After 22 years in packaging, I’m always wary of news that promises to be “revolutionary” but my colleague Pat Reynolds agrees electronics added to a package could create the ultimate interactive consumer experience. (See related articles.)
Inventor Kate Stone, creator of “Link Art,” claims
to offer mixture of art and technology that adds functionality to
printed items. Not just talking greeting cards but a “happy meal” type
box that converts into a fire engine with blinking lights! The
ultimate transformer!
Process works on posters, books, in-store displays, menus, in addition to packaging. Could we get sick of this quickly?
Using a combination of sensors and circuits, which do not increase
thickness of materials, a typical interactive experience could include
flickering candles on a birthday cake where half the candles extinguish
with first blow, but you must blow again to get them all out!
Your cereal box could tell you you’re running low!
Better yet, this technology has more serious application for healthcare
packaging.
Boxes or leaflets could remind patient about dosing and scheduling.
Easy access to an audio version of side effects could increase patient
understanding, and not be printed in 4-point type!
