I had a chance to go over to Nearlife in Cambridge,MA last week to play with the interactive tables for the new Sprint Studio Store. These things are awesome. They work by combining high-end projectors, a mirroring system, and infrared technology to create a multi-touch surface you can interact with using both hands. They also have these neat little pucks you can place on the table’s surface. The system optically recognizes which puck you put down and loads additional content around it.

Thanks for the link Mark!

I just returned from something that is new in the world of brand experience–the opening of the new Sprint Studio Store in Kansas City, a project we have worked closely with Sprint and other design partners on for over two years. The store is located in the “up and coming” neighborhood of Kansas City called the Power and Light District.

The turnout has been amazing, there’s a huge buzz. Why are people so interested in these studio and concept stores? It’s all about experience, and a store like this provides a new one for consumers. Not just for the wireless industry, but for retail in general.

These stores are first and foremost great for consumers—they provide that neighborhood feel and sense of belonging, they provide a very cool place to play, talk with customer service, and check out new products and capabilities. It is an invitation to become something special and unique.

These studio store and concept experience type endeavors are also great for brands; to engender brand loyalty and drive purchase decisions, to increase the mental and emotional footprint of a brand to a community and an audience.

While previous retail stores are generally “experiential” in name only (i.e. Samsung Experience Store, Verizon Experience Store), the Sprint Studio delivers a true experience to consumers by presenting the innovation behind the Sprint brand in fresh, new and exciting ways.

And if you are in Kansas City-stop by.