About 8 years ago, robotic webcams which internet users could control, started to become the rage. This has now been taken one step further in Canada with am Ottawa resident developing a software programme which allows anyone on the net to control and programme his Christmas Lights. To make it even more interesting, he’s networked friends and neighbours in on the deal and you can programme their lights too.
Now this may seem like just another of those internet novelties but just as some cunning tourism marketers recognised that robotically controlled webcams could be a great way to generate interest in a destination, perhaps some marketers might also see the potential in this idea.
Even ignoring the fact that this idea could easily be applied to any electrical appliance (its just a small relay box attached to the lights, a database, a software application and a website after all), the application for Christmas lights alone is interesting. Cities make a big deal out of their Christmas lights, what about using those as an international marketing activity by allowing internet users to control the Christmas light patterns for the city’s main display? Some hotels and retail chains also heavily feature christmas lights – what about throwing those open for people to control?
Why do it? Well in the end it will become passe but if you capture these types of concepts early then very simply it attracts bucketloads of attention. Yes a lot of the people who will use it will be kids but they then write about it in their blogs, tell other people about it, put links to your website to control the lights – presto, all of a sudden you’ve not only got a lot of PR but its done wonders for the ranking of your website.
Here’s the website for these Christmas lights in Ottawa – have a play.
