Futuristic, 3-D holographic ads give us a look at what’s coming next in advertising technology and trends.[/caption] Once upon a time, holographs might have seemed like the stuff of science-fiction. Today, holographs are becoming an increasingly popular (and effective) way to catch the attention of consumers and market new products. They’re not just 2-D graphic displays that have slowly gained popularity in the past five years (which are, technically, considered holograms); the latest models use LED lights to show floating, moving, 3-D images of products that are almost lifelike. An alternative to projections or suspended images, the same effect can also be achieved with clear high-resolution screens with high-definition images that seamlessly integrate with whatever’s in the background. The further technology comes, and the more sensational and realistic the graphics become, the more eye-catching the advertisements will be for the passing public. Here’s the best part: This means that the appeal of holographic advertising won’t just wear off once the novelty fades. Even if the technology becomes more affordable and accessible to brands on a broader scale, the original impact isn’t likely to wear off as people see it popping up everywhere. There’s always going to be a continued opportunity for the medium to intrigue the masses as the technology develops, scales, and is pushed forward by the creativity of competitive marketers. What’s Next? It’s easy to see the next obvious leap from eye-catching holographic ads to what we predict will be the biggest marketing craze in the coming decade: virtual reality. Already a hot topic for several years in fields ranging from gaming to medicine, VR hasn’t quite broken into mainstream marketing in a major way yet. Developments in holographic marketing are sure to help advance the related field of virtual reality marketing by driving competitive pricing and commercial appeal for the savvy visual elements that are necessary. Besides, it’s just human behavior (which is about 75% of marketing, after all): Once people are fans of the holographs, they’re going to want to interact with them. Demand is the final puzzle piece that’s needed when it comes to funding, and research, and breakthroughs in any field. So we’ll go on the record now: We believe that holographic advertising will drive the demand for virtual reality marketing — pushing it, at long last, into the marketing mainstream. Just give it another decade or two, and drop us a line for your “I told you so” — possibly delivered by holograph or even our friendly avatars in the realm of VR.]]>