Mini Introduces RFID-Activated Billboards

frinkster writes "MINI USA has placed interactive billboards in 4 US cities (Chicago, Miami, New York and San Francisco) and invited a few hundred MINI owners in those cities to join their targeted 'advertisement' pilot program. The owners sign up on MINI's website and receive an RFID keyfob in the mail. When that MINI owner drives by the billboard, a targeted message appears. Each owner tells MINI what to show when they drive by, such as 'Jim, you are one sexy beast.' If the pilot program is successful, MINI plans to put up more billboards in more cities and allow every owner to participate. MINI swears that no personal information in contained in the keyfobs and that all communication between the MINI and the owner is subject to their privacy policy and thus the program is completely safe. But how well will they keep their billboard logs away from the prying eyes of law enforcement or private detectives? And what are they doing to prevent 'hackers' from changing the personal messages to insults, such as 'Jim, nice to see you finally emerge from your mother's basement'?" MINI calls the interactive billboards "Motherboards."

Ya...

[Swimport]

This has good idea written all over it.

More like

[Anonymous Coward]

"Jim, I'm finally glad to see you emerge from your mother."

Fun!

[ruiner13]

This could be fun to put out fake terror warnings on billboards to get people to drive faster :)

Bigbrotherboards

[CranberryKing]

Great. How soon until it says "Jim! You are being detained."

Believe it.

insert bad joke here

[BadERA]

Damn it Jim, I'm a doctor, not an billboard trigger.

There's nothing like a Hummer

[genessy]

"Jim - You should have got a Hummer!"

Re:Bigbrotherboards

[Hoi Polloi]

"Hi Akbar! It looks like you have traces of explosives on your car. Please pull over by the black helicoper up ahead."

Jim...

[Anonymous Coward]

"Owning a MINI does not make you gay Jim"

Re:Ya...

[Anonymous Coward]

I, for one, welcome our new RFID-reading Motherboards.

Minis are underpowered

[smitty97]

"Jim! You Could Have Had a V8!"

My Favorite

[wsanders]

A friend of a friend once hacked one of those generator-powered message signs that the Highway Department leaves running, unlocked everywhere, with this message and the 800 number of the highway department:

YOUR WEB SITE HERE
1 - 800 - USA - MINI

(or whetever their number is)