Coming soon to a UK town near you...

The goal of the roadshow is to show AV integrators, CTO’s, CIO’s and shop-owners real live total solutions for: Retail, Healthcare, Corporate, Education, Transportation and Hospitality.

Between 12 June and 21 September 2012 the Digital Signage Road Show will tour through the UK; 15 locations, nine partners and six signage applications.

The exhibition suite contains Philips displays: ranging from standard LCD, high brightness, touch, 3D to video wall displays. All displays are connected to the AOpen Engine Core server rack that includes the AOpen Digital Engine media players which are based on the Intel platform and Windows Embedded 7 operating system.

Net Display Systems digital signage software PADS runs on all the systems using data integration and intuitive content management to display the content at the right place and time.

This year #ScreenmediaExpo seemed a bit smaller than last year’s exhibition and as Adrian Cotterill has continued to complain explain, the main reason seems to be that partners are collaborating and sharing booth space. Nevertheless the show offered a unique product selection and it was interesting to see more complete solutions on offer all over the show.

Whether you are looking for a complete solution or if you would like to know more about a specific topic we look forward to seeing you somewhere on the UK tour.

Visit www.digitalsignageroadshow.com and register to one of the events or contact a partner for more information.

The competition aims to highlight the innovation and creativity of its partners, as well as giving NEC a deeper insight into how people use its displays and related systems.

Images for the Application Picture competition can be submitted across several sectors, namely digital signage, rental & staging, colour, healthcare, future office and education.

Each business partner can submit a maximum of five pictures for each sector. Pictures must be submitted before 31 August 2012, and all entries will be showcased in an online eGallery on the SolutionsPlus partner portal.

“This competition is a great way for our partners to show off the work they do with their customers, and the most creative ways they are implementing our technology. This also gives us tremendous insight into how our products are used, helping to shape future designs and features,” said Neil Hartigan, Channel Director at NEC Display Solutions UK.

He added “Not only are participants in with a chance to win one of the most popular smartphone’s in the world, but they can also pick up some fresh ideas about how others are using NEC display solutions to benefit customers.”

Here’s our entry below taken at VISCOM Frankfurt back in 2010…

A panel of judges will select the best entry per sector and the winners will be announced in September 2012. Each winner will receive the most current iPhone available at that time.

The file size of any uploaded image must not exceed 10MB and terms and conditions of participation apply.

The Geneva based company renowned for its networks of screens across Europe’s most prestigious ski resorts and across the Gulf Arab region, tell us that they spent last Winter studying the possibly of creating interactive campaigns: screens and smartphone applications etc.

You can see a short animation presenting their concept by clicking here.

But new technology at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Vineland, Ontario, is working to help decode consumer choices and grow market share for Canadian products.

Here, researchers are studying eye movement to see what packaging, and particularly what horticultural products draw consumers’ eyes. Dr. Isabelle Lesschaeve, research director, consumer insights and product innovation, and Dr. Ben Campbell, horticultural economist, are breaking new ground in the application of eye tracking technology to products such as ornamental plants, flowers, wine, fruit and vegetables.

“Eye tracking technology gives a detailed behavioural understanding of what consumers really want opposed to what they say they want, a common challenge with the traditional survey approach,” says Dr. Lesschaeve. “With this technology, we are able to see exactly what consumers are looking at during their shopping experience. This information provides valuable insight for growers and retailers into how to develop successful marketing and pricing strategies.”

The first eye tracking program at Vineland is part of a larger ornamental and vegetable plant study that will collect data from consumers at six locations across North America. Collaboration between Vineland, Purdue University, Michigan State University, Texas A&M University, University of Minnesota and University of Florida will provide information on consumer attitudes, behaviours and demographic characteristics.

For this study, Vineland is specifically concerned with labelling and the display of ornamental and vegetable plants. Information will be gained on where best to put information on a display or label to better attract the consumer’s attention. The study will also determine if consumers in Ontario vs. the United States are using different visual cues to purchase an ornamental or vegetable plant.

“Understanding the marketplace and the consumer is essential to building a healthy and sustainable horticulture industry,” says Jim Brandle, CEO of the Vineland Centre. “Growers in Canada produce some of the best fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants in the world. Using eye tracking technology will help horticulture businesses focus their marketing strategies and most importantly maximize product value and market share. Vineland is investing in this technology and the related expertise for the long-term,”

In this initial phase, the eye movements of consumers in the Burlington and Niagara regions are tested via photos and scenarios shown on a computer screen rather than on digital signage. However, we’ll be watching to see how it progresses and how it translates for marketers.

Kony plans to use the funds for operations growth, sales and marketing programs and regional expansion. Earlier this month, the company announced that it had become the first mobile platform provider to support the new MasterCard PayPass Wallet Services.

Kony is the mobile application development platform provider of choice for the world’s largest IT organizations, including more than 70 Fortune 500 companies, the largest global bank, and many of the U.S.’s largest airline, automotive and insurance companies.

The company announced that it completed its fiscal year (ended March 31, 2012) growing more than 200% in bookings and adding more than 30 major new global customers, including, among them, Aetna, CIBC, Scottrade and Sun Life Financial.

The new contract continues the positive momentum for local and national businesses at one of the busiest U.S. airports, and allows Clear Channel Airports to add a full range of digital displays to the high-quality static displays it already has in place at the airport.

As part of this new contract, CCA will complement its current advertising opportunities with its ‘Next Generation’ initiative, which provides new high-tech advertising options at the airport through innovative digital displays and new technology such as synchronized digital displays and in-terminal touch screens.

Both national brands and local and regional businesses will have additional choices and capabilities to capture the attention of the millions of air travelers who go through the airport every year.

Clear Channel Airports will install 76 new LCD screens at strategic points throughout some of the most highly trafficked areas of the airport. This innovative digital technology offers advertisers new options and flexibility to address the different goals of their marketing campaigns.

Among Clear Channel Airports’ additions to the airport will be eight synchronized 55” vertical digital panels that will display dynamic advertising and digital art. CCA is also implementing 13 70” double-sided LCDS in all domestic baggage claims and spectacular 50 sq. ft. digital walls on the overhead arches of concourses B and C.

“This is an exciting time for Clear Channel Airports as we are taking our partnership with the Philadelphia International Airport to a whole new level with the integration of digital throughout the airport,” says Toby Sturek, president of Clear Channel Airports. “We have the opportunity to offer advertisers dynamic new technology and creative displays to showcase their brands and messaging. Together with Philadelphia International Airport, we are creating the future of airport advertising.”

The premiere airport advertising company in North America, Clear Channel Airports’ programs serve as a catalyst for promoting tourism, economic development and community support for local airports. Clear Channel Airports is currently implementing over 200 airport programs throughout North and Central America, the Caribbean and the Pacific Rim.

Concourse 3, Artist's impression

Scheduled for completion at the end of 2012 and due to open in the first quarter of 2013, Concourse 3 will comprise 11 floors and an annual capacity of 19 million passengers, boosting the airport’s total capacity to 75 million passengers each year.

Designed for the exclusive use of Emirates airline, it will become the world’s first Airbus purpose-built A380 concourse. Taking up a total built-up area of 528,000sqm, Concourse 3 will feature 33 aircraft access points (20 of which will be jetbridge contact gates), two luxury hotels and 11,000 sqm of retail space.

Under the terms, DAT has agreed to an upfront payment of $250,000 US, in exchange for 230 licenses for iSIGN’s Smart Antenna and related Interactive Marketing Solutions 3.1 software, for a period of three years. In addition, DAT will receive exclusive rights to the territories of Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. iSIGN will receive $1,095 in licensing fees per unit per year.

To satisfy DAT’s desire for an ownership position in the Company, iSIGN will grant to DAT, 250,000 options, with pricing still to be determined, subject to the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors and the TSX – Venture Exchange.

“We initially met with the DAT Media people at the DSE trade show this past March,” said Alex Romanov, iSIGN’s CEO. “DAT has a very good reputation in Australia and a strong client base. We feel that our software will be an excellent fit with DAT’s products and cliental.”

“We were very impressed by what we saw at the DSE show in March and were very encouraged by our testing of iSign’s IMS software and Smart Antenna earlier this month,” says Andrew Becker, managing director, DAT Media. “We believe that this technology has great potential and have had positive feedback from the clients with whom we discussed the IMS system.

“iSIGN’s technology is innovative and provides for the measurement of the delivered messaging to consumers. We strongly feel that iSIGN’s technology will be both well received and successful.”

“We are pleased that DAT expressed a desire for an ownership position in the Company as it indicates their strong belief in iSIGN’s products and future success,” says Romanov. “This is the second of four licensing agreements that we are currently negotiating.”

DAT’s products and services include: digital signage, in-store radio, kiosks, touchscreen technology, customer queuing systems, interactive gesture control systems, SAAS based content management systems, media sales, social media integration and creative content production. DAT’s clients include Australian government owned retail operations in addition to some of the largest retailers, hospitality and licensed premise operators in Australia.

In addition to the Australian news, iSIGN Media and Boston-based Carroll Advertising, an independently owned and operated advertising company, also announced the successful conclusion to their previously announced licensing letter of intent. The companies have completed testing of iSIGN’s Interactive Marketing Solutions 3.1 software and related Smart Antenna.

“Carroll has completed its testing of our system and has agreed to move forward with the $250,000 licensing purchase,” says Romanov. The Company expects to take delivery of the initial portion of its total build of 1,000 Smart Antennas within the next two weeks, with the remaining balance being delivered by mid June.

“Once Carroll has its units installed and generating metrics, we expect to see a dramatic increase in interest in iSIGN’s IMS software throughout the US,” says Romanov.

Carroll specializes in out-of-home and digital out-of-home advertising. It claims to have been the first company in Massachusetts with digital billboards and has expanded into the digital out-of-home marketplace with digital signage, including locations on ferries serving Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.

In a meeting, an NEC representative can demonstrate the company’s newest displays; discuss the capabilities that organizations are asking for from industries such as retail, hotels, airports, education, and more, as well as talk about the technological advancements that are driving market sales.

An NEC representative can also talk about VUKUNET, the universal ad serving platform that drives ads to any digital out-of-home network, regardless of content management system. See and meet NEC Display Solutions at booth C6819.

During the sweepstakes GSTV will air promotional content on the network encouraging viewers to enter the sweepstakes by simply dialing **GSTV (**4788) from any mobile phone.

Each day during the program period 10 callers will be randomly selected as a winner of a USD 50 gas card. Win or lose, daily entries will automatically put callers in the running for the grand prize.

In addition to the sweepstakes, GSTV viewers will also be able to receive access to promotions such as mobile app downloads, coupons and videos.

GSTV is the exclusive network provider of the StarStar technology in the gas space, and its custom promotional platform program is the first time the technology has been used in such a manner.

“What better way could there be to launch **GSTV than rewarding our viewers with the chance to win free gas,” said David Leider, CEO of Gas Station TV. “And this is just the beginning,” he continued. “We are thrilled to be partnered with StarStar to provide this unique technology and are excited about the additional value will be able to offer our consumers.”

“We’re delighted to see StarStar put to use in such a creative way,” said Joe Gillespie, President and CEO of StarStar from Zoove. “The simplicity, power and reach of the StarStar platform makes it a great solution for GSTV to offer the on-the-go consumer valuable offers and opportunities.”

No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win the **GSTV (**4788) sweepstakes. See Official Rules at www.gstv.com/giveaway for complete details.