IRVINE, Calif., — You don’t need to be a graphic designer or IT expert to make effective and attractive digital signage.  Mitsubishi Electric Visual Solutions America, Inc. and Shuttle Computer Group, Inc. have created a new turn-key hardware, software and content system bundle that features everything you need to create compelling digital signage. No other display or media player company has offered such a combination of free professionally-designed graphics with a digital-signage-in-a-box hardware solution.

The bundle features one or two 42-inch or 46-inch commercial-grade Mitsubishi Electric LCD flat panel display(s), Shuttle digital media player(s) and all necessary cables. It also includes 90 days of free content management software and service.

“Our new partnership with Shuttle makes it really easy for people to migrate into digital signage, allowing them to quickly and easily install, connect and start using their signs right away,” said James Chan, vice president of marketing, Mitsubishi Electric Visual Solutions America, Inc. “They can create a visual feast for menus, advertising and other messaging and/or content in a virtual plug-and-play scenario.”

Many people feel they need technical proficiency in computers and artistic expertise for graphic design to create and use digital signage effectively. With 90 days’ free content management software and service, users can employ templates to quickly and easily create and display their content. And Shuttle offers on-line and or telephone support Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

“Our customers don’t need to be the experts — that’s why we’re here,” said Marty Lash, director, sales and marketing, Shuttle Computer Group, Inc. “With Mitsubishi Electric’s and Shuttle’s combined reputation for quality and excellence, we offer the best monitors, media players and design expertise to create a turn-key solution.”

The turn-key bundles (Mitsubishi Electric part numbers L422-STXS35, L422-2-STDS61, L462-STXS35, L462-2-STDS61) come with either one or two 42-inch (LDT422V) or 46-inch Mitsubishi Electric monitors (LDT462V) that can be set up in portrait or landscape formats. A networkable Shuttle media player (XS35V2-MITS or DS61V1.1-MITS) and associated cables are also included. The monitors offer a wide range of connectivity options, such as HDMI™ and DVI-D for clear, crisp video and audio transmission over a single cable.

The 90-day free service begins with activation of the digital signage player(s). At the end of the free service period, users have three options: 

1. •    Continue subscribing to an annual service contract for as low as $49.95 a month;
2. •    Discontinue the service and keep running the latest existing signage content; or
3. •    Remove the software, erasing all existing content and restoring the player to a standard PC, and then use other PC-based digital signage software, if desired.

“During your first 90 days, you can try new designs, update and upload new content, as well as experiment with digital signage to find out what works best, all with free content management service. No other bundle brings you this kind of flexibility,” added Lash.

The bundles are targeted for availability in June.  The hardware devices (monitors and players) come with Mitsubishi Electric’s and Shuttle’s standard three-year limited warranty on parts and labor. Terms and conditions apply.

About Shuttle Computer Group

Established in 1990, Shuttle Computer Group Inc. is the Los-Angeles-based American arm of the world renowned Shuttle Inc. Headquartered in Taiwan with an extensive worldwide network of subsidiaries, resellers, partners, and suppliers, Shuttle Inc. is recognized as a premier manufacturer of digital signage players, motherboards and barebones systems. Shuttle Inc. has received numerous awards and accolades from independent media and analysts, affirming the superior quality of Shuttle products and services.

About Mitsubishi Electric Visual Solutions America, Inc.

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mitsubishi Electric Visual Solutions America, Inc. is a US subsidiary of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation of Tokyo, Japan. Mitsubishi Electric Visual Solutions America manufactures and markets projectors, data wall display systems, LCD digital signage monitors and players, industrial printers, photo kiosks and digital photo printers.

For more on Mitsubishi Electric Visual Solutions America, visit http://www.mevsa.com. Connect with Mitsubishi on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/MitsubishiDisplays) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/MitsuDisplays)

HDMI is a trademark of HDMI Licensing. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.  

NoviSign, a digital signage software company, is celebrating two years of development in the signage world. Gil Matzliah, Co-founder and CEO of NoviSign, reflects on his experience in a fast-paced culture of constant innovation and entrepreneurship.

Dana: Gil, it must be so exciting to say that NoviSign is no longer an idea or thought. It has come to fruition and is a unique software service in the signage industry due to its bundling and all-inclusive services. What need did NoviSign seek to fulfill from its inception and what was lacking in the industry before NoviSign?

Gil: NoviSign was founded in April 2011, and in the past two years has grown tremendously and successfully expanded the market through our technology. From the onset, we targeted the signage world that, back then, had closed proprietary hardware players via network communication. We targeted IP-based digital signage forming an SaaS (software as a service) application that supported Android-based signage. At the end of 2010, the signage player was not a trivial endeavor. Android phones were ‘young’ platforms. The Android tablet had just started to reach the market and Google Android-based TV was only something experienced in early lab cooperation with Logitech on the player box and with Sony embedded in the TV. Planning to operate over an IP broadcast, we needed off-the-shelf Android players, which one can buy at a local shop, mount on the wall, and broadcast within minutes. In June 2011, we spotted the first Chinese Android player running Android 2.2 at the cost of 170 USD. We immediately started to work on that, and after six months of arduous work, the variety of players spread to dozens of devices with pricing around 100 USD per player. Today you can find a dual core CPU Android for less than 50 USD that is roughly the size of a USB stick. It is amazing to see how Android TV players are getting smaller, cheaper, and more efficient today.

Dana: NoviSign identified the Android Player as a winning business solution and platform before other signage companies, offering competitive pricing and package deals. Where do you see this technology trending, if at all, in the digital signage world in the near future? Will more signage companies adopt this technology as their hardware solution?

Gil: In recent months, I have seen many other signage companies moving to the Android platform as a player, which I think is a wise move. It seems like Android will dominate the market in the near future. As an open source software service, adoptable around the world, with low hardware cost, zero OS costs, great performance, and a wide selection of manufacturers, it seems like an obvious winning solution. In the future, we will also support an option for Windows-based players so that one can take a mini PC with Windows and use it as a NoviSign player. NoviSign will effectively offer both Android and Windows players and a mix of both, according a company’s needs.

Dana: What factors do you think primarily drive development in the signage industry and how does NoviSign positively influence these components?

Gil:The main winning components we consider in designing our service are simplicity and innovation. As a start-up company, we are committed to thinking faster and clearer. We don’t try to follow market trends but instead try to set them. On the other hand, to create state-of-the art software with a small percentage of highly capable users would miss the point. We mostly target the SMB market segment, and I believe we must keep NoviSign SaaS simple and accessible.

Dana: Can you share with us more about NoviSign support for Screen-Smart Device Interaction (SSI)?

Gil: We have just launched two new widgets based on screen-smart device interaction (SSI): the Game Widget and Poll Widget. Using the Poll widget, you can easily create an online poll, broadcast it to your screens, and have your customers interact with the technology through real-time polls and voting activity. The interaction between the smart phone and the venue through the screen will gain exponential popularity in the coming months. I believe customer interaction will become a common implementation for companies utilizing consumer feedback. Businesses can broadcast their message to the screen from anywhere to anywhere and let the audience scan the QR code on their phone to take part in transforming the environment they are visiting in real-time. This also enables companies and businesses to be creative with how they use SSI. I’ve seen companies offer rewards and discounts on their screens, which reinforces customer loyalty and customer referrals.

Essentially, digital signage gaming is a ‘Game Changer’ in this industry. The simplicity of setting up a fun interactive activity, which in turn changes the shopping, waiting, and visiting experience, has multiple implementation options, regarding which, I am confident our customers will show the most innovation and creativity.  

Dana: NoviSign has also been developing several new widgets in the past few months to give customers an even broader selection of features and technologies. What widgets have proved to be the most popular and useful for businesses in engaging with their consumers?

Gil: We continue to develop widgets based on feedback from the field in addition to what our Product and Creative Teams generate. The RSS and weather widgets are the most popular recently, and, as mentioned, we just came out with the Game and Poll widgets, which are now gaining lots of traction. We are planning ‘Social Apps’ widgets (Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and others) and in the future, we might open up our ‘Widget Store.’ The ‘Widget Store’ would allow users to design their own developed widgets that could then also be used by others. Today, community OS is a growing trend. This may further expand our customer base by integrating a social component with our start-up’s innovative culture and development.

Dana: Where do you see the signage market going in the next few years and what would you say will be NoviSign’s role in this?

Gil: As prices of signage components continue to decrease and as performance improves, we will see digital signage grow as an industry and as part of companies’ business platforms. Unlike the signage of the last decade that was static, this signage will be dynamic and interactive, allowing customer engagement via mobile phones, driven by the availability of wireless data communication that is LTE-based. Additionally, Android- based smart screens that have superior performance and distinctive pricing enable business owners to change traditional ways of marketing through the Web and bring marketing into the workspace with real-time interaction and updates broadcasted on the screen. NoviSign is positioned as a leading player in this novel signage world where customers are engaged on a daily basis.

Dana: What are NoviSign’s primary goals moving into the second half of 2013 and where do you see NoviSign as a company growing in the next five years?

Gil: Our immediate goal is to expand our product to provide full signage capabilities on low- end Android devices. Together with recent innovative widgets and enhanced reporting and user management capabilities, I believe we’ll be able to enlarge our partner base and ideally position our company to begin our next phase.

Dana: Gil, thank you so much for your time and for sharing information on NoviSign Digital Signage’s short and long-term goals. I am looking forward to following your company’s impact in the signage world and am sure businesses will continue to look to NoviSign as a trendsetter in the signage world.

For more information about NoviSign, please visit the company website at: http://www.novisign.com/

To contact NoviSign, please direct emails to: info@novisign.com

“Visual interface” is focus of new stream for the annual SID Market Focus Conference at Display Week 2013

CYPRESS, Calif. – Christie®, a world leader in visual display technology, is pleased to announce that Dr. Paul Salvini, its Chief Technology Officer, will be a keynote speaker and a panelist at the High Performance Displays Conference taking place in Vancouver, B.C., on May 23.

High Performance, per se, is a new topic for the Society for Information Display’s (SID) Market Focus Conference Series this year, as part of Display Week 2013, located at the Vancouver Convention Centre from May 19 to 24. Dr. Salvini will deliver the 10:00 a.m. keynote address for the morning session on the 23rd at the one-day High Displays Conference, where the focus will be on the “visual interface” – the performance characteristics of displays that enable differentiable improvements for the user’s visual experience.

Following his keynote address, Dr. Salvini will be one of four display sector leaders taking part in a moderated panel called “Great Thinkers.” The four panelists will be challenged to identify the display performance parameters that “truly enable enhanced human interaction with display devices.”

Dr. Salvini is eminently qualified to discuss the future of high performance displays. At Christie, he is CTO and leads the company’s research and innovation activities. He is passionate about the creation of compelling shared visual experiences across multiple domains, including cinema, visualization and simulation.  Prior to his appointment with Christie in June 2011, Dr. Salvini was CTO at Side Effects Software. He has led a 3-time Academy Award winning team of engineers and software developers in advancing the art and science of visual effect in feature films.   

Dr. Salvini is President of the University of Waterloo Alumni Council and holds an appointment as an Adjunct Professor in the Graduate School of Computer Science at the University of Toronto.  He serves on a number of boards relating to digital media research in the areas of graphics, information visualization and 3D film innovation.

In conjunction with Display Week 2013, the May-June issue of SID’s official publication, Information Display Magazine, will feature an exclusive article by Terry Schmidt, Christie’s recently retired Chief Scientist, on how Christie projected the world’s first High Frame Rate (HFR) movie with the world premiere of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” at the historic Embassy Theatre in Wellington, New Zealand.

In the bylined article, Schmidt documents how he led the Christie team that planned and installed Christie CP2230 projectors, complete with integrated media blocks, at the circa 1924 theater last November. This in-depth, four-page article summarizes the effort required to enable the first showing of a major motion picture in vibrant, bright High Frame Rate 3D, which involved Christie’s leading DLP Cinema® projection technology, advanced sound and screen equipment, and earthquake and wind projection.

About Christie®

Christie is a global visual technologies company and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ushio, Inc., Japan, (JP:6925). Consistently setting the standards by being the first to market some of the world’s most advanced projectors and complete system displays, Christie is recognized as one of the most innovative visual technology companies in the world.  From retail displays to Hollywood, mission critical command centers to classrooms and training simulators, Christie display solutions and projectors capture the attention of audiences around the world with dynamic and stunning images.  For more information, visit www.christiedigital.com

Turnkey Menu Board Solution Makes it Easier and More Affordable Than Ever for Restaurants to Go Digital

Cambridge, UK, – BrightSign, LLC®, the market leader in digital signage players, is launching the BrightSign XD Smart Menu Board, an all-in-one, integrated digital menu board solution for fast food outlets, coffee shops and restaurants. The BrightSign XD Smart Menu Board is simple and inexpensive to implement, and even easier to update with the free iPhone / iPad App. It is being launched in Europe at European Sign Expo, London ExCeL Centre, 25-27 June 2013 (stand T18N), a joint stand with its distributor Pixels.

Fast food restaurants, coffee shops and other catering outlets are increasingly adopting digital menu systems as they are flexible, professional and attractive to customers. BrightSign is making the transition to digital much faster and simpler, with a comprehensive package that provides operators with everything that they need to quickly and easily convert to a digital menu board system.

“Digital menu boards allow establishments to provide customers with a really stunning, professional image at the point when they are ordering their meal. They can also be readily updated with daily specials, new pricing and to comply with new food labelling regulations as they emerge,” said Jeff Hastings, BrightSign’s CEO. “By packing all the necessary components into an affordable, easy-to-implement solution, our new XD Smart Menu Board is the perfect solution for any restaurant that’s resisted the urge to go digital due to the cost and complexity associated with other less-than-elegant or overly complicated digital menu board offerings.”

XD Smart Menu Board is a comprehensive package that includes everything a restaurant needs to quickly and easily convert to a digital menu board system, including:

• Full HD, commercial-grade LG display, available in 42- or 47-inch configurations
• BrightSign XD digital signage media player professionally mounted on the display
• Free BrightSign App to easily make content updates via iPhone/iPad
• Content templates developed with HTML5 and tailored to the restaurant’s brand

The BrightSign XD Smart Menu Board package is based on the new XD player - the industry’s first solid-state digital signage media players with PC-class performance, which will be shown at European Sign Expo. The BrightSign XD product line boasts a trio of players that offer the features and functionality of PC-based solutions, but with greater cost-savings and reliability than their PC-based counterparts. In addition, BrightSign XD players offer HTML5 content support which is ideal for dynamic menu board creation and a small, slim footprint and almost no heat emissions, making them simple to deploy in small and unconventional spaces where other digital signage solutions simply wouldn’t be possible. Alongside the new XD players, BrightSign will also be exhibiting its existing line of HD models at European Sign Expo. BrightSign players have a track record of reliability that far exceeds PC-based solutions – delivering reliable performance with near-zero downtime.

BrightSign is partnering with Red Dot Digital Media to offer customers attractive templates that work seamlessly with the BrightSign App for menu updates, and are easily adapted to match the company’s brand and restaurant motif. The restaurant simply supplies Red Dot with logos and other corporate ID assets and Red Dot creates a customised, branded menu system. Once deployed, the restaurant can update menu content via the BrightSign App on iPhone/iPad.

About BrightSign

BrightSign, LLC is the market leader in digital signage players. Based in Los Gatos, California, the company develops products, software and networking solutions for digital signage. BrightSign solid-state digital sign controllers set new standards for both stand-alone and networked digital signage applications with their superior video quality, reliability, affordability, ease of use and interactivity. Online information about BrightSign units is available at www.brightsign.biz  For US sales inquiries, please contact sales@brightsign.biz  or call +1-408-852-9263.For European sales inquiries, please email Pierre Gillet: pgillet@brightsign.biz  or call +44-1223-911842. Follow BrightSign at http://twitter.com/brightsign and http://www.facebook.com/BrightSignLLC.
 
BrightSign and the BrightSign logo are registered trademarks of BrightSign, LLC in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Specifications subject to change without notice.
 

Scala Enterprise is the next major release of the Scala Digital Signage Software Suite
 
Exton, PA, – Scala announces the debut of their latest digital communication software, Scala Enterprise. Scala leveraged 25 years of experience and continuous innovation to craft a customer experience engine like no other.

“We’re excited about the latest evolution of our software. Our engineers have made this our most innovative, easy-to-use, stable and secure release to date. With the intuitive user interface, flexible integration options and ability to completely customize this powerful tool to meet their unique challenges, Scala users are inspired to produce high quality digital signage solutions that create an immersive brand experience for their customers or employees,” said Tom Nix, CEO, Scala.

Earlier this year, Scala provided early access to select partners, showcasing the redesigned interface in addition to many new features and improvements. The feedback was extremely positive and led to further refinements. In addition to a more user-driven design and improved workflows, under the hood this release includes a dramatic expansion of our existing APIs, HTML5 and Android player support, expanding options for Scala's current and future customers.

Scala’s intelligent signage solution, Scala iS, will also be offered with Scala Enterprise. Aimed at retailers and quick service restaurants needing optimized digital content at the point of decision, Scala iS uses “big data” and predictive analytics to drive targeted, personalized customer engagement.

“Scala delivers highly-tailored solutions that revolutionize the way companies communicate. Interactive, immersive and personalized experiences are an imperative for creating a strong brand or company culture,” said Harry Horn, VP of Marketing, Scala. “Our newest release enables rich, engaging digital communication out of the box, while also allowing highly customized solutions that exceed even the most specific or complex needs.”

Scala Enterprise maintains the proven hallmarks of their robust platform, expertly crafted and innovated over the last 25 years:

• Flexible - Integration with existing systems, capable of supporting a wide range of interactive and dynamic content
• Customizable - Never limiting a customer's creative freedom, adaptable to enable any content dreamt up
• Scalable - Run one screen, or tens of thousands all from a central location. A track record of proven results from single display installations to enormous global networks
• Stable - Scala systems are rock solid. The digital signage software provider with one of the largest QA staffs in house and a platform that has been constantly refined over 25 years to perform flawlessly

You can find more information on Scala Enterprise at http://scala.com/enterprise

About Scala

Driving more than 500,000 screens worldwide, Scala is the world leader in location-based media designed to actively and intelligently influence human behavior. We love creating intelligent digital signage solutions that move products, consumers, and sales metrics. Scala solutions increase sales, improve brand loyalty, optimize customer transaction times, and reinforce business objectives. Scala is headquartered near Philadelphia, Pa., and has subsidiaries in The Netherlands, France, Norway, Germany, Japan and India, as well as more than 500 partners in more than 90 countries. For more information, visit: scala.com or their blog. Connect with Scala via Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Wireless Ronin Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNIN), a leading digital marketing technologies solutions provider, has received a 2013 Digital Screenmedia Association (DSA) Industry Excellence Award for its Burgerville installation.

The 2013 DSA Industry Excellence Awards recognize the best projects using digital signage, mobile, self-service and interactive kiosk technologies. Wireless Ronin was honored with the 2013 Best Restaurant Deployment Award for its installation at Burgerville, a quick service restaurant chain with 39 locations in the Pacific Northwest.

Wireless Ronin’s installation included flexible digital menu boards capable of displaying different menu boards depending on the time of day. Also installed were digital promotional boards that communicate details about local community happenings, upcoming special events and seasonal menu offerings, plus a digital community wall featuring user generated content and messages.

“Our new digital signage solutions provide an innovative platform to engage our restaurant guests who are able to upload their own content to our new ‘community wall’ via Twitter and Instagram,” said Jeff Harvey, Burgerville’s President and CEO. “This type of meaningful interaction with our guests and the local community serves as a great example of new ways for our restaurants to build and deepen relationships.”

Scott Koller, president and CEO of Wireless Ronin, added: “We are honored again to receive this award, which reflects the continued advancement of our digital marketing solutions not only in the QSR industry, but across our other verticals as well. We met Burgerville’s unique needs by integrating consistent brand messaging, day-parting menus and promotions across multiple screens. At Wireless Ronin, we are committed to continuously improving our digital marketing solutions and work hard to provide our customers with the most innovative, engaging and dynamic content.”

More information, including a video, can be viewed here.

About the Digital Screenmedia Association (DSA)

DSA is an independent, not-for-profit trade association whose purpose is to advance the growth and excellence of the global digital signage, interactive kiosk and mobile community through advocacy, education and networking. Members include users of digital screenmedia in all vertical markets, as well as manufacturers, resellers and distributors of hardware and software, network operators, integrators, advertising agencies, consultants, analysts, publishers, tradeshow organizers and service companies. See www.digitalscreenmedia.org.

About Wireless Ronin Technologies, Inc.

Wireless Ronin Technologies, Inc. (WRT) (NASDAQ:RNIN) (www.wirelessronin.com) is a marketing technologies company with leading expertise in current and emerging digital media solutions including signage, interactive kiosks, mobile, social media and web, that enable clients to transform how they engage their customers. WRT provides marketing technology solutions and services to clients, helping increase revenue and improve operating efficiencies to execute marketing initiatives. Since launching RoninCast® digital signage software in 2003, WRT has led the digital signage industry by bringing leading edge technology, services and support to its clients. WRT offers an array of services to support its clients' marketing technology needs including consulting, creative development, project management, installation, training, and support and hosting. The company's common stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "RNIN." Follow the company on Twitter (http://twitter.com/wirelessronin) and Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/rnin/) and “like us” on Facebook (www.facebook.com/WirelessRonin) under Wireless Ronin.

About Burgerville

Established in 1961, Burgerville is an innovative and industry-leading restaurant company with 39 locations throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. 1,500 employees strong, Burgerville provides guests fresh, great-tasting food all day every day from breakfast to late-night snacks based in its mission “serve with love.” At Burgerville, the commitment to fresh, local and sustainable values is about helping people and communities thrive. For more, please visit burgerville.com.

Pioneer of large-format any size, shape, or curvature LED displays names technology industry veteran Rick Bortles to the newly created position of Vice President of Global Channel Sales.
 
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, — Marking the first anniversary of its entry into the systems integration market, NanoLumens expanded its commitment to the channel with the announcement that it will introduce an expanded channel sales and marketing program led by technology industry veteran Rick Bortles, who has just joined the company in the newly created position of Vice President of Global Channel Sales.
 
“Over the last 12 months we have experienced extraordinary interest from all types of commercial AV integrators who want to integrate NanoLumens displays into their system solutions,” NanoLumens President & CEO Rick Cope said today. “In order to maximize our management of this rapidly growing market an expanded systems integration sales, education, and support program that is dedicated to meeting the needs of a select group of distributors, representing different market segments and geographic regions. To lead this effort, I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Rick Bortles to the newly created position of Vice President of Global Channel Sales.”
 
Reporting directly to NanoLumens Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing Brad Childress, Rick Bortles assumes immediate responsibility for the development and implementation of all NanoLumens systems integration sales, training, and support programs around the world. “Our goal is to have a comprehensive channel program in place by the end of the third quarter,” Childress said today. “Rick is exactly the person we need to create an engaged network of select commercial AV integrators, value added digital signage software solutions partners, and key AV consultants. He will provide the sales, training, and support this network requires to perform at the highest possible level. Rick is a growth centric sales leader that helped to build a sales and service company with over 15,000 OEM's across North America, Europe, Japan and Asia. He is going to make a major contribution to the future success of NanoLumens.”
 
Indeed, Rick Bortles brings nearly 30 years of senior sales and executive leadership in the technology industry to NanoLumens, including serving for 22 years as President and CEO of ELCOM Inc., a leading semiconductor sales firm, and Southeast Regional Sales Manager at Sprague Semiconductor. Bortles was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1981.
 
“I am tremendously excited to have the opportunity to put my experience and skills to work for NanoLumens,” Bortles said today. “I am looking forward to meeting our customers and partners and creating a world class channel program that generates significant revenue for NanoLumens and its partners.”

NanoLumens’ technology has been named ‘Best Large-format LED Display’ of the year by Signage Solutions magazine in its 2012 Product of the Year awards program, as well as being recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as a 2011 future-proof tech trend and cited by The Wall Street Journal in its 2010 Technology Innovations Awards.  NanoLumens’ technology also received the 2011 Breakthrough Technology of the Year Award at the American Technology Awards.  Digital Signage Magazine awarded the NanoLumens NanoFlex a 2011 DIGI Award for “Best New Display Device – Non-LCD or Plasma.”
 
About NanoLumens:

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, NanoLumens, Inc. (www.nanolumens.com) is a privately held corporation engaged in the research, product development, marketing and sales of unique flexible and fixed large-format LED display solutions in any size, shape, or curvature, that address a yawning technology gap in the $14 billion digital display industry. Since its founding in 2006, NanoLumens has built a portfolio of more than 20 international families of issued and filed patents on its flexible display technology that effectively address the commercial market void between relatively small flat-panel displays and huge, limited application LED boards. NanoLumens technology is not constrained by standard sizes and shapes, or by the weight, heat, noise and cost issues traditionally associated with commercial LED products.

Network-enabled signage simplifies remote updates, saves energy

LOS GATOS, CA – BrightSign, LLC®, the market leader in digital signage players, today announced that Argo Tea, a Chicago-based chain of specialty tea cafés, has installed a total of 78 BrightSign network-enabled digital signage players to deliver high-definition menu boards at the company’s 26 cafés located across the globe. Argo Tea uses the networking capabilities of BrightSign’s controllers and BrightSign Network Manager to remotely update prices and menu items on the 78 menu boards from its headquarters in Chicago.

"BrightSign's digital signage players enabled us to consolidate management of our entire network of digital menu boards," said Simon Simonian, Argo Tea's Co-Founder. “For example, updating seasonal menu items from company headquarters centralized a process that created efficiencies and cost savings.”

Argo Tea’s triple-board menu displays use three ultra-compact BrightSign media players discreetly hidden behind slim 46- and 52-inch monitors for each location in Chicago, New York City, St. Louis, Boston, Beirut and Abu Dabi. The menu board for Argo Tea’s Signature drinks displays looped content featuring high-resolution photos of its Signature drinks, loose leaf tea varietals and coffee beverages, all highlighting pricing and calorie count for the various sizes. Other zones in the displays are used to showcase Argo Tea’s seasonal specials, loyalTea program and chariTea partner.

With Argo Tea cafés open an average of 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, reliability was a key requirement when selecting BrightSign’s digital media players. Cost, ease of use, scalability and the ability to control their own content and updates were also top priorities that influenced the decision to go with BrightSign.

BrightSign’s market-leading digital signage solution includes the hardware, software and networking capabilities for a complete, turnkey system that eliminates compatibility issues and makes digital signage very easy to deploy. In less than a month, Argo Tea was able to take its Chicago-based pilot from concept to design and then to deployment. Within six months, the BrightSign-based digital menu boards were up and running at 21 locations. Following this initial deployment, BrightSign-based menu boards were later deployed in other US cities, as well as new international locations. The players are fully scalable, so displays can be easily upgraded as Argo’s needs change. Priced significantly lower than PC-based solutions, BrightSign’s solid-state platform ensures high reliability because it has no moving parts to fail. With a power requirement of only about 3-5 watts compared to 70-90 watts for the average PC, it also uses substantially less power. For additional energy savings, BrightSign presentations can be programmed to power the displays on and off according to the business hours of each Argo Tea café location.

Argo Tea designs, develops and manages the content for all of its locations at its headquarters in Chicago. Using BrightSign Network’s secure, Web-based application, Argo can add and manage content for all 78 BrightSign players remotely. One feature that simplifies this task for Argo is the ability to organize the players into groups. For example, when different cities have different pricing, it requires certain menu board images to be different, but Argo can group these updates rather than having to send them individually.

The BrightSign digital signage controllers used by Argo include the free BrightAuthor software application. This makes creating, publishing, managing and monitoring digital signage displays easy – even for non-technical users. BrightAuthor optimizes one of the key advantages of BrightSign digital signage by offering flexible scheduling and day-parting (scheduling the display of content for specific times throughout the day). With day-parting, the cafés can automatically change the menus displayed according to the time of day, delivering a more personalized experience and ultimately increasing sales.

Pricing & Availability

BrightSign players are available from the BrightSign store. Models range from $250 - $700. Distributor pricing is available upon request. BrightSign’s BrightAuthor software application runs on all late-model PCs and is included free of charge.

About BrightSign

BrightSign, LLC is the market leader in digital signage players. Based in Los Gatos, California, the company develops products, software and networking solutions for digital signage. BrightSign solid-state digital sign controllers set new standards for both stand-alone and networked digital signage applications with their superior video quality, reliability, affordability, ease of use and interactivity. Online information about BrightSign units is available at www.brightsign.biz. For US sales inquiries, please contact sales@brightsign.biz or call +1-408-852-9263. For European sales inquiries, please email Pierre Gillet: pgillet@brightsign.biz or call +44-1223-911842. Follow BrightSign at http://twitter.com/brightsign and http://www.facebook.com/BrightSignLLC.

About Argo Tea

Argo Tea, Inc. is a Chicago-based food and beverage company responsible for pioneering the innovative tea café concept. We are passionate about bringing teas directly from growers around the world, and blending them into unique and delicious signature beverages and teas. We are committed to being a sustainable business by working with the best local and global tea, coffee, and food artisans, and by contributing back to our communities to promote a healthy lifestyle and the conservation of natural resources. We are dedicated to delivering consistent quality and a genuine customer experience "one customer and one cup at a time," and to providing the "Argo experience" through our innovative approach of rediscovering the diversity and tradition of teas. Our signature drinks are made with all-natural “ingredients with purpose”. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, we are proud of our Chicago heritage. We have retail partners across the globe, and our cafés are located in Chicago, New York, St. LLouis, Boston, and Beirut. Our products are available for distribution, foodservice, retail, and hospitality companies in the U.S. and internationally. Learn more at www.argotea.com.

BrightSign and the BrightSign logo are registered trademarks of BrightSign, LLC in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Specifications subject to change without notice.

Global technology company to demonstrate solutions that help restaurants control costs and increase revenue

DULUTH, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) will focus on ‘the life of a transaction’, for restaurants of all types and sizes at the upcoming National Restaurant Association (NRA) show in Chicago where the company will showcase the latest in restaurant technology innovation. Show attendees can experience NCR’s exhibition of software, hardware and solutions at Booth #6229 at the tradeshow, which is being held in Chicago at McCormick Place on May 18-21, 2013.

    “Our ‘life of a transaction’ theme reflects the intimacy of a restaurant environment while providing ease of flow and customer engagement. We invite attendees to see first-hand what technology can do for their restaurant.”

“We run the everyday transactions that make your life easier – whether you are a chef, manager, owner, server, cashier or consumer. At our core, we help restaurants control and contain their costs and increase their revenue,” said Kim Eaton, senior vice president and general manager of NCR Hospitality. “This year at the National Restaurant Association’s show we’ll be exhibiting technology and solutions that enable restaurants to operate with efficiency, manage a profitable business and engage consumers.”

NCR’s booth will be divided into three primary solution areas to make it easier for attendees to find the restaurant technology solutions relevant to their business needs. Several new solutions and expanded functionality of existing offerings will be on display, including:

Solutions that help restaurants operate at peak efficiency

        NCR Aloha Mobile, an extension of our Aloha Table Service point-of-sale software, allows restaurants to easily and securely deploy mobile POS software technology for tableside ordering and payment.
        NCR Guest Pad is an iPad® application which provides mobile wait list and reservation support for restaurants. The innovative stand-alone app delivers a simple way to manage walk-in, call ahead and reservations parties on the wait list.

Solutions that help restaurants manage a profitable business

        NCR Real-Time, a versatile mobile application, delivers actionable, real time information to an owner or manager’s smart phone or tablet, enabling them to make smart decisions quickly.
        NCR Labor is a solution designed to efficiently and effectively plan, schedule and track labor activity in a restaurant.
    Solutions that drive sales and loyalty by directly engaging consumers
        NCR Mobile Pay is an application that enables consumers to take action instead of waiting. Restaurant patrons can easily review an order, add to it, tip and pay, and take a survey – all directly from their smartphone.
        NCR Digital Menu Boards is a state-of-the-art, high resolution signboard for advertising and promotions, digital menus, and more.

"We believe that by blending our expertise in restaurant technology with an equal commitment to optimizing efficiencies in all areas of a restaurant, NCR is the best positioned technology provider to bring an integrated total solution for restaurants," said Eaton. "Our ‘life of a transaction’ theme reflects the intimacy of a restaurant environment while providing ease of flow and customer engagement. We invite attendees to see first-hand what technology can do for their restaurant."

About NCR Corporation

NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is the global leader in consumer transaction technologies, turning everyday interactions with businesses into exceptional experiences. With its software, hardware, and portfolio of services, NCR enables more than 300 million transactions daily across the retail, financial, travel, hospitality, telecom and technology industries. NCR solutions run the everyday transactions that make your life easier.

NCR is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia with over 26,000 employees and does business in 180 countries. NCR is a trademark of NCR Corporation in the United States and other countries.

Web site: www.ncr.com

Twitter: @NCRCorporation

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ncrcorp

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ncr-corporation

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/ncrcorporation

iPad, is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

DSA, the leading non-profit association for digital signage, interactive kiosks, mobile and self-service, names Bill Lynch of Reevex to president position and elects other officers.

Dallas, TX: The Digital Screenmedia Association (DSA) Advisory Board elected new officers for the 2013-2014 term during its biannual meeting recently. Bill Lynch, vice president for mobile and self-service transaction company Reevex was named DSA president. Lynch assumes the role from Jared Miller, vice president, travel & gaming solution management for NCR Corporation, who will now serve as immediate past president.

Other officers elected include:

• Executive Vice President – Marketing: Paul Flanigan, vice president, Pro-Motion Technology Group
• Treasurer: Janet L. Webster, president, Creative Solutions Consulting
• Secretary: Margot Myers, director, global marketing & communications, Platt Retail Institute

DSA has a council for digital signage, mobile and self-service kiosks and each council also elected its representatives:

• Executive Vice President – Digital Signage: Craig K. Martin, owner, Reality Interactive
• Vice President – Digital Signage: Jennifer Nye, channel manager – wholesale, Kohler Co.
• Executive Vice President – Mobile: Steve Gurley, president & CEO, Pyrim Technologies
• Executive Vice President – Self-Service Kiosk: Ron Bowers, senior vice president, Frank Mayer & Associates
• Vice President – Self-Service Kiosk: Craig Keefner, media manager, Connected Technology Solutions

“Having been active in the digital screenmedia industry for over 10 years, I have witnessed the transformation of disconnected technologies into an industry that is transforming our world,” said new DSA President Bill Lynch. “The DSA has successfully transitioned from disparate associations into a unified organization. Because of the foresight of our association members, we have been able to successfully merge mobile, digital signage and self-service technologies. I speak with customers and partners in all three of these areas on almost a daily basis. The DSA is the only organization that brings together all aspects of these industries. I am committed to helping the DSA grow and expand on our great achievements.”

New 21.5" projected capacitive chassis display delivers high-performance multi-touch interactivity for today’s public environments

METHUEN, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--3M Touch Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of 3M Company, today announces the availability of its newest high-performance multi-touch display designed specifically for interactive public applications, the 21.5-inch 3M™ Multi-Touch Display C2167PW. This commercial-grade chassis display is ideal for heavy-use applications that need high-performance multi-touch interactivity (20 touches, each at an ultra-fast 8 millisecond touch response rate), high-definition graphics (1920x1080 resolution and 178 degree viewing angles), and sleek, flat front surface industrial-design capability. In addition, the C2167PW chassis display is specifically designed for high-use public environments with a robust all-metal housing and an anti-glare touchscreen finish to help ensure premium image quality in public lighting environments. Complementing the C2167PW chassis display’s commercial-grade design is its integration versatility which enables vertical (landscape or portrait) or horizontal installations in walls, kiosks, tables and other housing fixtures.

“The C2167PW chassis display is an important addition to 3M’s multi-touch display offering,” says Diego Romeu, global business unit manager, 3M Electronic Business Solutions. “This new display helps satisfy our customers’ need for a commercial-grade, high-performance multi-touch display solution with a stylish flat front surface look and full HD resolution.”

The 3M Multi-Touch Display C2167PW is based on 3M projected capacitive technology – the same touch technology found in smart phones and tablets – and features a stylish flat front surface design that makes it an attractive addition to any professional or retail environment. The C2167PW chassis display is plug and play with the multi-touch capabilities built into Windows 8 and other popular programming languages.

The 3M Multi-Touch Display C2167PW and the rest of the 3M Multi-Touch Display line is available from these leading U.S. distributors: BlueStar, Ingram Micro, ScanSource, SYNNEX, and Tech Data, popular online retailers, and 3M’s online store, www.Shop3M.com.

For additional information on 3M Multi-Touch Displays, visit www.3m.com/multitouch.

3M Touch Systems provides innovative touchscreen technology products to customers worldwide under the “3M” and “MicroTouch” brands. Popular single-touch, dual-touch and multi-touch applications include casino gaming, foodservice, hospitality, industrial, interactive digital signage, healthcare, retail point of sale and self-service. For more information about 3M and MicroTouch products, visit www.3M.com/touch01. For an overview of popular touch technologies and terminology, visit www.touchtopics.com.

About 3M Touch Systems Inc.

3M Touch Systems Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of 3M and provider of innovative touchscreen solutions, operates globally and reports through 3M Electronics & Energy Business Group, headquartered in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.3M.com/touch. More information about 3M Company is available online.

3M is a trademark of the 3M Company.
All other trademarks listed herein are owned by their respective companies

Multi-touch interactivity for any large format display, indoor and outdoor LCD panels, and imaginative projection mapping deliver picture-perfect displays

BALTIMORE, Md. – Christie® presents a diverse collection of visual display solutions at the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) MuseumExpo, taking place May 20-22 at the Baltimore Convention Center. The Christie booth is showing projection display products that can be works of art in themselves, and serve as versatile tools for museums to enhance the visitor experience – including interactive displays where patrons can curate their own tours.  

Among the display solutions is 11 feet wide by 6 feet tall Christie® MicroTiles® video wall featuring Christie Interactivity Kit in an educational space that will captivate visitors.  

Christie Interactivity Kit – A Touch of Brilliance

The Christie Interactivity Kit is a modular solution that transforms nearly any large-format display into a multi-touch surface.  The field-installable kit simply attaches around the display wall perimeter and plugs into a computer USB port without the need for drivers. Windows® 7 automatically recognizes the Christie Interactivity Kit as a multi-touch device and no manual calibration of sensors or cameras is required. Using breakthrough Baanto™ ShadowSense™ technology, Christie Interactivity Kit offers excellent performance with high touch accuracy and fast response times that support up to 18 touches on a large-format display.

Configurable into 84 different sizes, the kit accommodates practically any video wall up to 21.4 feet wide and 6 feet high, or a 16-units wide  by 6-units high Christie MicroTiles array. The kit is part of a special display at the celebrated Cleveland Museum of Art, which features a 40-foot wide multi-touch screen comprising two 15-units wide by 5-units tall Christie MicroTiles video walls using Christie Interactivity Kit and a smaller interactive ‘Line and Shape’ Christie MicroTiles display for children to engage with that also uses Christie Interactivity Kit.

Christie Fills Customer Needs With Both Indoor and Outdoor Flat Panels

Also on display is the Christie FHD551-X. This full HD 55-inch indoor LCD flat-panel features a super narrow bezel width of 5.5 mm, LED backlighting, high pixel density and a wide viewing angle. With the Christie FHD551-X, images on the nearly seamless tiled video wall look sharp at any distance allowing you to convey your information with controlled brightness that’s suited for a variety of indoor environments.

Christie recently introduced the Christie WeatherAll FHD551-W. The outdoor LCD flat panel is a sleek, weatherproof digital signage solution (IP56/NEMA 4 rated) featuring optically bonded glass for increased protection against harsh impacts and scratches in public display environments while enhancing viewability in outdoor venues by reducing reflection. It is designed to provide high contrast ratio, rich vibrant colors, and superior brightness to overcome high ambient light — making it perfect for outdoor use.

Christie Projection Mapping – Radiant and Vibrant Images on any Surface, any Shape

Christie is demonstrating projection mapping featuring colorful and exciting images thrown on a mini-pyramid; illustrating the wide range of complex artistic displays made possible using blending and warping technology. The mapping demonstration will utilize a Christie HD14K-M.

Projection mapping is an exciting technique using specialized software and other technologies to warp and blend projected images so they fit perfectly on irregularly-shaped buildings, interior spaces and natural landscapes. It delivers the ‘wow factor’ and is a cost-effective way to transform virtually any surface or structure into a breathtaking canvas where size, scope and content are limited only by the artist’s imagination.

Christie’s projection mapping technology helped transform Ottawa’s famed Parliament Hill with a rich and engaging display that attracts more than 250,000 visitors annually with the gripping  narrative of Canadian history via the National Capital Commission’s sound and light show, “Mosaika – Canada Through the Eyes of Its People.”  

About Christie®

Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ushio, Inc., Japan, (JP:6925), designs, builds and installs customized projection display solutions. Christie® delivers turn-key solutions for sophisticated virtual reality, simulation systems and control room environments including high-resolution power walls, multi-sided immersive environments, curved screen displays, domed simulation and multi-projector arrays. Industries and organizations that rely on Christie range from government agencies to oil and gas, aerospace to entertainment, and manufacturing and design to pharmaceuticals. For more information, visit www.christiedigital.com.

Dollar to upgrade its ATM fleet with advanced NCR software and hardware

DULUTH, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) today announced that it is growing its relationship with Dollar Bank. Beginning this summer, Dollar Bank will begin replacing 60 older non-NCR ATMs with NCR’s most advanced deposit-taking ATMs, NCR SelfServ™ with scalable deposit module. All of Dollar Bank’s ATMs will run on NCR APTRA™ Edge software for multivendor ATM environments.

NCR SelfServ ATMs with scalable deposit module (SDM) make the deposit portion of an ATM transaction twice as fast. SDM is the only technology in deployment that allows consumers to deposit both cash and checks simultaneously, in any orientation, through a single slot. This consumer-friendly technology makes ATM deposits faster and easier, and helps banks improve the customer experience. In addition to the SDM units, Dollar also is replacing 10 older ATMs with traditional NCR SelfServ ATMs.

Dollar Bank also has decided to run its ATM network using NCR APTRA multivendor software. According to the most recent report from London’s Retail Banking Research (RBR), NCR is the world’s #1 provider of multivendor ATM software.

“Prior to our roll out of our video ATMs, Dollar Bank had never worked with NCR. But it quickly became clear to us that NCR shares Dollar’s passion for finding innovative ways to deliver great customer service,” said Jim McQuade, Senior Vice President of Retail Banking, Dollar Bank. “Through NCR’s advanced ATMs and the software that brings the customer experience to life, we are giving our customers more access to financial services in a modern and dynamic environment. NCR has a clear vision for technology’s role in the future of retail banking.”

Dollar Bank began using NCR video ATMs, APTRA Interactive Teller, beginning in July 2012. At Dollar Bank, these units are referred to as Personal Teller Machines (PTMs).

“We’re pleased that we’ve been able to grow our relationship with such a well-respected and forward thinking financial institution,” said Adam Crighton, vice president and general manager of hardware, NCR Financial Services. “Dollar Bank customers will soon be able to enjoy state-of-the-art self-service banking that is fast and easy to use. Being able to deposit cash and checks together is just one of the ways NCR is making everyday life easier for banks and their customers.”

About Dollar Bank

Dollar Bank is the largest independent mutual bank in the nation with assets of more than $6 billion. Today, Dollar Bank operates more than 65 branches and loan centers throughout the Pittsburgh and Cleveland metropolitan areas. Utilizing PATs is the latest customer innovation from the bank that first introduced Pay-By-Phone telephone banking in 1976. In February 1997, Dollar Bank was the 17th bank in the country to offer Online Banking, and shortly thereafter its Online Banking service was included in the 1998 Computerworld Smithsonian Innovation Collection. In June 2007, Dollar Bank was the first bank in the region to offer Text Message Banking. In June 2008, Dollar Bank introduced Mobile Online Banking and in 2009, introduced applications for the iPhone, Android and Blackberry phones. In 2010, Dollar Bank further enhanced its text message banking service by adding bill payment to the service. For 157 years, Dollar Bank has grown to become a large, full service, regional bank committed to providing the highest quality of banking services to individuals and businesses. Dollar Bank is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

About NCR Corporation

NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is the global leader in consumer transaction technologies, turning everyday interactions with businesses into exceptional experiences. With its software, hardware, and portfolio of services, NCR enables more than 300 million transactions daily across the retail, financial, travel, hospitality, telecom and technology industries. NCR solutions run the everyday transactions that make your life easier.

NCR is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia with over 26,000 employees and does business in 180 countries. NCR is a trademark of NCR Corporation in the United States and other countries.

Managing mobile devices used as mobile point-of-sale, kiosks, digital signage or any other purposed use case is very different than managing personal devices.

Download this infographic and answer these questions to see which management platform is right for your mobile deployments.

Provided by MokiMobility

Signage Templates is an easy-to-use template library with hundreds of pre-designed layouts for digital menu boards and other restaurant signage requirements

STERLING, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--High-definition digital signage systems industry leader Mvix today announced Signage Templates, a web-based content creation tool for the foodservice marketplace. Restaurant owners can now create professionally designed menu boards, information, and marketing signage screens by accessing Mvix's extensive cloud-based digital template library. Developed to extend Mvix's Brand Signage, a new Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering that meets larger, enterprise requirements such as those for franchises and mass retailers, Signage Templates reduces the Content Management System process to three simple steps and provides a real-time publishing option for the smaller-scale restaurant owner or end user.

"The ability to project professionally designed digital signage content and maintain brand continuity all while proactively meeting daily changes is priceless," said Wing Zone Co-founder and CFO Adam Scott. "It's refreshing to have a partner like Mvix that understands the dynamic nature of restaurant marketing across all types of end users. Signage Templates exemplifies this understanding."

Mvix Vice President of Global Sales Ross McClymonds said, "We are excited to bring Signage Templates to the foodservice marketplace. Our R&D team has worked tirelessly to ensure that the web-based content offering is easy to use, so that the digital screen communicates the brand identity and information that each restaurant owner wants customized to their own specifications."

Availability & Pricing

Signage Templates is immediately available to Mvix members. Membership is free and requires a simple online registration. Signage Templates provides three publishing models: Web URL, Image URL or Download Image. Restaurant owners can choose the best method for their signage system, fund their account, and publish. The Web URL feed is a subscription-based plan that allows automated (real-time) updates on digital signage screens that support cloud-based URL feeds. Anytime the sign is updated on Signage Templates, the screen will automatically be updated upon refresh.

For information and to receive a live demo of Signage Templates, visit the Mvix booth #6666 at NRA 2013 at the Chicago McCormick Place, May 18--21, 2013.

About Mvix

Founded in 2005, Mvix is the market leader in hi-definition digital signage hardware and software systems applicable across many vertical markets. www.mvixdigitalsignage.com.

ONELAN will be showing their solutions for education and retail at the NEC Showcase in the Tobacco Docks in London on Thursday 16th May 2013.

Henley on Thames, United Kingdom--(PR.com)-- In the Retail zone, ONELAN will be demonstrating Player Synchronisation with a 4K Video wall driven by four Retail Media Players (RMPs) and a ONELAN Net-Top-Box (NTB) Publisher.

In the Education zone, ONELAN will be showing its NTB with a Data Collection Engine (DCE) driving content to a projector in full HD.

ONELAN is a global leader of digital signage and IPTV solutions and a proud investor in UK engineering talent. The company develops high quality, innovative solutions for all types of screen-based communications for applications including retail, advertising networks, corporate communications, education, health, public signage and hospitality.

With a solid foundation and long history of profitable growth, ONELAN is headquartered in the UK, with offices in South America, China and Germany. ONELAN has over 300 partners in 50 countries. The business has received numerous awards since its foundation in 2000, including most recently the AV magazine Digital Signage Project of the Year and the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade.