Slovak Telekom Respect Campaign: Live Two-Way Video Installation at Aupark Bratislava
Connecting Hearts: How Slovak Telekom's Respect Campaign Brought Joy to Aupark Bratislava
The Challenge
Slovak Telekom wanted to remind people of the profound impact of genuine human connection in a world increasingly dominated by digital interactions. The brief was to promote understanding, respect and the beauty of communication — not just to showcase Telekom's technology, but to show how technology can bring people closer together.
The Solution
TapGest built an installation that connected actors in a studio, equipped with cameras and microphones, to shoppers at Aupark Bratislava in real time. Screens and speakers at the mall let shoppers see and hear the actors and vice versa, so the two-way conversation felt immediate and natural rather than like a recorded ad.
The Visitor Experience
As shoppers strolled through Aupark Bratislava, they encountered screens and speakers connecting them directly to actors in the studio. These spontaneous interactions were filled with smiles, laughter and moments of genuine connection — from heartfelt conversations to a shared joke or a simple greeting. In one standout moment, an actor in a wheelchair spoke with a mall visitor who was also in a wheelchair and accompanied by his service dog; the actor expressed his respect for the visitor's independence and companionship with his dog, underscoring the campaign's message.
Implementation
High-definition cameras and sensitive microphones captured every nuance, from the twinkle in an eye to the warmth of a voice, and low-latency live streaming kept the conversation lag-free and natural. TapGest, as the developer of the interactive application, ensured the technology worked flawlessly and enhanced rather than got in the way of each authentic interaction.
Technology Setup
The installation is a live two-way audio and video link, not a playback loop. On the mall side there is a digital signage screen with speakers, a camera facing the people standing in front of it and microphones close enough to pick up ordinary speech in a busy public space. On the studio side the actors have the mirrored setup: they see and hear the shoppers on their own screen. The TapGest application connects the two ends and keeps the streams synchronised, which is the whole point — a conversation only feels real if the response arrives without a visible delay.
Results
The installation ran as a live public demonstration of the campaign message: instead of describing connection in a spot, Telekom let shoppers experience an unscripted conversation with a stranger on a mall screen. The recorded interactions, including the exchange between the two wheelchair users, became the campaign's own footage.
Frequently asked questions
What technology powered the Telekom Respect campaign?
A live, two-way audio and video connection between a studio and digital signage at Aupark Bratislava, using high-definition cameras, microphones and low-latency streaming.
Did shoppers need an app to take part?
No — the installation ran on screens and speakers in the mall, so any passer-by could join a conversation without installing anything.
Why does latency matter in an installation like this?
Because the shopper is talking to a person, not to a screen. If the reply lands late, people stop mid-sentence and step away. Keeping the round trip short is what makes a stranger on a mall screen behave like a stranger in the room.
How was audio handled in a noisy mall?
With microphones placed close to the interaction zone in front of the screen and speakers aimed at the same spot, so the conversation stays intelligible without amplifying the whole corridor.