Only Girls Allowed - Outdoor Ad Uses Facial Recognition to Display Content to Women Only

    DEVON, ENGLAND, February 29, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Plan UK's campaign, which highlights the plight of the world's poorest girls, launched a groundbreaking interactive ad on a bus stop in Oxford Street on February 22.

The advert uses facial recognition software with an HD camera to determine whether a man or woman is standing in front of the screen, and shows different content accordingly.

Passing shoppers can opt-in to view the ad and find out more about Plan's work to help some of the world's poorest girls. Men and boys are denied the choice to view the full content in order to highlight the fact that women and girls across the world are denied choices and opportunities on a daily basis due to poverty and discrimination.

Plan's Because I am a Girl campaign aims to support four million girls in developing countries to have more choices about what they do with their life.

Currently, 75 million girls around the world are being denied the right to an education; every year 10 million girls in developing countries are coerced or forced into marriage under the age of 18, with thousands of girls each year giving birth when they are still children themselves.

A 40-second Choices for Girls advert showcases three 13 year old girls: Jasmine from the UK, Bintou from Mali and Sur from Thailand.

The girl's voices are intercut with everyday footage of their lives, revealing the three teens' hopes and dreams and highlighting the choices that many girls are denied in developing countries.

The technology behind the advert is a UK first in interactive advertising, amalgamating facial recognition, touch screen and sound.

"Millions of girls across the globe are being denied the right and choice to have an education. This ad is a deliberate attempt to raise public debate on this issue. Plan's Because I am a Girl campaign works with women and men, girls and boys, to challenge the discrimination that girls face as a result of their sex. We work to challenge negative stereotypes." says Plan UK CEO Marie Staunton.

"If girls like Bintou and Sur had the same choices as girls like Jasmine in the UK they'd be more likely to stay in school and have greater choice and opportunity in the future."

"Although we're not giving men and boys the choice to see the full ad on this occasion - so we get a glimpse of what it's like to have basic choices taken away - boys and men play a vital role in helping girls to be all they can be. Men and boys are also invited to join 'the Plan' to give girls choices. We look forward to hearing the public's thoughts at #choicesforgirls." adds Ms Staunton.

The gender facial recognition advert will be trialled at an Oxford Street bus stop opposite Selfridges for a two-week period.

For more information please visit Plan-UK.

To help you can also learn how to Sponsor a Child.

Plan is a global children's charity that works with children in the world's poorest countries to help them build a better future. A future you would want for all children, your family and friends. Find out how you can help sponsor a child here: http://www.plan-uk.org.

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