A Forever 21 clothing store located on Times Square, in the building that used to house the Virgin Mega-Store, has taken a Tron-like approach to advertising.

A digital 61 foot electronic billboard features virtual models interacting with people on the street below. The model takes photos of onlookers, which are then instantly displayed on the billboard. In addition, the models can pick people out from the gawking crowds, create digitized images of them, kiss them and turn them into frogs or pick them up and drop them into “Forever 21” branded shopping bags.

The dystopian mindfuck also displays “love tweets” from so-called “fans.”

Madison Avenue is a very powerful aggression against private consciousness. A demand that you yield your private consciousness to public manipulation. - Marshall McLuhan

For more info and photos on the billboard check out design boom.

As an introvert, I agree with the McLuhan quote.  Unfortunately, I’m surrounded by extroverts who are all to keen on this type of interaction, especially if they’re paying for it.  It’s only going to get worse, in that the targeting will get better.

Then again, I gave you all kinds of information for your advertisers.  Maybe the new media economy really does entail a personal relationship?

Purchase is permission…

I agree with the McLuan quote, that’s exactly what advertising is and in this day and age of self posting,self advertising it’s no wonder that interactive billboards are the current wave. Forever 21,as much as I dislike them, certainly knows it’s demographics and its targeting them,and using them. It’s kind of perverse.

But, I did see a really good interactive billboard, can’t remember where. You can do your own artwork or graffiti on the billboard for whatever it was selling.I thought that as a great idea.