It is now fairly standard for those running a marathon to be outfitted with an RFID chip or other technology for time-tracking purposes—but Samsung decided to make a real-life race game using the same equipment.
The course for the Samsung Marathon in Israel was transformed into 'The Gaming Marathon' with the addition of coin stickers for runners to step on. Each coin that a runner steps on is transferred to a database and converted to money that will be donated to the community on the runner's behalf.
Although having runners campaign to collect donations is sometimes a part of preparing for a charitable run, The Gaming Marathon from Samsung gives participants the chance to give back to their community as part of the actual event, with little to no extra effort required on their part.
Gamified Marathon Events
'The Gaming Marathon' by Samsung is a Real-Life Race Game
Trend Themes
1. Gamification of Marathon Events - Companies can incorporate technology and gaming elements into marathon events to increase participation and generate more donations for charity.
2. Real-time Data Collection for Charity - Using RFID chips or other technology can help collect real-time data for charity fundraising efforts during marathon events.
3. Bringing Corporate Social Responsibility to Events - Incorporating charitable giving into live events can be an effective way for companies to demonstrate their commitment to corporate social responsibility.
Industry Implications
1. Sports and Fitness - Sports and fitness companies can explore gamification and technology to make marathon events more engaging and exciting for participants and spectators.
2. Charity and Non-profit - Charity and non-profit organizations can use RFID chips and other technology to collect donations and data in real-time during live events.
3. Event Planning - Event planning companies can help incorporate corporate social responsibility into live events, such as marathons, to provide companies with opportunities to give back to their communities.