D-Sign September Issue 2010

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sign VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1 > SEPTEMBER 2010

MAGAZINE

the content+technology of digital signage

Marina Bay Sands

Singapore Casino Makes Sure Bet on Harris Digital Signage

Page 24

D-Signage in the House

www.D-sign.tv

Cool Sign!

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sign the content+technology of digital signage

D-SIGN Magazine Broadcastpapers Pty Ltd (ABN: 34 095 653 277) PO Box 259 Darlinghurst NSW 1300 Australia www.broadcastpapers.com Publisher: Phil Sandberg Tel: +61-(0)2-9332 2221 Fax: +61-(0)2-9332 2280 Mob: +61-(0)414-671-811 Email: papers@broadcastpapers.com Technology Editor: Peter white pw@broadcastpapers.com

Design & Layout: Crunch Design Tel: +61-2-9310 5393 Email: greenroom@crunchdesign.com.au Copyright Notice All material in Broadcastpapers’ D-SIGN Magazine is protected under Australian Commonwealth Copyright Laws. No material may be reproduced in part or whole in any manner without prior consent of the Publisher and/or copyright holder.

Disclaimer Broadcastpapers Pty Ltd accepts no responsibility for omissions or mistakes made within, claims made or information provided by advertisers.

Sales & Marketing Manager: Daniela Huelsen Tel: +61-(0)410 880 557 Email: dh@broadcastpapers.com Production Manager: Lucy Salmon Tel: +61-(0)2-9332 2221 production@broadcastpapers.com

Also see D-SIGN in PDF at www.d-sign.tv VOLUME 3 > ISSUE 5

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CONTENTS

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04 NEWS TICKER

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Audi Digital Media Goes Global, PumpTV Supports Safety Campaign, Digital Signage Asia, Next-Gen Kiosk for Qantas, A College Degree in Digital Signage, Barco Acquires D-Signage Specialist, D-Signage with Interactive Edge, Val Morgan Superscreens, D-Signs Make Splash with School Water Coolers.

10 CASE STUDY: D-SIGNAGE IN THE HOUSE

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Modernising Signage Around the Sydney Opera House with Sony.

12 VENDOR BENDOR

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D-SIGN Talks to Lou Giacalone, Founder and President of Coolsign.

14 COVER STORY

D-sign.tv is the online destination covering the Content+Technology of Digital Signage. With regular email newsletter, website and E-magaine, D-sign.tv provides you with timely and relevant information on all aspects of the D-Signage market.

Marina Bay Sands: Singapore Casino Makes Sure Bet on Harris Digital Signage.

<< 32

18 SOLUTIONS

Digital Signage Hardware & Software

24 VENDOR DIRECTORY

32 SIGN ‘O’ THE TIMES Publisher Phil Sandberg - papers@broadcastpapers.com • Sales & Marketing Manager Daniela Huelsen - dh@broadcastpapers.com

Tel: +61 (0)2 9332 2221

www.D-sign.tv

Tel: +61 (0)410 880 557

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Exhibitor Profiles from this 2010’s Digital Signage World Show in Sydney.

The Third Dimension

Editor’s Welcome

What is This Thing Called

Digital Signage?

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sign the content+technology of digital signage

By Phil Sandberg Welcome

to the first issue of D-Sign – the Content+Technology of Digital Signage.

So, what is Digital Signage? Over the last few years, the subject of digital signage or D-Signage has generated equal measures hype, excitement and confusion. Like mobile phones, the iPhone, iPad, social networking or, indeed, the Internet itself, Digital Signage has been seen by many from both the vendor and end-user camps as an opportunity to magically increase revenues and boost flagging business models through either re-purposing existing technology or selling ad space on your brand new D-Signage network.

Neither of these are reasons to push for investment in digital signage because digital signage is not: • A network of visual displays; • The output of a media player; • A series of triggered audio/visual events; or Television.

Digital signage is an extension of your organisation.

It is a medium which can help you better manage the flow of people through your venue, can help to keep the public safe, can help raise brand awareness, can increase your sales, can entertain and inform.

But, to be most effective it has to fit in with your objectives. It has to serve your goals, not make your organisation a slave to it.

And, that is the other side of the digital signage coin. Once you have installed a D-Sign network, you

are immediately in the publishing business, and just as you would update your printed menus, catalogues or travel advisories, you have to keep your digital signage fresh otherwise it becomes part of the background noise.

Overcoming that is the result of clear goals, clever content creation, scheduling, delivery and sometimes effective integration of a feedback loop. In short, workflow!

Whether you take that on yourself or outsource it to a professional services organisation, if the medium serves you and not the other way around, you will see the benefits from your D-Sign network.

Of course, there is still no accounting for the awareness and attention spans of human beings – particularly when there’s something else on their minds. While recently passing through the International Terminal at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport, I could not help but notice the wide array of digital signage from sophisticated retail displays such as that for Absolut Vodka (pictured) to the simpler installations giving directions to the massive twoscreen flight information display positioned high on the wall facing the main duty free area.

One would think that would be enough to direct passengers to their departure gates in a timely fashion, but as the kind folk at the information desk positioned below told me, “you’d be surprised how many people come to us for directions because they don’t see it.” As they say, hidden in plain sight.

We hope you find this inaugural edition of the D-SIGN E-magazine useful and informative and that you’ll drop us a line as to how your organisation is employing this emerging medium to reach your customers/stakeholders.

And, don’t forget to regularly check our website for news and videos, as well as our free email newsletter, all available through www.d-sign.tv Thanks for Reading Phil Sandberg Editor/Publisher papers@broadcastpapers.com T: +61-(0)2-9332 2221

2 Editor’s Welcome

D-sign.tv

is the online destination covering the Content+Technology of Digital Signage.

With regularly updated website, email newsletter and in-depth E-magazine, D-sign.tv provides you with timely and relevant information on all aspects of the D-Signage market.

2010 Deadlines September 2nd – Email Newsletter/E-Mag Published 15th – Email Newsletter 29th – Email Newsletter

October 13th - Email Newsletter 27th - Email Newsletter

November 4th - Email Newsletter/E-Mag Published 10th - Email Newsletter 24th - Email Newsletter

December 8th - Email Newsletter For more information, visit www.content-technology.com or call +61-(0)2-9332 2221 or +61-(0)414 671 811.

Email: papers@broadcastpapers.com Sales enquiries: dh@broadcastpapers.com or call +61-(0)410 880 557.

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NEWS TICKER...

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Audi Digital Media Goes Global

area, the screens show a mix of carefully crafted, highly branded video material that is both visually exciting and customisable to each dealership.

2) The Presentation Element uses model-related films to showcase key features, benefits and uses.

These screens are located next to the vehicle to act as a reference guide for customers. Audio maximises the impact of the content to create a theatrical presentation.

3) The Digital Info Element depicts dealer-specific content such as pricing, test drive, warranty and extra services and packages, including financial services and after-sales support. These units also contain paper brochures and other printed materials for customers to take away.

4) The Audi Configurator allows customers to select the type, style, colour and capacity of the vehicle they’re interested in and specify a range of items to personalise their vehicles.

Digital content created by Audi’s marketing

PumpTV Supports Safety Campaign PumpTV, Australia’s first digital petrol station TV network, partnered with Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission (TAC) to run a pro-bono road safety campaign on its network of screens in Melbourne prior to and through the Easter period.

Timed to reiterate the message of road safety during the long Easter weekend – a period when the risk of crashes increases, as more people are travelling longer distances, TAC broadcast its TVC’s on PumpTV screens in Coles Express/Shell, United Petroleum and BP, Caltex petrol stations across Melbourne. With an estimated reach of over one million people, the PumpTV sponsorship added another dimension to TAC’s Easter efforts.

“Road safety is a serious matter and we wanted to support TAC in spreading the message across to a wider captive audience at petrol pumps. This was our first community campaign since we started

4 Digital Signage

operations in November 2009. We were looking to align ourselves with an issue that is very relevant to the community and to PumpTV - hence the decision to partner with TAC,” said David Parker, CEO of PumpTV. “In the lead up to Easter, we are highlighting the message that if you act irresponsibly on our roads you will be caught. PumpTV’s platform provided an opportunity to communicate directly with our audience as they were on the roads over Easter,” said the TAC’s Head of Community Relations, Philip Reed.

PumpTV, through its exclusive content partners Seven Network and Yahoo!7, broadcasts news, sport and weather updates and gives advertisers the choice of TVC or digital ‘wrap’ format advertisements.

Visit www.pumptv.com.au

team for use in the Audi digital showroom includes high-quality advertorial films, Audi sporting and corporate events, Audi news, and features on culture, innovation and concepts. Content is made available to dealers via a custom portal that enables dealers to download only the content they require.

The portal provides an efficient content management and distribution system between head office and the dealerships, which guarantees that the final content presentation will be on-brand and on-time, all the time.

“This system gives us the ability to assure high-quality content in every dealership worldwide. At the same time the dealer has the opportunity to place his own local messaging within the Audi-branded content,” says Liane Scheinert, Head of International Customer and Retail Marketing for Audi.

“So far over 600 retail showrooms in more than 70 countries across the world are using the Audi digital showroom concept to help them engage and educate customers from the moment they enter the showroom to the point of closure with the sales advisors,” said Oscar Elizaga, VP Scala EMEA. “I am delighted that Sean Media and Audi chose to use Scala to help manage and deliver their audiovisual content in showrooms to guarantee the quality and consistency of content presentation to Audi customers. We look forward to working closely with Audi in the future to help underpin their ‘leading through technology’ approach.”

Visit www.scala.com

Catch all the detail

The next standard in professional LCD video monitors is giving you even more choice.

Digital Signage World Asia The inaugural Digital Signage World Asia will be held 9 – 10 November 2010 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Level 4.

The event is an exhibition of the world’s leading solutions providers, as well as an applicationsfocused conference.

It is co-located with Kiosk Self Service World Asia 2010 which brings you the most up-to-date and in-depth self-service implementation stories from industry leaders globally. Kiosk Self Service World Asia 2010 covers all the important business and technological issues and is the only event that brings together senior level executives from across a broad range of industry sectors to learn the benefits of self-service technologies, source solutions and form important partnerships.

Visit www.terrapinn.com/2010/digitalasia and www.terrapinn.com/2010/kioskasia.

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Designed for demanding broadcast and production applications in HD or SD, the LUMA family now includes 17” and 42” models, further pushing the boundaries for professional flat screen video monitors. Incorporating the superb uniformity of ChromaTRU™ colour matching, super-precise 10-bit processing and advanced input options. Versatile features include waveform monitoring, audio level metering and picture-in-picture display, all integrated into a space-saving one-piece design. Plus Ethernet remote control for up to 32 monitors - another Sony first. For more information call 1800 017 669 or visit sony.com.au/luma BACK TO CONTENTS PAGE 5041SO/C&T

As part of a comprehensive retail showroom program, Audi has created a multimedia digital showroom designed to offer dealers around the world Audicertified products and services that enhance the look and feel of their dealerships. It also enables the latest information to reach customers and facilitate a controlled environment for branded communication that offers local customisation.

Audi’s global network of retail showrooms differ in size, location, geography, language, currency and time-zone, requiring local customisation to reflect these differences, including regional pricing and dealer-specific offers. Digital media allowed Audi to address these differences.

“With Audi, we have created an internationally applicable communication system to reach customers and staff with high-quality, engaging, informative content at the point of sale. The intelligent content creation by Sean Media and the application of Scala make it possible to distribute Audi-specific content with just one production in multiple languages worldwide, which saves Audi time and enormous operating costs,” says Stefan Knoke, chief executive of Sean Media.

While some of these digital media are standard, each dealership can purchase up to four different types of digital media directly from Audi that best matches their showroom type and budget.

1) The Audi TV module comprises a large screen built into customer-branded furniture that allows the screen to operate as a free-standing unit at any point within the dealership. Often located in the waiting

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NEWS TICKER...

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Next-Gen Kiosk for Qantas Check-In Qantas says it has been working closely with Qantas Creative Director Marc Newson in the design of its new Next Generation Check-in experience, which will launch in Perth during July 2010.

Qantas Executive Manager Customer Experience, Ms Alison Webster, said the Next Generation Check-in elements had been developed with Marc Newson, who provided creative direction on each of the components, including design and aesthetics.

“Next Generation Check-in has been designed to deliver an enhanced check-in experience for our customers – providing greater speed and ease through the airport terminal by eliminating airport queuing,” Ms Webster said.

“With this in mind, careful consideration has been given to the functionality, aesthetics, and ease of use for both our customers and airport employees.

“The Next Generation Check-in experience will feature product elements developed for Qantas by Blue Sky Design Group in conjunction with Marc Newson, including a new Qantas Frequent Flyer Card, Q Card Reader and Bag Drop facility. The Q Bag Tag, a world first, was designed exclusively for

Qantas by Marc Newson.”

The new Qantas Frequent Flyer Card features an “intelligent Q” smart chip and will act as a permanent boarding pass, replacing eligible customers’ existing Frequent Flyer cards. The card will be used at various points throughout the experience, including at checkin, at bag drop, and to board the aircraft.

Customers arriving at the airport who have not yet checked in online or via their mobile device, will be able to simply touch their card at an all-new Q Card Reader located throughout the check-in hall. The simple and clean design of the Q Card Reader will

provide both visual and audible recognition of successful check-in.

All customers travelling with bags will be able to use the new Bag Drop service at Next Generation Check-in airports.

The Bag Drop injector has been designed to ensure the Bag Drop process is simple and quick for all customers and will eliminate queuing for those travelling with bags.

The new Kiosks with enhanced functionality will be customised in colour and trim by Marc Newson.

The Q Bag Tag features world first enhanced baggage technology and Qantas is the first airline in the world to introduce this technology. The tag was exclusively designed by Marc Newson for Qantas, and will be introduced later in 2010.

Throughout the Perth trial of Next Generation Check-in, construction and training will continue in Sydney, which will be ready to launch later in 2010, followed by Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra in 2011. The program is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2011.

Visit www.qantas.com

A College Degree in Digital Signage Texas State Technical College (TSTC) West Texas has launched what it says is the United States’ first digital signage technology program as an associate degree.

TSTC’s two-year degree is offered completely online in a virtual classroom environment and includes courses on digital marketing, design and scheduling. This is the first time a college is pairing a graphic design degree with marketing strategy and applying it to the digital signage medium.

Students will use Scala software to create content and manage playlists, as well as learn how to identify audiences and measure and track digital marketing results.

Scala Designer will allow students to quickly design dynamic content for digital signage in an attention-grabbing environment using ScalaScript.

Students enjoy creative control over their content and can make real-time edits. Combined with Scala Content Manager and Player, this will allow TSTC

students to create, schedule and manage the transmissions of multimedia content to more than 50 digital signage displays from any Internetconnected computer. Students will also learn how to develop a single, master playlist that can be broken out into individual sections and scheduled to play in different locations at different times using Scala.

Visit www.scala.com and www.system.tstc.edu

Barco Acquires D-Signage Specialist Barco, the developer of LED display solutions, has signed an agreement to acquire Belgium-based digital signage solutions company dZine. Through this acquisition, Barco significantly broadens its current offering of digital visualization products with the addition of advanced software tools for content creation and management.

The total acquisition cost for Barco at the time of the transaction is less than 1 time annual sales of dZine excluding an earn-out provision over the next two and a half years. Barco says its acquisition of dZine fits within the company’s broader strategy to position itself as a total value-added solutions provider in the digital signage market.

“Barco and dZine have a common philosophy of bringing innovative, customer-centric digital signage

6 Digital Signage

solutions to the high and mid-range markets via partnerships with leading distributors and resellers.

By joining forces, both our companies will be able to open up new sales opportunities, which will strengthen our position in the digital signage market for years to come,” stated Paul Matthijs, Vice President of Barco’s Video and Lighting Solutions Division.

“Bringing Barco’s exceptional hardware knowhow and dZine’s extensive content creation and management software expertise together under one roof will offer customers the benefits of a ‘one stop’ solution for their entire digital signage project needs, be it indoor or outdoor,” comments Filip Pintelon, Senior Vice President Barco and President Business Group Media, Entertainment and Simulation.

Founded in 1992, dZine has gained a solid

reputation in the digital signage and professional mobile solutions markets. Its products and solutions are widely acclaimed and have been installed in more than 55 countries around the globe. As proof of its capabilities, the company recently won the ‘Best Digital Signage’ Award from a global trade association for marketing at retail, POPAI, for a multi-display digital escalator project. As of today, dZine’s core team, based in Kortrijk, Belgium, will function as Barco’s center of competence for digital signage technology.

Luc Deconinck, General Manager of dZine, stated “We are excited to join the big Barco family. Teaming up with a globally recognized brand such as Barco will permit us to increase our reach and to extend our existing sales, marketing, and service capabilities.”

Visit www.dzine.be and www.barco.com

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D-Signage with Interactive Edge Malaysia-based digital signage provider and network manager, Be Digital has launched TehTarik.TV Channel (TTTV) in more than 12 chains of popular Mamak restaurants in over 40 locations across the Klang Valley area of Malaysia.

“We wanted a different digital signage network – one that’s engaging, useful and fun to watch,” said Mr. Ahmed Balfaqih, Technology Director of Be Digital.

“We did not want it to be like other digital signage networks where the traffic or content comes only from one direction, that is, from the owners to the audience.

We wanted TehTarik.TV’s audience to participate and engage in the content creation”.

The network is designed with two unique features.

The first feature highlights a fusion of Web, mobile and digital signage tools into one platform, which allows a free flow of content among them. This combined platform enables designers from Be Digital to create content using Scala and other software, as well as create a base for bloggers and forum members to

discuss specific subjects. The dynamic integration also allows audiences to participate through short message services (SMS) in various contests or through advertising of products and services. Tehtarik.TV integrates with a Web portal, www.tehtarik.tv, which enables viewers to check content shown in the screens or to follow up on their SMS interaction online.

The second unique feature highlights the content aggregation and creation that comes from all sources,

including the Web, databases and the audience themselves. TehTarik.TV plays diversified rich-media content that ranges from daily news, advertisements, community messages and informative trivia, entertaining video clips, forums and blog submissions to real-time short message services. The content is updated with live daily RSS newsfeeds from The Star, Malaysia’s leading English-language publication.

TehTarik.TV also acts as a digital menu board for some mamak restaurants. The flexibility of the system enables restaurant owners to adjust pricing or food offers immediately, driving better sales by adapting the menu content to suit different customer demographics at different times of the day.

Be Digital says it chose Scala as the tool for TehTarik.

TV because it was a highly content-driven network, and Scala’s technology provided the ideal solution with extensive built-in scripting capabilities and support for other scripting languages that allowed the programmers to customize it for specific use. Visit www.tehtarik.tv

Val Morgan Launches Superscreens Late last year saw Val Morgan Retail Media launch digital “Superscreens” in shopping centres across Australia using newly-developed technology to create four metre displays.

Telstra has signed on as one of five foundation advertisers who will use the superscreens to dominate the retail space.

“The superscreens use new full HD commercial grade LCDs with ultra-thin bezels to create four metre displays. The introduction of the superscreen innovation means that we’re bringing the large

format outdoor advertising experience indoors,” Val Morgan Retail Media Managing Director Anthony Deeble said. The superscreens are installed in strategic locations in shopping centres to capture dwell time opportunities and maximize thoroughfare shopper traffic in high transit positions. Along with Telstra, American Express, 20th Century Fox, Webjet and Goodman Fielder brand Veri Deli have all signed agreements to be the foundation advertisers.

Val Morgan is working with a number of shopping centre companies including Centro and AMP to install

the digital superscreens. The first superscreen will be installed at Sydney’s Centro Bankstown, followed closely by The Glen in Melbourne.

Val Morgan Retail Media reaches a fortnightly audience of 20 million shoppers nationally. The company has been at the forefront of digital technology within the shopping centre media segment, and was the first to introduce a digital signage network and other innovations including digital panels with directional sound.

Visit www.valmorganretailmedia.com.au

D-Signs Make Splash with School Water Coolers An initiative between local water companies and health organizations in the Netherlands has led to the installation of multimedia-enabled water coolers across hundreds of schools. Through a program called TENQ (“tank”), water coolers featuring builtin display screens are available to secondary and vocational schools across the country.

Powered by Scala software, TENQ’s 365 water coolers currently play educational programming, controlled advertising and user-generated content on built-in 19-inch LCD screens. Students can upload personal videos and pictures via www. tenq.tv or their “my tenq” account. This content can be viewed by other students on the Web site, and some of the content plays on the TENQ screens at their own school. When students use a TENQ cooler, they can select to view content uploaded by someone at their school.

“When we envisioned the concept of TENQ, we saw an opportunity to build a community for participating schools,” said Fine Trossèl, Managing

8 Digital Signage

Director of TENQ. “We realized that if students could contribute content, they would be more likely to view the screens and pay attention longer.”

Working with Scala, TENQ can provide each school access to the network. School administrators can log in to their own Web portal and input information that is visible on the screen through a ticker bar. Through this site, they can also power the screens on or off, as well as control the audio content.

Scala’s flexibility and scalability has given TENQ the

opportunity to explore new applications.

“We knew that TENQ would continue expanding over time, and we needed software that would grow with the program. Scala also gave us the flexibility we needed to make content specific to each school,” Trossèl said.

TENQ is now expanding to elementary schools with a special version called TENQY for children ages 4 to 12. TENQY features a built-in flatscreen and programming that is tailored for a younger audience.

TENQ water coolers are available upon request by any school, and a local water company installs and maintains the coolers. Funding for the water can come directly from the schools, or students can purchase their own servings of water. A percentage of proceeds of water sales from TENQ are donated to Aqua for All, a Dutch non-profit organization committed to provided clean drinking water to developing countries in need.

Visit www.tenq.tv and www.scala.com.

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Case Study

Case Study

D-Signage in the House Installing technology around Australia’s most iconic building without disturbing its aesthetic character is no light undertaking. So, when it came to modernising signage around the Sydney Opera House, the administering Trust turned to Sony and a solution that would blend in with the existing environment.

According to Les Boros, Product Marketing Manager Display Technologies with Sony Australia, the Opera House management wanted to replace static posters, menu and information signs with dynamic displays, as well as provide monitors for views of theatre performances during ‘lock-out’ periods.

In terms of the posters, Boros says “the idea was that they would replace a number of their static posters with the more dynamic signage. Given that it allows them to be a lot more dynamic with their messaging, they can change things, they can customise it, they can tailor it to tours Adjacent to the entries at the Opera House, there is a dynamic sign located, near the main entrance, another near escalators up from the Opera Bar and a series in a passageway off the Opera Bar leading to public lifts.

“The idea of this particular product is that it’s a ruggedized product, so it’s a bit unique to us,” says Boros. “It’s designed so that there are no ventilation holes, it’s completely internally cooled. The advantage of that is that it can be used in environments that are exposed to dust or moisture, without obviously ingesting any of that and doing any damage to the electricals. The other advantage it’s got toughened glass. It’s been installed in an Opera House casing and that’s for the aesthetic, that’s so that it stays in with the aesthetic look of the static posters here.

“The panel itself has a ruggedized aluminium frame, so it’s designed to take a fair amount of punishment. It’s a fairly rigid rugged type panel, designed for environments where you wouldn’t ordinarily put a display device.

“The other thing with this product, having the internal cooling, is the advantage it has when you put it in portrait mode. Generally with most panels, the ventilation system goes from the bottom to top when they’re in landscape mode. If you’ve got a normal panel facing in portrait mode, the airflow is going to be fairly restricted. If it’s subjected to high humidity or any instance where there might be a build up of heat, then you know you’ll find that the fans will be working overtime and it may even shut down.

“That’s not the case with this product, because it doesn’t have any external ventilation whatsoever, so it’s completely internally cooled and it uses heat sinks to draw heat out of the back of the panel, to keep that optimum temperature. So whether you put it in this mode or whether you put it in that mode, it’s going to operate the same life expectancy.”

CASE STUDY

10 Case Study

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In the Western foyer of the Opera House, no less than 14 screens are used for the ticketing, cafe and bar areas.

“It’s basically information display as well as advertising events that are happening and public direction as well,” says Les Boros. “So, it’s something that this establishment hasn’t done electronically in the past, and they’re finding that it hasn’t done anything to ruin the aesthetic of the establishment.

“Obviously, it’s quite an old building and a historic building but integrating technology into it has its own challenges and we’ve been able to do that successfully and also utilise the benefits of up-to-date technology that can help streamline their business and make sure that the customers that come through here get better value for experience - and possibly even sell some shows as well.”

Content for the Opera House D-Signage network is controlled via an IP-link to Sony’s Ziris software-based content management system running on a server at nearby Customs House (across from the south side of Circular Quay).

Content management is template-based and any element can be changed instantly.

“If you’ve got a mistake on the screen,” says Boros, “that can be changed. If they know what’s happening in advance, it can be set up, even for a weekend, scheduled, and then it just happens. The system knows when to start, when to stop and then if you want to get in and change anything, you can do that, adds to the dynamic nature of it, but the ability

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to schedule content and have it come on whenever you need it, and switch off is also very important.”

The Ziris system also has the ability to address screens on an individual basis.

“Ziris is essentially a product that was developed

by Sony in Europe,” says Les Boros. “As of last year, Sony Corporation sanctioned the product for use, globally, for marketing globally. Ziris Professional 5 is being used at the Opera House. That essentially allows you to utilise up to 10 layers of content on the screen, including sophisticated distribution and management and scheduling of all of that content, so it’s powerful.

“It is essentially a digital signage product, but being a software based product, has its advantages, because then you can integrate it with existing hardware infrastructure. So if your environment has existing hardware infrastructure, this product will suit you quite nicely. And, it’s scalable, so you know you can have quite a number of different sites utilising the product.”

A cut-down version, Ziris Lite, is also available.

“The other part of the Ziris family is Ziris Canvas” says Boros. “Ziris Canvas is essentially a video wall system, so again it’s a software based product, so it’s based on the Ziris Professional system but it utilises the PlayStation 3 hardware to deliver the content to screens and the advantage there is, you’ve got the powerful cell processor in the PS3 and also the high resolution graphics, so you’re talking one PlayStation 3 console attached to a screen, you’re looking at a

native resolution of 1920 by 1080, for one screen.

So, if you’ve got a wall of it, it’s pretty amazing.”

Visit www.sony.com.au

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Digital Signage

Cool Signage

cost of deploying hard infrastructure and you’re going to want to take advantage of wireless, so we deal really well with heterogenous networks because again that’s going to be critical.

“We’ve satellite in the United States where they do satellite deployment but, of course, in a downtown area you might have building shadows where you can’t see the bird and then you have to deploy a DSL or something else in its stead to get the connectivity there and you have to be able to handle again multiple transport types on a single network so this is something that we’ve really focused on to make sure that we can do.

A spin-off

of US D-signage network provider Adspace, Coolsign has focused on creating an ecosystem of partners to solve the technological challenges of digital signage.

Using Coolsign technology, Adspace has created the largest out of home media network in shopping malls in the world with in excess of 120 US shopping malls running 1400 screens.

But Coolsign has taken its ecosystem idea further with deployments in Denmark, the Pentagon, Nike Worldwide and numerous others.

For Lou Giacalone, Founder and President of Coolsign, the company’s mission is to make sure all the D-signage pieces come together with the best practices to make it successful.

C+T: You emphasise D-signage is not like TV or the web. So, how would you describe it?

LG: “Really it’s media at a glance so it has the flexibility and the motion of television and kind of the immediacy of the web in the sense that again you change stuff minute to minute, you can target different messages to different audiences and it’s a rich media which again people tend to look at it like a TV ‘cause it uses the similar screens to TVs in a lot of cases but again you just don’t have the focused attention that you get in TV. That’s a very different experience than being out and about and you have a purpose, you’re going somewhere, you’re doing something or you’re waiting for something. The digital media is really something outside of what you’re there for so it really has to grab your attention and make an impact and then be prepared that you’re going to disengage ‘cause again you’re never going to have a focused experience out in public like you do at home.”

C+T: Where is the industry in terms of standardisation?

LG: “We’ve been helping push standardisation with collaboration with the other software folks like Scalar and Harris and there’s a community of interest inside POPAI which is the Point Of Purchase Advertising Institute and there is a digital signage technical standards group that we are very active in. So far we’ve addressed content, formats, we

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looked at scheduling, communication so we’re pushing towards having something this year where playback devices could speak a common language so that they would potentially be able to have one vendor’s playback device or more importantly like an embedded hardware playback device that could speak a lingua franca signage and connect into a Coolsign server or a Scalar server and be a part of that network without having to recode so there is significant progress being made at this time. And, we think that’s critical to the success of the industry.”

C+T: How much does that standardisation process draw upon efforts in other industries like TV? LG: “We’ve looked at some of the broadcast transfer standards. Some of it is applicable, some of it isn’t. We’ve drawn a lot from the Smil Standard (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language) which is a multimedia standard that was more internet-focused. That seemed to have a little bit more relevancy in terms of metaphors and scheduling that is relevant to digital signage.

Television is a very long format so it has a very different feel than the signage stuff which tends to be shorter and more of a composite media, that you’re bringing a lot of stuff together. So, we’re definitely keeping an eye on the other standards because we understand that it is part of a bigger media community.”

C+T: So when people are creating their deliverables for TV and here’s our web file and so on, where do you see you guys fitting in?

LG: “There’s obviously a bigger issue to be

addressed for dynamic content that is composite, but for the base content formats we’re making a clear recommendation to either use mpeg 2 or H264 as the base content format and we’ve got recommended bit rates and sample test files that have been put forth in the community so that we can all validate that for the given tests that we’re able to play those. So, again, that’s the mean line recommendation for content - MPEG2 being the broadcast standard and H264 being the up and coming favourite within the broader multimedia community and IPTV. “We feel comfortable that support for those formats is the core of what we’re doing. So, in the workflow for cut and production, as long as your tool suites support IPTV and H264, that you’re able to get those files out, that digital signage will adjust those directly and be prepared to deal with them.”

C+T: You’ve emphasised this is a medium that functions on a network. Are there any problems using wireless as a component of this?

LG: “This is something that we’ve worked really long and hard on which is to make sure that we’re compatible with just about any infrastructure because IP is IP. That’s the beauty of it which is you’re insulated from the actual transport layer so we with our product again are compatible with all the wired and wireless transports.

“We intrinsically support multicasting, we feel this is a critical thing because, again, with a network of scale you want to be able to get the stuff out there efficiently, multicast being the most efficient thing out there. But, of course, wireless is really important, too. I’ve spoken a lot about the

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C+T: As well as fixed displays, is there a role for mobile, solar or other powered devices?

LG: “I definitely think so. That’s still kind of in its infancy but we’ve seen battery-powered deployments where they just recharge them at night. I think fuel cell technology is really going to be the way to go ‘cause when you think about something like a signage kiosk you’ve got a sign which you’re putting at eye level and then you’ve got a footprint below it which is basically just structural. Well, imagine if you would some type of safe fuel reserve that’s actually powering that through a fuel cell technology which is, of course, a very green power mechanism. That could probably power that sign for numerous days, then you replace a fuel cartridge or fuel it up with some recharge mechanism and then off it goes.

“I see that being really a powerful transformational thing for the industry but, again, it’s probably a little bit of ways away ‘cause the fuel cell guys right now have been really focused on home energy and automobile.”

C+T: In terms of the overall global market where do you see the opportunities for growth?

LG: “The opportunity is everywhere. It’s not the tip of the iceberg, it’s the tip of the tip of the iceberg.

Most people think about signs as being big things that are in big places, but really what I see as the future is they can go a lot of different places. I see where there’ll be small signs at every table at every restaurant and certainly in every hotel room in the world instead of those little cardboard things sitting there talking about the restaurant or the daily special at the restaurant. There’ll be a digital sign and just because it’s small and just because it doesn’t do a lot doesn’t mean it’s not a powerful network device delivering value to the business.

Again, you could see where there could literally be billions of these devices in the world and that’s the future of the industry.

“So, today where we see deployments there’s probably under a million signs deployed in the world. We’re less than a fraction of a per cent of penetration and so the future is all ahead of us and it’s all fantastic.”

C+T: What’s the potential for integration with other types of systems, say, in a retail environment? Is it, for instance, possible to link into a system that’s

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keeping track of stock numbers?

LG: “Very much so. Too many times the marketing folks who are excited about signage treat IT in an adversarial capacity because the IT guys have very high expectations about what a technology system should look like and traditionally most vendors of digital signage, their systems are not up to par with IT standards.

“Something we’ve focused on is making sure that is possible, to give them the tools that they feel are up to enterprise standards and, in fact, with a system like Coolsign, and there are others in the marketplace as well, it’s actually quite straightforward to create interfaces with things like e-pos and to very simply create relationships where a product on the screen is shown or not shown based on its stock level at that particular store.

“The thing that you hear about as well is that if the outside temperature at a location is in excess of 20 degrees you show t-shirts and if it’s below 20 degrees then you show sweaters and that stuff is do-able today with the existing technology, with really relatively straightforward integration and this is again why we think it’s incredibly important to do more outreach and evangelism into the IT community ‘cause again we do see this being a part of the IT ecosystem.”

C+T: So, what role does mobile digital signage have and how’s that different to broadcasting?

LG: “I’m not sure there’s necessarily any correlation to broadcast but certainly signs will be mobile. I mean, again, any kind of transit vehicle is an excellent choice to deploy signage ‘cause you generally have a captive audience for some period of time and there’s no reason why you wouldn’t want to talk to them and again traditional media businesses have made a good living serving those audiences around the world for decades, so there’s no reason that mobile wouldn’t be a part of it.

“Again, the technology is cool in the sense that leveraging GPS and technologies like that in combination with the marketing medium, you’re now able to take it to a new level where you’re moving through an urban environment and there’s a new restaurant in this neighbourhood and that restaurant over there has a dinner special tonight and it’s $14.95 for a steak dinner, or a boutique opens here or there’s a play happening in this part of town and that can change as you move through the neighbourhood. So, I think it definitely will be transformative in terms of better connecting people and the communities and this is the power where it’s the reverse of broadcast.

“In the history of the industry, people tried to coin the term narrowcast which I just felt was a horrifically ugly term but I talk about a local context and, in the old days, this is what the newspaper was, that it was a local thing that talked about what was happening in your immediate neighbourhood. But, of course, economies of scale forced everything to be aggregated and

Lou Giacalone, Founder and President of Coolsign.

It’s not the tip of the iceberg, it’s the tip of the tip of the iceberg.

Most people think about signs as being big things that are in big places, but really what I see as the future is they can go a lot of different places.

it became less and less local and contextual to the point where it’s almost become irrelevant and certainly not cost effective or green deploying that.

“Digital can turn that back around to be extremely local, extremely contextual because again it’s got the time element, can be changed day to day, can tell you what’s going on tonight in your local venues and with your local merchants and local restaurants and again that’s what people want. I mean they’re living their lives and if signs can add value to their lives they’ll pay attention to them and if people are paying attention to them then you’ll have an opportunity to squeeze some advertising in there and take advantage of that audience but, again, it’s no different than television, you’ve got to find the right balance between content – and, again, I would argue that advertising local stuff could be considered content ‘cause it’s relevant, it’s contextual – and then national brand advertisers can come along for the ride and enjoy the benefit of the gaze on those screens.

Coolsign is represented in Australia by Dynamic Visual Systems. Visit dynamicvisualsystems.com.au and www.coolsign.com

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informational, promotional content based, so they’re not selling third party advertising on the screens at this time. It’s where they would love to get to at some point but right now we’re focusing on just getting them up and running, making sure the content looks okay, making sure all the different zones of the building are set up properly so they have only hotel content in the hotel area, only meeting room content in the meeting room area, only casino content in the casino area, and making sure that that’s all configured and set up properly.

“And, the Harris solution allows them to set up those types of zones and configurations quite easily, quite flexibly. So, they can start with a simple deployment and then they can grow. They could start to look at segmenting screen orientation, resolution size, path of traffic and type of content and only push to those specific screens. The system’s quite flexible.

Marina Bay Sands:

A Sure Bet for Digital Signage

By Phil Sandberg

A

striking

addition

to the Singapore skyline, the Marina Bay Sands is set to become one of Asia’s leading business, leisure and entertainment destinations. It features convention and exhibition facilities, 2560 hotel rooms and suites, the rooftop Sands SkyPark with outdoor infinity pool some 200 metres above sea level, a shopping mall, restaurants, a casino, Paiza Club for premium players and an outdoor event plaza. It will also have a museum and theatre.

Delivering visitor information throughout this complex mini-city is an extensive digital signage network provided by Harris Corporation, a company that has been able to leverage its technology and experience in the areas of traditional communications, graphics, content management and television broadcasting.

The company’s solution at Marina Bay Sands is the largest Harris casino/resort Digital-Out-Of-Home

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installation in the ASEAN region. It follows other resort hotel and casino projects in which Harris solutions have been implemented, most notably The Venetian Macau Resort-Hotel and Four Seasons Hotel resort in Macau.

According to Denise MacDonell, Director and GM of Digital Signage Media and Workflow, and Joe Khodeir, Vice-President of Sales, with Harris Broadcast Communications, the Marina Bay Sands project encapsulates multiple uses of digital signage technology, providing content workflow models that can be adapted by a variety of other industry sectors.

Q: How does Marina Bay Sands differ from the Macao project?

DENISE MACDONELL: “Conceptually, in terms of how the facilities are set up and where

they have the signage display, that’s very similar, but the software infrastructure and the hardware infrastructure is different in the two facilities.”

JOE KHODEIR: “I think the type of visitor engagements is going to be different as well. This one is far more of a consultative approach to the business model. There’s likely to be an advertising system attached to an Infocaster, to allow them to effectively monetise the ad stream that’s going to be developed.

“That’s not in the current phase, however, so we see this as much more of a partnership in the long term rather than just an installation.”

DENISE MACDONELL: “The Venetian Macau was the closest one that Marina Bay were looking at as they began the process of evaluating vendors.

They came and toured the Venetian Macau, looked

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at what we had technology-wise, and then put out a pretty rigorous tender.

“We were almost at a disadvantage because we had the facility in Macau simply because they wanted to make sure they were very objective and not just doing what another property had done. So, even though we felt we had the best product, we still had to really push and really work hard to win the business.

“Now, the reason why at the end of the day they selected our products were for a number of reasons, one of them being they’re a premier facility that really likes the fact that we have broadcast heritage, that we knew how to produce, display, manage high quality video content. And, there’s not a lot of digital signage vendors in the market place that have that unique characteristic like Harris. And, we use our intellectual property, our technologies from other graphics and broadcast areas of the business in digital signage. So, it’s a very robust, very stable, quality product set. So, that appealed to them.

“The other thing was the flexibility that InfoCaster, which is our digital signage platform, gave them both from a creative perspective, so they’re a graphics design and marketing organisation, they really like the tool set in our creative environment.

“And then, their IT guys really liked the flexibility that the network management area provided. So there’s multiple components to our system and they really like the fact that they were all highly flexible and highly integrate-able, easy to learn, like could grow.

“They started their deployment in a way that I think is the right way. They’re really walking before they run. So the screens right now are very

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Q: It’s quite a large complex.

What sort of scale are we talking about with the network?

DENISE MACDONELL: “They purchased 270 players from us which are dual head players so those 260 players can drive 540 screens as Phase One. That Phase One includes casino, hotel, restaurant signage, and the MICE convention centre.

“Then they have a secondary phase for the museum and the retail shop environment which we’ll be involved in. One of the product capabilities that they were very excited about and wanted to have in the facility was a video wall.

“They had a couple of areas of the building where they wanted to have a nice, big focal point, like screens. So, they needed someone who could support video wall functionality and we worked with them to build that capability in the product in the way that would meet their needs.

InfoCaster is agnostic to hardware. If someone wanted to just run the InfoCaster environment on a PC that meets the specifications, that’s perfectly fine.

The heart and the value of the product applications is in the software. And it’s three levels of software.

“We have player software that runs on a hardware platform, whether it’s ours or whatever hardware platform’s the platform of choice. And we have varying degrees of graphics intensity capability based upon the types of hardware. If you just wanted to do very simple graphics, you can do that very simply with a Lite version, and then we scale up from there, on the player zone.

“Then there is a network manager. A network manager is really the heart and the brains of the operation. It’s going to be overseer, it knows where every single player is, it knows where every screen is, it knows what pieces of content are going where.

And, it’s what makes sure that everything’s up and running. “So, it monitors the health of all the players in the network, it reboots systems if it needs to, and pings them to make sure screens are on, it does all the logging and reporting and it’s a very IT-centric network management system.

“Above that is the marketing and creative environment. It’s called the Creation Station and that’s where you sit down and define how your content’s going to look for the particular players that you’re pushing the content to. So, you define your live regions, your still regions, your ad content, your RSS feeds, and so on. You pull all of your content assets together and you create an Infocast which is basically a play list.

“That gets pushed down to the network manager and network manager knows where it’s supposed to

Q: InfoCaster - how do you describe it to customers who don’t have a technical background?

DENISE MACDONELL: “InfoCaster is a software and a hardware environment.

The software environment of

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go. So, that’s kind of how the system is put together, at a very simple level.

of sale or credit card purchases. But, we do, we have the support staff, we have the expertise, we have data centres. So, we basically offered it as a fully outsourced service, so the franchisee doesn’t do anything.

“As part of the service, we send installers in to hang screens or replace the screens or use the existing screens that are already in the restaurant, cable anything up that needs to be cabled and then we manage all the content. Their content partners send all the content to us, we create the Infocaster playlist for them, we give them back for approval, we get them back for playout, we push them through the network, we connect directly into the MacDonald’s again, and we play it out and give them a report on a regular basis.

“For some customers, they want to have control, like Marina Bay has their own IT organisation, they have their own infrastructure. That’s great, we can sell them software and hardware to support it. In other cases they don’t want to manage that themselves.”

Q: And it’s easily updatable or changeable?

DENISE MACDONELL: “It’s software based, so network manager knows when there’s a software update. Whether it’s a software update or whether it’s a content change, it’s very, very easy to do. We are a Store and Forward model, so we do support a live stream model.

“For example, in the sports arena, we have the ability to have live game feeds streamed to the set top box or the hardware platform that the player’s running on and be able to surround the live feed with the right graphics and the right advertising content.

“But, if you’re running in a static mode, it’s a Store and Forward model. So, the Infocasts get created, they get pushed to the network manager. The network manager then pushes them to the player devices where they’re stored and then played and the rotational schedule that’s been copied.

“InfoCaster is really the basis and the foundation of a digital signage deployment.

When you get to the point of a customer wanting to have an ad funded environment, and we see this a lot in retail and in sports facilities in particular - anywhere where advertising is a medium or very prevalent. We created a system for the campaign management, reporting, traffic schedule and billing.

“We do that very well in the broadcast area, so we took some of the technical intellectual property but more importantly the people that built those systems, and we created a similar platform for digital signage.

“It oversees the network, it allows you to see what available inventory or sellable items are available, it allows campaigns to be created with rates and CPNs or GRPs or whatever the actual rating mechanism in terms of the payment would be. Then it maps that campaign and plots that out across the entire network. It pushes it down to the players, to the InfoCasters, then it gets played and then it’s billed and reconciled so that you create an invoice.

“You go back to your advertiser - here’s how many gross impressions you had, here’s how many plays that it had across the network, here are the areas of the network it played across - whether they pick a particular region in a region of a country, or they pick a ticket or a demographic based upon information that the advertiser knows about the network. Then you basically invoice and bill.

“So that’s very unique in the market right now in terms of the software platform. We were definitely doing something that most of the other smaller signage vendors aren’t doing in that area. There’s a lot of dialogue about advertising platforms but we’re really the only company that knows intimately enough about traffic scheduling, billing and then

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the agency business entirely to be able to create a platform that’s truly relevant.”

JOE KHODEIR: “The other area is rights management as well. We do that for the MacDonalds deployment in the Americas. We handle all of that including the rights management of the content, which is a tremendous value-add for a retailer or a QSR who has no idea how to manage content rights management.”

DENISE MACDONELL: “In the MacDonald’s case, an example would be they have a content provider who goes out and creates customer content for the network, or they negotiate content relationships with Discovery or ABC or whomever.

They compile that content together and they hand it over to Harris. As part of the service we offer to MacDonald’s, we quality control all that content to ensure that if Michael Jackson appears in any of that content, that MacDonald’s actually has the distribution rights to show Michael Jackson content without getting sued by the family.

“That’s an incredibly important service for them because they don’t want to have content in their restaurants that they would then get sued over. And then, obviously, there’s the quality control of liquor or cigarette advertising.

“So that’s something else that we offer as part of our digital solution. We’ve been focusing mostly in North America of this component being a fully managed service.

“The model with MacDonald’s that we went into them was you don’t have the IT expertise or the staff to manage a network that’s connecting 5000 sites across the US in a way that’s not related to point

Q: As well as traditional TV and radio, Harris is also active in mobile broadcasting. Where does that meet digital signage?

DENISE MACDONELL: “From a mobile handheld standpoint, there’s a couple of things that we’re doing. We’ve, as part of the Orlando Magic, which is a large sports stadium in the US that we are deploying to go live in a couple of months, they wanted to test how do they offer coupons to their most valued customers, if you will.

“They viewed their most valued customers, at least until the new facility goes live, as those that follow them on tour. So, what we did was we had a Twitter campaign across the digital signage networks in their current stadium, and enticed people to pay or go follow us on Twitter and get a free offer. They would pull up Twitter on their mobile device and ‘follow them’, then click a link and get a coupon, and they then get a free hot dog and soda, whatever.

“So, the ability to, from a signage network, create through integration of point of sales systems, SKUs and coupons to push down to mobile subscribers is one thing that we’re doing from a mobile standpoint.

“The other thing is interactivity. So, if I’m sitting somewhere in a bus shelter and I’m watching an ad that’s being played and bottom of the ad it says you text 631 to take your test drive, it’s a BMW ad, so you text in and that gets sent through the signage network to the advertiser or to the manager of the network and they compile the information and you’ll get phoned back with a call to book a test drive.

“There’s also two-way interactivity that we have where you could text a screen to vote. So, if you’re watching a football match and you want to vote for

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player of the game, you have the ability to text in and actually see the player of the game statistics on the digital signage network.

“We’ve also had a massive poster on a digital screen of the sports team, key players of the team.

And, you can take a picture of yourself with your mobile phone, text it to the screen and then by using your key pad, manipulate the image of your face into a hole on the screen and then you can see yourself as part of the team.

“You could also be sitting in a restaurant and dial a number and then you’re actually direct dialling into an infrastructure where you now can use your phone as a game controller and play a game.

“So, different ways, whether it’s pushing information to consumer from a signage network, whether it’s a coupon or more information about something that you’ve indicated interest in, or whether it’s more you engaging with the sign directly - there’s multiple ways in which we’ve looked at integration.”

Q: And what about real-time content triggered from, say, a camera or other device?

DENISE MACDONELL: “We have a triggering mechanism, it’s built into the system. It’s actually one of the reasons why we were selected for the Orlando Magic sports stadium deployment over and above the graphics capabilities. You can set business rules and parameters to say if this information is received, then do this. So if there is a screen camera that knew that I was standing in front of the screen, it would then trigger the system to play the store content that’s female related.

“In a sports example, it was what they call ‘moment of exclusivity’. So, they sell the entire arena to a brand at the end of the game or the last play of the game or half time, or whatever. You have the ability to have all your brands on every single screen in the entire facility, and that’s all done by the triggering press of a button by an operator.

“In the case of the Orlando Magic, it’s 1100 screens all around the facility. So, they’re able to sell that as an advertising package. We’ve also done triggers where based upon an RSS feed of the weather, so if it’s a 25 degree Celsius, the content that plays is related to heat, so sunscreen or water or whatever versus some sweaters. That’s all done by trigger in the business rules in our system.

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“When you think about it, a lot of retailers want to make sure the content’s relevant for the audience and then eventually get down to how do I talk to a smaller group of consumers or even a one to one relationship.”

Q: How do you then measure the success of that engagement?

DENISE MACDONELL: “We’ve done some test trials with integration with POS systems in being able to measure uplift on campaigns, and ROI by the promotional ideas that we’ve done or third party advertising that was displayed.

“Did it really drive up? I can’t share our trial under MDA, however, Wal-Mart’s been very open about their Smart Network and they have seen up to 18% lift.”

Q: Are you able to speak about upcoming projects in this part of the world? What types of projects might be coming up?

JOE KHODEIR: “I think around the retail sector is probably an area we’re concentrating on. Unlike the States, we don’t have the same opportunity at sports arenas in this part of the world. But, retail, banking, there are a number of opportunities at the moment and I think the important thing for us is to get some of the case material we’ve obviously been able to capitalise on in the States and bring it to market.

“Having Marina Bay Sands as effectively a

partner in this part of the world is going to be good for us. We’ve put a lot of effort to make sure that that’s very successful because, especially in Singapore, everyone’s going to be looking at the Marina Bay Sands Resort and we want to be attached to that sort of success.”

DENISE MACDONELL: “What’s nice about it is it touches upon all of the different types of networks and different types of content. I think in digital signage networks, retail is a very strong opportunity, the education market is a very strong opportunity, as well as hospitality networks.

“When you look at the Marina Bay Sands, it actually has all of it. So you’ve got information networks that we’re supporting, you have hospitality networks that we’re supporting, they have retail shops and then they’ll have ad funded networks as well in the ball game. So it’s like a little mini city almost in and of itself. And what’s really neat about it is, you can pinpoint how digital signage is used and all of the different ways it’s used. Then you would take that into an educational facility and say ‘this is how it would be done in a university or college’. But, you can use what’s been done at Marina Bay as an example.”

DIGITAL SIGNAGE BASICS According to Denise MacDonell of Harris Broadcast Communications, “Sitting down and understanding why, in the first place, you even want to have a digital signage environment is really important.

“Sit down and have that consultative dialogue and understand ‘are you looking to enhance the consumer experience, are you looking to sell more of your own brands, are you looking to make money off a network?’

“Each of those are very different and they help to guide not only what you do with the screens but the types of content you put on and where you place them, what size they are. So we’ve seen a lot of people just put TV screens where there used to be papers signs and there’s really not a lot of thought process behind it.

“Understand the main objective. It could be an informational network that just tells people about an educational facility or in a hospitality area, where to go, how to find meeting rooms, directing them to places around the building. It could be used for your own in-house commercial material, like the Marina Bay, they use it to promote upcoming theatre productions or the restaurants upstairs, or promotions in the hotel. Then there are like purely ad-funded, third party ad networks.

Some have a combination of all three, some tend to navigate towards one particular model.”

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Solutions

Solutions

digital SIGNAGE SOLUTIONS Video Wall Controller Connectivity solutions provider Gefen has announced the availability of its new Video Wall Controller.

This premium solution for professional applications provides an easy method of creating high definition imagery spread across four displays stacked in a 2×2 configuration.

The Video Wall Controller outputs high definition video up to 1080p full HD from a single PC or video source using DVI connectivity. When combined with computer applications, resolutions are supported up to 1920×1200. One DVI input is split to four DVI outputs connected to four hi-def displays. Video can be spread across all four displays or just three, two or one display, giving users additional control over the

creative content.

Pivotal to the Video Wall Controller’s functionality is its independent bezel adjustments that control borders when the image is spread across multiple displays. Mismatched borders often intrude upon image cohesiveness. Gefen’s Video Wall Controller eliminates mismatched borders, allowing users to crop and relocate each border to maintain image

continuity. This is a particularly useful feature in largescale, high definition video applications.

Other features include built-in noise reduction, automatic scaling to the displays’ native resolution and masking control. All image adjustment features are easily accessed through the Video Wall Controller’s front panel buttons and on-screen display menu.

A rugged metallic enclosure makes it ideally suited for applications like rental and staging as well as static digital signage presentations.

An RS-232 port and IR remote control are included for convenient control options.

Visit www.gefen.com

HDMI Scaler/Converter Atlona Technologies has added the AT-HDVieW Switcher/Scaler to its product line-up. The unit is designed to take both video and audio signal from a PC or laptop, and upscale it to a digital HDMI output.

Operating this device is as simple as plug and play, due to the unit’s ability to automatically sense the native resolution of the desired display and scale

the computer’s output to match it.

The HDVieW offers a wide-range HDTV and PC resolutions, up to 1080p or 1920×1200 and will take audio signal from the computer and embedded it into the HDMI signal output, so that user is able to enjoy both audio and video though one cable.

The HDVieW is a scaler-converter, which means that it will always work without any adjustments to the

video card software. In addition the video quality will be dramatically increased due to the built-in high quality scaler. Unlike many other scalers and converters on the market, this product has pigtail extensions attached with VGA, Audio and USB cables to save the hassle of purchasing more cable.

USB powered, this unit does not require additional power supplies. Visit www.atlona.com

D-Signage Network Management Scala has updated a range of its applications that are designed to manage and operate digital signage networks.

Scala Release 5.1, with Windows 7 support, includes close to 100 new transition effects and a new user interface for selecting and viewing recently used transitions.

Scala also has improved its built-in template support to allow users to select an audio file in a templated message. Release 5.1 also features improved Web services for real-time data integration of play-logs with third-party systems and JPEG thumbnails of any media item or message in any resolution. Player Disk Space Management has also been added to support the new class of low-cost, solid-state players such as those built into many of the newest Samsung LCD monitors.

Additionally, a new scheme for “player pairing” has been implemented in the new release Bridge Server for IAdea Media Appliances. A simple four-

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digit code is all that is needed to connect a lowcost media appliance to a Scala network. This is supported on IAdea High Definition Players, IAdea Standard Definition Players and IAdea Wireless Photo Frames.

Scala QuickStart is targeted at end users who want an easily managed digital signage network with minimal setup time. It supports major content types, including video, images, Flash, interactive content and Scala scripts. Other key features include a simple, straightforward graphics user interface, the ability to schedule content to single output player device and multiple user levels with concurrent multiuser support.

Scala Ad Manager 5.1 is the upgraded version of the company’s advertising management software that has been designed to help traditional and digital media companies capitalize on industry growth opportunities and improve profitability. Scala Ad Manager 5.1 gives media companies complete

control over all media — both traditional and digital — including digital signage, static billboards, transit signage, street furniture, truck-side signage and place-based signage. Release 5.1 also integrates with Scala’s Satellite Automated Media Information (SAMI) system to more accurately track and measure impressions of truck-side signage using GPS devices.

Ad Manager 5.1 benefits include: • Compatibility with Microsoft Windows 7 • An easy way to calculate value against static and digital reservations • More control over subcontract designs, pages and media sets • Japanese language capabilities • Increased accuracy with budget and rate card values • Enhanced mapping for proximity charting of digital subcontracts • Greater control over scheduling of playlist changes Visit www.scala.com

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HDMI to Mini DisplayPort Converter Atlona Technologies has introduced the AT-HD620, an HDMI to Mini DisplayPort Converter capable of up-converting incoming video signals to duallink resolutions up to 2560×1440. This new converter solves compatibility issues that have been plaguing HDMI users looking to take advantage of the technologies offered in new Mini DisplayPort displays, such as the Apple iMac 27 and Apple 24” LED. The new AT-HD620 will scale any HDMI input to match native resolution of either display.

With the AT-HD620, a host of new image enhancing technologies are available to users looking to connect an HDMI source to an MDP display. The unit features an HDCP compliant HDMI input, as well as a Mini DisplayPort input that functions as a pass through for Mini DisplayPort sources.

This unit can switch between the two inputs, allowing users to use both a connected Mini DisplayPort computer such as a MacBook Pro, MacPro, MacMini or any others as well as an HDMI

source such as a PS3, AppleTV, Xbox 360, etc. The AT-HD620 will scale, or up-convert any resolution, including 1080P, to Dual-link resolutions up to 2560×1440. This converter supports 3-D motion video adaptive and 3-D de-interlacing to provide the best converted image possible while providing less than a single frame delay.

Visit www.altona.com

Gefen Ships Digital Signage Creator Digital connectivity solutions provider Gefen has announced that its Digital Signage Creator (DSC) is currently shipping.

The DSC works with any Windows-based browser and gives users full control over their digital signage content creation. The intuitive layout program offers the ability to create templates, insert music, layer video images, write scripts to control content and pull RSS feeds off the Internet to name just a few.

Unlimited creative possibilities free users to build totally customised content that best suits their unique needs.

Each DSC comes with Digital Signage Director (DSD) software that is intuitive and easy to use, while still offering advanced features to develop visually stunning digital signage. It offers built-in scheduling and calendar functions so users can prearrange content to play at any time. Content can be

pushed to the DSC for immediate updates or pulled automatically from another server using iCalendar.

A sample library of digital signage templates created by Gefen come pre-loaded on each DSC, so users have a starting point to learn the capabilities of the DSC. They can also customise or build their own templates as they desire. The 2Gb hard drive can be supplemented with server pages and a hi-speed USB 2.0 drive for larger projects.

When connected to an Ethernet system, any licensed user can access the DSC to edit content, update information and schedule content. High definition video resolutions are supported up to 720p at 60 frames and 1080p at 24 frames in both landscape and portrait alignments. An RS-232 port allows for remote control of content through the display(s).

This combination hardware/software solution is based on the Hyper Media Player. Gefen has taken this product and added features that include comprehensive content development training, readyto-use templates and technical support for users.

The DSC is a compact solid state unit that weighs less than 7 ounces and typically uses only 2 watts of power, making it a green and viable solution to any facility while eliminating excessive power costs.

Visit www.gefen.com

Scalable D-Sign Player & PC Ibase Technology, a professional manufacturer of industrial computers, has announced the new CMI200-952F scalable digital signage player and the IB891, a 3.5-inch single board computer.

The CMI200-952F signage system comes built in with the AMD 780E-based MI952 motherboard and offers performance, stability and excellent power efficiency.

The compact (280mm x 185mm x 50mm) signage solution is integrated with ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics with ATI Avivo HD technology and 128MB DDR3 sideport memory to provide excellent graphics performance to present the dynamic visual experience intended to the viewers.

It supports dual independent displays combinations of HDMI with DVI-I and dual DVI-D interfaces. Compatibility with a range of AMD embedded processors including low power AMD Athlon X2 dual-core and AMD Athlon X4 quadcore processors and very low power AMD Athlon single-core processors enables CMI200-952F to

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support a wide range of performance as required by different digital signage software.

The CMI200-952F features PWM fan control for quiet performance; it uses low power parts that helps reduce energy consumption and enhances overall system reliability. Other features include two DDR2 sockets for up to 4GB system memory, two Gigabit LAN, six USB (2.0) ports, one serial port, a 2.5” SATA HDD drive bay and an optional wallmount kit.

IB891, a 3.5-inch single board computer Ibase Technology’s 3.5-inch single board computer is based on a two-chip the Intel Atom single-core N450 or dual-core D510 processor.

The processors come integrated with both a memory controller and an IGP graphics core with 200MHz (N450) and 400MHz (D510) of GPU frequency.

The IB891 performs with low power consumption and better hardware decoding on graphics intensive and multimedia applications for the digital signage, POS/kiosk, automation and other fanless and lownoise embedded applications.

Measuring 102mm x 147mm, the IB891 has a 3D-capable built-in Intel graphics engine that support DirectX 9 and OpenGL 1.4, with an 18bit single channel LVDS interface and a VGA CRT port edge connector. The board offers essential features and high-speed connectivity including two gigabit LAN, watchdog timer, digital I/O, eight USB 2.0 ports, four serial ports and CF socket. Expansion is provided by a Mini PCI-e connector that can be used for wireless LAN or TV-tuner modules.

IB891 features include: * Supports Intel Atom processor N450 or D510 at 1.66 GHz * 1x DDR2 SO-DIMM, Max. 2GB * Supports dual display (CRT/LVDS) * 2x PCI-E Gigabit LAN * 2x SATA II, 8x USB 2.0, 4x COM * 1x Mini PCI-E, HD audio, CF socket * 2W amplifier on board * Fanless solution with heat sink only (N450) Visit www.ibase.com.tw

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Vizrt Offers 3D Graphics to DS Market Broadcast graphics company Vizrt has adapted its real-time 3D graphics systems to the digital signage market.

New features that Vizrt brings to the market include: • Data-driven, real-time 3D graphics in any resolution, in any aspect ratio, for any kind of digital signage.

• Stereoscopic 3DTV output – 3D graphics on an autostereoscopic screen.

• Full-screen graphics or graphics overlaid over video • Interactive graphics driven by touch-screen or running simultaneously on the web.

• SMS and MMS interactivity can be added for individual screens in a network of screens

Live data can drive high-end real-time 3D graphics – display up-to-the-second information. Perfect for anybody with time-sensitive products.

Vizrt’s online workflow runs in the following fashion: You want to run topical, localised content as 3D animations on 50 giant live screens across the country.

With a browser-based Viz Digital Signage (VDS) Player you log into the online VDS Server with a unique ID to access your account.

You access your ready-made templates, which you designed yourself or were created for you by Virzt.

Fill in new data into the templates, enable them for specific local RSS data feeds (e.g. local weather, traffic or shopping info) and your filled-in templates

are now ready for playout.

These ready-made graphics can be added to playlists, which in turn can be scheduled and each schedule is assigned to a screen.

Next, the VDS Server transfers the right data to small playout computer attached to each screen and the correct 3D graphics, with live local data, will play in sequence, according to the playlist.

VDS will provide feedback logs of exactly what was played and when for each screen.

By using different response codes for specific locations you can assess which are the successful screens and which were the most positive real-time ads.

Visit www.vizrt.com

AMX Expands HydraPort Modules LG Can Take the Heat AMX has announced a number of new modules for its HydraPort cable connection system. These include individual HDMI and DVI digital video pass-through modules, an RGB+A pass-through module, plus, extending its global power compatibility, a congruent module for India. HydraPort is a completely modular, retractable cable connection system built to accommodate the diverse connection needs of any conference or meeting room visitor. The ergonomic unit lets users connect and control laptops, projectors, document cameras, DVD players, audio equipment and other support devices. With power modules meeting regulatory standards for the U.S., U.K., E.U., Australia and now India, it can be installed nearly anywhere worldwide.

“HydraPort is as much a stand-alone connection device as it is a complement to a control system,” said Jeff Burch, AMX product manager. “Whether the need is to provide a simple power source or

a complex network or control connectivity hub, HydraPort delivers any combination in a cost effective, stylish solution.”

The sleek HydraPort unit sports a retractable base station that smoothly rises to expose device connections, then recedes back down to conceal the collection of cables, all while keeping the connections intact. The double-sided design offers easy access, with space on each side to accommodate as many as eight AV or data modules, four power modules, two keypad modules or any combination of these.

The HydraPort Connection Preview (HCP), an easy to use drag-and-drop web application on AMX.com, guides installers through building a perfect connection port for a specified deployment. HCP is also built with the intelligence to monitor space allocation and advise the installer of potential compatibility and capacity issues. HCP prompts the installer during the design process, even offering options so as to avoid

LG Display Co., Ltd. has announced it has developed the world’s first LCD panel that can display clear images even when the surface temperature exceeds 100° Celsius.

LG Display’s 55-inch panel for outdoor use employs a proprietary liquid crystal structure technology that enables the screen to continue showing images even when the temperature rises above 75° Celsius and exceeds 100° Celsius.

This enables LCD panels to be used as outdoor public displays without requiring extra costs or electricity.

Visit www.lgdisplay.com

D-Signage’s “Inspired XPert” AMX has announced Inspired XPert, a digital signage solution that delivers 1080p image quality with processing power to simultaneously display HD video, images, text, and internet feeds. As part of the Inspired Signage line from AMX Inspired XPert is designed for ease of use and is subscription free.

Inspired XPert is ideal for delivering HD multimedia content across a building, a campus or around the world as users have the ability to edit and schedule content from a centralised location. With its ready-made templates users can easily create layered, custom layouts consisting

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of video, images, online content, news feeds and advertisements. The templates allow users to place the video, text and images, independently, anywhere on the screen. AMX also offers an experienced team of graphics designers who will work directly with customers to develop a set of templates engineered to effectively communicate a brand message.

According to Robert Noble, AMX Chief Technology Officer, “Inspired XPert goes beyond conventional digital signage by delivering live video feeds, multimedia, data sources such as Twitter, Yahoo! News and gives users the ability to orchestrate these with lighting, audio, and other triggered events through

AMX NetLinx Control.”

In addition to its capability to power multimedia content, the Inspired XPert renders all content at 1920×1080 to match display devices, at 60 frames per second, and includes full 3D animation effects. The end result is vivid content with text and smooth animation transitions.

A key element of Inspired XPert is the templates that allow users to separate the visual design and animation from the editorial content making it easy to create sections of a message that can be edited without disturbing the complex animation.

Visit www.amx.com

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Extending AV with Magenta Magenta’s Voyager Fibre Optic Signal Distribution Platform is an interoperable set of transmitters, receivers, distribution amplifiers and matrix switchers, which enables any end to end configuration for extension and switching of uncompressed multi-format video and audio, RS232, IR and 480 Mbps USB 2.0 signals over fibre at distances up to 30km.

Voyager provides the pro-AV and digital signage industries with a cost effective solution to simplify the integration of digital and analogue video and peripheral signals into a single platform that supports HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection), is easy to scale, configure and install, and can be procured at an investment level close to the historical analogue platform pricing.

The FiberMax Engine is an ultra high-speed data sequencing and streaming engine capable of driving standard Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) optics at maximum efficiency. The resulting benefit is the unique capability of simultaneously

transmitting uncompressed 1920x1200 video with HDCP at 60Hz, USB 2.0 at 480Mbps, 8-Channel 24-bit DTS-HD Master Audio, bidirectional RS-232, IR and consumer electronic control found in blu-ray players (CEC), all on industry standard SFP optics and cabling. The distance range supported while transmitting all these signal types at their maximum performance is over 2km with multimode optics and 30km with singlemode optics.

Magenta’s Flex-VCA architecture allows each Voyager transmitter and receiver to support a wide variety of analogue and digital video formats through plug and play field interchangeable modules.

The ability to easily field configure, upgrade and interchange signal types including video formats greatly increases flexibility in specification, procurement, installation and troubleshooting. With built in auto format conversion and delay free HDCP switching, sources and displays of all supported video types including HDMI, DVI, DisplayPort, VGA and SDI can be interconnected on the same network

without the need for external converters, thereby reducing both cost and the number of potential failure points.

For installations with displays requiring mixed resolutions, the Voyager series utilises Magenta’s unique ScaleMAX technology to prevent low quality up-scaling on high resolution displays. By configuring each source to the highest resolution and then using broadcast quality downscaling for lower resolution displays, ScaleMAX technology ensures optimal content resolution on each and every display.

The Voyager series uses a modular building block approach to deliver hundreds of different product configurations with numerous video and auxiliary signal types, fibre types and component types such as n-port transmitters, daisy-chain receivers, 1x7 distribution amplifiers and 8x8 to 320x320 scalable matrix switchers.

Visit www.idt.com.au

Vizrt Offers 3D Graphics to DS Market AMX has announced its HDMI UTPro 8×8 Matrix Switcher and the Epica DGX 16 Fibre Matrix Switcher.

The HDMI UTPro is a full matrix switcher that delivers eight channels of HDMI, with HDCP authentication, across a network via a single UTP cable. Utilising Valens’ HDBaseT Technology, a new standard for digital transmission in the AMX UTPro line, users can transmit HD video, audio, internet, two-way control and power up to 100 meters without the need for repeaters.

The HDMI UTPro performs at 10 Gigabit-persecond transmission enabling content beyond HD – resolutions up to 1920×1200 –across a network.

The HDMI UTPro is engineered to deliver the highest quality HD digital content to as many as eight displays in an installation. And, as a nativeNetLinx device the HDMI UTPro gives users bidirectional control, both IR and Serial, when paired with a receiver.

HDMI UTPro uses Valens’ HDBaseT Technology which is designed to meet the needs for long-reach connectivity of all multimedia devices with a single 100m/328FT cat5e/6 LAN cable. It offers 5Play – the convergence of uncompressed full HD digital video, audio, 100BaseT Ethernet, power over cable and various control signals.

The Epica DGX 16 Fibre Matrix Switcher, meanwhile, provides a compact platform to take advantage of its higher-bandwidth and deliver any combination of DVI, RGBHV, HDMI, audio and oneway RS-232 control signals up to 914m/3000FT. For settings where audio and video need to be sent to multiple displays across great distances, the Epica DGX 16 Fibre Matrix Switcher uncompromisingly transmits high-resolution 1920×1200 video at a data rate of 4.95 Gbps to up to 16 LCD screens.

The Epica DGX Fibre line simplifies fibre, enabling installers to deliver high quality installations through smart technology such as digital and analogue

transcoding and SmartScale, a revolutionary technology in the DGX Receivers.

SmartScale works by automatically responding to a display’s declared EDID information then optimising the video resolution and video parameters for each display throughout a deployment. This produces a marked improvement in performance and installation time. Without SmartScale, in installations consisting of multiple displays of various types, the programmer is forced to settle for distributing common resolution imagery to all displays, as the lower resolution displays cannot handle the higher resolution material. The consequence is grainy images in higher resolution displays.

The Epica DGX 16 Fibre Matrix Switcher features a modular design with easily configurable I/O boards giving installers the convenient ability to service and upgrade the unit in the field.

Visit www.amx.com

Digital signs and public information displays can now display up to date information by using wireless communication. With high speeds now available on 3G networks, InterCEL has added an Ethernet router to their popular SAM series of GSM/3G Modems to provide primary or back-up data services. With faster speeds now on offer, companies can enjoy data throughput speeds equal to ADSL and at the same time take advantage of reducing data costs, which gives an end user the choice of choosing wireless

broadband over fixed line ADSL. The transport, finance, retail and leisure industries can now update their information display boards in real time. InterCEL’s wireless 3G Ethernet routers gives the flexibility to install display boards almost anywhere and has open up doors for new opportunities for Digital signage and Kiosks providers.

InterCEL have specialised in remote data communications for well over 21 years, pioneering serial, Ethernet and USB solutions using GSM,

GPRS and 3G (NextG) for a variety of applications, including smart metering, security, vending machines and Fleet management. The eSAM, InterCEL’s Ethernet 3G router has the full local support that applies to the SAM2 and SAM3 series of modems and is proving particularly popular in providing an Ethernet link for Digital Signage, Kiosks and other remote devices that benefit from reliable high upload and download links.

Visit www.intercel.com.au

InterCEL Launches 3G Ethernet Device

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Solutions

D-Signage Content Creation

With Xpresenter 3.0, X2O Media takes content creation to the next level, combining ease of use with broadcast-quality video graphics.

The Xpresenter Template Maker 3.0 authoring tool has been bolstered to integrate content management, making it more efficient than ever to create and schedule compelling content straight from the familiar PowerPoint interface. In addition, it includes an

extensive “smart” object library for the quick and simple creation of content featuring videos, images, PowerPoint slides, RSS feeds, live information sources, and much more. Version 3.0 also includes support for 3-D effects, enabling the creation of innovative elements such as crawling tickers and rotating graphics. Other enhancements to the platform include a more powerful digital asset management system, ad campaign management tools, and advanced rulebased scheduling tools.

Xpresenter 3.0 also features the newly announced Microsoft Office add-ins for PowerPoint, Word, and Excel, making it easy for users to update content. The Xpresenter Office add-ins appear as custom toolbars directly inside the Office Ribbon. This tight integration allows Xpresenter users to publish content directly from their favorite Office applications to display screens on the X2O network.

Other features include interoperability with TruMedia Technologies’ real-time audience measurement and proactive advertising solutions.

Visit www.x2omedia.com

Analysing D-Signage Viewers in Real Time Scala has partnered with TruMedia Technologies, a provider of real-time audience measurement and proactive advertising solutions, to provide the AlliO audience measurement system and AlliO Proactive Marketing Solution (PROM) to Scala Certified Partners.

AlliO PROM is an application programming interface (API) that enables real-time integration between the AlliO audience measurement system and Scala’s digital signage software platform.

Using PROM, end users can adapt their digital signage content to match viewing audience demographics for proactive advertising.

TruMedia’s AlliO uses sensors to analyse facial images of people watching the displays in real time, providing business-critical data such as audience counts, individual exposure times, and gender and age group demographics. This data can be used to select specific media appropriate for the audience. The result allows for better media planning and targeted advertising.

Visit www.tru-media.com and www.scala.com

Embedded Boards with Intel Core i7 Advantech has announced a new series of embedded boards based on the Intel Core i7 processor. The Intel Core i7 processor-based platforms by Advantech range from Computer On Modules, Single Board Computers to Industrial Motherboards. These high-end platforms provide targeted performance for multi-tasking and highquality digital media solutions.

Utilising the Intel Core i7 processor and Intel QM57 Express chipset-based platform, Advantech developed a new series of embedded platforms

in various form factors that include: Computer On Modules and Industrial Motherboards. The Advantech COM-Express SOM-5788, with rich graphic interface and great performance, is the most suitable solution for graphic intensive and dual display applications. Advantech will also be introducing a new Industrial Motherboard called AIMB-270—bringing top performance with power saving to the Mini-ITX motherboard class.

Advantech is also releasing four other industrial motherboard products based on the Intel Core i7

processor. These include: Advantech’s Mini-ITX motherboard AIMB-280, MicroATX motherboard AIMB-580, ATX motherboard AIMB-780, and the PICMG 1.3 SBC PCE-5125.

Advantech also provides multi OS support, including Windows 7, XPe, and Linux. Plus, Advantech’s intelligent software API’s (SUSI) are bundled with Advantech boards to facilitate application development.

Visit www.advantech.net.au

Intelligent Digital Signage iSignpak offers flexible and easily managed digital signage solutions that can be updated in real-time via the existing computer network. This is achieved by integrating media players with the Wallflower dynamic digital signage management software, as well as reliable commercial grade LCD screens, to bring you a complete digital signage solution designed for 24/7 operation.

The iSignpak media players are fanless digital signage PCs boasting reliable operation, thereby reducing onsite servicing and the ongoing cost of ownership. A range of media players from single standard definition outputs, to multiple head full HD systems offer solutions for small through to large installations. All media players have embedded operating systems, Gigabit LAN connectivity,

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serial control of the screen, optional solid state media storage and WiFi, and various display connections (VGA, DVI and HDMI). Compact size allows the hardware to be mounted in walls, in the ceiling, or behind the screen. With operating temperatures of 0°C-60°C they are well suited to most applications and do not need to be in an airconditioned environment. Design emphasis is on being Green with low running costs though low power consumption.

Wallflower dynamic digital signage software is extensively used worldwide to deliver digital signage solutions for almost any requirement.

Whether you need a simple easy-to-use single screen installation, or an international network of thousands of displays, Wallflower can deliver a

cost-effective, reliable and easy to use solution.

Wallflower displays all the most popular formats of still and moving images in any combination of layout, targeted by location. Specialised Wallflower modules provide many additional features such as interactivity, facial recognition, audience measurement, full reporting and site navigation. iSignpak has been designed to meet your changing signage needs - the same functionality is available for a single screen as for a network of thousands, allowing seamless upgrades as your network grows. iSignpak media players are designed and assembled in Australia.

Email sales@isignpak.com or call +61 (0)2 9457 6945.

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Digital Signage

Digistor Brings New Dynamic to D-Signage Digistor Pty Ltd, a specialist supplier to the broadcast, post-production and digital media marketplaces, has launched a new business unit - Dynamic Visual Systems Pty Ltd - specifically to address the digital signage market in Australia.

“We have seen a shift away from advertising in traditional mediums and towards digital signage as the next generation in media distribution,” stated Digistor Managing Director, Andrew Mooney. “There are huge opportunities opening in this market for a dedicated, specialist digital signage supplier to provide turn-key solutions. Dynamic Visual Systems has been formed to address these opportunities.”

For some time, Digistor has been providing digital signage products through its distribution business unit, Adimex. Adimex distributes products from SmartAVI and others.

Dynamic Visual Systems has been established with key personnel in place who understand the many pitfalls in rolling out successful digital signage projects - from the selection of hardware/software platforms, the positioning of screens for maximum impact, the creation of eyecatching, effective content and exploring the possible advertising revenue opportunities.

“It’s not as simple as putting up a few screens and revolving a couple of slides on them in the hope of getting you message across,” stated Mr. Mooney. “Dynamic Visual Systems brings together all available technologies into a total, customised solution to match customer objectives.”

Dynamic Visual Systems has also been appointed as Australian Master Distributor for CoolSign software which can be used in single screen scenarios with the ability to scale to a network of up to 100,000 media players. The flexibility of the software allows diverse grouping of screen signage for updates, which can be as rolled-out by location for each office/outlet or as advanced product/time specific promotions. Built-in real time broadcast capability also provides for time critical and emergency messaging scenarios.

Contact Darren Coles, Business Development Manager, Dynamic Visual Systems on +61 (0)2 9906 4556 ext 217 or via darrenc@ dynamicvisualsystems.com.au Visit www.dynamicvisualsystems.com.au

Outdoor HD Digital Signage LCDs As LCD monitors become more commoditized, there is an increasing demand for applying them as advertising display media or digital signage boards. However, due to brightness, life time or operation temperature limitations, users generally find it difficult to use regular LCD monitors to serve outdoor-displaying or store window-dressing purposes.

Specially designed for window signage, outdoor and public digital information applications, AGL now launches a series of 22-inch, 24inch and 32-inch commercial LCD monitors with 1920x1080 full HD resolution, 1000 nit high brightness, excellent gray scale and high contrast ratio. As for outdoors, AGL also provides solutions suitable for outdoor LCD applications with the following features: • water proof • direct sunlight applicable • high reliable touch screen • wide ambient operation temperature (-30 to 60 C) • AGL LCD monitors also offer a ultra-long 100,000-hour life-time and three years warranty.

Visit www.appliedgreenlight.com

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World Class Digital Signage Solutions DSS & DSA Series Interactive & Digital Signage Solutions In addition to traditional digital signage that offers only one-way communication, where the network operators have little idea of audience reaction, Advantech also offer Interactive Stations that integrate value-added modules, converting it into an interactive signage platform: • Touchscreen to trigger reaction • Webcam for “gesture-based” interaction • RFID/ Bluetooth • Wireless communication for easy data sync • Optional all in one solution or standalone PC Easy Diversification, ideal for: Retail, Hotel Lobby, Restaurants, Exhibitions, Public & Government Transportation Services.

Advantech Australia Tel: 1300 308 531 or +61 3 9797 0100 E-mail: info@advantech.net.au or web www.advantech.net.au

Vendor Directory As the first and only dedicated Digital Signage & Kiosk event in Australia, Digital Signage World took place at the Sydney Convention Centre, Hall 3, 21-22 July 2010. Featuring a two-day conference, on-floor seminars and free exhibition, attendees learnt about the future of digital signage and kiosks.

Conference | 9 – 10 November 2010 Exhibition | 9 – 10 November 2010 SUNTEC S UNTE UN TEC CS Singapore i IInternational t ti l Convention & Exhibition Centre

Digital Signage World will return in 2011 from June 9-10. In the meantime, we hope you are able to make use of this preview which appeared in our sister publication, Content+Technology.

For more information, visit www.terrapinn.com/2010/digital

Amber Technology Stand B4 Unit B, 5 Skyline Place Frenchs Forest, NSW 2086 Phone: 02 9452 8600 Fax: 02 9975 1368 www.ambertech.com.au Amber Technology is a leading distributor for a wide range of quality products for both professional and consumer customers. Our expertise fully and uniquely encompasses both the production and delivery of today’s rich audiovisual experiences. Amber Technology is a high technology solutionfocused corporation with solid expertise in networked digital video offering multiple Digital Signage Solutions based on the customer’s requirements.

Our Digital Signage range includes solutions from Dise, SpinetiX and Gefen which offer break-through technology to professionally schedule, combine, stream, update, animate and display in real-time video, audio, graphics and text on any digital video display with low acquisition and operational costs.

The Dise concept is to create presentations and then move the actual composition and mixing of content to the player without losing any quality and layout features. Dise is based on leading graphics technologies that output stunning SD or HD quality smooth real time layered graphics, at a quality previously only found in high-end systems based on dedicated hardware.

The SpinetiX solution offers a unique

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alternative to proprietary, PC based solutions for digital signage. With the HMP100, SpinetiX offers a new and simplified way to schedule, combine, update, stream and display content, whether it be audio, video, vector graphics, pictures, or text. The HMP100 allows for simple and cost effective implementations for applications as wide-ranging as advertising, transportation, hospitality, finance, and live events.

Business Smart Solutions Stand B38 Ground Floor, 146, O’Riordan Street Mascot, NSW 2020 Phone: 1300 881 819 Fax: 02 8338 1627 www.bss.com.au Business Smart Solutions was established in Sydney, as part of the global marketing strategy. BSS as a systems integrator and software developer provides cutting edge IT technologies with a wide range of products that are designed with ‘smart and innovative’ in mind. We take pride in our solutions as we use advanced technologies that allows our products to be nonproprietary and platform independent.

At the Digital Signage World we are showcasing Smartqueue Integrated Multimedia Queue Management System. Smartqueue is the ultimate ticketing solution to manage customer flows. Smartqueue allows customers to be served by the appropriate staff in timely manner whilst minimising

customer’s perception of wait-time through advertising or entertainment media. The easy-to-use queuing system improves customer satisfaction and staff performance with a comprehensive reporting system allowing management to review Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for an improved service.

See what the latest technology can offer to your organisation by visiting our stand B 38. Experience the benefit Smartqueue brings as seen in over 100 St. George Bank branches, Nokia Care Australia, soon in more than 120 RTA motor registries across NSW. Our other solutions include queue management systems, self-service solutions and cheque processing solutions.

Digital Pulse Stand B24 10 Clarke St Crows Nest, NSW 2065 Phone: 02 9439 0122 Fax: 02 9439 6579 www.digitalpulse.com.au email: info@digitalpulse.com.au In June 2010, JEA Technologies and Digital Pulse signed a strategic agreement to offer a comprehensive glasses-free 3D Digital Signage solution covering hardware supply, installation and support through to content development. This is the first such agreement for this new technology

in Australia and offers a nationwide solution for companies considering glasses-free 3D displays for their digital signage networks.

On show at Digital Signage World Australia 2010 will be a range of 3D displays from Magnetic3D including 22”, 42” and 47” models.

Magnetic3D are regarded as a world leader in the design and manufacture of glasses-free 3D display technology.

Ideal applications for the larger units include retail digital signage, hospitality, cinemas and other public places. The 22” units are ideal for gaming, casinos and kiosks.

To complement the hardware, a full suite of software products optimised to take advantage of the new technology and aid in content production will be also be available. The offering includes: playback software Fuzion; plug-ins for popular 3D programmes; Mixture, the Creative Suite’s composition and post-production tool and; FuzionCast Express, a user-friendly, multimedia content delivery platform for controlling 2D and E3D content remotely over a network.

Innovation and ROI for business, advertising and partners

The Digital Signage Evolution Coming to Singapore in November

Reach out to your consumers through a new innovation of Digital Signage!

Digital Signage World Asia 2010 is an exhibition of the world’s leading solutions providers and an applicationsfocused conference. It is the only event that brings together end-users from all the key vertical markets, as well as the advertising industry.

Pre-register online to attend FREE seminars Visit www.terrapinn.com/2010/digitalasia For conference enquries, call Ya Ling at +65 6322 2771 or register online today!

Interested to exhibit at the show?

If you are in the business of providing world-class digital signage service solutions, call Siew Wee at +65 6322 2758 or email siewwee.seettoh@terrapinn.com to secure a booth now!

Dynamic Visual Systems Stand B2 5-7 Cleg Street, Artarmon Phone: 02 9431 6070 Fax: 02 9906 2713 www.dynamicvisualsystems.com.au email:enquiries@ dynamicvisualsystems.com.au

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Co-located with:

Media partner:

Supported by:

Held in:

Organised by:

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Visit www.terrapinn.com/2010/digitalasia for more information

Digital Signage World

At Digital Signage World, Dynamic Visual Systems will demonstrate advanced digital signage solutions for applications including digital out of home (DOOH) advertising, interactive kiosks, video walls and networked content delivery systems. Our custom solutions are designed to match exacting budget, aesthetic, messaging and technical requirements and the show will provide an opportunity for attendees to discuss their needs with experts and explore a range of solutions.

Powered by Coolsign digital signage software, Dynamic Visual Systems’ Digital signage solutions allow companies to create, manage and deliver powerful, dynamic content across an entire organisation, no matter the size. We supply a range of players to match passive and interactive displays and with the beauty and functionality of LG monitors, the message never looked better.

Dynamic Visual Systems offers Australia-wide installation and support.

With offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, combined with our network of Australia-wide installers, we are able to support all projects, large or small, anywhere in the country.

Post-installation, we can offer a fully managed system, with realtime monitoring, that provides instant feedback on any failure within a digital signage or kiosk network.

Envent Stand B19 2 Gladstone Street Enmore NSW 2042 Phone: 1800 885 648 Fax: 02 9557 8858 www.envent.com.au Envent is a leader in the custom design and development of selfservice interactive touchscreen kiosk solutions. We specialise in the design, manufacture and support of physical kiosk enclosures. We combine tailor made integration of high-end peripherals and software development for leading edge applications.

We provide cost effective market research, design and production solutions from concept and prototyping through to manufacturing and licensing.

Envent has commercialised designs that are being used throughout the world on a daily basis across a range of industries.

Envent designed products combine

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Digital Signage World

the latest in design and manufacturing technologies, combined with the latest OEM hardware devices for integration where required. The result is a future proof solution with versatility and scalability for broad market appeal.

We work closely with our clients from the outset to utilise the best ergonomic, aesthetic and functional parameters to provide a world class solution with distinct and sustainable competitive advantage. Having worked in the kiosk industry for the last 14 years, and seeing a need for more cost competitive options for our clients, we also offer a range of versatile sophisticated kiosks with wide ranging applications.

Formats include free standing, wall mounted, desktop, indoor/outdoor with flexibility to incorporate wide ranging peripherals from card readers, cameras, external keyboards, license scanners, handsets, thermal & card printing, card dispensing and bar code scanning to name a few.

We provide a range of software applications to deliver complete “Turnkey” Solutions. This offers significant benefits for support and service of our kiosks as our hardware and software staff work together to resolve any issues within a very short timeframe

Fujitsu Stand B9 Level 16, 15 Blue Street North Sydney NSW 2060 Phone: 02 9113 9200 Fax: www.au.fujitsu.com email: media@au.fujitsu.com Fujitsu Digital Media Solutions will showcase a dedicated range of digital media players, and a variety of displays including touch technology specifically designed for digital media environments,. Fujitsu will be showcasing latest technological advancements in digital media to empower organisations with the ability to better communicate their corporate messages and measure its effectiveness through digital signage.

Fujitsu’s exhibition will display latest technical advancements in digital signage to solve a variety of communication challenges, delivering a unique customer experience and

influencing buying behaviour.

Fujitsu will showcase the following technologies at Digital Signage World: - TELentice Enterprise New Release V6.0 - Mobile device communication and interaction - 3D display technology without glasses - Multi touch screen technology - Dual sided screen - In store music solution and various display technologies - Live customer scenarios across multiple industry sectors Fujitsu Digital Media Solutions has now become the Fujitsu global capital for providing end-to-end Digital Media Solutions, with its Centre of Excellence based at Fujitsu Docklands in Melbourne, Australia. The Digital Media Centre of Excellence provides real time customer service and an experiential environment to continue to evolve digital media investment and R&D. HP Stand B10 353 Burwood Highway Forest Hill VIC 3131 Phone: 1300 302 661 Fax: 03 8833 5901 www.hp.com.au/retailsolutions email: HP Digital Signage Displays are part of an end-to-end solution that delivers high performance and worry-free longevity so businesses can focus on the bigger picture. These displays are designed to offer big, bold and beautiful views of graphics, text, video or advertisements that can be positioned horizontally or vertically in indoor environments such as: retail stores, malls, restaurants, theatres, airports, railway and bus terminals, stadiums, and stock exchanges.

HP’s broad portfolio of flexible endto-end retail solutions now include digital signage solutions, touch enabled PCs and retail point-of-sale (RPOS) systems so business of all shapes and sizes can use one trusted vendor for simple, easy management and maximum impact.

Count on the service, support and reliability of HP and its valued partners to help keep your business running smoothly.

Come and see our stand to discover how HP is transforming the way you can do business

intel Stand B30 Level 17, 111 Pacific Highway North Sydney NSW 2060 Phone: 1300 363 018 Fax: +61 2 9937 5899 www.intel.com/go/digitalsignage email:

Impact3D Pty Ltd Stand B36 Northcote Street St Leonards NSW 2065 Phone: 1300 685 485 Fax: www.impact3d.com.au email: info@impact3D.com.au Impact 3D provides unique high quality 3D digital displays that provide the viewer with a compelling 3D effect – without the need for 3D glasses.

3D is re-inventing the digital signage market, providing an outstanding opportunity to grab the attention of your target market and standout from the crowd.

3D digital displays capture people’s attention, hold that attention longer and leave a longer impression than regular 2D displays.

This makes them ideal for attracting attention in high consumer traffic environments such as: Pubs & Clubs, Events & Expo’s, Retail and Point of Sale, Shopping Centres, Museums, and Exhibitions.

In a world where consumers are bombarded with signage, 3D digital displays: create an unforgettable impression, increase brand awareness, stop consumers in their tracks.

Any display however is only as good as the content it shows and Impact 3D has the people, skills and experience to produce exciting content for your digital display.

We produce content for the 3D digital display and for regular 2D digital displays and can work with you from concept to creation, or with your creative agency to produce content from their brief.

Give your messages real impact!

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By enabling more content, mobility and capabilities than ever before, Intel gives you the advantage in a rapidly changing world. With advanced silicon, industry standard platforms and modular infrastructure, Intel can help you deliver a more compelling digital lifestyle. Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation, will demonstrate technologies, products and initiatives that will change the future of digital signage.

InterCEL Stand 33 Glenvale Crescent Mulgrave

VIC 3170 Phone: 03 9239 2000 Fax: 03 9561 2614 www.intercel.com.au email: intercel@intercel.com.au InterCEL launches 3G Ethernet device Digital signs and public information displays can now display up to date information by using wireless communication. With high speeds now available on 3G networks, InterCEL has added an Ethernet router to their popular SAM series of GSM/3G Modems to provide primary or backup data services. With faster speeds now on offer, companies can enjoy data throughput speeds equal to ADSL and at the same time take advantage of reducing data costs, which gives an end user the choice of choosing wireless broadband over fixed line ADSL. The transport, finance, retail and leisure industries can now update their information display boards in real time. InterCEL’s wireless 3G Ethernet routers gives the flexibility to install display boards almost anywhere

and has opened up doors for new opportunities for Digital signage and Kiosks providers.

InterCEL have specialised in remote data communications for well over 21 years, pioneering serial, Ethernet and USB solutions using GSM, GPRS and 3G (NextG) for a variety of applications, including smart metering, security, vending machines and Fleet management.

The eSAM, InterCEL’s Ethernet 3G router has the full local support that applies to the SAM2 and SAM3 series of modems and is proving particularly popular in providing an Ethernet link for Digital Signage, Kiosks and other remote devices that benefit from reliable high upload and download links.

Today, InterCEL, a proud Australian company has engineering, R&D, and manufacturing capability in Australia and Asia. We design and manufacture our own GSM, 3G/NextG modems and routers with an absolute commitment to quality, reliability and highly competitive pricing.

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Isignpak Stand B47 PO Box 263 Berowra NSW 2081 Phone: 02 9457 6945 Fax: 02 9457 6444 www.isignpak.com email: sales@isignpak.com iSignpak is an innovative company that offers flexible and easily managed digital signage solutions that can be updated in real-time via the existing computer network. This is achieved by integrating reliable fanless media

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Digital Signage World

players with the internationally renowned Wallflower dynamic digital signage management software, plus reliable commercial grade LCD screens, to bring you a complete digital signage solution designed for trouble-free 24/7 operation.

Showcased at Digital Signage World is the iSignpak range of Ready-to-Go digital signage bundles suitable for single screen installations up to multi-screen networked deployments. In addition, iSignpak will be demonstrating the functionality of Wallflower via a live network feed between the screens on the stand. Free 30-Day Wallflower software trials are available at the show.

JVC Stand B3 104 Vanessa Street Kingsgrove NSW 2208 Phone: 1300 728 225 Fax: 02 9975 1368 www.jvcpro.com.au email: vcpro@hagemeyer.com.au JVC Professional exhibits the latest digital signage monitors including the Ultra-thin 32” LCD HD monitor, the GM-F series HD LCD monitor and the Flicker Free Passive 3D monitor.

- Ultra Thin Full HD LCD Monitor: just 6.4mm at its thinnest point and weighing 5.7kg, the JVC LT-32WX50 has input terminals including HDMI, analogue-RGB, RS-232C, component/ composite, USB and SD/SDHC enable playback from bluray, PCs, digital photos and HD broadcasting.

- Digital Signage Monitors GM-F series with high reliability designed for continuous operation. The excellent picture quality and performance is attributed to the full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution, the panel brightness of 700cd/m2, and the wide viewing angle of 178 degrees. It has comprehensive system connectivity and networking with an array of signal inputs and includes a motion sensor.

- 3D HD colour monitor is flicker-free and easy on the eyes using a circular polarisation system.

- JVC Bluray player will be used featuring fast Boot-Up, HD Audio BitStream Output, HDMI 1080/24p

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Digital Signage World

Playback, and x.v.Colour/ Deep Colour.

- The new JVC Professional Bluray and HDD Combo Desk with SD card slot. Share and archive your original HD content.

Key Options Technology Stand B17 Suite 108, 250 Pitt St Sydney NSW 2000 Phone: 1300 721 769 Fax: 02 9475 0837 www.keyoptions.com.au email: sydney@keyoptions.com.au Key Options Technology is a professional services company focusing on Apple technology and systems integration. Key Options Technology is an Apple key partner with over 20 years of Apple system integration experience, and the number one choice for complex systems integration and iPhone/iPad development. Key Options Technology is also an Apple Authorised Training Centre.

Key Options Technology is proud to be the Asia Pacific Systems Integration Partner for Direct Streams the premier company for In room entertainment and digital signage solutions based on Apple Technology. Direct Streams Signage, allows for the easy creation and display of high definition videos, slideshows, advertisement or event schedules to HD displays, via the Apple Mac Mini, with the ease of use of a graphical application, and the power of Apple Mac OSX. Direct Streams put the power of creating digital signage into the hands of the content creators, without the need for complex programming.

KVM Stand B16 3 / 3 LaFayette Blvd Bibra Lake WA 6163 Phone: 1800 222 898 Fax: 08 9494 1070 www.kvm.com.au email: sales@kvm.com.au KVM Australia is a specialist KVM technology company that imports and distributes KVM products from Adder technology, ICRON, and Raritan along with a range of OEM cables and accessories. We provide Australia wide coverage with Key resellers in all capital cities, along with sales and support to New Zealand. With over 10 years

experience providing KVM switching solutions and control for businesses of all sizes, our solutions provide true cross platform management. Solutions are operating system independent.

The KVM experts will showcase the new AdderLink Infinity computer media distribution solution, which combines Adder’s expertise in spatially lossless video extension, USB true emulation and crisp audio distribution with all the advantages of an infinitely configurable and scalable IP network.

AdderLink Infinity allows you to pick and choose media elements (video, audio and USB) from computers located anywhere on your network and present them either to a single receiver, or broadcast them to as many receivers as you wish. You can then hand over control of USB devices to anyone else on the network at the touch of a button, and collaborate with the benefit of digital video clarity. Alternately, you can use the system to switch back and forth between computers located anywhere on your network.

LG Stand 2 Wonderland Drive Eastern Creek NSW 2766 Phone: 1300 542 273 Fax: 02 8805 4201 www.lg.com.au LG Electronics Business Solutions Division is a leading business-to-business manufacturer, developing premium digital devices and solutions including LCD monitors, commercial displays and A/V accessories.

Delivering on our commitment to innovation, LG Electronics recognise the importance of flat panel display technology to communicate, engage and entertain. With the growth of digital signage applications, interactive displays connect with today’s consumers more than ever before.

With a broad range of displays, superior service, and technical experts who appreciate what makes each industry unique, LG understand the complexity involved with implementing and deploying a dynamic digital signage network. LG’s new digital signage solution Supersign is designed

to be flexible in any commercial environment to create stunning signage.

We are a complete solutions provider.

LG’s continued investment in the latest digital signage technologies is driven by the belief in its importance to the future of the commercial sector.

Lymlive Stand B25 385 Parramatta Rd Leichhardt NSW 2040 Phone: 1800 773 054 Fax: 02 9564 3699 www.lymlive.com.au Why choose Lymlive for your Digital Signage Solutions?

Lymlive provides expert consultation in all areas of digital signage from creative content creation to appropriate hardware and software selection to deployment.

Lymlive offers the widest variety of choices to suit your digital signage requirements. You can contract a complete turnkey digital solution or choose only the elements that are best suited to your needs.

Lymlive offers proprietary hardware, specifically designed and manufactured for your business.

Lymlive offers expeditious installations by well-qualified installers.

Lymlive makes management of your digital signage fast and easy with web based content management systems Let Lymlive show you how to create ‘The Visual Experience’. mdsPacific Stand B47 Suite 19, 33 Waterloo Road North Ryde NSW 2113 Phone: 02 9888 7715 Fax: 02 9888 7745 www.mdspacific.com.au sales_anz@mdspacific.com MDS Pacific provides Microsoft Windows Embedded OS and leadingedge embedded solutions such as Windows CE based applications, device drivers, flash player, development tools, etc. for specific platforms as well as system integration services, MDS Pacific was founded by its parent company, MDS Technology, a Microsoft Windows Embedded official distributor in Korea as well as the leader of embedded solution companies offering a comprehensive

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set of leading edge embedded systems with over 1,000 customers in Korea including Samsung, LG, KT and SKT. MDS Technology through MDS Pacific extends the best Windows embedded services to customers in Australia and New Zealand.

MDS Pacific is growing steadily and rapidly in the embedded market as an authorised distributor of Microsoft, Adobe and Citrix for Australia and New Zealand. With deep industry knowledge, MDS Pacific understands your complex requirements and will help you through every step of your projects so that you will meet your objectives and positively contribute to the growth of your business.

The success of any project relies not only on sound technical knowledge and solid project methodology, but also a thorough appreciation of the commercial and practical factors under the “Time to market” catch phrase, which are crucial to the overall success of any company. Whether you are simply prototyping your device or about to go into mass production, MDS Pacific will collaborate with you to maximise your investment in the embedded market.

Metra-Info Stand B34 L2, 4-10 Bridge St Pymble NSW 2073 Phone: 02 94 499 771 Fax: www.metra-media.com Metra, the international commercial subsidiary of the Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited has evolved to become a world leader in weather forecasting products and services.

Metra provides specialised graphics and weather data services for industry and media including digital signage.

Our clients include the BBC, Channel 7 and Channel 9 in Australia, and a growing number of leading TV stations throughout Asia & Europe.

Metra ensures millions of people around the world have access to information about the weather, through a suite of specialist software products & services, which interpret data and deliver relevant and accurate weather information to both national and international organisations.

Metra’s dependable, high-quality forecasts and observational data

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help customers make better business decisions. Whether it’s using weather data for risk management, more timely supply of data or better weather communication systems, Metra has developed value added solutions that keep customers completely ahead of the weather.

In addition to supplying weather forecasting and observational data, Metra provides software products and services that interpret this data and deliver relevant, accurate and useful weather information to customers.

Weatherscape Clip A fully integrated weather show delivered direct to the TV station readyfor-air. No hardware, no software, no fuss - simply movie files containing the latest weather information, sent everyday ready to play.

Metra Weatherscape Clip is a fully integrated customised weather show and delivered ready-for-air.

Weatherscape Clip provides an affordable, reliable world-leading weather show that is meteorologically correct and visually stimulating.

Weatherscape Clip can deliver graphic images, or movie clips for use on web sites, mobile handsets and PDAs or television broadcast. The system produces weather shows that have been built and customised to the customer’s specifications, in terms of style and content.

Weather shows are delivered via the internet at scheduled times.

Delivered shows will have been prerendered only minutes earlier and contain the latest weather information and forecasts.

MetroSpec Stand B18 25 Flinders Parade North Lakes QLD 4509 Phone: 07 3868 4255 Fax: 07 3868 4147 www.metrospec.com.au email: sales@metrospec.com.au The MetroSpec trademark is manufactured by Metromatics.

Innovators of custom built and off the shelf industrial, rugged and commercial sunlight readable LCD displays ranging from 10” – 65” in size for all types of projects and customer requirements such as passenger information displays, information kiosks, video walls, shopfront windows and various other applications.

On Display at the Digital Signage World Event will be our standard industrial 32”, 42” and 65” sunlight readable LCD Displays. These LCDs are IP65 Rated, with anti reflective glass, anti vandal features, low power consumption, standard high brightness ranging from 1250-1700 nits, and high response time with a wide viewing angle. Options include embedded CPU/media player/touch screen.

The double vision will also be displayed. It is a twin 32” LCD that is portable and eye catching ideal for the retail/commercial industry. It is suitable for indoors or outdoors and contains a network enabled embedded PC to allow customers to control their sales message to their target audience by managing the content by schedule or display as required.

Also on display will be the new “glasses” free – 3D LCD Technology.

The real draw card is the brightness and clarity that this product provides making your images and advertisements in amazing 3D viewing look almost real just like you could reach out and grab them. Provides your audience with real wow factor.

These are just some of the amazing digital signage products; we will have on display at our booth.

NEC Stand B19 649 - 655 Springvale Road Mulgrave VIC 3170 Phone: 131 632 Fax: www.nec.com.au email: NEC is a leading provider of Digital Signage solutions with a unique ‘total solution’ offering including displays, management software, data projectors and network and display hardware.

Our digital signage solutions have been implemented globally across hospitality, healthcare, education, travel and retail.

Digital Signage is an electronic billboard system, used to present dynamic information electronically, on flat panel displays such as LCD, Plasma or Data Projectors.

Wherever you need to advertise, educate or communicate to customers, consumers, staff, students or partners, digital signage is a fast, reliable and simple way to get your message across to your specific target audience.

Designed to replace and enhance traditional signage methods, whether billboard signs, printed material or static bulletin boards, digital signage is helping to merge the industries of advertising networks, point of purchase display merchandising and information signage.

No matter what the industry, we all have a common goal; to capture and hold our audience’s attention. Digital signage solutions increase audience attention and retention of your message.

Research studies have proven that not only is audience retention of a message much higher when it is displayed through Digital Signage, but it’s also that you will indeed increase sales and communicate more effectively with your target audience.

From eye-catching advertisements and in-store promotions, to breaking news and announcements, up-to-theminute timetables and schedules. The possibilities and different environments that can benefit from an NEC Digital Signage solution are endless.

NetComm Stand B15 2-6 Orion Rd Lane Cove NSW 2066 Phone: 02 9424 2070 Fax: 02 9424-2010 www.netcomm.com.au NetComm has been servicing Australian businesses, enterprises and government for over 27 years with leading broadband technologies.

We specialise in commercial grade 3G (HSDPA/HSUPA) wireless broadband products and services that are designed for remote Machine 2 Machine (M2M) communication and business continuity (disaster recovery). Our wide range of rugged 3G products provides reliable data communication for any challenging application using a 3G network, such as Telstra’s Next G network.

What places us ahead of the rest is our ability to not only provide integrated software that allow these 3G devices to be remotely managed, but also our ability to customise and design a device to meet your application and specific requirements.

We are Australian owned and operated and our engineers, technical and sales support are here in Australia.

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Digital Signage World

Soanar Stand Level 1, 39 Hewish Rd. Croydon, VIC 3136 Phone: 1300 762 627 Fax: 03 9724 0878 www.soanar.com email: info@sonar.com Soanar is proudly a 100% privately owned company founded in 1963.

Soanar has over 45 years of experience manufacturing and distributing electronic components, embedded systems and related products.

Soanar will be showcasing some of our touch screen and digital signage components from the world’s foremost suppliers such as Elo Touchsystems, the global leader in touch technology and IEI Technologies, one of the largest Industrial PC manufacturers from Taiwan.

Soanar will have experts in touch screens, digital signage hardware, kiosk manufacture and associated technologies on our stand for visitors to talk to. We will also be displaying for the first time in Australia the latest digital signage touch screens and all in one touch panel PCs from Elo. Soanar’s headquarters are in Melbourne and our warehouse and production workshop are located in Sydney. The ANZ service centre for Elo is operated by Soanar out of the Sydney workshop facility. Our team of over 150 staff operates from offices located throughout Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Hong Kong and China.

Sony Stand B11 33-39 Talavera Road North Ryde, NSW 2113 Phone: 1800 017 669 Fax: 02 9805 1175 http://www.sony.com.au/ productcategory/pro-proj-publicdisplay-digital-signage Sony as a brand is well known for its strong performance and reliability, as well as it’s innovation in design and technology. The display category has developed a solid reputation over many decades, delivering the best possible features and picture quality for both the consumer and commercial markets.

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Controlling both the hardware and the content, Sony Australia is proud to launch Ziris Professional Version 7 at Digital Signage World.

This industry-leading digital signage solution for dynamic, multi-site networks allows instant content updates and sophisticated targeting schedules that play on stunning Sony high definition display screens.

Sony’s current range of commercial grade LCD screens combine decades of expertise in delivering state-of-theart technology with a low total cost of ownership. Screen sizes range from 40 to 65”, all featuring 1080 full high definition resolution, high brightness, low power consumption and a three year commercial warranty.

Sydney Opera House chose to have Sony commercial LCD screens combined with Sony’s Ziris digital signage software throughout its precinct, to highlight events and activities to visitors. In addition, over 300 Sony commercial LCD screens have been installed in Sydney Airport for use within the international terminal for advertising and displaying flight information.

Streaming media Stand B29 Level 3, 30 Alfred Street Milsons Point, NSW 2061 Phone: 02 9460 0877 Fax: 02 9460 0496 www.streamingmedia.net.au email: info@streamingmedia.net.au StreamingMedia will be demonstrating their iCon management and scheduling solution, which is a suite of software applications for Digital Signage/Kiosk media management and deployment. iCon provides multiuser access for operations and administration.

The scheduling operator has media management control for previewing and scheduling content, initiating priority playlists, previewing playlists and live view of remote location playlist. Reports can be generated for each media asset. Network Administrator access enables the remote media players to be individually configured via the scheduler with dashboard showing network status and media player downtime report. iCon can be tailored to each client’s

unique requirements and delivered as a managed service by StreamingMedia including Help desk and field support or incorporated into an enterprise network.

Sumo Stand B26, B27 14-18 Cremorne Street Richmond, VIC 3121 Phone: 03 9429 4552 Fax: 03 9429 4553 www.sumovisualgroup.com.au email: info@sumovision.com.au The Sumo Visual Group’s core business is in printing, manufacturing & providing digital signage solutions. The Sumo Visual Group provides clients with a complete visual solutions centre for retail, events, building, architectural & commercial businesses.

The Sumo Visual Group comprise of 3 divisions – Sumo Visual Solutions (Large format digital printing and project management), Sumo Signage & Displays (manufacturing of signage & components) and Sumo Vision (multimedia signage solutions). Sumo Vision will be showcased at Digital Signage World and attendees will be able to experience first hand how Sumo’s advanced digital signage network is operated with spectacular displays and demonstrations by our leading technology experts. Sumo Vision has pioneered innovations in digital signage and provides customers with state of the art hardware & software solutions.

As an Australian owned and operated company, customers have the ability to customise content at a click of a button.

Coupled with the in-house Sumo’s print & manufacturing facilities, the possibilities of utilising digital signage in a creative and tailored fashion is unrivalled in the Australian marketplace. With an Australia wide network of installers & technology experts, Sumo Vision is one stop you must make during the Expo.

TechMedia Stand B1 Unit 7, 65-75 Captain Cook Drive Taren Point, NSW 2229

Phone: 02 9526 7880 Fax: 02 9526 7881 www.techmedia.com.au email: info@techmedia.com.au TechMedia is the local Australian office for Scala, Inc. The Global leader in software for Digital Signage and Advertising Management.

TechMedia has over 12 years experience in the Global Digital Signage market and provides a wide range of services to clients including: Training, Media players, Content Production & Channel Management.

Scala5 is at the forefront of the high-impact medium of digital signage. Used for Retail TV, Electronic Billboards, Narrowcasting, Data casting, Digital In-Store Merchandising, Employee TV or Captive Audience Networks. Scala’s digital signage software creates, manages, and distributes content to networks of digital displays.

Scala 5 is centrally managed and addressable for targeted information, entertainment, merchandising, and advertising. No matter what your needs, TechMedia Digital Systems, the leading Australian connected signage company, has the Digital Signage solution that will bring your digital signs to life!

TouchScreen Solutions Stand B14 407/33 Lexington Drive Bella Vista, NSW 2153 Phone: 02 8814 7844 Fax: 02 8572 5214 www.touchscreensolutions.com.au email: TouchScreen Solutions specialises in the supply of touch screen monitors and kiosks and has a progressive, broad and exciting range of touch screen products including touch screen monitors, large format touch screen monitors and touch screen kiosks (standard and custom).

TouchScreen Solutions specialises in assisting our clients source the best solution for their budget and technical requirements.

Ask us about a 2009 rollout that has run for 1 million hours now without a single touch screen failure.

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More Than Just I/O

Fast H.264 encoding too!

Take your input, output, monitoring, and encoding toolbox with you wherever you go – in the studio, on set, and on the road. Use it with a laptop or desktop, Mac or PC. Work with virtually any camera, codec, monitor, or deck. Streamline editing with your favorite applications including Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and many more.

Turbocharge your H.264 encoding with Apple Compressor, Telestream Episode, and Adobe Media Encoder using the unique Matrox MAX technology. Deliver files for Blu-ray, the web, and mobile devices faster than ever before.

For the ultimate in quality, convenience, and flexibility, choose Matrox MXO2 Mini, MXO2 LE, MXO2 or MXO2 Rack – whichever is right for you.

Contact us today to locate your nearest dealer Matrox Video Products distributed by New Magic Australia (03) 9722 9700 www.newmagic.com.au Matrox is a registered trademark and Matrox MXO and Matrox MAX are trademarks of Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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Digital Signage

Sign ‘O’ The Times The Third Dimension 3D – from James Cameron’s

Avatar to Foxtel’s, SBS’ and Channel Nine’s trial broadcasts of various football codes, it’s all the rage.

The two main ways of viewing this content is either via passive or active eyewear.

In the case of passive eyewear, when projecting stereoscopic motion pictures in a digitally-equipped cinema, two images are projected superimposed onto the same screen through different polarizing filters. The viewer wears low-cost “passive” eyeglasses which also contain a pair of polarizing filters oriented differently. As each filter passes only that light which is similarly polarized and blocks the light polarized differently, each eye sees a different image. This is used to produce a three-dimensional effect by projecting the same scene into both eyes, but depicted from slightly different perspectives.

Active eyewear, meanwhile, involves one source (projector or TV) from which left and right eye images are displayed alternately in a rapid fashion.

The left and right lenses of the active eyewear are synced to ‘open’ when their respective side of the image appear. This creates the illusion of 3D in the brain of the viewer.

However, because these approaches both require the viewer to be wearing glasses, they do not work in a digital signage context because “who the hell carries 3D glasses around with them?”

Autostereoscopic displays, however, are special displays which allow many different types of content (objects, animations, pictures, videos, and advertising) to be seen spatially in 3D. The major innovation with auto-stereoscopic displays compared to former technologies is the fact that the spatial viewing becomes possible without the inconvenient need of “red-and-green” glasses, polarized glasses or shutter glasses.

This is achieved by among other things the application of optical technologies and elements (so called parallax barrier or lenticular lens panes) that ensure that each eye of the viewer sees a slightly different perspective. The human brain then processes these perspectives to a spatial picture.

The autostereoscopic technology can be basically divided in the following two main categories: Multi-View - Five different perspectives are projected in front of the screen. Since these five perspectives are horizontally spread, many users can see in 3D at the same time in a wide area standing or sitting comfortably around the display.

It is literally possible to walk around an object. 3D

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marketing and education becomes a reality. The digital signage market is the main target for this technology. It is about digital marketing in 3D in any place where customers or people passing can be reached with an advertising message.

Single-Viewer – these devices work with two perspectives built up approximately 70cm in front of the display. The main advantage compared to the Multi-View technology is a higher reachable resolution per eye and a better picture separation of the different perspectives. On the one hand this leads to the possibility to create content with a higher depth disparity - on the other hand very low depth differences can also be visualized spatially.

For many applications where 3D precision is a key factor this feature is a major advantage. In order to get a perfect 3D impression, the eyes of the user must be correctly positioned within the so-called sweet-spot. Alternatively, the user may find himself in the inverted spot where the right eye sees the perspective of the left eye and vice-versa. Through the use of an optional tracking system, the sweet spot will be continually adjusted according to the viewer’s eye positions without suffering any loss of image quality. The Single-Viewer technology is destined to the work as part of the modern “3D workstation” in areas such as medicine (e.g. keyhole surgery supported by 3D visualization), satellite

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picture evaluation, CAD -design, prototyping and design engineering.

Zero Creative is a company located in The Netherlands providing professional 3D services and products. According to CEO Jean-Pierre van Maasakker, the company has developed a lenticular autosterescopic 2D/3D switchable display range.

“The problem with virtually all autostereoscopic 3D displays is that the resolution of 2D content is dramatically decimised depending on the number of views,” says van Maasakker. “In most cases this is 5, 8 or 9 views, meaning that the native resolution of the panel will be divided by this number, resulting in poor quality or unreadable text.”

Zero Creative’s AS3D xyZ 3D Displays come with the ability to switch on/off the 3D lenticular lens electronically. In 3D-mode the display shows the 8-view 3D content properly and in 2D-mode the full native panel resolution is available without any concession.

“We’ve already integrated this technology in a 2d/3d laptop and now we’re ready to release it for production,” says van Maasakker.

If this technology can be mass produced economically, it could bring a new versatility to digital signage networks and, for some viewing environments, it could spell the end of those glasses.

Visit www.zerocreative.com

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D-sign.tv is the online destination covering the Content+Technology of Digital Signage. With regular email newsletter, website and E-magaine, D-sign.tv provides you with timely and relevant information on all aspects of the D-Signage market.

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D-Sign is: The website: www.d-sign.tv the Content+Technology of Digital Signage. With regularly Email Newsletter: Every Two Weeks Editorial Enquiries: Phil Sandberg via +61 (0)414671811 or papers@broadcastpapers.com Digital Magazine: Every Two Months Advertising:and Daniela Huelsen via +61(0)410 880557 or dh@broadcastpapers.com updated website, email newsletter in-depth E-magazine, Industry Verticals Architecture, Broadcasting, Cinema, Clubs D-sign.tv provides you with timely and relevant information Dates for D-Sign Newsletter D-Sign Magazine Published and Hotels, Conferences, Concerts, Corporate, Education, Exhibitions, Government, 2010 AUGUST 2010 on allGambling, aspects of the D-SignageJULY market.

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Sponsorship Options Monthly Newsletter Tile $500 ex GST / month Banner $800 ex GST/month Discounted Rate from 3 months booking onwards D-Sign Website Tile $650 ex GST/month Banner $ 850 ex GST/month Discounted Rate from 3 months booking onwards Package Deals: Trial Month Newsletter & Website Tile $ 900 ex GST/month (includes 1 month Newsletter + Website) Banner $ 1.400 ex GST/month (includes 1 month Newsletter + Website) 3-months Package Deal Newsletter & Website Tile $800 ex GST/month Total for 3 months: $2.400 ex GST Banner $1.200 ex GST/month Total for 3 months: $3.600 ex GST Digital Magazine Prices on Application Custom Targeted Emails AUD$0.75 per contact Our Credentials Publisher Phil Sandberg has spent 20 years reporting on technology and policy issues affecting the content creation industries in Australia, NZ and Southeast Asia. He is founder and publisher of Content+Technology magazine and www.broadcastpapers.com Contact Phil via papers@broadcastpapers.com or +61-2-9332 2221.

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