New technology brings greater opportunity for roadshow engagement
We keep our ear to the ground when it comes to technological advancement, as it usually presents exciting opportunities for brands looking to run a roadshow campaign. Here are some of the latest developments that have caught our eye:
Exciting the senses
Fujitsu has taken tablets to the next level, with a new development to excite all the senses. The prototype - one of many inspiring gadgets to be displayed at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona recently - uses ultrasonic vibration to mimic textures and give the illusion of touching different surfaces on a screen. Users can feel as though they are feeling water, pushing buttons or even stroking an alligator. You can read more about how it works on the Daily Mail.
Integrating tablets as part of a roadshow truck tour has become commonplace, particularly for surveying visitors, connecting with social media and as an information source. But the possibilities of something like the new Fujitsu tablet are endless, particularly for brands looking for more innovative and engaging ways of customers experiencing their products.
For retailers, this may mean being able to let visitors ‘touch’ and ‘feel’ your full product range while being on-board your mobile shop, or for manufacturers, visitors could get the feel of physically using a new product as part of a roadshow product demo experience.
Magical Movement
More trickery is alive and well in Sweden, as a hair brand used new billboard technology to stop subway pedestrians in their tracks. Adweek reported the ad, which showed a woman’s hair blowing, as though windswept by oncoming trains.
Using simple movement techniques such as this is on board a truck, enhances what is already a captivating environment, enabling visitors to feel more engaged with a brand.
Interactivity
Deploying interactive walls in a roadshow truck isn’t new, and the opportunity they offer brands is far reaching, from bringing information to life and connecting a real-life experience with the online world to creating a sense of involvement and fun.
Samsonite revealed how size can make all the difference by displaying interactive content on a giant 2.5m screen in its Selfridges London concession store. The Drum explains how the screen creates an “engaging and interactive experience for customers” enabling them to learn more and interact with catalogues and products.
Element of surprise
We’ve blogged about the benefits of using augmented reality as part of a roadshow experience before, particularly in relation to facilitating training, education and product demonstrations.
The Drum reported on a new campaign by Pepsi, which uses the technology on a grand scale and highlights the extent of possibilities. As part of the ‘Unbelievable’ campaign, a busy London bus stop was rigged to create the effect of appearing aliens and robots, surprising unbeknown travellers.