Readers of TheTimes of India heard an audio advertisement when they unfolded the print edition of the newspaper this morning. (You read that right.)
Volkswagen paid the publication to fit an audio chip inside the pages (above)
that plays in an endless loop until you close the paper, according to tech blog Digital Inspiration. For power, the chip appears to incorporate a photodiode, a photo detector that converts light into current or voltage. That’s pretty clever.
Not a believer? Check out the video below showing the audio ad in action.
It’s clearly a publicity stunt on VW’s part, and it seems kind of creepy, but most readers are reacting positively to the ad on Twitter. And we’re sure The Times is enjoying the extra cash from the eccentric ad, like any print publication would these days.
“One of those rare days when ppl in #mumbai will buy times of india to see (also hear) the Volkswagen advertisement and not for news,” tweeted Moulin Parikh.