New digital billboards are being tested with cameras in the advert hoardings to identify the age and sex of passers-by enabling advertisers to display relevant products to specific target audiences…

The signs are being trialled in Japan and it is believed companies will be watching closely to see if they do well. This move, no different to retailers using cookies online to see what items shoppers looked at, could revolutionise outdoor advertising mediums.

Some retail stores in the USA have also been testing another system which texts vouchers and offers to customers’ phones within a mile of the branch. About 65% of people that received the alerts went into the shop. The scheme could be extended to the UK in six months.

Exciting stuff. Here’s some other clever billboard advertising…