Should We Turn Buildings Into Billboards?
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Yes, I’ll admit it: I attended Nuit Blanche and one of the first things that occurred to me was that we now have the technology to turn entire buildings into massive billboards.
In case you missed it, Nuit Blanche turned Toronto City Hall itself into a giant art installation: Stereoscope by Project Blinkenlights. Using the two towers’ own lights and smartphone-controllable technology, moving, undulating images were displayed on City Hall’s massive face: Dancing figures, modern imagery, even a giant game of Pong unfolded throughout the night.
It was a truly arresting sight, and I couldn’t help but wonder how long it would be before someone uses the technology to turn buildings into full-sized billboards.
On one hand, why not? Why not turn entire buildings into billboards, and use their own lights to do it? It’s such a simple way to display the company logo-in fact, nestled among the images on City Hall was the unmistakable stylized trillium of the province of Ontario.
And with Smartphone technology, the ads can even be made interactive.
On the other hand, the ethics of such an idea puts a damper on it. A blatant display of advertising can turn off customers, as can the use of so much power when everyone is focused on preserving our resources.
Billboard buildings: do you think it’s a good idea?
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If consumers are willing to play with an ad on a building, then why not with ads on more traditional devices too? Makes you think more banner ads should be built with gaming in mind…
It doesn’t get much more traditional than a building,does it?
But yes, you’re right. Do you mean banner ads designed for placement in games, or interactive banner ads with gaming capabilities?
I meant interactive banner ads with gaming capabilities. If we are willing to spend money on fixed billboards with technology wrappers, why not build the technology into the banner ad itself.