Founded in 2009, PATEO has rapidly risen to become Asia’s leader in ‘connected car’ technology. Located at the Nanjing Jiangbei New Area Industrial Technology Research and Innovation Park, the 1,200 sq. m. PATEO Showroom was created as an employee showcase of the corporate culture and technologies that have made the company into the giant it is today.
Pico was appointed to provide a wide range of services, including conceptualisation, design and build, installation, and production of control software, video and sound effects.
Looking futuristically white, glossy and elegantly uncluttered, the showroom is organised into different themed areas, dubbed ‘Prologue’, ‘Innovation’, ‘PATEO’s core’, ‘Service Experience’, ‘Internet of Everything’ and ‘Future of Automotive’ etc. Each offers a corresponding interactive experience. Wherever possible, the Pico team incorporated PATEO’s own technologies into the experience, giving users a ‘real world’ taste of how they work.
In one such experience, users sit inside a semi-enclosed car cabin equipped with voice and hand gesture controls for functions such as adjusting audio volume, raising or lowering windows, or using a range of lighting effects. Meanwhile in the ‘Internet of Everything’ area, smart appliances in living room, kitchen and lounge settings are controlled by visitors while they sit in another vehicle cabin, allowing them to gain insight to how their cars and homes can be connected.
As a final engaging touch, visitors can experience the company’s ‘mobile store’ concept. A van-like virtual model is used to simulate how the concept would bring different store services such as groceries or barbering to the customer on demand. After giving it a try, visitors receive a gift dispensed from the back of the ‘mobile store’ to continue their engagement.