Digital Signage Blog

Late last week we received the sad news that Olympia, WA based digital signage firm LocalVision had closed its doors. The energetic digital signage team apparently was feeling the effects of the economic downturn. We received the disheartening news from Morgan Runyon, LocalVision's network admin. 

Jim, Sandy, Morgan and the gang at LocalVision worked on some pilot testing/proof of concept for SMS

NEW YORK - EYE USA will celebrate Advertising Week and the OAAA STAR Showcase at an exclusive private event at the New York City hotspot, Highbar. EYE will host the event on the eve of the STAR Showcase and raise a glass to the stars of the Out-of-Home advertising world.

“We at EYE are tremendous supporters of our industry and welcome opportunities to bring our peers together with these

  

Here's another interactive application for digital signage: AI (artificial intelligence) Currently, there are numerous interactive applications for digital signage. Some include multi-touch screens as well as interactive wall and floor displays. However, applications which are currently lacking are interactive displays integrating artificial intelligence. Such AI could be implemented in a standard digital signage display, holograph display, and holograph display, or circular signage display. Interestingly, such an application not only would create interaction with individuals, but also would be able to glean important audience information from the persons interacting, thus increasing digital signage metrics.

[Read More...]

DigitalSignage.com recently formed a strategic partnership with SEO.com for organic search engine optimization. In a world where a needless barrage of information is “in your face,” you need a way to stand out from the clutter. Online search engine optimization is the solution.  

SEO.com is the premier company for organically generated search engine optimization. In addition, they

I recently read an article I gleaned from Slashdot entitled, “The 5 most laughable terms of service on the net” (although I only really saw four in the article). The article basically goes through the privacy encroachment companies can have because you agreed to adhere to their specific guidelines. Metrics proponents have understandably been advocating increased control and advances in the

There was a big win today for the citizens of Lawrence, IN. Their situation is proof that squeaky wheels do get greased. The Lawrence story begins with a city approval for a large digital billboard on the west side of I-465 near East 46th Street. The billboard, created by Lamar, was to replace an existing static billboard already in place. But the project came to a quick halt with the

This post parallels an article I wrote about previously, outlining some future options dealing with digital signage connectivity. If you’re curious about my chosen title, you’ll be interested to know that MediaTile owns the trademark for “Cellular Digital Signage.” So, in an effort to not make enemies, I’ve decided to do a little Mad Gab version of cellular digital signage. In my opinion,

According to marketing charts, e-commerce sales have jumped 2.9% in a single quarter. This is a shockingly high and sudden increase. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m starting to look at everything in regards to petrol. Are online consumer purchases increasing due to increasing gas prices? It may not be a sole factor, but there has to be a correlation between increasing gas prices and the jump in

I recently wrote a post about how traditional advertisers are moving into the out-of-home media segment. The numbers from the most recent MediaPost ad growth forecast shed a bit more light on the subject. According to the study, over the next five years, out-of-home media will experience double digit growth, along with several other forms of digital advertising.

• Digital signage
• Mobile

I just wrote an article on the integration of SMS mobile marketing and digital signage. It explains some of the benefits of implementing a mobile marketing campaign with a digital signage network. It also outlines, in broad terms, how to procure a short code and implement standard SMS interactivity with digital signage.

In a larger network situation where scalability is possible, SMS short

This clever catch was originally posted on Gizmodo and David Haynes' Sixteen Nine blog. It's just another example of how something so seemingly flawless can go awry. You know, with all the other flashy stuff that was going on, there were probably only a few people who even noticed. But, those who did notice apparently were able to snap a picture or two of it.

 

Why the likes of Google, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, and AT&T are courting Digital Signage vendors.

I love the musical “Fiddler on the Roof.” In one of the opening scenes, Tevia chants, “Tradition! Tradition!” When you actually listen to the lyrics of the song, it would be a little un-PC, especially by today’s standards, but the message is real: there are certain ways things have been done.

DigitalSignage.com is now keeping you more up to date by offering a weekly newsletter subscription. By signing up for the weekly newsletter, you'll receive the following:

• Weekly digital signage news highlights
• Weekly blog highlights
• Partnership opportunities
• Digital Signage RFQ updates received
• Digital Signage article, white paper, and case study updates

The Digital Signage

A couple of things from the Wireless Ronin release caught my attention. First, they are one of several digital signage companies experiencing shrinking losses. Not bad, considering the state of the overall market as well as the relative "newness" of the industry. Finally, they've decreased their risk by gaining new clietelle: 

Through the first six months of 2008 we recorded $3.5 million in

That was the most “over the top” opening ceremonies I’ve witnessed. Perhaps the most impressive aspect was the shear human participation involved. Just the ceremony entertainers totaled 15K. The event included 2,800 Tai Chi dancers, an impressive boat scene with paddling dancers, Tron-looking green lit frolickers, and digital signage.

Nearly one third of the floor was taken up by a giant LED screen, where dancers were assisted by various changing lights. Included in the signage was a complete circular projection screen surrounding the stadium, cutely referred to as the “bird’s nest.” In fact, this circular projection screen was used in the lighting of the Olympic torch at the end of the ceremony.

The overarching theme of the projections was an unwinding scroll. Both the LED on the floor and the circular signage overarching the stadium held the theme. In fact, the final torch bearer was hoisted around the entire stadium while the scroll was “unwrapped” on the signage. Impressive.

Despite the great controversy surrounding this Olympics, China outdid themselves. It truly was an impressive site. I really do think that with 1/5^th of the world’s total population, China is a force to be reckoned with. And, with all the Chinese leading in the digital signage bout, I’m sure we’ll be seeing a great deal more than what we saw tonight.  

There’s a first for everything. I still remember the firs time I tried chitterlings and hog head cheese—southern treats many are unaware exist. Frankly, it should stay that way. I also still remember my first for such acronyms as SMS, OEM, DDS, and of course RSS. Interestingly, acronyms sometimes take just as long to say as the actual phrase. Sometimes the only redeeming quality is that

Digital media is great! It gives us a way to distribute information instantaneously to a very targeted niche audience, or to the masses at large. There is so much more control in the who, what, where, when of audience viewing. It’s amazing. My concern is that the more advanced we become, the more “systems” and “applications” will distract us more and more from interpersonal

There always seems to be weird correlations and connections between topics. I read an article a few months back on Wired.com where they claimed McDonald’s hamburgers don’t make your fat, video games make you fat. There probably wasn’t a correlation. Certainly there was no causation. In my mind it was mostly likely an attempt by Mickey D’s to fight off the negative press, like that from “Super

As we’ve seen the vast applications for digital signage continue to grow, I sometimes wonder, is there anything digital signage is incapable of doing? Perhaps. In educational settings—places where persons are actively seeking knowledge and information—digital signage can be an immense contributor to the learning environment.

Schools, both large and small, have the ability to communicate

The Red Post: Signage the Cost of a Cell Phone

RedPost inc. announced the formation of a strategic partnership with Taiwan-based Hurco Automation Ltd., an industrial computer manufacturer with a twelve year history of building specialized, quality electronics. Hurco will manufacture the Sign, a 19″ all-in-one digital sign.

Dynamax Set to Launch iZone in Yachting Centre

Dynamax Technologies Ltd., a

Not all statistics are heart-warming. Including a recently released article that drops in-store buying habits by almost half. According to AdAge, in-store purchasing decisions are significantly lower than the originally touted numbers. Whatever the cause may be, this is a significant "down turn" for the digial signage industry.

Is This For Real?

Of course, it is not extremely far-fetched to have

Today's news brought in some interesting information on the integration of digital signage: signage with smells. That's right, Recruit Co. Ltd. has placed digital signage screens in various locales and is pumping out fumes to lure passers-by. Is this effective or just another way digital signage is polluting the environment?

This idea came to me several months ago as well. I'm sure some signage

The saying holds true: "you can't please everyone." A news article released at the beginning of July stated that the Nitrogen Triflouride contained in LCD and plasma televisions is estimated at 17,000 times more detrimental for the environment than carbon dioxide.

Ironically, NF3 is not covered by the Kyoto protocol as it was only produced in tiny amounts when the treaty was signed in 1997...Dr

The first time I heard the preceding question, it was in reference to sales. It was another way of saying, "make sure you get some small sales to keep the wolf away from the door, before you go after the large sales." The idea works, especially for local networks. It's much easier to sell the local grocer than it may be to sell Coke or Nike.

Local, small networks are great. Don't get me wrong,

According to Geoffrey Moore, there are five steps in the adoption lifecycle of a new technology.

1. Innovators
2. Early Adopters
3. Early Majority
4. Late Majority
5. Laggards

Where do you fit? I know where I am and where I’ve always been: on the left side of the bell curve, the 6 sigma innovator side. I consider myself there, not because I necessarily purchase the newest technology, but because I adore what the

What happens when someone sees a desperate need within a niche of an industry?  They work to fill it. What's the result of a company, who already has the infrastructure to deploy a niche device, within the same industry? They compete. Or do they?

Think for a second about Word Perfect vs. Microsoft Word. Word Perfect dominated the doc industry until Microsoft bundled Word in with Windows. The

Although most of the digital signage blogs out there have posted on this today, I just couldn't resist as well, mostly for weirdness sake. It's called "Pitvertising" and, in my opinion, it's right out. When they release a touchscreen version, count me out because I'm ticklish.

[Read More...]

The metrics gap narrows further with a new tool called VideoMining Online. The tool is designed to measure and judge consumer feedback and response to various messages on dynamic digital signage. VideoMining Online is expected to revolutionize the way advertisers and managers of retail signage networks measure consumer response rates.

Automation in the process of generating shopper metrics from

I just got off the webinar hosted by The Digital Signage Group. For a recap please view the entire presentation by Bob Sharp.

voLANte is an entirely digital ‘last mile multi-channel HD media content deliver network that's cost effective, easy to install, and supports unlimited displays over unlimited distances using innovative video-over-LAN-technology-the embodiment of the convergence of AV and

A recent MarketingCharts report showed “outdoor” (of which digital signage is a part), commands a minute 1.9% of total market penetration, but is expected to have a CAGR in excess of 22% in the coming year.

This does not compare to the growth we’ve seen in online search which is still growing at 24% from $13.8 billion. Nor does it compare to online video (CAGR of 45%) or online social media (with