Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Browser Becomes Billboard

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the inevitability dept.

MikeKD writes "Citing a desire to 'enhance the user experience', United Virtualities is 'preparing to introduce a product [called Ooqa Ooqa] that will allow advertisers to automatically change the appearance of Web browsers, usurping some of the functions built into popular browsers...', according to an MSNBC article--and all this supposedly without downloading any additional software. UV says a lot of sweet things about being able to turn it off and allowing the web sites to customize the degree of intrusion (from reverting to normal form when leaving to retaining the rebrand even after leaving), but does anyone think advertisers will restrain themselves? Not I." Friends don't let friends use browsers susceptible to this.

3 of 442 comments (clear)

  1. It could work ... by pgrote · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ... if it is made optional.

    Some people enjoy the experience of the internet and this may be one of the things for them. How else can you explain Flash's popularity

    Seriously, the key here is the ability to turn it off if you don't want it. They've already built-in the functionality for limiting it to certain websites. As mentioned, weather.com is thinking about it. Personally, it'd be cool if they threw is some weather tools on the toolbar like standard conversions, rain=snow measurements, etc.

    You have to admit it beats the heck out of a car driving across your screen ...

  2. Weather.com by Dephex+Twin · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Weather.com, which had 11.6 million visitors in February, according to Jupiter Media Metrix, is carefully evaluating Ooqa Ooqa, given the concerns about intrusiveness. "If you interrupt the consumer for no good reason, it's not effective advertising," Iaffaldano said.

    Weather.com, right? Epilepsy-inducing annoying ads Weather.com? Cars driving across the webpage honking at me Weather.com?

    Yeah, they have really good judgment as far as intrusive advertising goes.

    Was anybody else totally not surprised to hear that Weather.com is looking to be an early adopter for this "technology"?

    mark
    --

    If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe. -- Carl Sagan
  3. I agree by wirefarm · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is "Overstepping the bounds" in more than one sense.

    When I open a web page, I am generally agreeing to let a web designer do whatever he or she wants with the space between the <HTML> and </HTML> tags. Not my destop, not the frame, just the page.
    If I don't have the option of turning this off, I will change browsers and not patronize sites that use this technique.

    Why is it that every blank space has to become an advertising marquee?

    Cheers
    Jim in Tokyo

    (Of course, .sigs don't count.)

    --
    -- My Weblog.