Vietnam has launched an advertising campaign that turns fruit into an edible video game. On a real plate, a 3D hologram of a mango appears when scanning a QR code on the label. The trick: by virtually biting the digital fruit, the system generates a real discount to use at the supermarket. Advertising you can taste, literally.
QR codes and edible holograms: the technology behind the bite 🥭
The campaign uses edible inks based on rice starch to print the QR codes directly onto the fruit's skin. When scanned, an augmented reality application projects a 3D mango that reacts to the user's mouth movement. A proximity sensor detects the biting gesture and activates a digital coupon redeemable at checkout. No chips or batteries: the entire process relies on optical patterns and lightweight computer vision algorithms, designed to work on mid-range mobile phones.
Biting the air to save money: the new national sport 😂
The idea is simple: you open your mouth in front of a hologram and, if you coordinate well, you save a few cents. Early reports indicate that several users have bitten their phone instead of the virtual mango, and at least one tried to redeem the discount by biting the supermarket screen. It is unknown whether the campaign will increase fruit consumption, but it will certainly increase visits to the optometrist.