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Volume 4, Issue 6 — June 20, 2012
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Gen Y and Self-Service Are a Match Made in Heaven
By Sherdian Orr
Managing Partner, The Interrobang Agency The following is reprinted with permission from the Digital Screenmedia Association (DSA). For more information, go to http://www.digitalscreenmedia.org.
I recently finished interviewing retailers about their employee challenges. By far, the largest complaint was about managing Gen Y, and those same complaints were echoed again in Dallas at the Micros Retail Connect event.
- They are lazy.
- They don't want to pay their dues.
- What exactly are they wearing? And do they think that is appropriate for work? I mean look at the Facebook guy! Wearing a hoodie for a Road Show!
- They don't read their emails.
- They won't look me in the eye when I'm talking to them.
- They are like children, but they are 25! When I was their age, I had a mortgage and two kids!
- I can't get them to put away their phones and wait on customers!
The room was packed with some of the largest retailers in the world patiently waiting for Jason Ryan Dorsey "The Gen Y Guy" to impart his wisdom on us. The first thing he did was validate all of us cynical Gen Xers and hardworking Baby Boomers. "Our generation suffers from delayed adulthood," he said.
The room nodded along.
Then he said something that really made me put down my pen. (Turns out Baby Boomers are the only ones who write things anymore. I vow not to write again as I'm a proud latchkey kid of Gen X.)
In 2017, Gen Y, also known as Millenials, will outspend Baby Boomers for the first time. That means that not only do we have to understand how to manage them, we desperately need to know how to connect with them as consumers. As Dorsey continues to describe his generation, I can't help but pick my pen back up and scribble furiously.
Millennials:
- Need context and information.
- Trust reviews of people online more than their family members.
- Believe they are special and therefore want to be treated as such (they've got a 12th place ribbon to prove it.)
- Have delayed adulthood and that affects their social skills (You can blame their Baby Boomer parents for this.)
- Are not only technology savvy, but rather tech dependent.
- Really don't want to talk to you. If it is important, then send a text. A phone call is considered an invasion of privacy.
- Are never 10 feet away from their phones.
- Are completely outcome driven.
As he started ticking off some of these characteristics of Millennials, I couldn't help but think Gen Y and self-service are a match made in heaven. Retailers can use self-service to reach Gen Y by providing context and info, showcase reviews, personalize service and products and minimize human interaction.
Provide context and information
As Dorsey said, Gen Y doesn't really know anything. However, they've become great researchers. This translates into their consumer behavior. It means they are very knowledgeable shoppers.
Self-service and kiosks are great to bring that online information into the store. Also, another interesting fact about Millennials is that they don't typically own a PC. Instead they are tethered to their phones and take advantage of free wifi locations. This means that having an interactive, in-store display with product information and how the product is used would help them move from research to purchase more quickly.
Showcase reviews
Anyone who is building a guided selling application without consumer reviews front and center is woefully behind the times. As Dorsey said, "Gen Y trusts online reviews from anonymous people on the Internet more than family members." The good news is that this also benefits Gen X shoppers as well; apparently, we don't believe anything people tell us.
Personalize service. Personalized products.
With facial recognition software like the Intel AIM suite we know more about customers as they approach digital signage or kiosks. That means, we can intelligently predict items that they might be of interest for particular demographics.
Also, personalization of products is important to Millenials. Nike ID has had tremendous success by allowing shoppers to design their own shoes. Spoonflower allows consumers to design their own fabrics. Gen Y likes to know they are being treated in a unique way to reflect their individuality. Therefore, anything you can make personalized for them endears them to your brand.
Don't force human interaction.
Because Gen Y has been so sheltered, they have delayed their social development. Many were cloistered away at university with Mom's credit cards only to find the job market not very welcoming when they graduated. Now they are 25 and living at home again.
This delayed development is compounded by the fact that many of their interactions are digital rather than face-to-face. That means your new policy on ensuring that every customer is greeted in a friendly manner may actually backfire with this demographic. Dorsey recommended that a tablet could be used for the associate to show the Gen Y what's on special. Therefore, making the conversation less intimate by using technology to guide it.
Tech dependent
One thing we hear about Gen Y is that they are technology savvy but are more dependent than knowledgeable. They can't tell you why it works, but they do know they can't live without it, Dorsey said.
I recently watched a group of 20-somethings waiting for their orders at Noodles & Co (a very popular restaurant among the demographic). They were clearly four close friends based on their body language. However, not one of them was talking to the other. All four had their phones out and were texting feverishly. This means that when you are designing customer or self-service experiences for this demographic, technology is going to be a key component of how their path to purchase.
Outcome driven
We often hear that Gen Y requires instant gratification. However, it is more that they are outcome driven. They need to understand what the 'end state' is before they embark on the journey. The immediacy of results in their world means that they have little patience for lines –especially when waiting for their coffee. Anything you can make easier and more expedient will endear this generation to your company, products and brand.
Summary
The notion of what constitutes good service is evolving. Gen Y will forever change that in 2017, when they start outspending Baby Boomers. If you want to win the hearts, minds and wallet share of this generation, you will need to create personalized experiences that appeal to the characteristics of the generation.
There recently has been a lot of discussion about the Connected Consumer. Some of the early research suggests that they are a demographic of their own as the transverse several traditional categories. The good news is that Gen Y and the Connected Consumer expect many of the same things from their interactions. Some key questions to ask yourself are:
- How can I provide information to the consumer along their decision path?
- How can I bring customer reviews into the store?
- How can I create a personalized experience in products or services?
- Am I forcing other generations into uncomfortable social situations?
- Does the way I'm using technology make sense? Is it easy to use and clear what it is for?
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Digital Signage Advertising Hits Its Stride
By David Little
Director of Marketing, Keywest Technology The following is reprinted with permission from the Digital Screenmedia Association (DSA). For more information, go to http://www.digitalscreenmedia.org.
The latest data from PQ Media reveal 2011 was a good year for digital out-of-home advertising, and 2012 is on track to be even better. While stock markets around the world retrace, the financial picture of Greece and Spain flounders and the world holds its collective breath waiting to see if there'll be an attack on Iran and a spike in oil prices, there is a piece of outstanding economic news for those involved in the place-based digital media market. 2011 was a great year for digital out-of-home advertising, and this year is setting up to be even better. Data from PQ Media released in April show that global digital place-based networks, billboards and signage operators saw revenue grow by 15.3 percent to $6.97 billion last year. This year, the revenue figure is projected to be even better, growing 19.2 percent. In the United States, DOOH operator revenue climbed by 11.2 percent last year. According to PQ Media, an econometric research and consulting service in Stamford, CT, digital billboard operators saw double-digit revenue growth and operators of place-based networks saw a high single-digital rate of growth. According to the PQ Media "Global Digital Out-of-Home Media Forecast 2012-16," the compound annual global growth rate for the five year period will be 13.7 percent. Much of the revenue growth appears tied to a recognition of how important it is to reach consumers outside the home where they make purchases. "While TV remains the 800-pound gorilla of ad-based media due to its reach, scarcity and measurement, DPNs (digital place-based networks) offer brands opportunities to extend their reach by engaging target consumers with contextually relevant content in venues outside the home," said PQ Media CEO Patrick Quinn. Digital signage networks were one of the fastest-growing ad-based media in the United States last year. While PQ Media acknowledged a deceleration in the rate of growth in the second half of 2011 due to cyclical economic events, it found digital place-based networks experienced a revenue increase of 10.7 percent from 2006 to 2011. According to PQ Media, digital place-based networks are likely to benefit indirectly from the Summer Olympics in London and the U.S. political campaign this fall. Both traditionally inject significant revenue into local television stations as well as cable and broadcast networks. This time around, however, PQ Media foresees a scarcity of TV inventory. As a result, major brands squeezed off television could be forced to consider other video platforms, such as digital place-based networks, said Quinn. The latest revenue tally from PQ Media is another in a growing string of positive developments over the past couple of years for the digital signage industry. Together, they wins demonstrate that digital placed-based media is a viable and being taken seriously by companies with products to sell and the advertising agencies they hire. The growing availability of audience metrics for digital place-based media is adding a sense of legitimacy about this new medium for those who control where ad dollars get spent. The PQ Media ad revenue numbers, therefore, shouldn't be too surprising. Going forward, the next big test for this medium will likely be whether or not those responsible for buying ads will reallocate dollars from television to digital place-based media. With the possibility of too few available commercial slots on TV in the second half of the year, there might be a hint as to whether digital place-based media can begin taking on the "800-pound gorilla" and winning.
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Share Article Back to Top VISIX Wins NEC Display's Best of InfoComm Award NEC Display Solutions of America announced last week that Visix, the Georgia-based digital signage software provider, has won its 2012 Best of InfoComm Award. Visix will donate the $10,000 prize to The Hirsch Academy, an Atlanta-based organization that meets the educational and developmental needs of children with learning differences.
Visix won the award for its AxisTV Version 8.0 digital signage software, which includes a new user interface, new background library and 64-bit support for Microsoft Server 2008. It finished in the top five after a public voting period. The other finalists were Actineon, Inc., Dataton, Haivision and Revolabs. The winner was picked by a panel of four industry experts, including rAVe founder Gary Kayye. The other judges were Lyle Bunn of BUNN, Co., David Keene of NewBay Media and Chuck Wilson of NSCA.
Past winners of the NEC Best of InfoComm Award include Peerless-AV (2011), SpinetiX (2010) and Da-Lite (2009). 2009 was the first year the award was given.
For more information on the NEC Best of InfoComm Award, click here: http://best.necdisplay.com/
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Share Article Back to Top BroadSign is Sold BroadSign International announced today it has been acquired by JedFam Group, LLC (“JedFam”) almost three months after it filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in Delaware. The Bankruptcy Court recently approved a sale of BSI’s assets to JedFam, and BSI will emerge from bankruptcy as BroadSign International, LLC. Brian Dusho will remain as chief executive officer of the digital signage software provider.
“Today marks the start of a new chapter for BroadSign,” said Brian Dusho. “Thanks to widespread support from our lenders, customers, partners and friends, our operations have remained robust through this process.“
Mr. Dusho reported that BroadSign has experienced unprecedented growth in recent months. “I am especially grateful to our employees around the world whose continued hard work and focus have been instrumental in enabling us to reach this achievement and who will be important contributors to our future success,” he said.
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Tightrope Media Systems Adds Features to Carousel Tightrope Media Systems has updated its Carousel digital signage system to add local weather options (supporting multi-day forecast creation and text-based crawls from WeatherBug) and now operators can build forecasts with temperature information and graphics to visualize the sun, clouds, rain and other climate conditions. In addition, the company has added multi-lingual support with right-to-left text for Arabic, Hebrew and Farsi languages; and Asian-language word-wrapping for Japanese, Korean and simplified/traditional Chinese.
Here are all the details: http://www.trms.com/signage/carousel
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Share Article Back to Top AMD Launches Next-Generation AMD FirePro Professional Graphics Card for Video Walls AMD announced last week the immediate availability of the AMD FirePro W600 professional graphics card, a single-card solution capable of driving up to six displays. This is the company’s first professional graphics card to leverage AMD’s Graphics Core Next architecture and 28nm production technology for use in high-resolution, content-rich, multi-screen display wall environments. The AMD FirePro W600 Professional Graphics card includes: - Support for up to six high-resolution displays or projectors from a single-slot card and six mini-DisplayPort connectors
- 2GB of GDDR5 graphics memory for superior multimedia performance
- Support for two HD video streams via AMD’s Unified Video Decoder
- Projection overlap capability to create one seamless image, with planned support for projection edge blending and image warping in Q4 of 2012
- AMD PowerTune technology that dynamically optimizes power consumption during operation and AMD ZeroCore Power technology that provides reduced power consumption while idle
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Share Article Back to Top Planar Debuts Zero-Bezel LCD Displays Today Planar is announcing what it's claiming as the industry’s first infinity, zero bezel 60", 70" and 80” family of LCD displays, configured for multiple solutions within digital signage applications. Saying they were engineered from the ground up to be the digital signage displays for large format LCD needs, Planar says its UltraLux Series are all ADA compliant for indoor advertising, retail/corporate brand communications and large format way-finding applications. They really aren't totally bezel-less, but they do have the smallest bezel of any commercial LCD we've seen so far.
Every model is native 1080p, less than 3" deep and have a hinged mount and kickstand design to provide easy tilt-out access to electronics modules on the back. Each one features an edge-to-edge layer of Planar ERO glass that gives the display the appearance of having an “infinity edge” and protects it in high-traffic areas.
These are brand new debuting at today's InfoComm show. Go here to see the complete specs: http://www.planar.com/
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Arrive Debuts New 8" Room Scheduling Appliance Arrive claims to have an 8" room scheduling appliance in the form of the new InfoPoint ID 800, which includes the ability to reserve rooms via the Web interface, using MS Outlook/Lotus Notes mail client or make instant reservations right outside the door from the Infopoint device. The new device comes encased in a translucent epoxy glass enclosure with a unique reflective feature that is able to highlight the Free (green) or Busy (red) status indicator via LED arrays embedded inside the device electronics and which are controlled by the device software to visually highlight the room status.
We use the term "claims," above, as the company's claimed many products and installs, but has yet to give us the name of a single US-based client using any of its products in an install — we've been asking for nine months.
But, if you want to take a chance that this is a real, deliverable product, here are the specs: http://www.arrivesys.com/arrive/arrive-infopoint.php
Leave a Comment newest product is the the WE-IPAD2-SLV iPad 2 enclosure, aimed at digital signage applications using the iPad. Designed with a secure, yet accessible, tamper-resistant, housing with no visible hardware, the mount includes horizontal and vertical adjustment holes for mounting in either orientation in three different positions, as well as a symmetrical hole pattern for rapid mounting to a standard two-gang box, with no electrical drop needed.
A full view camera port, home button and speaker port for clear audio are all recessed into a .090” thin aluminum case and you can see all the specs here: http://www.fsrinc.com/products/we-ipad2-slv.htm
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Peerless-AV Launches Three LCD Kiosk Enclosures Peerless-AV will launch three new portrait and landscape-oriented flat panel kiosk enclosures at InfoComm. Peerless' two landscape-positioned kiosks, the KL540-S and the KL546-S, are both silver in color and designed for 40-inch and 46-inch ultra-thin televisions, respectively. The KP555-S, a portrait oriented silver kiosk, is for 55-inch displays. The simple-to-install KL540-S and KL546-S landscape enclosures are designed to blend with the surrounding environment. The KP555-S portrait kiosk features a hinged display mounting arm (for ease of access), with adjustments to the display made using eight tool-less adjustment points.
The KP555-S portrait kiosk features a slim profile and can accommodate several aesthetic add-ons, including vinyl wraps and acrylic trim. A cam-locked rear door secures all the gear.
Here are all the specs: http://www.peerless-av.com/en-us/professional/site_search
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Share Article Back to Top Chief Debuts Ceiling-Mounted LCD Mounts (Hang from the Ceiling) Chief will debut what it is calling a new generation of ceiling mounts that is meant for the new lighter LED-based LCD displays. This new line scales from mounting single displays to three-by-three display configurations. The single ceiling mounts include continuous tilt ranges with four set locking points (eliminating guesswork for leveling and positioning), have an easy on/off mount connection for ease of installation and service, tool-free screen engagement, optional padlock security, Centris technology to provide fingertip tilt and optimization for a wide range of display sizes.
The multi-display ceiling mounts include independent height, plumb and lateral shift adjustment knobs to help easily align displays (no tools required) and optimization for a wide range of display sizes. Models can be combined to create any menu board or video wall configuration up to three displays high. Available accessories include power management, secure storage and video conferencing shelves, plus computer and digital media player adapters.
These aren't on the Chief website, yet as they debut at InfoComm!
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Share Article Back to Top DSE Wants Seminar Presenters and Speakers Digital Signage Expo (DSE) is now accepting speaker proposals for its 10th anniversary educational conference, taking place Feb. 26-28, 2013, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. According to Richard Lebovitz, DSE editorial director, DSE organized 10 educational oversight committees comprised of industry experts who volunteered to recommend topics, review proposals and approve presentations for each of the eight tracks and three of the pre-show events in the DSE 2013 conference. These educational oversight committees will evaluate each proposal for its insight, perspective, relevance, usefulness and timeliness. While topics other than those recommended will be considered, the proposal must make a clear case for its inclusion. DSE is especially interested in proposals from end-users, network operators, ad agencies and brand marketers willing to share their real-world digital signage experiences.
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Share Article Back to Top Christie to Launch Multi-Touch Interactivity Kit The Christie Interactivity Kit uses a breakthrough technology that allows multiple users to interact simultaneously with content on any rectangular, large-format digital display. The Interactivity Kit is a Christie technology preview at InfoComm this year. This modular kit is reusable on different-sized rectangular displays, from a 3×1 up to a 12×6 Christie MicroTiles array, or a 9-square-meter video wall. It simply attaches around the perimeter of any large arrayed display and plugs into your computer’s USB port — without any need for drivers or manual calibration of sensors or cameras. Powered by Baanto ShadowSense, Christie Interactivity Kit has the resolution and speed needed to support finger-based gestures such as flicking, pinching, rotating and scrolling, plus reliable, accurate behavior that is critical to public and on-camera environments. Now integrators will have the high-performance technology to create a unique and engaging, interactive digital experience with a touch screen, large-format display. Multi-touch interactivity in an easy kit: Multi-touch performance with high accuracy, excellent resolution and a quick response rate in large-format applications. - Up to 18 touches on a 12 by 6 array (16 feet wide by 6 feet high).
- Ease of setup with USB connection and no drivers required.
- No manual calibration of sensors or cameras.
- Recognized by Windows 7 natively as a multi-touch device.
- Lightweight and small for easy shipment and installation.
- Seamless integration with Christie MicroTiles and Christie JumpStart.
For more information, go here: http://www.christiedigital.com/en-us/digital-signage/digital-display-case-studies/christie-videos/Pages/Christie-i-Kit.aspx
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Share Article Back to Top Visix APPOINT: Digital Signage Power Point Visix's new APPOINT isn't like Powerpoint for Digital Signage – IT IS Powerpoint for digital signage! APPOINT is software that is essentially a plug-in to MS Powerpoint, which allows you to use Powerpoint to build and schedule digital signage displays. APPOINT adds templates and graphics widgets to PowerPoint itself and then APPOINT adds in a software-based media player that turns the PC running PowerPoint into the DS player — oh, and you can still use the PC for other applications at the same time. APPOINT is perfect for small digital signage applications in schools (e.g., menus in cafeterias, weather and information for students and faculty), doctor’s offices, retail, menus and small office DS applications. These won’t put you to sleep.
Go here to see all the details of APPOINT: http://www.visix.com/infocomm.html
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Share Article Back to Top Mitsubishi Adds LED Edge-Lit 70" and 55" Commercial LCDs At InfoComm, Mitsubishi is debuting a new narrow bezel flagship display — the 70-inch MDT701S, as well as the 55-inch LED-lit LCD display, the MDT552S. In addition to having an OPS slot, they also come with built-in speakers that fire toward the bottom to eliminate sound reverberation, which often occurs with rear-directed speakers. They come with built-in Crestron Connected technology, which allows for point-to-point network management and control (users download free RoomView Express software). In addition, Mitsubishi's MDT701S and MDT552S LED monitors offer front- and rear-ambient light sensors that detect lighting conditions in two areas. These sensors adjust the monitor’s brightness level and balance based on the ambient conditions of the room.
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Share Article Back to Top Haivision Debuts CoolSign 5 Haivision today announced CoolSign 5.0, the latest version of its digital signage system. CoolSign 5.0 brings IP video to digital signage by integrating with Haivision's Furnace within the CoolSign player. CoolSign claims 5.0 is the only digital signage solution for a facility that can incorporate broadcast content without copy risk — a critical requirement of any content provider. Encrypted live HD channels can be displayed as a region or full screen on any player. The CoolSign player can also access Internet-based RTMP streams, assuring that even over a global network, any player can access live HD content. CoolSign 5.0 will feature a new, simplified Web-based management interface to upload, manage and distribute content from various devices, including iPad/iPhone, Windows and Android mobile devices. The intuitive, drag-and-drop Web interface takes advantage of touch-screen devices, making it easy for anyone from retail store managers to office administrators to add local content into digital signage carrying the corporate brand.
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Share Article Back to Top Panasonic Intros New Digital Signage Displays, Including Its First Video Wall Display Panasonic last week announced three new lines of professional LCD displays, including the LED 55” LFV50, the company’s first video wall product, the 70” and 80” LED LF50 Series, and the LF5, an entry-level digital signage LCD display. LFV50 Panasonic’s first LED video wall display features an ultra-narrow bezel for near seamless video wall installation. The 55” LFV50 display offers 800 cd/m2 brightness, a 5.3-millimeter gap between displays when mounted bezel-to-bezel and RS232C I/O control. Content can be displayed on the individual screens or shown across multiple displays. Panasonic says the display also features lower power consumption via an automatic dimmer that reacts to surrounding ambient light. The displays are designed to work in both portrait and landscape orientations. Users can daisy-chain the displays via DVI-D for easy digital loop-through of the video signal for up to a 5×5 video wall. The TH-55LFV50 will ship in November 2012. LF50 Series At 70” and 80”, the LF50 Series is the largest LED LCD Panasonic has ever offered. These displays offer 700 cd/m2 brightness and SLOT 2.0 architecture. It can be used in portrait and landscape orientations, and also features a space-saving design with a thinner depth than previous LF Series models. The TH-70LF50 and TH-80LF50 will be shipping in Q4 2012. LF5 Series Along with Full-HD resolution and a wide viewing angle, the LF5 Series features a slim bezel of only 0.7 inches (18 millimeters) in width, 500 cd/m2 brightness, external control (RS-232C) and VESA mounting. The TH-42LF5 (42" model) and TH-47LF5 (47" model) will be available in July 2012
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Share Article Back to Top Bally Total Fitness Enhances Prospective and Current Member Experience With Gesture-Based Bally Total Fitness was looking to engage its potential and existing members in a memorable way using cutting-edge display technology. Helios Interactive Technologies, in conjunction with Manifest Digital and SoftKinetic, created a no-touch, gesture-based platform designed specifically to suit the needs of the gym environment while simultaneously providing users with helpful in-depth nutritional advice and workout consultations to fun gaming-inspired applications geared toward enhancing each gym goers' experience. LOCATION: Bally Total Fitness, Chicago, Ill. PROVIDERS: Helios Interactive Technologies Inc., San Francisco, Calif.; SoftKinetic, Brussels, Belgium; Manifest Digital, Chicago, Ill. The software was changed fairly dramatically during the first week – the providers hadn’t counted on the sheer amount of traffic that they would get on the system, not only with those interacting but those watching the interactions taking place. CHALLENGES The challenge from a retail perspective was to create an experience that would not only surprise and delight existing members, but motivate new consumers to sign up. The providers deployed a technology that had really never been placed into a crowded public environment. They went from an ideal, lab-tested scenario “into the wild,” so to speak. Not only were the providers unsure of what they would find from an ambient environment perspective, but they were also introducing an entirely new user interface. Though it took some trial and error from a user experience perspective, and some tweaking necessary for the software to run properly, after about a week the deployment was tightened up, running smoothly and tremendously popular. The club staff has told Helios about the popularity of the display, and they believe that it will play a key role in increased membership and higher retention rates moving forward. SOLUTIONS The software was changed fairly dramatically during the first week – the providers hadn’t counted on the sheer amount of traffic that they would get on the system, not only with those interacting but those watching the interactions taking place. After several days of observation, it was obvious that some platform changes were needed, including adjustments to the standard distance people were standing to the screen (versus what had been expected). From a user experience perspective, Bally’s had the current members and prospective members equally excited by the new technology, and both sets continuously engrossed themselves in the various applications available to them. RESULTS The system has only been deployed for a few months, but the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive based on the anecdotal evidence. The club staff has told Helios about the popularity of the display, and they believe that it will play a key role in increased membership and higher retention rates moving forward. Bally Total Fitness plans to open 15-20 new clubs featuring the new platform.
This case study was reprinted with permission from Digital Signage Connection and originally appeared here.
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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).
Don't like us, then go away — unsubscribe! Just use the link below.
To send me feedback, don't reply to this newsletter — instead, write directly to me at gary@ravepubs.com or for editorial ideas: Editor-in-Chief Sara Abrons at sara@ravepubs.com
rAVe [Publications] has been around since 2003, when we launched our original newsletter rAVe ProAV Edition. rAVe HomeAV Edition, co-published with CEDIA, launched in February, 2004. rAVe Rental [and Staging] launched in November 2007. rAVe ED [Education] launched in May 2008. rAVe DS [Digital Signage] was launched in January 2009.
To read more about my background, our team, and what we do, go to https://www.ravepubs.com Back to Top Copyright 2012 – rAVe [Publications] – All rights reserved – All rights reserved. For reprint policies, contact rAVe [Publications], 210 Old Barn Ln. – Chapel Hill, NC 27517 – (919) 969-7501. Email: sara@ravepubs.com
rAVe DS [Digital Signage] contains the opinions of the author only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of other persons or companies or its sponsors. |
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