Where the Signs Point: The Convergence of Digital Signage and Video
By Tom Racca
President & CEO, BurstPoint We’ve come to expect digital signage in large public places, sporting venues, airport terminals, and of course, retail storefronts. However, today, they’re also appearing in locations as diverse as senior citizen centers and country clubs. Analysts are reporting the digital signage market has emerged stronger than ever from the economic downturn. Yet, there’s something about this technology’s use by communities that brings it all into perspective – a tangible sign that the industry is on the right track and the future is bright.
Enterprises have been using digital signage to effectively capture the attention of important audiences for some time. However, until recently, digital signage technology was typically used by companies to drive sales by pushing advertisements and live RSS feeds to target audiences outside of company walls, such as customers and prospects. Now, forward-thinking organizations are realizing the future of digital signage is integrating and harnessing the power of video to communicate with audiences both outside and inside the organization.
In fact, savvy organizations across many industries are already building upon their investments in digital signage technology by pairing it with video communications systems. This is enabling them to push customized content – whether live or on-demand video – to specific locations at specific times to educate, influence, and update a wide variety of audiences. Utilizing digital signage in this way enhances their overall corporate, product and employee communications strategies, while providing the ability to reach individuals both outside, and inside, the firewall.
For example, retailers are using the same devices that once only pushed in-store ads and product promotions to now communicate with employees both in real-time and on-demand after hours. The technology is being used to provide on-demand sales training videos, live stream executive announcements about star performers and current product sales, and educate employees about the latest updates on labor laws and PCI compliance.
Similarly, corporations are moving beyond traditional playlists and are using digital signage to broadcast breaking news, live streaming broadcasts and town hall meetings from company executives, as well as providing on-demand access to corporate training, best practices and key messages. In addition, by making training videos available on-demand, companies can track which employees watched which training videos and for how long – making it easier than ever to demonstrate compliance with corporate and industry regulations.
Additional Vertical Use Cases
We’re seeing the next-generation of digital signage unfold around us, and it’s focused on three critical areas: training, compliance, and live broadcasting. Used creatively and strategically, the combination of digital signage and video is proving one of the most powerful ways to broadcast important information on a daily basis.
Some manufacturers, for instance, are now using digital signage on shop floors to drive critical safety and compliance training, with mandatory videos being pushed to staff whenever and wherever needed. Display devices can be automatically turned off and on, allowing manufacturers to take advantage of impromptu staff updates related to the workplace, supply chain or customers.
In education — a market segment already outfitted with projectors and plasma screens –K-12 and higher education institutions are broadcasting live content to students, such as emergency broadcasts and announcements from academic leaders. Digital signage is also being utilized in on-demand classroom instruction to support dynamic learning and to provide more regular, ongoing communications such as lunch options, upcoming sporting events, new extracurricular activities and more.
The bottom line is, when integrated with video, the benefits of digital signage go well beyond enhancing brand awareness. From boosting employee morale and improving staff retention to extending training reach and driving compliance, the combination is a great avenue to reach more people, more often, and with more impact. Furthermore, this means of communication reduces the need for travel and paper-based communications, while improving workforce productivity, all resulting in tremendous cost savings and environmental benefits.
The next generation of digital signage isn’t just about advertising. Now enhanced by video, it will become a standard resource for organizations across industries and communities. From the lobby of an active resort to the bustle of a factory floor, for parents and students to employees of a Fortune 100 company, digital signage and video is fast becoming a key component of every organization’s communications strategy.
Tom Racca, president and CEO of BurstPoint Networks, is a noted high technology entrepreneur and visionary. BurstPoint Networks is a provider of video communications solutions.
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Share Article Back to Top Wireless Ronin Sales Jump, But Still Lost $2.3M
By Dave Haynes
Editor, Sixteen:Nine The latest required financial results from Minneapolis-based Wireless Ronin show work they are doing with Chrysler and, by extension, Fiat, as well as more work with Aramark, made for a positive spin on sales numbers.
RNIN did $2.4 million in sales for Q1, up 123 percent increase year-over-year. Software license sales were up 264 percent year-over-year.
However, the company still lost $2.3 million in Q1, down $500K year over year but still a big red number. The accumulated deficit is now well into the $70 million range since the lights went on.
The sales revenue number is also lower and the loss higher than it was in Q4, which my MBA-less little brain nonetheless sees as the wrong trend.
Here’s what the release says:
Wireless Ronin reported revenue of $2.4 million for the first quarter of 2011, a 123 percent increase from $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2010. The year-over-year increase in revenue was primarily attributable to sales with Chrysler and its dealership network. Additionally, the increase was due to an approximate 600 percent increase in orders from ARAMARK, which included its newest food concept, Grille Works. Also, the Company’s recurring hosting and support revenue for the first three months of 2011 totaled $0.4 million.
Scott W. Koller, president and chief executive officer of Wireless Ronin Technologies, said, “We had several key wins during the first quarter that continue to position the Company for long-term success. Our newly formed relationship with Sprint provides a nationwide extension of our sales team to focus on retail digital signage solutions. In addition, winning the pilot with Johnny Rockets once again demonstrates our leadership in providing a digital menu board solution to the food service industry.”
The Company reported a first quarter net loss of $2.3 million, or $0.12 per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $2.8 million, or $0.16 per basic and diluted share, in the year-ago period. The improvement in the year-over-year net loss was driven primarily by the increase in gross margin dollars, partially offset by a year-over-year increase in operating expenses. The first quarter 2011 and 2010 results also included costs of approximately $0.3 million, or $0.02 per basic and diluted share, of non-cash stock compensation expense for each period.
Non-GAAP operating loss totaled $1.8 million, or $0.09 per basic and diluted share, in the first quarter of 2011 compared to a non-GAAP operating loss of $2.4 million, or $0.14 per basic and diluted share, in the first quarter of 2010. Non-GAAP operating loss is defined as the GAAP operating loss with the add-back of certain items. Reconciliation to the GAAP operating loss on a quarterly basis is contained in a table following the unaudited financial information accompanying this release.
For the first quarter of 2011, gross margin averaged 46 percent, compared to a gross margin of 39 percent in the first quarter of 2010. The year-over-year increase was due to a 264 percent increase in sales of RoninCast® software and a 35 percent increase in recurring hosting fees during the first three months of 2011 when compared to the same period in 2010.
Cash and cash equivalents in combination with restricted cash at March 31, 2011, totaled approximately $5.6 million compared to $7.1 million at the end of 2010. The decline in cash from the prior year-end reflected the continued funding of the Company’s losses during the first quarter 2011. In January 2011, the Company renewed the $2.5 million line of credit with Silicon Valley Bank, extending the agreement to March 2012.
The $5.6 million number is the one to watch. That keeps getting smaller, and it’s effectively the one keeping the lights on.
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Share Article Back to Top Flypaper Acquired by eLearning Firm
By Dave Haynes
Editor, Sixteen:Nine Flypaper Studio, which has been marketing a toolset that simplifies creating Flash content for digital signage, has been acquired by Trivantis, a company largely in the eLearning space.
The announcement was made at the start of Trivantis’ user conference for its Lectora product.
The transaction, says the release, combines Trivantis’ deep expertise and relationships in the eLearning industry and the new markets offered in Flash and Digital Signage markets served by the Flypaper platform.
Flypaper president Don Pierson stays on and will be appointed Executive Vice President and member of the Board of Directors of Trivantis Corporation.
“This is a great opportunity for Trivantis and Flypaper Studio to explore new markets, not only in the eLearning business, but also in the rapidly expanding digital signage market,” says Trivantis CEO Charles Beech. “We’re also looking forward to tapping into Flypaper’s impressive expertise, and I am particularly pleased to be working closely with Don, who is an innovator and industry thought-leader.”
Adds Pierson: “As a result, Flypaper Studio will make the most of Trivantis’ impressive sales and marketing resources. While the Lectora brand is well known in the eLearning space, the Flypaper brand is equally known in the digital signage space. We are excited for the marriage between these two areas of expertise.”
Trivantis had already been bundling Flypaper in with other tools as part of its Lectora online course development platform. Trivantis is based in Cincinnati, and Flypaper is in Phoenix.
No deal terms were announced.
I like what these guys do. I was a little underwhelmed with what the platform spits out when I last saw it demo’d, but also assumed time and resources would increasingly boost its capabilities. It won’t replace real graphic designers, but it can definitely speed up work and knock off some basic but polished spots.
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Share Article Back to Top $250 Ruggedized HD Media Player Arrives One of the smallest DS Media Players on the market just got some major competition from the D2Plug player — it’s cool-looking, ruggedized and nearly half-priced. It’s a 1080p media player specifically designed for the DS market that includes integrated 2D/3D graphics, USB 2.0, SD Card slot, HDMI and VGA ports, hardware acceleration for video decoding and a plethora of connectors for networking and storage. It has an ARM 1GHz processor and runs Linux (and is also rumored to run Android OS).
Price? $249.
If you want to see more, click here: http://www.globalscaletechnologies.com/c-8-d2plug.aspx Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top SANUS Ships VisionMount Super Slim Mount SANUS is now shipping the VisionMount VMF308 Super Slim full-motion wall mount, a 1.1" depth, full-motion wall mount for all HDTV’s from 26" – 47". SANUS first launched the Super Slim category in July 2009 with the introduction of two Super Slim low-profile mounts. The brand has since expanded the Super Slim offering to include Super Slim tilting and full-motion mounts. The VMF308 is the second full-motion wall mount being offered in the SANUS Super Slim category; the first was the VLF311 which was released in January of this year. The VMF308 features include fingertip tilt, a cable management guide system integrated into the mount, an easy-glide system for moving the TV for different viewing angles and a decorative cover. The VMF308 lists for $199.99 and details can be found here: http://www.sanus.com/us/en/products/visionmount/full-motion-mount/VMF308 Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top Premier Ships Compact Flat-Panel Mounts Premier is now shipping the PRF-100 ultra-flat, compact mount for flat panel displays. It fits displays with VESA mounting patterns from 75×75mm to 100×100mm and is designed for installations where a close distance between the mounting surface and display is required. Capable of holding displays from 15" to 32", the slim five-inch square footprint of the PRF-100 is still sturdy enough to hold flat panels weighing up to 50 pounds and is priced at only $39.
Want all the specs? Go here: http://www.premiermounts.com/ Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top Extron Intros Long Distance HDMI and DVI Extenders Last month Extron launched two long distance transmitter/receiver combos in the form of the DTP HDMI 301 and DTP DVI 301 twisted pair extenders for long distance transmission of HDMI or DVI plus bidirectional RS-232 and IR control signals over a single CAT 5-type cable. The transmitter and receiver sets are capable of extending 1080p/60 deep color and 1920×1200 up to 330 feet (100 meters). They’re included with a powering capability and are housed in a compact, metal enclosure.
The DTP HDMI 301 and DTP DVI 301 extenders support EDID and HDCP transmission, ensuring ongoing communication between the source and display. HDMI 1.3 compatibility enables support for 1080p/60 color depth, 3D formats, and 4Kx2K resolutions. The DVI transmitter is equipped with a buffered DVI loop-through to support connection of a local monitor. Both models support simultaneous transmission of bidirectional RS-232 and IR signals from a control system, providing remote control to source equipment or remote displays.
More information on the DTP HDMI 301 is here: http://www.extron.com/company/article.aspx?id=dtphdmi301ad&s=0
For more information on the DTP DVI 301, click here: http://www.extron.com/product/product.aspx?id=dtpdvi&s=0 Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top NEC Launches Green and ADA-Compliant LED-Based LCDs NEC has finally officially launched its LED-based LCDs in the form of two models – a 46” (X461S) and a 55” (X551S) edge-lit monitor. Designed for 24/7 operation, both are integrated with Intel's Open Pluggable Specification (OPS), which is the first industry-wide standardization in option slots to simplify digital signage.
The OPS option slot allows for easier installation, use and maintenance of digital signage. Using a native 1920×1080 LCD, both monitors offer up a 4000:1 contrast ratio, use less than two watts of power in stand-by mode and can be positioned in landscape or portrait mode. They have 10-bit HDMI ports, include closed-captioning decoding and have integrated 5-watt speakers. But one of the most interesting features is the carbon-footprint tracking, which calculates the conservation of green gas emissions.
The X461S and X551S will be available in May and June 2011 at a minimum advertised price of $2,399 and $3,799, respectively, and can be found here (click on “NEW” on the left side of the screen): http://www.necdisplay.com/category/large-screen-displays Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top Platinum Tools to Debut Voice, Data and Video Network Test Tool for DS Market Platinum Tools is debuting its new VDV MapMaster, a voice, data, and video tester for testing Cat6, Cat5e, Cat5, Cat4, Cat3, and coax cables, as well as shielded cables. At only 4”x 2”, the VDV MapMaster tests six-line, eight-line and video cable for consistency, integrity and signal mapping and displays the results on an LCD screen.
And at only $99, it’s something that’ll likely end up in every installer’s tool kit: http://www.platinumtools.com Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top NEC Adds 65" LCD Specified at 600 cd/m2 and a contrast ratio of 5000:1, the new NEC V651 is a 1920×1080 LCD panel designed specifically for commercial applications. Including DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI inputs, the V651 can be controlled via RS 232, network or IR and includes an expansion slot supports the Open Pluggable Specification (OPS), which is the industry's first standardized option slot that simplifies digital signage installations.
All the specs can be found here: http://www.necdisplay.com/p/large–screen-displays/v651 Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top Apple's Use of iPads for Merchandising Displays Big Moment for Digital Signage Sector
By Dave Haynes
Editor, Sixteen:Nine When the original Apple iPad was first announced in early 2010, lots of people in the digital signage sector were intrigued by the idea of these little all-in-one players and screens being parked at the shelf-edge in retail.
After all, the units offered connectivity, thin footprint, gorgeous screen and full interactivity in something that cost just $500. Nothing offered as an all-in-one setup for digital signage in retail came close in terms of capability and price.
But we’ve yet to see iPads or other tablets used much in retail as displays – though their application as a sales associate’s portable tool is certainly growing in retail.
That may all start to change with news and images this week of Apple’s makeover of its stores, which are using iPads as interactive product education tools, associated directly with the products on the merchandising/demo tables. The iPads are placed on some sort of clear acrylic, angled base and, from what I had quickly read, have a protective cover over the screen.
What Apple does have is a big influence on design and application, so I see this as a pretty big moment for digital signage in retail. Lots of people have talked endlessly about putting digital screens right at the shelf-edge. But when the biggest brand in the world does it, that gets attention, and fully endorses the concept.
I am not at all wild about the actual implementation because of the cords that you’d think could have easily been hidden, but maybe there is some rationale there that I am missing. But the overall concept is entirely sound – provide an interactive tool right at the product to deliver detail far more extensive than what’s possible on a sheet of paper. In a busy Apple store, where it might take a while to free up a sales associate, this keeps browsing shoppers occupied and increasingly informed – keeping them in store and probably accelerating the buying decision.
Cords aside, I like.
The only thing, by the way, that I have seen in the field that is a little bit like this are MicroSigns, a little Montreal company that has far smaller screens, with interactive features, installed by handsets in wireless retailers. The screens are replacing the little sheets of paper – fact tags – that are typically used to provide basic product features.
(Disclaimer: MicroSigns is a client, but I’d mention this anyway).
I am not convinced iPads will be the tablet of choice used by retails because the cost is still a bit high when compared to all these other tablets that will coming on the market, and because developing to an Android device will be far easier than working under Apple’s software restrictions.
But this news will likely spur a lot of new activity and questions around getting 7 and 10 inch tablets into retail, as effective tools to relay product features and attributes. Image via Macstories Leave a Comment
Share Article Back to Top So, that's rAVe DS [Digital Signage] for this month! Remember, we are here to HELP the AV market penetrate the DS market. Only 12 percent of the DS market is integrated by AV companies. The other 88 percent is IT-based. Now, there are AV publications and even an association that would like to draw those IT people in to AV (it would increase readers, right? – and more readers means they can charge more for ads). That is NOT what we are doing. rAVe DS is specifically designed to pull AV into the DS market and teach AV companies how to take business away from the currently dominated by IT market.
For those of you NEW to rAVe, you just read a 100% opinionated ePublication that's designed to help AV integrators. We not only report the news and new product stories of the digital signage industry, but we stuff the articles full of our opinions. That may include (but is not limited to) whether or not the product is even worth looking at, challenging the manufacturers on their specifications, calling a marketing-spec bluff and suggesting ways integrators market their products better. But, one thing is for sure, we are NOT a trade publication that gets paid for running editorial or product stories. Traditional trade publications get paid to run product stories — that's why you see what you see in most of the pubs out there. We are different: we run what we want to run and NO ONE is going to pay us to write anything good (or bad).
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