 |
French Billboards Call Your Cellphone
In the next few weeks, cellphone users in Paris will receive some unusual phone calls. Once these consumers have opted in to this special trial, billboards will call them with additional information and opportunities via their location-enabled cellphones.
The technology was developed by the government-run French National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control, known by its French initials Inria. The small transmission boxes were originally developed to provide information and assistance to disabled people.
According to Albert Asseraf, director of strategy, research and marketing at JCDecaux, the outdoor-advertising company behind the project:
According to Jean-Paul Edwards, the London-based head of media futures for Manning Gottlieb OMD, the most important aspect of the project is to be sure to get appropriate permission from consumers. The software used for the project allows consumers to specify where they receive messages, as well as the product types they are interested in.
Major problems could arise in an area like a train station or mall where there might be many advertising posters. "You can imagine a nightmare scenario where someone's mobile phone fills up with half a dozen advertising messages each day as they walk across Waterloo Station," said Edwards.
"With this project, we are really starting to create the personalized digital city... We eventually will see a rich dialogue running between mobile phones and what are now uncommunicative objects."
(Tom Cruise gets way too many messages)
This very scenario was enacted in the 2002 movie Minority Report, directed by Stephen Spielberg. In the film, John Anderton (played by Tom Cruise) is trying to unobtrusively walk through a mall, only to be constantly identified and called by wall-mounted advertisements and store windows.
"...Lexus. The road you're on, John Anderton, is the one less traveled""John Anderton! You could use a Guiness right about now."
"Get away, John Anderton... Forget your troubles..."
(Read more about personalized graphic ads from Minority Report)
Here's a similar story about billboards in Belgium sending SMS messages to passers-by. Read more about cellphone calls from billboards at this article from the International Herald.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 5/8/2006)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 1 )
Related News Stories - (" Media ")
Nexus One Not Ballardian Free Ad Phone
J.G. Ballard gave us a very good idea what this would be like in 1963.
Commercial Flies Sport Tiny Banner Ads
Phil Dick must be rolling over in his grave; buzzing advertisements are something I could live without.
'Niiu' Custom Newspaper Is PKD's Homeopape
You say 'niiu' but I say 'pape - homeostatic newspaper, that is.
Jail Sells Visitation Monitor Ad Space
Should jails force you to watch advertisements in return for speaking to your jailed relative or friend? Well, they're already doing it in Florida.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Current News
Put MercuryHouseOne Anywhere
Perhaps looking out through the spray of Victoria Falls.
Computational Wood: Grow Circuits In Living Trees
Just tap into the information tree.
SIRI Virtual Assistant Like Pohl's Joymaker
Man Forrester! Your joymaker is ready.
Liquid Glass Universal Spray-On Protectant
Also used to protect galactic way stations.
WIND Wearable Robot Controller
Robot wirelessly sense, robot do.
Gesture Cube Touch-Free Input
Just think of the gestures you'll use!
IMPASS Robot 'Smart Wheel' Video
I love it when good robot research comes together.
Predator, Prey Robots Evolve
Humanity must make a choice about robot evolution.
Mind-Control Lights At Vancouver Olympics
Bringing The Game to the Olympic Games.
PALRO Companion Robot
Who's your favorite companion robot?
Wasabi Smoke Alarm Now Available
It's an odalarm!
Spyder Olympic GS Suit With d3o
An impact suit made with a shear thickening material.
First Transistor That Mimics Brain Synapse
The Nexus Six phone will need a Nexus-6 brain.
Legged Squad Support System Monster BigDog Robot
A robotic pack mule for soldiers.
Implantable Energy-Harvesting Rubber Sheets
Take a deep breath, and power up that cell phone!
Bose Ride System Smooths Your Ride
Ride the spaceways - uh, roads - in comfort.
