Tenori Pop Makes Spaces Come Alive

Written by: Michael Keferl on May 7, 2009 at 4:31 am | In DIGITAL LIFE, MARKETING IDEAS | 1 Comment

This is a sample piece from our online Trendpool Database. In addition to the currently running Mobile Trendpool, we have white label solutions and other custom topics running as well for companies interesting in great ideas to help them grow.

Created by NTT IT as an interactive art piece, Tenori Pop has evolved into an interesting marketing tool to connect physically with consumers using digital projections.

Overhead projectors combined with digital cameras can detect an outstretched hand and instantly beam an image onto the hand. As the hand moves, the image follows with it, and can be combined with other images to create something new. For example, bringing a “sun” image and a “rain” image together can create a combination “flower” image onto the joined hands in the space where they meet. In addition, it can be used as a group so people can enjoy it together, passing images to each other and playing games. Most importantly, it makes people stop and pay attention!

Trend potential
While digital art projects are often fun for users, they’re often impractical for real-world marketing situations. Tenori Pop engages users in a fun way, and goes so far as to physically join brands and consumers, even if only for a brief digital moment.

Tags: Digital Signage, Marketing
Category: DIGITAL LIFE, MARKETING IDEAS
Other categories: LIFESTYLE / FASHION, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

Digital Signage: NEC Eye Flavor reads consumers

Written by: Michael Keferl on December 19, 2008 at 7:13 pm | In DIGITAL LIFE, MARKETING IDEAS | No Comments

NEC continues on its quest to equip digital signage with with all the tools necessary to know everything about the consumers that enter its perimeter. The all-knowing ad is now a reality.

Eye Flavor uses an embedded camera to gather demographic information about visitors, but also to gauge how well particular advertisements affect those that see it. It can tell whether viewers simply glanced at the display, gave it a passing look, stopped, or ignored it entirely. From this information advertisers can know exactly which ads grab their targets in a real way, and the locations that host the displays can more specifically target advertisers with strong demographic proof.

More hands-on possibilities mean changing the ads to fit the crowd on the fly, and offering discounts/coupons in the form of QR codes for mobile phones.

To test the system, NEC had the Eye Flavor installed at the Granduo shopping center in Tachikawa for three weeks in October, and it’s now available for real utilization for about $20k.

NEC has been doing a great deal in the last couple of years, particularly for technology to gather demographic information about shop visitors and then track their movements. Other systems can track movements within a store, which items were visually attractive, time spent at displays, and other valuable data. We’ve gone into this a great deal in the Trendpool, where we highlight these among a wide range of new retail technologies.

Press Release from NEC

Tags: Digital Signage, Marketing, NEC
Category: DIGITAL LIFE, MARKETING IDEAS
Other categories: LIFESTYLE / FASHION, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

Japan Inc. October - Digital Signage, mobile concepts

Written by: Michael Keferl on October 17, 2008 at 10:24 am | In DIGITAL LIFE, LIFESTYLE / FASHION, MARKETING IDEAS | No Comments

In the latest issue of Japan Inc. CScout Japan highlights the latest from Japan in the realm of Digital Signage (see the Trendpool for full coverage and reports on this) and the latest concept phones coming out of the dynamic Japanese marketplace.

We already have next month in the pipeline, but feel free to contact us for more information on anything you read in Japan Inc. or on these pages.

Tags: design, Digital Signage, Japan Inc., Mobile, Press
Category: DIGITAL LIFE, LIFESTYLE / FASHION, MARKETING IDEAS
Other categories: PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

Ants! Catchyoo interactive floor display at Joypolis

Written by: Michael Keferl on May 14, 2007 at 4:43 am | In DIGITAL LIFE | 2 Comments

We’ve covered Catchyoo projection displays before, but we’ve been seeing them more and more, from the new Tokyo Midtown complex to Omotesando Hills. Below is some video from Joypolis in Odaiba, which is basically the coolest indoor amusement park we’ve ever seen.

Aside from this projection (and another one involving billiard balls that we didn’t quite get into) Joypolis has been continually updating its interactive and virtual reality offerings, and we’ve yet to get bored in the slightest whenever we stop by. The added bonus? They had the Love and Berry Digital Stage!

Tags: Catchyoo, Digital Signage
Category: DIGITAL LIFE
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, LIFESTYLE / FASHION, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

Catchyoo: Interactive projection ads from Japan

Written by: Michael Keferl on February 1, 2007 at 9:26 pm | In DIGITAL LIFE, MARKETING IDEAS | 1 Comment

Fresh from the marketing and technological glitz of Tokyo comes interactive ads that even a casual passer-by won’t be able to help participating in if he walks over it.

Catchyoo is more than just an interactive tool, but is an entirely new way of bringing consumers, literally, into the ads themselves. Developed by LM3 Labs in Tokyo, Catchyoo is a projection system that displays the ads on floors, walls, or wherever. People can then physically interact with the ads by sweeping their hands to wipe away animated leaves, squash moving “moles” with their feet, make ripples in a pool of water, or any of the other seemingly infinite possibilities for this. Judge for yourself by the three videos below, but the visuals are unbelievably crisp and stylish.

This amazing interaction is done completely with sensors within the projection system, not with anything on the surface itself. At it’s various displays around Tokyo, especially at Omotesando Hills, Catchyoo draws a crowd, but mostly because of the game-like feeling of it.

While Catchyoo is fun to play with, it’s also a great way to make relevant ads that are easily changed and updated through the computer. Even better, as illustrated with the iPhone ad, it’s a great way to demonstrate product features themselves. iPhone has a touchscreen, so why not make a giant touchscreen iPhone that everyone can play around with? Only, instead of fingers, you do a running-start, face-first, Pete Rose slide over the image to scroll.

Pictures and video via Catchyoo

Tags: Catchyoo, Digital Signage
Category: DIGITAL LIFE, MARKETING IDEAS
Other categories: LIFESTYLE / FASHION, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS