December 9, 2020 – Darabase, a provider of an augmented reality (AR) advertising platform, has recently announced that Landsec, owner of the Piccadilly Lights, and Ocean Outdoor, a media and advertising services company, are testing advanced AR technology to connect the iconic screen in London’s Piccadilly Circus to audiences and trigger interactive 3D experiences.
Developed in association with Darabase and delivered via the company’s platform, the technology uses a range of techniques including a virtual model to replicate the sweep and scale of the Piccadilly screen to deliver large-scale mobile AR experiences which amplify the big screen content on a viewer’s mobile handset.
By connecting audiences to the screen via Piccadilly’s WiFi network and 4G/5G networks, mobile AR allows individuals to see and play with dynamic, interactive 3D content that sits proud of and surrounds the screen.
Derek Manns, Landsec Commercial Media Director commented: “At Piccadilly Lights we are always innovating with market leading solutions to engage and entertain the audience. The opportunity to develop mobile AR solutions and extend the creative canvas of the Lights is an exciting opportunity that we are delighted to bring to the market.”
Catherine Morgan, Director of Ocean Labs said: “We are working with Landsec to introduce memorable, Covid-safe environments which use the scale of Piccadilly Lights to provide rich, immersive, visual experiences. Screen-triggered mobile AR is the next big step in these advancements, allowing advertisers to use the content that is generated to drive footfall in the moment and to prime their wider mobile media campaigns.”
Darabase highlighted a few examples of how augmented reality technology could be used to create engaging audience experiences at the location, including interactive games such as throwing a virtual javelin by flicking a spear across Piccadilly and into the screen as part of an Olympics experience. Similarly, during large scale events such as Pride London, mobile AR could be used to present a virtual rainbow sitting right above the curved screen itself.
Fashion models could walk a virtual catwalk above Piccadilly Circus and retailers can go one step further, driving footfall and sales directly from the screen using mobile AR directions and arrows to their nearest London store. A variety of features enabled through AR will allow brands to bring products to life in 3D and allow viewers to interact with them digitally.
Dominic Collins, CEO of Darabase, added: “We are excited to bring location-based mobile AR to Piccadilly Lights, the world’s most iconic media screen. AR has a unique ability to engage and delight, especially when in conjunction with the impressive physical scale of Piccadilly Lights. We can’t wait to see how brands and media companies will bring their products and communications to life in mobile AR, layered on the screen. We’re proud to be playing our part in keeping Piccadilly Lights at the forefront of innovation in outdoor media.”
Darabase stated that trials to allow the synching of personal audio to the screen are also underway, using AR computer vision to synchronise entertainment content as it appears on Piccadilly Lights to viewers’ personal handheld devices. The company noted that this marks a significant development for brands, advertising and media content such as film studio trailers and music-led video content.
For more information on Darabase and its augmented reality advertising platform, please visit the company’s website.
Image credit: Ocean Outdoor
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Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.