iWalkers bought ahead of Qatar’s World Cup Finals

iWalkers, the digital roaming media device developed by Scottish technology company NomadiX Media, could play a vital safety and security role at 2022’s football World Cup Finals following the initial sale of a number of units to Qatari security services business, 3S.

The iWalkers system uses facial feature detection to collect a range of data that is impossible to amass from traditional billboards. It records how many people have looked at a message, for how long, and can also identify their gender and age group. It can even be programmed to detect their emotional response to an instruction based on their facial features.

The 6kg iWalker is worn by a human who can roam through crowds and interact with individuals, creating a “bridge” between a customer and a traditional wall-mounted display.

Samer Mezghani, Chief Operations Officer at 3S, said: “from the moment I saw the iWalker, I was fascinated with its simplicity, elegance, features and potential. Being mobile, the iWalker is not just another advertising screen; it is a personalised and dedicated experience.

“With its screen, speakers, GPS, WIFI, and camera, the iWalker can be used in a range of scenarios and can respond to a variety of customers’ needs. We believe the iWalker will be an added value to many of our customers, and especially at the forthcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

“We will be working to see it there, as we believe that we can offer the organisers, an additional layer combining Fan Experience, Public Address, Public Assistance, Safety and Security”.

Mark Evans, who set up NomadiX Media in 2012 said: “iWalker is a reliable tool designed specifically to reach people in “out of home” locations and would play an important role in keeping people attending the tournament both safe and secure.

“We are absolutely delighted that NomadiX Media has come to this sales agreement with such a well-respected company as 3S. We welcome 3S to our growing international NomadiX network and look forward to supporting Samer and his team.

“Our iWalker has been developed as the high-technology outdoor advertising equivalent of pay-per-click display ads on the internet, but as the impact of the global pandemic has shown, the new normal will demand lots of queuing and reassurance that trusted safety measures are in place.

“And because with the iWalker, the message can move with the audience, it will deliver important safety, security and general information to engage with visitors throughout any and every event.”

NomadiX Media initiated its export sales agreement with Doha-based 3S in mid-February at the annual exhibition of Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) in Amsterdam, one of the last international trade shows to take place before the global lockdown.

“These are exciting times for NomadiX Media and iWalker. In an increasingly fragmented media market, one shape no longer fits every message, nor indeed all circumstances.

“We have already exported iWalkers to countries in Africa as well as North and South America and we hope that this sale will lead to more orders from the Middle East”, said Evans.