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Ads In Fast Forward
Sara sent me this interesting article from New Scientist Tech. Scroll down past the summary paragraphs on multilayered body armour and contextual Blackberries. A UK inventor by the name of Colin Davies has devised a method to force PVR’s to display ads even while fast-forwarding through commercials. It goes without saying that advertisers will be delighted at this discovery and probably shower him with dollars.
As scarily invasive this is, it is kind of ingenious. Taking the standard video concept of keyframes, combined with the fact that PVR’s tend to only show keyframes while in fast-forward mode, he suggests embedding simple ads in these keyframes.
This article is one that reminds me exactly how much of a war between the advertisers and the customers that advertising really is. Most times it seems like a tolerable annoyance, and the fact that advertisers have gulled us into thinking this displays at least a modicum of success. Long story short, we need to egg this dude’s house.
Dave Said,
September 21, 2006 @ 11:07 am
Honestly, I don’t have a problem with that. In the model that we have, advertising pays the production costs on what we watch on TV. No ad revenue means shittier TV with lower budgets. Having key frame ads like this doesn’t really change the experience, other than that the fast-forwarding gives an intelligible result as opposed to fast-skipping quasi-gibberish.
There’s also the fact that it makes it easier to know when the commercial break is over rather than skipping through part of the show one is watching
Ryan Said,
September 22, 2006 @ 11:28 pm
I saw a bumper sticker today that said “My other ride is your mom” and thought of you.
I agree with Dave by and large, but I’ll argue anyways that it’s still further invasion of headspace; advertisements take up brain processes that could be better used at thinking up cures for cancer or playing video games. It’s not a big thing, those few seconds of fast forward time (it doesn’t affect me personally at all, for one thing), but it is yet another space, another medium if you will, where people who do not have your best interests at heart can try and influence your decision making processes. Not positive.
The Mad Peacock Said,
September 28, 2006 @ 10:23 am
Blocking good TV ads spots with static ads?…
As I rush through the ads on my DVR I do watch and if there is a visually interesting ad, something funny/strange going on I will stop, rewind and watch it, good ads prevail. Adoption of this technology should outrage……
roaneskin Said,
October 1, 2006 @ 7:00 pm
Just been seeing more and more of this, http://www.banksy.co.uk/films/index.html click on advert to see the piece being done. ;) that and check out his stencil work. Amazing ideas