Beer Brand Launches 'Girl Detection Billboard'

German beer manufacturer Astra Bierre is using facial recognition technology embedded in an outdoor digital advertising board, to target potential female beer drinkers.

Working with its advertising agency Philipp und Keuntje, Carlsberg Group-owned Astra has developed an automated billboard that is only activated when women pass by. Installed outside the Zum Silbersack pub in Hamburg, the billboard contains a camera and facial recognition software in order to identify consumers' gender and serve women with personalised advertising content. The board targets women according to their age and using one of 70 different pre-recorded messages featuring comedian Uke Boss.

Boss speaks directly to passers-by and specifically addresses women to encourage them to try the beer. When the board identifies a man, he holds up a board saying: 'there's nothing here for men'. The board also claims to be able to detect if individuals are underage.

Web site: www.astra-bier.de .