Augmented Reality is going mainstream. ARE is going mainstream. Register Today and experience how AR is already making the world a more engaging place.
The ARE event was initiated 3 years ago by Augmented Reality (AR) Professionals from all over the world, who united in one Silicon Valley location for 2 days to exchange ideas, demonstrate technologies, network, and raise the awareness to the emerging industry.
Gradually, it attracted more attention from the mainstream, those seeking to leverage AR for for their businesses. In 2011 a third of the 530 attendees were buyers of AR products and services in entertainment, media, education, healthcare, government, tourism, automotive, sports and other vertical markets. They came to learn about how to leverage AR to advance their brands, attract and keep customers, and how to build successful AR campaigns and products that will delight users.
This has become the major focus of ARE in 2012 and will be reflected in the sessions and speakers featured in the event. More than half of the 600 attendees are expected to come from various verticals looking to deepen their customer engagement with augmented reality.
To that end, we are excited to announce Frank Cooper III, Chief Marketing Officer of PepsiCo, the largest food and beverage company in North America, will take the main stage at ARE 2012 and address the augmented reality movement and everyone out there seeking to leverage this amazing technology.
PepsiCo has been the leader in bringing together the entertainment industry and big brands and is constantly redefining the notion of “consumer engagement.” Mr. Cooper has a central role in that effort and was anointed as Chief Consumer Engagement Officer at PepsiCo.
In Cooper’s current role at PepsiCo, he has direct oversight of key operational areas across PepsiCo Americas Beverages (PAB) that determine consumer engagement including digital, media, sports, video games and multicultural and entertainment. He has led the development of a new consumer engagement model and created breakthrough marketing programs across the PAB portfolio. Successful videogame marketing promotions, including Pepsi’s Rock Band video contest, Pepsi’s Madden Sweepstakes, Mountain Dew Game Fuel for both World of Warcraft and Halo, and Mountain Dew’s latest successful promotion with Halo: Reach have all happened under Cooper’s guidance.
For the first time at ARE, Frank will tackle the 10 billion dollar question: how can CPG and retail companies leverage AR to nurture a deeper engagement with their customers?
I can’t wait.