Can’t Even Pee In Peace…
When Shona and I were visiting relatives in New York City this past summer, we took everyone out for an Italian veal dinner at a little out of the way place that has been a family favourite for a decade. Gino’s Kitchen is by no means “upscale” but the food is sooooo good that they could charge double if they would just paint the place.
But nothing really changes at Gino’s and that suits us just fine. The tablecloths might be faded, but they don’t get replaced until they are worn through.
So you can imagine my confusion when I headed for the loo and found a video screen above each urinal – broadcasting commercials for beer, chewing gum and Chevrolet automobiles. As I stood there doing my business, I found myself getting angry. You can’t even get away from it in the washroom. BUY! BUY! BUY!
Later in the week I was filling up the rental car and I was assaulted by a video at the gas pump. Even the receipt from the cashier had advertising on it. BUY! BUY! BUY!
Can’t even hear yourself think sometimes. Billboards, more commercials than music on the radio, television ads that seem to be 50% of all programming. BUY! BUY! BUY!
Captive Students A Great Audience For Television Commercials
And now the University of the West Indies is installing a video-advertising system at their Cave Hill campus. Oh… they don’t call it a “video advertising system”, it’s a “communication system” that will be used “to allow direct and speedy communication with all constituents of the campus, but mainly the students” according to the Barbados Advocate.
According to the newspaper article, the communication system – including a large 10 x 21 foot scoreboard – is being “donated” by ACR Technology Inc..
“Donated” – as in “out of the goodness of their heart.” Wow… that’s great!
Just one little thing – tucked away so deeply in the article that most folks will probably miss it…
“The board … will also be used by companies to advertise, and …. this can be used during down time on the campus to also generate additional revenue.”
As we always say, folks… Ain’t nothin’ be free!
But I guess the people in charge have looked at it and decided that the benefits outweigh the commercial intrusion into the academic environment and culture.
From The Barbados Advocate…
COME next year, just in time for Cricket World Cup, the 3W’s Oval at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus will have a new state-of-the-art video and score board on its grounds.
This ten feet high by 21 feet wide board, says University of the West Indies officials is a part of a $600 000 communication system which will feature smaller electronic boards which will be positioned across the campus to allow direct and speedy communication with all constituents of the campus, but mainly the students. The donation is being made by ACR Technology Inc.
Speaking at a press conference and signing ceremony between the University and ACR Technology, Deputy Principal of the Cave Hill Campus, Professor Leo Moseley said that the agreement has been several months in the works, as they had to go through quite complicated negotiations to ensure that neither the University nor ACR Technologies Inc. would be embarking on anything that would lead to surprises down the line…
… read the entire article at the Barbados Advocate (link here).
