Moscow Traffic Meltdown from Pirated Digital Billboards
On January 15, 2010 computer hackers broke into an array of large roadside digital billboards bringing traffic to a halt in Moscow as they replaced the advertising for 15 minutes with x-rated videos. Yes, it is hard to believe, but on the other hand, not so hard to believe! This demonstrates the inherent weakness in this technology for images to be pirated or replaced by more obnoxious, misleading, or provocative messaging. Obviously in this case the messaging was also a dangerous distraction.
Digital Billboards in Venice!
Scenic America (www.scenic.org) has recently reported that Italian authorities are now allowing digital advertising displays in St. Mark's Square. Yes, it is hard to believe! The information at hand suggests that this is the latest scheme to make use of the scaffolding erected in the restoration of building facades. Such scaffold screening has been previously in use in Europe and elsewhere to display a static picture of the future facade restoration. So far, Venetian officials have not allowed nudity or overly distastful displays...
A New Wave of Advertising TechnoBlight hits the Streets
The New York Times recently (August 27, 2007) reported that business is stepping up for personal car-wrapped advertising...... This advertising gimmick has been around for a few years, but with stipends reaching $800 a month, individuals are now more interested in making their personal vehicles into mobile 3-D billboards....... On a parallel track are mobile advertising trucks seen recently in a number of American metro areas. These purpose-built vehicles resembling panel trucks can display up to 200 scrolling illuminated billboards on each of the three truck body sides -- a total of 60 moving illuminated billboard faces per vehicle, especially noticable after dark. We anticipate the LED digital billboard technology to soon be active in this as well, unless public officials wake up to the inherent ability of this moving blight to overly distract and imperil motorists and pedestrians.
