[gatagato]

A marketing stunt where homeless people were turned into walking internet hotspots with T-shirts proclaiming 'I'm a 4G hotspot' has caused outcry in Texas.
Branding agency BBH was forced to defend its 'Homeless Hotspots' initiative after it was described as 'dystopian' - and lambasted as a 'shameful, hideous, patronising, dehumanising idea' by British brand strategist Luke Scheybeler.

The Homeless Hotspots initiative was trialled at the SXSW music and technology conference in Austin, Texas - with a suggested price of $2 per 15 minutes.

The homeless people stood beside conference goers to provide internet via a MiFi devices which connect to the internet via the 4G phone network and offer web access via a wi-fi network.
The idea was spotted by a New York Times reporter, and swiftly caused outcry.
The Homeless Hotspots idea was created by a branding agency - and although profits go to charity, the idea was lambasted as vulgar.

Saneel Radia of BBH, the company which created what it describes as an 'initiative' responded to criticism via the company websites, 'Obviously, there’s an insane amount of chatter about this, which although certainly villianises us, in many ways is very good for the homeless people we’re trying to help.

A promotional video shows off one of the wi-fi vendors, Clarence, a homeless man from New Orleans who lost his house in Hurricane Katrina, and has been in financial trouble since.
'Homeless Hotspots is a charitable innovation initiative - it attempts to modernize the Street Newspaper model employed to support homeless populations,' says BBH, the branding company which created the idea.

'As digital media proliferates, these newspapers face increased pressure. Our hope is to create a modern version of this successful model, offering homeless individuals an opportunity to sell a digital service instead of a material commodity.'
At SXSW, attendees could pay the homeless people what they liked for access - and the 'Hotspots' kept the money for themselves.

It's not clear whether the Homeless Hotspots project will have a wider launch after the technology conference.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...#ixzz1p4jKVVRE

Official website:
http://homelesshotspots.org/

[xstunt1ngx]

It's giving homeless people jobs, fucking Texans...

[kellyhound]

they sure got attention this way and that's what it probably is all about.

[bigmikeymike]

lost his house during hurricane katrina?


orrrrrr


spent all the money he ever got on drugs...

[thissiteisfuckedup]

that guy is just pissed he didnt think of it first.

[jacob beghner]

Hell people tattoo logos on themselves as sponsorship. Some yahoo suggested that we bring back prostitution over legalizing marijuana and now that something that could benefit both sides of the fence is being ridiculed as bad. I swear humanity always suprizes me with its lack of an ability to advance itself by not using logic, common sense, and an overwhelming ammount of selflessness. Instead people are complaining about something they'll never understand by not being able to put perspective in place. These people have nothing and others just seem to want it to stay that way.

[Steve]

I don't see the problem at all.

[Angelahh]

The problem is Clarence will be wearing that shirt long after this gig or it'll get stolen from one of his fellow homeless friends - either way confusing those seeking a hotspot

[Brainplague]

Some people take life way too seriously. I don't see a problem. Homeless people got some much needed cash and Wi Fi users got what they needed. It was a win-win situation.

[Dennislp3]

Yeah I think its pretty fucking brilliant lol