Augmented reality has established itself as a powerful marketing tool and this aspect of the technology has not been lost to non-profit groups in the United Kingdom. The Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, a group devoted to the care and service of children with shortened life expectancies, has adoption augmented reality to reach out to high-tech consumers. Like most non-profit advocacy groups, Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice depends on donations to continue providing service. The organization believes that augmented reality is a viable way to boost fund raising efforts and ensure such campaigns reach tech-savvy individuals.
Organization teams with Rother Print
The Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice has teamed with Rother Print, a printing services company based in the UK. Together, the duo will make use of the Layar augmented reality platform to develop a campaign that hopes to engage a multitude of consumers. Through this campaign, consumers will be able to access digital content provided by the non-profit group and be able to make donations to the organization online through their smart phones or similar mobile devices.
Approximately 500 beer mats associated with the campaign are already in circulation in Travellers Rest in Laughton. Patrons can use their smart phones to activate the augmented reality content that is contained within these beer mats, which ranges from videos to text. The beer mats have already proven quite popular amongst patrons, many of whom have donated to the Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice using their mobile devices.
Technology may help secure new funding
Augmented reality has proven that it can engage a wide audience of mobile consumers in the past. These consumers have also proven their love of augmented reality by engaging in the various marketing campaigns that have made use of the technology over the years. This marketing potential could translate into serious benefits for non-profits groups looking to engage a growing audience that often goes untapped in the world of advocacy.
ABI Research releases new report concerning growth of NFC-based mobile payments
NFC-based mobile payments are expected to see a massive boom in the coming years, according to a new report from ABI Research. Mobile commerce has been growing in popularity with consumers, leading many to believe that mobile payments are far more convenient than traditional forms of commerce. Consumers are gaining access to a growing variety of NFC-enabled mobile devices, which is boosting their exposure to mobile commerce. ABI Research predicts that this exposure will drive growth behind the burgeoning industry.
According to the firm’s report, the total value of NFC-based mobile payments will reach $100 billion by 2016. This prediction accounts for the swelling tide of criticism that has been directed at NFC technology recently. Critics of the technology claim that it is not safe enough for mobile commerce, with others suggesting that it is simply not capable of handling the needs of consumers. While some of these concerns have slowed the progress of the mobile commerce industry, which is heavily based on NFC technology, ABI Research expects that the industry will continue to grow well into the future.
Predictions may be derailed by new technologies and platforms
The report shows that NFC-based mobile payments are currently valued at $4 billion for this year. ABI Research estimates that this will blossom to $191 billion by the end of 2017. After this point, mobile commerce may see its progress and expansion slow somewhat, but continue to grow nonetheless. It is possible for this prediction to be derailed due to the emergence of a new technology or mobile payment platform that does not use NFC technology, a prospect that is becoming more possible with every passing day.
More companies beginning to look for alternative to NFC technology
Because of the problems associated with NFC technology, companies that are interested in mobile commerce, such as PayPal and Apple, are developing their own platforms for mobile payments. These companies are forgoing the use of NFC technology to allow consumers to make payments with mobile devices in a different way. If these technologies manage to capture the interest of consumers at large, the growth of NFC-based mobile payments may turn out very different than what ABI Research predicts.
