Sunscreen company Zealios Skin Care has teamed with media arts company TBWA Toronto to create a sunlight-activated digital coupon.

The coupon, delivered via an app for Android phones using the Firefox browser, uses an ambient light sensor that is included in most handsets, but rarely utilised by third-party developers. The app detects the intensity of sunlight on the phone and, when it reaches a certain level, activates a coupon offering users 50 per cent off Zealios Sun Barrier sunscreen.

“People are pretty much glued to their mobile devices these days so this is a fun, playful way to get them outside and then reward them,” said Kevin Fuller, VP of sales and co-founder of Zealios. “This has been a very collaborative process but TBWA took the lead on implementing and building the web app.”

“Zealios is passionate about healthy, active, outdoor lifestyles,” said Ryan Speziale, creative director of design at TBWA Toronto. “People love the product but not many people have actually tried it. We needed a way to drive trial in a simple, interactive way that was true to what Zealios believes in and that would get people talking.

“Because Zealios is a small company, we came up with the idea of a sun activate website with a coupon element that eventually evolved into the worlds first sun activated digital coupon.”