Adrants has flagged the existence of a clever new viral ad from fashion retailer THE GAP. It probably won't be too easy to load if you haven't got broadband - and maybe isn't one for the kids (I can't say I will ever look at a dressing room in quite the same way again! Note, once you've created your identity don't forget to click "watch me change" ... it's sure to make you laugh!!).

These sort of virtual reality "add-ons" for a website could so easily be adopted by companies servicing the racing industry. All someone would need would be a good IT and design team behind them. Can't you just see a simulation where people can create a "look alike" to themselves and then watch themselves leading their virtual horse into the winner's circle?

I'm going to put a small wager on one of the international race clubs adopting something along these lines (minus the quasi-strip show I assume!) in future years.

The GAP's virtual dressing room can be found at the following URL.

Another product I looked at for a client's website a few years back was Pulse VEEPERS. Veepers are virtual characters created from a 2D image, provided with speech via either recorded audio or (optional) text-to-speech, and integrated into a new or existing Web page or other application in just a few minutes. (A note for the IT savvy - the output is also Java so no plug-ins are required for viewing).

In simple terms - you just upload a photograph of someone and the technology brings it to life - I had hours of fun animating a series of photos of my co-workers as I tested the software.

It's a lot cheaper than streaming video, the file size is very small so can be sustained with dial-up connections ... and they are VERY cool! Latest news from Pulse is that Veepers have been adapted for mobile phone marketing too.

A great marketing tool (also a very good viral ['word of mouth'] tool).