. In one embodiment, an advertising avatar (also known as “advertar”) is created based on information provided for a product or service. An advertisement may be generated and provided to the user that employs the advertising avatar as a digital spokesperson to promote a certain brand of product and/or service. Upon receiving the advertisement, the user can interact with the advertisement by clicking on the advertising avatar or via voice and/or gesture control. A user may be presented with additional information about the brand in response to the user interaction.

Abstract: A dynamic, personalized advertising avatar based on a user's own avatar used in an online service is used to provide branded advertising in a virtual context. A definition of a user avatar with user attributes is acquired, and custom attributes for a dynamic user-based avatar are received from an advertiser. Dynamically generated user-based avatars are created having at least a portion of user attributes of the user avatar and a portion of the custom attributes, so that the resulting custom avatar is recognizable to the user but represents a product brand or service. Information is then acquired regarding user activity on a device capable of displaying the dynamically generated user-based advertising avatar and advertisements generated based on the dynamically generated user-based advertising avatar and the targeting information. The advertisement is then rendered on the user device using the dynamically generated user-based advertising avatar.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling brand detection in audiovisual media. The techniques detect a brand exposed within audiovisual media, such as a name or logo for a product or service, and based on this brand, present a brand advertisement or enable selection of an interactive experience that is associated with the brand. By so doing, marketers enable viewers to quickly and easily learn more about the product or service.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling brand detection in audiovisual media. The techniques detect a brand exposed within audiovisual media, such as a name or logo for a product or service, and based on this brand, present a brand advertisement or enable selection of an interactive experience that is associated with the brand. By so doing, marketers enable viewers to quickly and easily learn more about the product or service.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling advertisement presentation based on a current media reaction. The techniques and apparatuses can receive a current media reaction of a user watching a media program and, based on this current media reaction, determine which advertisement is likely to be effective. Further, the techniques and apparatuses may inform advertisers of a current media reaction thereby enabling the advertisers to bid on a right to present an advertisement based on that reaction. By so doing, costs for advertisements may more-accurately reflect the value of the time in which they are presented and advertisements may be more effective.

Abstract: An interaction hint is presented with a video segment. Upon receiving a user response to the interaction hint, a message is automatically sent to update information associated with a user profile without interrupting presentation of the video segment.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for directing funds to philanthropic organizations are provided. An advertisement server system includes advertisement servers, databases, and client devices. Publishers register with advertisement servers to select philanthropic organizations and to customize advertisement placeholders that are rendered on sites web pages associated with the publishers. The databases store records and accounts for the publishers and philanthropic organizations. The client devices interact with the web pages associated with the publishers. And based on the level of interaction by the client devices with an advertisement placeholder, the philanthropic organization that is linked to the advertisement placeholder is directly provided with a financial donation from the advertisement server system listing the publisher as a donor.