Media release – For immediate release Monday 9 September

Talking billboard gives Rob Thomas the innovative edge.

An Auckland Council candidate embracing new technology, has launched talking billboards around Auckland city. Rob Thomas’s campaign is designed to change the way we engage with local government in new and innovative ways.

Thomas says, “These are the first talking billboards ever to be used for election campaigning in New Zealand.”

Each sign has a QR code that takes people to a free smart-phone app called Layar. Layar is one of the leading augmented reality programmes for mobile devices. Once Layar is loaded onto your phone, it’s as simple as opening the app and scanning the sign.

“Watch as the billboard comes alive! It makes a change from stuffy static campaigns, and allows me to talk directly with Aucklanders.”

“For the last five months I have been door knocking local residents across Auckland’s inner-city. Now each week I’ll post up a new interactive video dealing with issues I have heard from these Auckland residents.”

Each week, Thomas will launch a new video throughout his campaign. So look out for the videos as they go live. The technology is integrated across all Thomas’s campaign material. People will be able to watch these via large billboard on ANZAC Ave, street signs and advertisements or even his campaign t-shirts. They can all be bought to life using your smart-phone.

Thomas cites poor voter turn-out as one of the reasons for engaging with this new media. Approximately 42% of Aucklanders returned their voting papers in the last local government election. The average age of Auckland’s inner city resident is just 30 years-old. Thomas believes his constituents are early adopters of new technology, open to new ways of engaging with their Council.

His campaign slogan, ‘Let’s Talk’, encourages Aucklanders “to get involved and tell us what you want in your city.” “Local government has a huge impact on our day to day life,” says Thomas, “I’m passionate about getting people to engage with their Council in new and innovative ways.”

Thomas believes that this technology has a miriad of uses. Allowing your smart-phones to take you on a guided historic walk around the city centre for example – bringing Auckland’s rich history alive.

Watch a demonstration on YouTube: http://youtu.be/4dtRhFQW43g

Try it yourself

Download the app onto your phone http://get.layar.com

ENDS

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