Sign in Diepsloot in Johannesburg
PSAs just got a little more media savvy. Recognizing the extent and accessibility of cell phone use in India, the BBC World Service Trust launched an HIV prevention campaign via humorous cell phone ring tones. Now your phone can belt out an acapella chorus of “condom condom condom!” Which contacts would you assign that ring to? Maybe not Mom… And what other health messages could we turn into ring tones… how about “fat kid fat kid fat kid!”
Reminds me of other services via mobile technology like Wireless Amber Alerts that send out depressing but powerful text messages on missing children in your area. Seems like there’s a lot more we can do with this kind of set-up, including neighborhood-centric text messages between residents, public transportation text messages on changes with your local line, government text messages on free flu shot services, etc.
NYC’s 311 service has definitely made it easier for citizens to report pot holes, complain about noise, and collectively improve the lay of the land. After choking on gnarly fried chicken vapors in our Red Antenna office (the vent from Popeye’s Chicken shoots out by our window) we called 311 and a health inspector came out the next week. City services in action! Of course he came out during the hour when the smell disappeared, but now I sit in fried chicken vapors knowing the City works, sort of… This is just the beginning…
August 27th, 2008 at 6:14 am
this chicken fumes/vent deal sounds like a Seinfeld episode. joking aside, i can’t see how you guys aren’t sickened every day.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Ha ya we’ve set up a color-coded chart measuring the threat levels of chicken vapors at various times during the day so we can tell the health inspector to come back at prime chicken hour… The battle continues!