BigShinyThing

Paul Notzold’s lovely app works by:

…using ‘always on’ technology, cell phones with SMS messaging allow an audience to interact with large speech bubbles projected onto a flat surface, like the facade of a building. The bubbles are positioned near windows and doors to encourage an audience to create the conversations happening inside. The audience receives a flyer with the number and simple instructions. A participant sends a text message to the provided phone number and it is then displayed inside the speech bubble. Multiple bubbles may be used and the audience can direct their input to a specific bubble.

Here at BigShinyThing we are constantly amazed by how much kids and artists on the street totally get how to convey the wondrousness of tech and yet the Big Mobile Providers (hello O2 and 3, just for starters) just so patently don’t. Compare and contrast this simple idea for text in public spaces with O2’s current UK marketing effort featuring an animated, travelling bubble…

TXTual link via Wooster Collective.

According to the BBC:

Former Doctor Who actor Tom Baker is to be the voice of a talking text message service for three months. He replaces BT’s computerised voice which currently translates texts into voice messages on a landline. [... Baker comments... ] “What appeals to me most is the thought that I will be bringing good news to people whether it is a cheeky message, a birthday greeting, or just a quick hello [...] Whatever it is, hopefully my voice will bring a smile to people’s faces.”

On the BBC’s video-feed of the full interview, Baker expresses his hope that the results would be “humorous, funny and I hope touching, and romantic.” He then adds, somewhat darkly, “Of course inevitably there will be a certain amount of anarchy.”

Also note the ‘for three months’: we’re wondering if this is the start of a trend, with guest celebs getting to speak for all manner of automated services. Is Daffyd ‘only gay in the village’ soon to be fronting for the speaking clock?