A concept for commercial vehicles to advertise in urban areas:

A cradle for a Palm computer (with DC power supply) incorporates an IR receiver that picks up the palm's meagre IR signal. The Palm would be running a program that continually broadcasts selected contact information, namely the business that the vehicle is trying to advertise.

A higher power omnidirectional IR transmitter on the top of the vehicle would re-transmit the signal of the Palm computer inside. A bumper sticker or sign in the window would indicate to the pedestrian walking along side to aim his/her Palm at the vehicle for more information.

To entice the Palm user to receive the information, some sort of built-in coupon for the product or service could be incorporated.
-- Cedar Park, Jan 21 2003

IR Blaster http://www.the-gadg...lasters-review.html
"to increase the power of your IR signal" [half, Oct 05 2004]

Real Estate Radio http://www.allabout...dcastRealestate.htm
Realtors' prospects hear house info as they drive by [Ander, Oct 05 2004]

That's nice. (+).
-- 8th of 7, Jan 21 2003


Even more practical with bluetooth (as built into the Palm Tungsten and hopefully to follow on future Palm OS devices). (+)

Aside 1: A location webserver (for a shop or business) was one of the applications I thought might spring from bluetooth back before everyone developing bluetooth products was made redundant to save costs.

Aside 2: I came across a street-level advertising hoarding in New York when I was there a couple of years ago. It had a window in the corner constantly beaming corporate information to any palm that would listen.
-- st3f, Jan 21 2003


Are there any legal/safety restrictions to how powerful the IR transmitter could be, and if so would that hamper the ability of this mobile transmitter idea to work?

When I first read this yesterday, I thought that a shopping mall might be a good location for this technology.

While the concept is unique, it all boils down to electronically delivered coupons. Not that that's a bad thing, I voted (+).
-- half, Jan 21 2003


Another use for this product: magnifying the IR output of the Palm so you can use it to control your home stereo from 25 feet away. But darn, the truck won't fit in my living room.
-- krelnik, Jan 21 2003


How many Palm users would the truck pass? How many of them would bother to pick up the signal? Unless perhaps you were driving around certain parts of northern California, you could probably go for hours without getting any attention. Not really cost-effective advertising.

Interesting idea, bad application.
-- kropotkin, Jan 21 2003


The idea is to use this in city centers, where walkers often move faster than the vehicles. Other than the cost of a Palm ($100.00 now) and the repeater (I think it could be built for less than $100) the cost would be driving around. I imagine this as a task for a delivery van or promotional sales vehicle which would be driving around anyway.
-- Cedar Park, Jan 23 2003


It is an interesting idea, but I can't help feeling most people would quickly tire of it. It would have the annoyance factor of spam, and a level of compensation akin to junk mail money-off coupons for products you don't want.
-- egbert, Jan 23 2003


Pimps, hoes, johns...
-- thumbwax, Jan 23 2003


[egbert] I don't think that would be a problem, due to the nature of IR links. You would have to deliberately point their Palm at the truck to get the offer, so it would definitely be an "opt in" format.
-- krelnik, Jan 23 2003



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