Google Billboard & Google Kiosk Coming?

Clickz columnist Ryan Naraine wrote up some of his thoughts about a Google patent application (Allocating advertising space in a network of displays) that would enable advertising upon electronic displays and billboards in shopping centers and other places, in his article Google Patent Filing Hints at Digital Billboard Ad Network.

While New Scientist wrote about the patent filing last week, and I had a writeup on it the day it was published, Ryan does a nice job of providing some context to how this electronic display network might work…

Ryan tells us that:

If the filing is a sign of things to come from Google, kiosk-type billboards, ATM machines and other digital displays in malls and hotel lobbies could start hawking products directly from a nearby retailer’s inventory.

I think he may be right, and another patent filing from Google shows some signs of that. How far away might we be from Google Kiosk? The following images are from that earlier Google application published this last summer.

Above is one of a number of screenshots shown from a kiosk software that might displayed in shopping malls, resort areas, and other commercial districts, according to Generating and/or serving dynamic promotional offers such as coupons and advertisements. Another screen might show walking directions within a mall, such as the picture below.

Imagine getting directions, learning about items for sale, printing out coupons, and seeing how long the wait is at mall restaurants from a kiosk like this? I could see replacing mall “you are here” signs with kiosks providing this kind of information.