How Controversial Advertising Technology Is Helping Writers Tell Stories in Austin

In October, New Yorkers made a freaky discovery: Their city government had green-lit a partnership with an advertising company that allowed the firm to set up hundreds of tiny “beacons” inside New York City phone booths. These beacons would interact with passing New Yorkers’ smartphones through Bluetooth technology, allowing marketers to push place-specific advertisements to potential customers. “We know you’re a twenty-something female – the Duane Reade around the corner is selling mascara at half price!”

Minority Report analogies abounded. While public outcry eventually forced the city to backtrack on the advertising partnership, beacon technology has not disappeared, and it’s clear that a more integrated and location-specific approach to street advertising looms in the near future.