This week’s innovations transform wifi networks into Scrabble games, outdoor into scratchable surfaces and print ads into solar powered phone chargers.
Number 5) Mini’s bathroom airbag hack
Mini in Mexico came up with an ingenious, if somewhat alarming, stunt to discourage women from applying make-up in their car - by hacking soap dispensers to blow up an air bag. When women stood next to the soap dispensers to put on their make-up, the airbag went off suddenly and revealed the message “There’s a place for everything. Make-up or drive.”. Unusual but certainly arresting.
Via PSFK
Number 4) Urban Ears Scratch Poster
Urban Ears in Denmark developed an ingenious means of bringing to life their mobile DJ mixing iPhone app by creating ‘scratchable’ posters. 3D printing enabled them to create patterned ridges that produce sound as they’re scratched with your fingernails. Yet another brilliant usage of this this exciting technology.
Referrer @RobertBellamy
Via Adverblog
Number 3) IBM’s Smarter Advertising
As part of their ‘People for smarter cities’ project, IBM have created a series of smarter ad units that double up as clever functional surfaces for the outdoor environment. The ads include curved versions which also serve as benches or rain shelters as well as a ramp to take you up a flight of stairs. Advertising that helps make the world a better place is indeed a smart thought…
Via Fast Company
Number 2) Nivea: Solar Powered iPhone Charger Print Ad
In another utilitarian advertising stunt, Nivea developed a print ad that doubles as a solar powered phone charger. If the link to sun tan lotion is a little tenuous, it’s still a fantastic print innovation.
Via DigitalBuzzBlog
Number 1) Scrabble Wifi
Number 1 this week is Hasbro’s wifi Scrabble game. They identified parts of Paris where wifi connections were patchy and placed free networks there. But instead of just giving it away, people were served up seven randomly assigned letters just like in the board game. Whatever score they managed to achieve from those letters was automatically converted into free wifi minutes. Simple but brilliant.
Via Contagious
That’s it for this week. As ever, if anything screamingly awesome has been missed out, let us know in the comments below. Or feel free to ping any recommendations for next week to @jamescfilmer.
James Filmer
Chief Innovation Officer
UM