I ran across this article on CNET about RFID being used to send drivers of Mini’s a personalized message on billboards as they drive past. I think it is a pretty novel marketing idea, but at what cost? This will be fine and dandy until some jerkoff tries to take a picture with their phone at 60mph and kills someone because they weren’t paying attention. Then I will be pissed off. The only problem is I won’t know who to blame.
The boards, which usually carry typical advertising, are programmed to identify approaching Mini drivers through a coded signal from a radio chip embedded in their key fob. The messages are personal, based on questionnaires that owners filled out: “Mary, moving at the speed of justice,” if Mary is a lawyer, or “Mike, the special of the day is speed,” if Mike is a chef.
And what is with the big insurgence of creatively fresh billboards and large-scale advertising mediums. I have been noticing a lot of companies are starting to alter the urban landscape with huge testaments as to why their product is right for you.
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