Researchers at NTT Cyber Solution Laboratories (Japan) are working on projections which appear like drops of rain but which can carry branded messages.
A projector on a tripod shows images of raindrops hitting the ground and making ripples, in hopes that people will enter the “rainy” area and hold out their palms. A camera tracks the entrants’ movements and sends the data to computers. Then the projector shoots out a round-shaped advertisement — which can post words such as SALE — right onto their hands. The “rain” could also guide customers to specific stores.
What’s nice about this idea is how much it relies on human behaviour - people will always hold out their hands to rain. They also have a tendency to write stuff on their hands. It’s also a lot more personal. According to Yoko Ishii, a chief researcher in the human interaction project, “Advertisements are usually something that’s given to you, but it would be different if they showed up on your palms. You would feel more familiar with the message that appears in your personal area,” she said
One of the problems yet to be solved is how to make the message last longer than the rain. Researchers are also looking for ways to let people bring back the information on their palms if they so choose. It is already common for Japanese mobile telephone users to take snapshots of special tiny images on print advertisements that guide them to Internet sites offering more detailed information. Maybe they should just re-watch their Bladerunner, “In time all these moments will be lost, like tears in the rain.”
Story and photo courtesy of www. physorg.com
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