Draw a Tree or Do the Droid

The Reuters and NASDAQ Times Square displays, at 43 St. between Broadway and 7th Ave., are accepting creative input via a Prius Experience iPhone app. An option in the app allows users to “draw shapes to interact with the Prius.”
Users are invited to “draw a tree” (or anything else). Digital artists can use their finger to draw an image on the screen, as long as it’s done in one, continuous movement. The drawing will populate the app’s digital plane, then, the creator can submit the drawing to be broadcast on one of the Times Square displays.
Digital creations will be updated on the live displays in real time throughout the day. Livecams on the Times Square website (http://www.timessquare2.com/webcams_as3.asp?timestamp=20091026191713) provide virtual updates. The app warns that, because of high volume, all artwork might not be displayed and that drawings will be displayed in the order in which they were received. It’s a pretty cool concept to get people to use an iPhone app and in the process, learn a bit more about a car.
Also, to support Verizon Wireless’ launch of Motorola’s Droid smartphone and to showcase the phone’s built-in voice search feature, Verizon Wireless will be creating an interactive experience called “Droid Does Times Square.” on the Reuters and NASDAQ displays. This experience will let people control the displays using only voice commands.
The digital billboards will instruct passersby to call a toll-free number (888-376-4336) to search locations in the Times Square area. Participants can search for such entertainment as restaurants, plays, movies and stores, and the search results will be displayed on the boards using Google Maps.
The voice-activated experience serves as a large-scale simulation of Droid by Motorola’s built-in voice search, which is unique to Google’s Android phones. After callers interact with the signs, they will receive a text message that directs them to a Verizon Wireless Communications store near Times Square, where they can purchase a Droid.
Special voice commands will trigger animations, such as speeding subway trains, or make the signs do surprising things like turn on and off. Try “Droid Does Times Square” to see what happens.
The Droid experience is slated for November 6-20, from 12:30 to 2:10 p.m. and from 6:30 to 8:10 p.m., and on November 27, from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. November 28.
This Droid experience also can be viewed by visiting www.droiddoes.com/timessquare.
The Reuters sign spans 22 stories and features over 7,000 sq. ft. of digital signage. It’s located on the Reuters building in the heart of Times Square, and is seen by over one-and-a-half million people each day. The display has featured other marketing campaigns for such companies as Nike, Honda, Lexus, IBM, Yahoo! and AOL.
The NASDAQ MarketSite Tower stands seven stories tall; is approximately 1/4 acre and 10,000 sq. ft. of signage. The Tower sign currently presents market information, NASDAQ messages, advertisements and NASDAQ studio ceremonies throughout the day.