LED boards used to celebrate births in US

US retailer Target is leveraging the power of large scale LED boards in order to advertise its services while simultaneously allowing new parents across the country to spread the news of their latest arrivals in big screen style.

The firm is harnessing one LED display in Times Square, New York, as well as one in Los Angeles, California, in order to spread cute pictures of kids and let the parents celebrate with family and friends, no matter where they live.

Target has created a Facebook group in order to let parents upload their pictures and from this pool of adorable tykes, a few select birth announcements will be posted on the LED displays on either side of the US.

When the clocks struck 12 on New Year’s Eve, a 30-second compilation video showing off the new babies was played in Times Square as the perfect metaphor for new life in the new year. This video will continue to be broadcast intermittently until the 6th of January 2011.

The large scale LED display in Los Angeles measures 25 feet by 30 feet and is placed in a shopping centre in Hollywood. It will be accompanied by an interactive experience, involving a magnetic board which passing shoppers will be able to use to arrange an announcement of their new arrival, before a camera snaps their photo and posts it on Facebook.

A spokesperson for Target explained that using technology such as LED signage and social networking sites in nationwide ad campaigns, was a great way to promote the business and also allow consumers to get involved and feel like they are part of something bigger.

The campaign is only running for a short period, so people will have only a short time to act if they want to get their news out in the open.