A subset of digital signage, digital menu boards allow for restaurants, bars, coffee shops, doughnut shops, and any other small venue to place dynamically changing digital content on an LCD, plasma, or projector screen. Digital menus have many benefits, including:

• Eye-catching content. Because content is dynamic, not static, it is better able to catch the eyes of persons waiting to be served.
• On-time menu display. Because digital signage allows for content scheduling or day-parting, digital menu boards have the unique ability to display menu items when and only when they are desired. For instance, breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus can be set to display precisely at 7:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 3:30 p.m. respectively.
• Product sales lifts from digital displays--due to the dynamic nature of the content--have been reported at up to 25%.
• Ambiance. Dynamic digital menu boards change the ambiance of any venue, making the customer experience more unique and lively.

Newspapers, magazines, radio -pillars of traditional media - are entering uncharted waters in which their futures are being called into question. Many would say rightly so. As media platforms, they lack the flexibility and relevance that can be found online. Thinking their place in society was cemented, they failed to leverage their strengths during the early days of the Web. Such is the reality when organizations think they are untouchable.

In today's on-demand world, we have the ability to personalize media. We can access information in real-time and use a single portal to view content from sources that span the globe. Once the gatekeepers of content, newspapers and other traditional media outlets must now fight for relevance amidst upstart bloggers, online video networks, and the resounding voices of an ever-connected community of empowered individuals.

Some claim this means traditional media giants like The New York Times are heading toward their deaths. The world of traditional media is giving way to a reality in which people have abundant choices in what they view, read, and listen to. How will  newspaper conglomerates and radio stations survive this shift in media power?

The only way entities like the Times will maintain their relevance will be by adapting to our changing society. They must tap into the collective intelligence of the community and shepherd technologies that reinvigorate their businesses. They need to embrace the future of media. Rather than defending their media islands, which are slowly sinking into oblivion, they must aggressively step forward and join the new media renaissance. Gone are the days of push media. Instead of just sending inforrmation across content pipelines, these outlets need to actively engage and communicate with their audiences. New media is a two-way conversation.

It's in leveraging channels such as digital signage and the mobile web that media companies can forge deeper connections with consumers. The name of the game is content relevance, delivering information that consumers want at the instant they desire it.  Reaching people with targeted, up to the minute information across a number of different portals is a must to succeed in an increasingly fragmented media environment. Properties like The New York Times will weather this economic storm and media shakeout by looking past the boundaries of traditional media.

Nick Bilton, a user interface specialist and lead researcher within The New York Times Research & Development Lab, spoke about a number of the Times' latest projects and innovations at a recent emerging technology conference. And, it appears that The Times is embracing the new media model. During his presetnation, he discussed how "sensors in every part of our lives [are] helping us aggregate smart content that is relevant to the device we are using." He spoke of QR codes, "smart content" delivery, immersive video, and storytelling across different technology platforms. As Bilton notes, "paper is just a device."

In my opinion, "smart content" that is shaped by the people in a given location represents the future of digital signage. Linking content consumption, consumer behavior, and location awareness would lead to digital signage platforms that adapt based on the traits of its audience. A network's content at any given time would be based on the aggregate characteristics of the people closest to the screen. A location's community would shape its own unique media experience.

In an interview with Andrew Hoffman, Lyle Bunn speaks at DSE specifically regarding Harris Punctuate, the Harris digital signage software application. Mr. Bunn also shares some brief opinions on the show itself and what new features/takeaways this year's DSE brought to the industry. This video was originally posted on the Noventri Blog.

Silverlight 3.0 has officially been released. The interesting part is that it's multi-touch enabled--something that Adobe does not yet do. Adobe will get there, don't you worry about that. The question I have is how will this relate to and impact the digital out-of-home space. As technology continues to make its leaps forward, multi-touch enabled digital signage applications will be more of the norm than the exception. And, as we can see Microsoft is certainly positioning themselves to be a player in this space. Multi-touch offers a boundless array of opportunities for both retailers and digital signage vendors alike.

Think for a moment of the applicable uses for a multi-touch screen in the retail environment. As a wayfinding device, it's simply brilliant. In the retail space such a large-format multi-touch screen would simply be a Flash-enabled Internet portal. As a retail signage application a multi-touch LCD would act as self-contained unit, whose content would be controlled by the organization running the screen. More specifically, a digital sign operator would be able to limit the pages a person could visit while using the display. 

Self-checkout, interactive maps, mall directories, quick response (QR) codes, and online shopping carts would all be possible by creating Silverlight/Flash applications housed within a digital display. And with the ability to control what the consumer is seeing, managers can specifically target advertising and even allow for purchases directly from the digital display.

We were able to track down Lawrence Dvorchik, the General Manager of The Digital Signage Show that takes place from May 5-7, 2009 at The Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, for a few questions and insights behind the show – from education to attendance, as well as the thought process they go through when they put together the show each year.

NN: Thanks for joining us.  Can you tell me a little bit about The Digital Signage Show

LD:  My pleasure, thank you for asking me. The Digital Signage Show grew out of the existing need from our attendees at KioskCom Self Service Expo (which is co-located with The Digital Signage Show).  The attendees-- who already had shown their proclivity for buying self service and kiosk solutions--reaffirmed our theory that digital signage was the next piece to the puzzle, and asked us to have companies at the show that would demonstrate solutions for them to review. The Digital Signage Show is currently a solution driven end-user show.  We focus our educational sessions on the solutions that organizations face, not just on the technology, and as a result we continue to see registration from venues, brands, brand marketers, advertising agencies and advertising sales organizations.

The Digital Signage Show offers an in-depth look at how digital signage can improve customer communication and improve the customer experience, while bringing increased revenue and improved customer experiences for your organization and impacting brands and brand sales.  From one location to thousands, whether interactive and non-interactive – our offering has you covered.

NN: Tell me more about the education offered for attendees at The Digital Signage Show.

LD:What we have tried to do – and this has been the case since our debut in 1997 – is to focus our educational offerings on what organizations and people can do to speed up the deployment process, and increase the likelihood that they will be successful the first time out.  With the input from our Board of Advisors, we customize each and every event’s agenda to focus on what the end user/deployer needs to focus on what needs to be avoided in order to improve success rates.  I can’t stress enough how important it has been to have the support of the actual end user/deployers in sharing their experiences and knowledge with other like-minded colleagues.  It’s helped us make sure our sessions continually improve, and the feedback from everyone involved has been tremendous.  We focus everything on what will benefit the end user.  We allow sponsors and exhibitors to participate and help guide the sessions, but the overwhelming content comes “directly from the horses mouth” – those organizations that have had successes and failures deploying in their own organizations.

Our educational sessions continue to push leading edge issues, and reflect the experience of our end-users and Board of Advisors.  The entire Board of Advisors really takes great pride in developing the best content, recruiting the best speakers, and ensuring a consistent, quality educational program for each and every attendee.

NN: Explain the qualification program that you run

LD: The value of trade shows – for attendees, speakers and exhibitors – is that it allows every one of the stakeholders the opportunity to meet face-to-face with those audiences that are critical to their success.  The basis behind our qualification program is that by applying the initial filter on attendees, we have increased the value of these meetings for everyone.  Exhibitors see less people trying to sell to them, and can spend more time with real prospects.  Attendees get valuable exposure to people that provide the knowledge and information they need to ensure their projects meet success faster, whether that be speakers, exhibitors or other attendees.  Speakers are presenting to other like-minded colleagues rather than an audience of suppliers.  It’s been a win-win all around.

NN: Isn’t it difficult to administer such a program? 

LD: (Laughing) Well, it does take up quite a bit of my time.  We review every single person that registers.  But since it has proven to be invaluable to all members of our audience, what’s a little extra time here and there?  Our goal is their success, and this is one way we can make sure that happens.

NN: How do you decide?

LD: That is an ongoing discussion – exactly what constitutes a qualified attendee.  Our exhibitors have asked me to review them, and based upon my experience as someone who has been leading the charge for deployments of kiosks and digital signage for more than 10 years, determine if they are a potential buyer.  We always allow for the opportunity for someone who has been denied a complimentary pass to contact us directly, discuss why they want to be at the show, and re-assess their applications.

NN: How is attendance going for the May events?  What impact has the economy had on registration?

LD: We don’t know for certain yet, as the show is still almost two months away, but we have reasons to be very optimistic.  We are tracking slightly ahead of last year’s pace in terms of pre-qualified attendees, and have made several bold decisions to offer more for attendees.

We have chosen to provide qualified end-user / buyers with free full conference access, ensuring that cost will not be an obstacle for anyone to attend, and taking another step to ensure attendees receive the most complete conference experience possible.  This new incentive is just one of the features that have continued to bring positive results for the show's attendees year-after-year.  Our priorities rest equally between our end-user audience and our exhibitor audience.  What we strive to do is introduce features that give all of our attendees, regardless of which end of the business they're coming from, a complete conference experience.  The new conference pass policy is just one of the benefits we bring to the table that helps us provide the most cost-efficient and effective tradeshow opportunity to others.

The silver lining of this economy is that travel and lodging are both incredibly affordable right now…especially to Las Vegas.  Flights can be found from anywhere for as little as $200-$300 and we have negotiated room rates within a walk to the show floor for as little as $59. 

Finally, we have increased our marketing efforts substantially this year, in traditional mailing and print efforts, as well as with our online and electronic efforts, so that we feel our registration numbers will be impressive and that our exhibitors will get a fantastic return on their investment at our show, and a return that they certainly cannot get anywhere else.

NN: The Digital Signage Show is co-located with KioskCom Self-Service Expo.  Why is that?  How do you see that impacting the industry?

LD: First and foremost, let me re-iterate that The Digital Signage Show was launched based upon the needs of a Pre-existing qualified buying audience.  Attendees asked us to educate them more on the business strategies, solutions and technologies for digital signage. As I enter my 14^th year of promoting the benefits of deploying self-service kiosks and now digital signage, the phrase “the more things change, the more they stay the same” continues to resonate in my mind. While the technologies and functions for each deployment continue to change and reach into new markets, there is a base component that remains the same – building from the past.  Regardless of where your program is set to launch or who your target is, researching and understanding the past successes and failures of the customer-facing technology (CFT) programs that preceded the new application continues to play a primary role in the deployment process. 

Having been involved with many of these deployments from both the buyer’s side and seller’s side, it is very apparent that those who had a well-conceived strategy based on analyzing previous successes and failures experienced greater results than those who attempted to start from scratch.  While there is nothing wrong with wanting to create a new direction or concept for your deployment, the core belief that a clear understanding of customer and employee behavior and trends serves as a major strategic asset to ensuring your success the first time out, still holds true just as much today as it did 10 years ago.

Self-service and kiosk deployments studied preceding CFT initiatives – from ATMs to the Internet to early kiosks – as part of their development process.  I believe that the Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) signage industry stands to gain significantly by following suit and learning from the trials and tribulations encountered by the kiosk and self-service industry.

For nearly 14 years I’ve been involved at all levels of the Customer-Facing Technology industry, dealing in everything from kiosks to websites to handhelds to digital signage.  I’ve worked with thousands of deployers and purchasers, and just as many technology and service providers.  I have conducted extensive research and industry analysis, and even demonstrated the benefits of these customer-facing technologies to professionals serving arenas in the mainstream universe, such as retail, hotels, travel, government, food service, etc. 

My work has brought a number of “hot button” Digital Signage/DOOH issues to my attention, including:

Kiosks and digital signage share an incredible amount of analogous DNA, and are often deployed simultaneously.  Organizations that embrace learning from the histories and actions have proven this point with their successes, and they have loudly proclaimed that events which encourage strategic discussions around multiple CFT deployments and promote interaction, analysis and knowledge-sharing have significantly helped them to quickly and efficiently launch and succeed with their CFT projects.

NN: So what is new and exciting for the show in May?  What should we take a special note of?

LD:On May 5, we are thrilled to be able to present a new program launched by an industry stalwart, Lyle Bunn.  Lyle has worked with countless companies to understand the necessities and nuances for successful digital signage programs.  The new SPEED Program is a strategic workshop addressing digital signage project planning, deployment, success, and supplier capabilities.

Designed to help businesses plan for all phases of their customer-facing technology deployment from pre-launch strategy to budgeting and measuring ROI, the program addresses start to finish planning solutions. 

Nowhere else can you get 3 hours of intense hands-on training on what is really needed for successful deployment strategies and implementation.  Lyle’s focus is on ensuring organizations understand what is really needed for success, not just the theoretical discussions that seem to be prevalent right now.

Taking place on Tuesday, May 5 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., program participants will receive complete SPEED training through a 4-hour session for only $99.  Registration is available at http://www.thedigitalsignageshow.com/

NN: In closing, do you have any final thoughts?

LD: First off, I want to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to discuss this with you and your readers. Spending the last 14 years, 24/7/365 focused on this, it has been a major passion of mine. We are excited at the response from those genuine potential deployers that continually attend The Digital Signage Show; KioskCom Self Service Expo.  Each year more quality buyers attend, and find their time is spent wisely, efficiently and effectively.  We take great pride in our efforts to clean up the attendance, ensuring an extremely high percentage of like-minded colleagues, and a low percentage of non-exhibiting sellers.  Our pre-qualification program has helped make sure the time of our exhibitors and attendees isn’t wasted by turning away almost 500 people for each event.

We look forward to seeing you and everyone else in at KioskCom Self Service Expo The Digital Signage  Show Las Vegas from May 6-7, 2009!

Yesterday an interesting digital signage news article came in: "Unicon Systems Ships the Helios Digital Signage System." My first reaction was, "hey, they spelled 'Helius' incorrectly." After some further investigation, I was made very aware of my mistake: Unicon is a completely different company entirely.

Helius--a Hughes Company based in Lindon, UT--has nothing whatsoever to do with Unicon Systems' new hardware piece known as the Helios. "The Unicon Systems Helios features a powerful compact Linux-based platform attached directly to the back of the display screen (no tuner board required). It offers dependable and secure content delivery over a range of network connections. The Helios also boasts minimal power consumption, low heat generation and is virtually maintenance free. Applications of the Helios platform include digital advertising, retail and transportation information display, point-of-sale, vending, kiosk and security systems." In short, it's a hardware device used specifically for digital signage applications.

After a visit to the Unicon Systems website I realized that the company is keeping with their Greek gods theme for the hardware pieces they already provide. Currently, they provide Zeus (a soon-to-be-released product), Apollo (a mobile product with a TFT color touchscreen), Aphrodite (a product still displayed on the site as "coming soon"), Pegasus (a  modular PC board with a dual-core ARM11 CPU) , Hermes (a mobile, Linux-based phone/PDA unit), and of course Helios. The interesting, and most alarming aspect is the fact that their digital signage-specific hardware piece nearly exactly resembles the brand owned by Hughes. In fact, after doing some reading, I realized that the Greek god Helius had various similar spellings in different literature, among them was Helios. This was not a good move for Unicon Systems. I smell legal action--especially since they specifically chose the name for the digital signage product.

Although it's still a few years away, Toshiba claims to have developed a "television wallpaper." The product was unveiled at Tokyo's annual International Nanotechnology Conference and Exhibition. The technology essentially uses nanotechnology capable of displaying digital images on flexible paper. The OLED technology breakthrough allows for paper to emit light by redirecting an "ultra-fine grating that is fabricated by self-assembled non particles."

Toshiba's development allows for creating different atmospheres within a room and projecting moving images  The light emitting paper's uses are vast, including a light source, eliminating the need for bulbs and other indoor light sources. 

Perhaps the greatest advantage is the energy factor: the screens use far less energy then their LCD and LED counterparts. 

See Original Article   

The video below is a great forward-looking idea of what we'll be seeing in ten years. There are a lot of touchscreen applications, small changeable digital devices and of course, a lot of different types of digital signage. Microsoft did a pretty good job with this one and it something that seems somewhat accurate. Regardless of whether it's accurate or not, it acts as a good plug for the Microsoft Surface--a device that has certainly not reached the mainstream yet, but a cool app nonetheless. 

Skout, an interactive digital signage experience, is bringing online flirting to out-of-home spaces to bars across the United States. Skout Out will be presenting a web conference today at 2:30 PM. Those who have been to the tradeshows and have been keeping up on the technology realize that this is not new, but it's interesting to see others entering the space of interactive integration between marketing technologies.  Skout OUT from Robin Wauters on Vimeo.