Digital Signage for AV Professionals

Brad Gleeson, of ActiveLight fame, has been putting in some quality time over at Sound & Video Contractor. His latest article on digital signage notes that:

"Even as we admit the industry is still in early development mode, indications are that it will become a tremendously significant market in terms of revenues. Depending upon which market research firm you prefer, and how you slice the pie, digital signage is expected to surpass $2 billion in overall revenues by 2009 (see figure 1). The hardware and integration segment of this is somewhere around $500 million. By comparison, the data projector market, which has been developing for more than 15 years, is also around $2 billion.

"Digital signage can be segmented into several different markets and categories. Cap Ventures estimates there are approximately 2.7 million potential sites for digital signage or “narrowcasting,” as they call it. Samples of this market total include more than 45,000 shopping malls, 794 airports, 1.12 million retail sites, 545,000 hospitality and entertainment locations, and 739,000 service-oriented locations such as financial and health service locations. The number of these locations that are currently using digital signage is infinitesimal compared to the total number of opportunities. The take-away message here is that there is tremendous opportunity in your geographic market, and probably among the customers you already serve."

I'd recommend you check out the rest of the article, which can be found here.

Introduction to 3D digital signage

I have to agree with Sound & Video's Jeff Sauer when he says:

"Novelty... is hardly a bad thing when it comes to advertising and being noticed, and I can certainly appreciate that as a one-time marketing professional. That makes Philips' expected introduction of 3D-capable LCD panels for digital signage an intriguing development in the world of 3D. Philips' new Multiview Lenticular technology will allow viewers to experience the 3D effect from a wide variety of viewing angles, all without the need for any of those silly glasses.

"Without a product yet, Philips is certainly a long way from establishing pricing for this future 3D LCD panel. However, Philips concedes that it's reasonable to assume a price premium for including the 3D technology with a panel. The actual premium over the cost of a regular 42in. panel — whether it's 3X, 6X, or some other factor — will be a function of demand, economies of scale, and a yet-to-be-determined business and distribution model.

"Still, digital signage and 3D are two technologies that have been gaining a fair amount of momentum lately. The combination of the two could be a perfect fit in a world where novelty matters."

Read the rest of the (highly technical) article here.

What a surprise: bigger screens better for digital signage

From VAR Business:

"Digital signage is a collaborative experience, and yet until now there hasn't been an efficient and effective way for integrators and end users to find providers who really understand digital signage and can deliver results," says Brad Gleeson, president and COO of Poulsbo, Wash.-based ActiveLight, a nationwide distributor specializing in advanced display products.

Annual sales of large LCDs (30-plus inches) and plasmas will top $4.6 billion in 2010, up from $2.5 billion last year, according to market research firm iSuppli. More than 90 percent of 2010 sales will be in digital signage, indoor entertainment venues, transportation hubs and conference/training rooms. Education and niche markets, such as medical imaging and command/control rooms, will account for most of the remainder.
...
LCD technology is challenging plasma in critical-performance factors as well as size. Film-quality video requires a response time of 16 milliseconds or less to eliminate flicker. Several vendors' large displays now match the 16-ms mark, while Samsung and NEC set the pace at 8 ms. Most vendors now offer contrast ratios of 500-1 to 800-1, ample for most commercial uses.

But plasma retains its edge in very high-performance video. A 10,000-1 contrast ratio may seem like overkill, but Neal Goldsmith, Sony's product manager for large displays, says medical-imaging and film-production specialists need all the color depth that Sony's FWD-42PV1 42-inch plasma delivers. Samsung's latest plasmas also offer 10,000-1 contrast, while other vendors fall between the range of 1,000-1 and 3,000-1 for now.

Plasma also has made progress in power consumption and panel life, two of its biggest vulnerabilities vis-a-vis LCD. "Our new 42-inch plasma [the FWD-42PV1] draws 260 watts compared to 400 watts of older models," Pickard says. "That translates into longer service life and lower cost of ownership." Plasma and LCD displays now claim typical service lives of 60,000 hours.

Plasma remains the choice for pure video, while LCDs are better suited for mixed video/static content. The latter category is where the most sales growth is expected, according to iSuppli. LCD sales will grow from last year's $442 million to $1.7 billion in 2010, while plasma sales will fluctuate around $2 billion per year.

Read the rest of this interesting article here.

Broadview digital signage to power Toronto network

From BroadcastBuyer:

ONESTOP Network, the private digital network for the Toronto Transit Commission's (TTC) subway network, has selected BroadView Software to provide the traffic and sales software that will manage the complex scheduling required by the network.

The ONESTOP Network is North America's largest underground digital network, and when complete will consist of double-screen 40-inch units on subway platforms. There is also a plan to extend the network to the subway cars.

The ONESTOP Network offers travelers a dynamic mix of news sports, transit information, and advertising, as well as community service information including Child Find announcements, emergency override messaging, and transit updates for the 875,000 daily subway commuters. With BroadView's traffic and sales system, the network is able to manage complex schedules that will include advertising that runs on all screens within the network as well as station-specific messaging.

"The ONESTOP Network is really pioneering the concept of private networks, and as such requires products that are innovative, powerful, and professional," said Michael Girgis, president of ONESTOP Media Group. "Our clients expect a high level of accuracy, and we believe that BroadView can offer that. We look forward to building a model for Digital Private Network traffic together."

You can read the whole article here.

WalMart In-Store TV to Track Local Storms During Hurricane Season

Here's a really good way to extend existing digital signage assets!

JULY 12, 2005-- BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Shoppers in hurricane-prone states know just how quickly things can take a turn for the worse. Thanks to the Wal-Mart Television Network, Wal-Mart shoppers in the Southeast will now know exactly what the weather is doing throughout their shopping trip, right up until the time they check out.

Wal-Mart's in-store television network provider, Premier Retail Networks, has partnered with The Weather Channel to provide live up-to-date weather coverage for the chain. The Weather Channel began airing in 250 Wal-Mart stores in Florida and parts of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi to track storm coverage of Hurricane Dennis.

"As the 'store of the community,' we're always concerned about the well-being of our associates and customers, and this is a way to use the Network to provide important information," said Troy Steiner, Wal-Mart senior media director. "Our policy is to switch the Wal-Mart TV Network to live feeds from other media sources during events that affect national matters of safety and emergencies to ensure that everyone has the information they need. Our customers and associates are preparing for Hurricane Dennis during the hours and days leading up to the storm, and we believe that keeping as many people informed, as best we can, with up-to-date information provided by The Weather Channel is the right thing to do for everyone."

You can read the complete story here.

Stand alone digital signage system released

Even after several years, the press release below about a stand-alone digital signage system continues to get a lot of traffic. If you're actually looking for a standalone digital signage system with no monthly fees, I suggest you check out FireCast Digital Signage EasyStart, our new solution designed for smaller projects.


Here's the original post from 2005:

ROCHESTER, N.Y., July 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Door Six, Inc. has recently introduced the Brightboard(TM), a new line of stand-alone dynamic digital signs. Instead of a single static message printed on paper, the
Brightboard(TM) uses a bright, colorful 19" LCD display to deliver a perpetual slideshow containing high resolution images and full motion video. According to the manufacturer, the Brightboard(TM) represents a breakthrough in digital signage because it is affordable, portable and can be quickly and easily updated by the sign owner.

Available in a floor-standing pedestal configuration (approximately 5 feet tall) or a "sign-only" version light enough to be hung from a suspended ceiling grid, the Brightboard(TM) is designed to be installed in minutes by a non-technical person. Since it only requires a standard 110V outlet for operation, either configuration can be easily moved to place the message where it will attract the most attention of the target audience.

Unlike most other digital signage systems, the Brightboard(TM) does not contain a full computer or require a network connection for operation. At the heart of the Brightboard(TM) system is a solid-state custom graphics/media player which is compact, silent and has no moving parts. This allows the Brightboard(TM) to maintain its slim profile while eliminating the maintenance issues associated with complex computer hardware, networks and operating systems.

Read the rest of it here.

Firefly digital signage player reviewed

Digitalproducer writes, "Firefly MZ ($1995) by Visual Circuits and Focus Enhancements is a Linux -based playback unit that’s used to feed content to digital signage in remote locations. Using its included Media Messenger software, you can create impressive AV presentations on your PC that let you mix text, mpeg video clips and stills for a CNN-like look. Then, you can distribute these graphics to the Firefly MZ via network, DVD or satellite. From a remote location, you can schedule various presentations to play at various times, giving you 24/7 control over your message."

They go on to do a nice review of the compact but limited Linux-based player. For a much more powerful solution, try FireCast digital signage software.

Potential digital signage fraud?

UPDATING AND REPLACING

The contents of this article have been removed per the request of the party originally named in the article.

Strategy Institute holds Digital Signage summit

From Sound & Video Contractor:

"This summit will bring together all stakeholders in this rapidly progressing industry—from retail, transportation, hospitality, entertainment, and service areas, as well as network operators, system integrators, display providers, and AV professionals. This highly educational event will address sessions on the optimal digital signage profit model, creating the digital signage rate card, operating costs, the industry matrix, and a five-year demand forecast, as well as key success stories from retail, hospitality, and transportation service industries."

There are more details here.

Limelight Media Group partners with IMPART

From my favorite sketchy OTC BB digital signage company:

Limelight Media Group, Inc. (OTC BB:LMMG.OB - News) an innovator in the creation and management of out-of-home digital advertising networks, today announced that on June 30, 2005, it completed its acquisition of IMPART, Inc., a leading full-service provider of dynamic media solutions. The all stock transaction -- detailed in the company's 8K filing to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission today -- includes a reincorporation in Delaware within 90 days. The companies intend to centralize operations in Seattle. As part of the deal, IMPART, Inc. will maintain its name and brand identity and operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Limelight Media Group, Inc. There are no anticipated layoffs expected at either company as a result of the acquisition and the existing management team for both organizations will remain intact.
...
Currently, IMPART manages more than 1,300 digital signage installations and maintains a growing subscription base of marquee clients that include some of the nation's top banks, brands, retail companies and public/government spaces. As a pioneer in the delivery of digital media applications, IMPART offers Limelight a 22-year legacy of market experience and additional infrastructure for deployment into the emerging Point of Decision (POD) markets in retail, banking, corporate and other industries. Furthermore, management believes the acquisition will accelerate the combined organization's ability to offer an advertising-based revenue model. Both companies will benefit from more effective utilization of infrastructure and industry relationships that will help in the delivery of complete, turnkey media solutions. This single-source, turnkey approach is fundamental to this emerging market, which has been riddled with the complexity of multi-vendor approaches using different systems and oftentimes conflicting strategies. The two companies believe that together they can establish a strong industry foundation, spurring potential future consolidation in the digital media industry.

You can read the complete release here.

InfoComm 05 Attendance Up 15 Percent

From BusinessWire:

The International Communications Industries Association, Inc.(R) (ICIA(R)) today announced final attendance figures for InfoComm 05. The largest annual conference and exhibition for audiovisual buyers and sellers worldwide held June 4-10 in Las Vegas grew 15 percent over 2004, attracting 26,322 AV professionals from more than 80 countries. Last year, 22,894 attended from 75 countries.

InfoComm attracted 11,489 commercial service providers as well as 6,346 technology manager end users, a segment that increased 31 percent over the 2004 Show. Seventy percent of technology manager end users who attended work in education, business and government, a reflection of the growth in the use of information communication, presentation and AV technologies worldwide. The number of professionals from the education market doubled over the previous year. Other large growth sectors included sports, entertainment and hospitality, up 160 percent compared to 2004, and the retail and sales sector, which emerged as an important vertical market at InfoComm for the first time.

A record 725 exhibitors participated at InfoComm this year, representing a 12 percent increase over the previous record of 647 in 2004. Exhibitors occupied 385,540 net square feet of paid exhibits, meeting and special events space, compared to 319,860 square feet in 2004. More than 170 new exhibitors joined this year's show.

For the complete press release, click here.

PlayNetwork merges with Crows Nest Entertainment

According to DDI Magazine:

"Music programming and audio/video systems provider PlayNetwork Inc., Redmond, Wash., has completed its merger with digital signage and systems integration company Crows Nest Entertainment Inc. (CNE), Seattle. 'The CNE merger will provide PlayNetwork with exciting new service capabilities, namely technlogy and creative solutions for in-store digital video networks and related advertising sales services,' said CNE president Jim Wessels, who joins PlayNetwork as executive vice president of operations, in a statement. The merger was the first of several strategic growth moves for PlayNetwork. 'We are very excited that we've completed this merger and of the impact it will have in realizing our strategic growth plan,' said PlayNetwork executive chairman Lon Troxel, who now takes over the reins as CEO from Adam Brotman, in a statement."

Here's the link.

Mobile digital signage solution?

I'm not really sure what a mobile digital signage solution is exactly, but according to KioskMarketplace, "SRN, a provider of datacasting services, has unveiled its Digital Signage Wireless Delivery platform, which enables broadcast of multimedia content to mobile display devices. The displays can be installed in taxi cabs, buses, limousines and any other type of large-scale moblie vehicle fleet."

You can read the full article here.

GL TRADE Launches GL TV, The Digital Display Solution For Bank Networks

Ok, at this point I think we've now seen everybody start selling digital signage solutions... look at this:

"GL TRADE, the international provider of electronic trading, settlement and clearing solutions, is launching a digital display solution for banks, designed to enliven and shape their customer relationships in branch networks.

"Developed by the group's dedicated GL multimedi@ subsidiary, GL TV is a multimedia solution for supplying data to TV screens by satellite or over the internet. The system allows all types of information to be transmitted, from video to weather forecasts and market prices.
Designed for use in bank branches and the offices of financial institutions and listed companies, GL TV will allow Corporate Communications Departments to create their own communication and promotional programming"

If you have the stomach for it, read the rest here.

Elo big SAW screens for kiosks and interactive digital signs

Not sure if this is one of those things that should be listed under "kiosks" or "digital signage," since it's really a combination of both. While large touchscreens from NextWindow and SMART Technologies have been available for a while, touchscreen market leader Elo is entering the fray with a 32" version of their popular surface acoustic wave (SAW) screen. Here's the lowdown from thomasnet:

"Supplied as clip-on frame, IntelliTouch 32 in. surface-wave touchscreen is composed of pure glass and has no plastic or metallic coatings. Product provides 92% light transmission and 4,095 x 4,095 touchpoint resolution. Along with point-of-information kiosk displays and interactive digital signage, applications include gaming machines, centralized monitoring in medical and industrial industries, as well as conference room and exhibition center displays.

"According to Lung, many Elo customers believe bigger is better when it comes to getting their message across, and Elo is receiving more and more inquiries for large plasma and flat screens of 30" and above. “We currently have customers using our 42" and 50" touchscreens to display interactive advertisements, in electronic whiteboards for corporate presentations, and in universities and TV studios,” confirms Lung. “The demand is out there and Elo is well positioned to respond to it.”"

You can read the rest of the press release here.