Google // prototypes
‘Prototyping new media innovations for Google Media Labs’
I’ve spent the past couple of years working on various projects for Google—many of them focused on exploring how brands can use Google products and media in new and interesting ways. Here are a few examples of the kinds of projects I’ve delivered.
For each one, we developed working prototypes—allowing us to test with consumers and give Google Media Lab partners a hands-on experience, rather than just another PowerPoint deck.
YOUTUBE - GO360º
As YouTube began rolling out 360º video on its platform, we were asked to explore what could be done with it. There’s always a novelty factor when something like 360º video appears—strapping a phone to your head and exploring a virtual environment is all well and good, but it’s rarely something people do twice.
I wanted to explore how a ‘360º view’ of the world could be used to enhance real-world events—not as the main experience, but as an add-on to moments like sports, music, or news. That’s how 360º LIVE came about. Using the YouTube app and 360º filming, we developed a way to alert viewers—whether at home or at the event itself—to a different, unedited perspective of the action they were already watching.
The prototype we created shows how this concept could be integrated into a live broadcast—in this case, Formula 1.
We also extended the idea to demonstrate its potential across other events and communications. You can view the full presentation here. here
MYTOY! - A BEACONS PROJECT
Beacons were the Holy Grail for a while—imagine a world where consumers walk past your business, and messages pop up on their devices. But the reality is, no one wants that "and block"—all these hard-sell messages end up doing nothing. So, I asked myself: what if we gave beacon technology to people and let them link it to a device?
Beacons are small and cheap to personalize. You could embed beacon tech into anything, from a VIP pass to a McDonald's Happy Meal toy. And that’s how the prototype MYTOY came to life!
The prototype was built to demonstrate how this technology could offer a personal experience to McDonald's customers—hidden inside a toy. By using a simple piece of plastic that cost around 50p, customers could unlock personalized content, exclusive in-store and OOH experiences, and additional features.
Further exploration of this idea can be found here. here
BRANDED MICRO NETWORKS
In this project, we explored branded micro-network experiences. The question was: how could you transform something like a bus into a unique brand experience? Imagine, for example, an experience exclusive to passengers on the 291 to Harringay, accessible only while they’re on the bus. Once you step off, the experience is over—until tomorrow morning.
We built a prototype to explore how this idea could work for brands like Comedy Central, using it to create hype around a program launch in the city. Why not create a TV show specifically for those passengers on the 291?
More detail here
