One of the very few ways in which I have reservations about the advent of augmented reality technologies is that inevitably some or most of the hardware and software will be ad-supported, which will of course mean ads on anything and everything. Ads on walls, ads on faces, ads on the sky, ads on the moon. Ads on your genitals. All projected on an interface that will be as natural as a cell phone, which is to say, as natural as a limb or an eye.
And only the nerds will have the technology and wherewithal to block them.
This happens in denver just about every Rockies home game. They fly banners for the Weed shops, car insureance companies, real estate brokers, all sorts of stuff... You get used to it and ignore it eventually.
I think Seattle looked a lot more interesting before they started outlawing advertising in our city. Look at thes pictures of Westlake back in the 1960's. It looks a lot better than it does today, IMO:
By the way, Charles, what's worse: planes with ad banners, or those mobile billboard trucks? One pollutes and clutters the sky, the other pollutes and clutters city streets AND worsens already bad traffic congestion. I mean, I don't like the planes, but the trucks nearly incite me to violence.
@4, respect for differing tastes, of course, but I could not disagree more. Ads are gross; fuck them complete and forever. I don't WANT to live in New York. That's why I don't.
It is a bit late to start complaining about this. Advertising in the air is a old as human flight. Nineteenth century ballonists carried ads in order to defray costs as did the early barn stormers. I am all for banning billboards in rural areas along highways to reduce visual litter but cannot get worked up over aeial ads in the city. Aren't logos on jets and news helicopters advertising? Try banning that.
Why, Charles, air adverts are a public service! That's the only way I can tell if there's a game or something else going on that I don't possibly give a flipping shit about. See! Highly useful.
Well, then let's just get rid of professional sports. You might need to speak with your colleagues about that since they've been boosting for hedge fund Hansen. I'm sure there will be more annoying things like this when we get our new shiny basketball arena/team.
@1 I'm being serious here but are you facetious? I don't find the current 2nd generation cybernetic augmentations very natural (let's consider 1G the smart phone). For example, Google Glass ignores at least one fundamental human factor, IMO, stereoscopic vision. And that's just the beginning.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Mr. Rural-citizens-who-value-their-quiet-landscape-can-go-fuck-themselves-because-they don't-choose-to-live-in-cities. Cry me a fucking river, Charles. Seriously.
I actually disagree (though I make my living in advertising, so my views are suspect). But I'll take sky banners over, say, billboards any day. They're far less ubiquitous, they inspire genuine curiosity (especially since you can't always read them at first, so there's a little anticipation), and they're fleeting—the sky returns. Plus, anything that sets my mind thinking of flight is welcome... I guess I'll always be four inside, yelling, "A plane!"
I like @4's photos, but think a big part of their appeal is the nostalgic element to the ads themselves. Again, a matter of taste, but we wouldn't be living and walking amongst those quaintly retro ads, but rather some hideous newfangled 22nd century fluorescent green energy drink promoting hologram.
As far as airplane banners go, I don't mind them too much. Reminiscent of the east coast beach we used to vacation to in my youth.
I'm guessing it's better in old photographs than it was in person. I do love the Great Northern goat in the photo. I wish that was still there. And @22 is right -- modern street advertising is hideous and would detract hugely from our streetscape if it were employed to the degree seen in your photos.
And only the nerds will have the technology and wherewithal to block them.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smb320/5497…
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=…
That would be the end.
@4, respect for differing tastes, of course, but I could not disagree more. Ads are gross; fuck them complete and forever. I don't WANT to live in New York. That's why I don't.
This wasn't the first time you've ever looked up, was it?
@1 I'm being serious here but are you facetious? I don't find the current 2nd generation cybernetic augmentations very natural (let's consider 1G the smart phone). For example, Google Glass ignores at least one fundamental human factor, IMO, stereoscopic vision. And that's just the beginning.
Or is this an aerial sequel to your impressionistic Henry Louis Gates portrait?
Hypocrite.
As far as airplane banners go, I don't mind them too much. Reminiscent of the east coast beach we used to vacation to in my youth.
I'm guessing it's better in old photographs than it was in person. I do love the Great Northern goat in the photo. I wish that was still there. And @22 is right -- modern street advertising is hideous and would detract hugely from our streetscape if it were employed to the degree seen in your photos.