Special Report Take your hat to the next level
In a first for the printwear industry, Atlantis has released a collection of caps that integrate NFC technology. Here P&P editor Melanie Attlesey speaks with Nadine Poletto, Atlantis’ marketing manager, to find out more about the breakthrough that transforms a hat into a real interactive object.
I
f youʼre stuck a little bit in the dark ages when it comes to technology, then you may not be familiar with NFC and the role it plays. The term stands for near-field communication and the technology is typically found in smart phones and used as a way to pay contactlessly. The contactless technology transmits information between tag-equipped tools and can be embedded in everyday items, like clothing or any wearable devices. Now Atlantis has released three caps (Green Cap, Rapper Recycled and Recycled Cap), which integrate this technology. All three caps are constructed from organic or recycled material. Underneath the peak of each hat is a chip which can be programmed to link to any website and when scanned will take wearers directly to said website. Atlantis also allows for custom orders which can include an NFC chip in a bespoke style, silhouette or colourway of your choice.
As Nadine explains: “End-users can read the tag in their cap with their smart phone and discover a whole new world of exclusive content. Currently Atlantisʼ NFC hats and caps are made from recycled or organic fabrics, so the caps are initially loaded with information about sustainability and certification.” To use the hats, the end-user will firstly
need to download the Atlantis Connect app, which is available from Google Play for Android Devices and the App Store for Apple devices (some Apple devices do not currently support NFC overwriting). The NFC can be easily reprogrammed and overwritten by a novice – assuming they are comfortable enough with IT to download the Atlantis Connect app to their phone, then itʼs pretty straight forward with the instructions presented on a step by step basis. Simply by tapping the visor of the cap (which is where the chip is located) with your phone or tablet, the app will bring up whichever website is programmed. The app will then allow you to select your own website, which will overwrite the NFC chip upon the next scan. On its
marketing collateral, Atlantis
provides a few suggestions on how to utilise the NFC technology. Firstly, Atlantis suggests uploading and updating exclusive multimedia content to share whatʼs new in your business. Secondly, you can transform the hat into a game, which adds extra value to the item. Atlantis says games can include challenges that unlock prizes such as discounts or access to exclusive events. Lastly, Atlantis says NFC
Orange Recycled Cap
can be used to educate customers on what makes a product special and why they should buy it.
Nadine sees the NFC caps working well at music festivals, international fairs and sporting events. “The NFC caps have a strong power of entertaining people,” she says. “It allows a brand to connect and engage with their audience in a memorable way. Whether for sharing information for awareness of a brand or to promote sustainability, this technology has truly endless possibilities for the decorator and for the end customer.”
The app comes
pre-loaded with Atlantis’ website
This image shows the app’s homepage
The app will ask you to scan the chip to overwrite the pre-loaded website
The app will then show you the website currently loaded into the chip and the options for overwriting it
| 76 | August 2019
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
people are using a wearable device everyday and this figure is growing with a 5% annual rate
350 million
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