Zytronic today announced that its ZYBRID touch sensors, equipped with projected capacitive technology (PCT), have been integrated with Taiwan-based Sunvision Technology's ViViMirror interactive self-service display.

Morgan Wen, COO for Sunvision, says the ZYBRID technology was essential to the ViViMirror's functionality:

PCT's unique ability to function through an overlay material, in this case mirrored glass, coupled with ZYBRID's customization capability and drift-free performance, together with excellent local project support, have been central to enabling us to deliver this significant innovation. ViViMirror allows customers to stylishly conceal a full-function touch display until the moment it is required and is already generating high levels of interest from the home appliance and retail markets. The product can be customized depending upon the application and additional functionality including RFID, and fingerprint recognition can even be incorporated into the system.

The conference and expo's purpose was to create a communications platform for the self-service industry and we believe that we succeeded in this effort. Consensus was that it should become an annual event, so we have commenced planning for next year's event. However, as successful as the conference was, there has been a feeling that the industry needs additional communications, marketing and information platforms.

The kiosk industry Web portal and resource center is dedicated to providing information and promoting professional solutions for kiosk suppliers, manufacturers, products, services and other related technology applications. It will contain a directory of participating vendors, suppliers and solution providers and will feature product information in its virtual showroom, under a variety of categories. It will have a news gallery, featuring local and international kiosk news, case studies and white papers. It will also host special product launch, new technology or future vision pages.

BizCommunity.com says other sponsors of JustTouchIT — The Forum include South African digital signage company Public Display Technologies and kiosk solutions provider iOmeida. The Web site says other international kiosk players, including IBM, are expected to participate in the initiative.

• The fundamental differences between digital signage and interactive applications
• What each approach can learn from the other
• Where the boundaries for conversion are likely to be and why
• How these items impact decision-making and infrastructure

Successful digital signage implementations require the collaboration of a number of disciplines. Understanding how these disciplines interact and overlap is the first step to developing a sound strategy to incorporate a digital signage network that aligns with the company's specific business objectives. Our hope is that our attendees gain valuable insights from these discussions that can help them make informed decisions and move forward with more successful deployments.

Empower is very pleased to have been selected by the BC Sports Hall of Fame when they were looking for a new generation of interactive kiosks… . The BC Sports Hall of Fame has taken initiative to be the first museum of its kind to implement this display technology. The project is a true partnership and illustrates how technology can assist in bringing sport history to life.

For as long as most of us can remember, when we visit a new destination the primary source for local information has always included a hotel's leaflet dispenser. Working with MuchMore, we looked at the model and recognized there were many ways to offer better user choice and operational and commercial benefits.

OnSite Media, a maker of interactive technology for the travel vertical, and Showcase Technology, a hospitality technology provider, have announced a partnership to provide interactive kiosks for more than 20,000 hotel locations.

According to a news release from the two companies, the new kiosk application will combine OnSite's Concierge "automated travel assistant" and Showcase's NetStop software system. The kiosks will feature a 24-hour digital concierge and special offers, discounts and incentives from advertisers.

Pual Rajewski, CEO of Showcase Technology, says the partnership represents a milestone for the OnSite Concierge application:

The new software package that bundles OnSite Concierge with NetStop enhances our capabilities to better serve the needs of our customers, such as hotels and airport business centers. It is also the first time that OnSite Concierge has been available in Europe and Asia.

The partnership is a three-year agreement, according to the release, and all existing NetStop customers will be offered the OnSite concierge as a free upgrade to their current services.

The two companies also will exhibit the new product at next week's Best Western North American Convention in Phoenix.

The interactive exhibits are designed to be accessible to a broad audience and stimulate knowledge through play. … We created interactive, game-like simulations that will allow visitors to manipulate an environment and see the outcomes of their actions. This hands-on approach to education is becoming more commonplace as museums and research centers are encouraging the development of the next generation of scientists.

Touchscreen wayfinding is the natural progression from what currently exists in the large majority of the U.K.'s hospitals, airports and shopping centers, as it provides a user-friendly and logical method of navigation. However, due to the length of time and associated costs of updating any element of the interactive maps, many organizations have been reluctant to invest. With Way 2 Go, we think we've developed a market-leading touchscreen wayfinding application with advanced functionality and the ability to change an environment in minutes. This is wayfinding 2.0.

Animal Planet prides itself on rich, engaging content, and these kiosks are no exception. ZOOTUBES will not only inform and entertain zoo-goers nationwide, they will remind visitors that exciting animal programming can be found 24 hours a day on Animal Planet.

U.K.-based Zytronic, a display technology manufacturer, has announced its selection by digital media company Yeahpoint for an interactive project with Singapore-based telecom operator SingTel.

According to a news release from Zytronic, SingTel will use Zytronic's ZYBRIB touchsensor technology in interactive touchscreen terminals that will feature information about SingTel's full range of products and services.

Zytronic says the project also will include touch-enabled interactive tables with 42-inch ZYBRID touchsensors tied to rugged glass overlays that allow customers to download items from an extensive library of music, games and videos. Zytronic says the tables also provide the SingTel staff with a customer-validation and queue-management system.

Matt Cudworth, chief technology officer for Yeahpoint, says the rugged and flexible design of Zytronic's technology is well-suited for a retail environment:

ZYBRID is a much more rugged and versatile touchscreen solution compared with those offered by alternative technologies, and it can deal with the often harsh treatment that has to be expected in a store environment. The countertops and tables are particularly susceptible to everyday wear and tear – visitors to the store may drop heavy shopping bags on them, spill drinks or accidentally scratch the surface with jewelry, for example. If another touch technology had been deployed, there would have been the risk of damage to the touchscreen by such occurrences, leading to downtime and ultimately a poor customer experience. Furthermore, the design flexibility that ZYBRID offers meant that we could specify different size formats to suit the window and counter display requirements.

Carnival Dream's on-board social network mirrors the experience one finds on other social networking sites. Guests can create a personal profile and use the application to meet and interact with others on-board, send and receive private messages, create groups based on interests and invite friends to attend shows or participate in on-board events. Guests can also create their own private or public discussion group, inviting others in their traveling party or friends they meet on-board to participate.   Designed as a convenient resource for wide-ranging information specific to the Carnival Dream, the intranet portal details the ship's numerous on-board activities, including entertainment options, daily events and youth programs. Carnival Dream's extensive food and beverage offerings are showcased with sample menus, hours of operation and more. A filtering application is available to assist guests in planning their day.

Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium has implemented a $50 million renovation to its popular Oceanarium exhibit, which now features two interactive kiosks developed by media design firm Mightybytes.
 
According to news from the Digital Signage Expo, one of the kiosks features a maneuverable claw that visitors can use to pick up items such as shells and stones embedded with RFID tags that trigger education animation on the kiosk’s screen. The other kiosk is housed in a small submarine and allows visitors to select different ocean animals, which activates a sonar screen that produces an educational video about the animal.
 
Tim Frick, the founder of Mightybytes, says the company was thrilled to have participated in the renovation:
 
   
"When you’re working on a project-within-a-project such as this, there are so many variables to work with — it can get really complicated. But that’s also what makes it so fun. We’re proud to have had a part, even a small part, in this exciting renovation."

 
In addition to the kiosks, Mightybytes developed an animated video of a South African penguin habitat that is displayed on a 25-foot by 15-foot screen on a custom rockscape.

WLNE-TV, Providence, R.I.: The Massachusetts State House has plans to construct an interactive memorial, meant to honor local servicemen who have died in combat. The memorial will include a large-format, flat-screen display and an interactive touchscreen kiosk on which visitors can search for the names and hometowns of past soldiers. The state is expected to debut the memorial in 2010.
 
Click to continue

TEMPE, Ariz. — Phoenix Kiosk Inc. is pleased to announce the completion of a joint venture with the Arizona Beef Council to create a kiosk solution that focuses on education, nutrition, retail and foodservice promotion at the Pheonix Zoo.

“The Arizona Beef Council project allowed us to demonstrate several areas of expertise, including outdoor technology deployment, software development and interactive marketing content development,” said Alan Work, president and chief executive of Phoenix Kiosk Inc. “Marketing the health benefits of beef products using educational games is another great example of the nearly limitless possibilities of self-service kiosks and their application.”
 
According to a news release, the Arizona Beef Council partnered with Phoenix Kiosk to produce both the hardware and software for the project. The end result was the installation of two Pravannt wall-mounted kiosk units in the Phoenix Zoo Harmony Farm to promote education to children. The kiosks allow children to interactively receive education about the zoo’s animals while navigating through the many different animated games created by Phoenix Kiosk.
“Working hand-in-hand with Phoenix Kiosk enabled us to market creatively and directly to the people we want to reach,” said Anna M. Aja, director of public relations and marketing for the Arizona Beef Council. “This was my first experience with interactive marketing technologies, and Phoenix Kiosk helped to make the process very easy and the final product very effective.”

MONTREAL — ITESmedia, a digital out-of-home solution-development and deployment specialist and creator of the IMMOmedia DOOH system, has announced the launch of IMMOmedia DIRECTORY.
 
According to a news release, IMMOmedia DIRECTORY is an interactive wayfinding directory that is made for deployment in office buildings and allows fast and easy access to building tenants and company employees. Users can search for a tenant or employee by category or name and obtain company information using the kiosk’s touchscreen.

ITWeb: Vodacom, a provider of mobile communications and other services in Africa, is set to unveil a series of interactive kiosks that aim to attract and provide information to tourists in South Africa. The kiosks will showcase the “best of” the country and provide a focal point of information for visitors, in a bid to grow South Africa's reputation as a friendly and world-class destination.
 
Click to continue

Digital Signage Expo: Tandberg and .advancedMethod have combined their respective technologies to develop the Instant Expert/Translation Station, an interactive video kiosk that variously serves as a connection to live experts or digital signage. The kiosk/video station will allow instant video contact with a subject expert or an interpreter at the touch of a button.
According to Seattle-based .advancedMethod, the system offers a retailer, mass transit hub or any other customer-facing facility the ability to have an “instant expert” on hand at any time. It can be used anywhere a retailer or organization needs more of a presence without hiring additional employees. The companies will demonstrate the product at InfoComm 09 next week.
 
Click to continue

BLAYDON ON TYNE, England — Display technology designer Zytronic has applied its in-house glass processing capabilities and ZYBRID PCT-based touch sensors to enable ACE Interactive, a subsidiary of Aristocrat Leisure Ltd, to create the Indago video lottery kiosk for increased interactivity and excitement in lottery and casino games.

In addition to the Zytronic technology, Aristocrat’s Gen7 platform is a key component in the Indago solution. The Gen7’s advanced game engine features an Intel Embedded processor, which provides the power to drive richer game content with outstanding new features, while providing a perfect host for ongoing developments in server-based gaming.

Indago uses a dual 22-inch widescreen display to enhance the appearance and increase the playing features of modern game terminals. The upper screen captures attention and shows the state of play with stunning visual effects, while the lower touch-enabled screen allows each player to select and play a variety of games. The front panel is designed and manufactured as a complete unit for easy integration with the TruServ system.

By working closely with the Indago design team from the outset, Zytronic has created a stylish pure glass front panel with touch-sensor functionality embedded only in the lower display area, using its proprietary projected capacitive technology (PCT)-based touch sensing. Utilizing ZYBRID’s customization options, ACE Interactive was able to design a unique, bezel-free user interface, with discreet touch-sensitive and non-touch zones. The unparalleled level of durability offered by PCT, in comparison with other available touch-sensing technologies, allowed ACE Interactive to confidently offer customers a low-maintenance, reliable, touch-controlled unit for use in a wide variety of public areas.

“Zytronic has fulfilled our entire requirement for the Indago front panel, as a one-stop solution comprising many highly advanced concepts,” said Michael Koch, CEO of ACE Interactive. “Its overall quality also helped us to meet important acceptance criteria, such as EU emissions, immunity and safety standards.”

ZYBRID is drift-free product, which means that recalibration should not be required during the display lifetime. Its pure glass-fronted design provides a high resistance to damage and chemicals and, coupled with a zero-bezel design, easily can be wiped clean.

Unlike other touch technologies, a PCT touch sensor has no front-face-active elements, instead using an array of microfine capacitors — each one a fraction of the diameter of a human hair — laminated behind a protective front surface. This provides an extremely high light transmission and a strong, sealable and damage-resistant glass touch surface.

The Indago front panel uses Zytronic’s patented 64-channel touchscreen controller, which is designed for large format and widescreen displays. By providing inputs for 64 individual sensing elements, the new controller maximizes touch resolution throughout the entire area of Indago’s lower 22-inch screen.

“At ACE Interactive, we are committed to utilizing the most advanced technologies to enhance experiences for the gaming community,” Koch said. “Zytronic, with its outstanding knowledge and capabilities, is a perfect fit with our approach, and has played a major role in helping to develop Indago as a highly innovative product delivering unprecedented value for our customers.”

ACE Interactive has supplied Norsk Tipping AS — the Norwegian national lottery company — with TruServ, the company’s server-based gaming solution, which includes an exciting portfolio of ACE Interactive and Aristocrat games and the Indago kiosk. Norsk Tipping plans to roll out 6,500 Indagos between August 2008 and 2010.

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Tyco Electronics’ Elo TouchSystems exhibited a range of new touch technologies at this week’s Society for Information Display International Symposium, Seminar and Exhibition in San Antionio.
 
Elo’s latest innovations include IntelliTouch surface acoustic wave and CarrollTouch infrared technologies, as well as acoustic pulse recognition, or APR, technology that allows the touch performance to be easily defined.
 
"Elo invented touch technology over 35 years ago, and we've never stopped innovating,” said Mark Mendenhall, vice president of Tyco Electronics and general manager of Elo TouchSystems. “These new touch technologies join the extensive portfolio of Elo products developed to meet the changing needs and demands of our customers."
 
IntelliTouch and infrared multitouch
 
Elo product manager Abraham Shen says the multitouch IntelliTouch solution utilizes Elo’s surface acoustic wave technology for a precise, two-finger touch experience.
 
"Simply stated, the pure-glass construction of the new Elo multitouch IntelliTouch technology delivers an excellent image and high light transmission just like the single-touch IntelliTouch technology customers have trusted for years.” Shen said. “With stable, drift-free operation, these new IntelliTouch touchscreens will accurately recognize two-finger simultaneous touches.”
 
In addition to the IntelliTouch solution, Elo’s CarrollTouch IR technology allows users to interact with a computer's software. At the Wall Street Journal’s 2008 "D6: All Things Digital" conference, Elo's IR 19-inch multitouch monitor was featured in a brief demonstration by Julie Larson-Green, corporate vice president of program management for the Windows Experience at Microsoft Corp.
 
"The IR multitouch product has been modeled after the Elo CarrollTouch IR component line with the tested reliability of millions of screens in active use,” said Steve Haungs, product manager for Elo. “It provides a true two-coordinate report set with more to come in the future."
 
Both of these new technologies will be available for purchase on the 19-inch and 22-inch open-frame touchmonitors or as components later this year and for Windows 7.
 
APR ‘now even better’
 
Elo’s APR capability combines the optical quality, durability and stability of surface acoustic wave and infrared with the dragging properties of surface capacitive technology, and it features the advantages of resistive technology and the ability to work with water and other contaminants on the screen. The solution can be scaled from a 3.5-inch screen size to a 42-inch display.
 
Elo’s APR technology allows for fine-tuning using pre-defined usage models:
 
- “Point of Sale” is optimized for fast data entry.
- “Signature Capture” facilitates an enhanced drag.
- “General and Gaming” have parameter sets defined to maximize additional touch performance needs.

TORONTO, Ontario — ADFLOW Networks, a provider of Web-hosted digital signage and interactive kiosk technology in the self-service vertical, announced today it has been named to the 21st annual PROFIT 100 ranking of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies by PROFIT Magazine.

This list recognizes the achievements of Canada’s entrepreneurial elite. Ranking Canada’s fastest growing companies by five-year revenue growth, The PROFIT 100 profiles the country’s most successful growth companies. Published in the June issue of PROFIT and online at PROFIT100.com, the PROFIT 100 is Canada’s largest annual celebration of entrepreneurial achievement.

“We are proud to be recognized for this prestigious award and to be classified among the rankings of Canada’s fastest growth companies,” said David Roscoe, CEO, ADFLOW Networks.  “This award is a tribute to the loyalty and on-going support of our customers, the commitment of our employees and the strategic vision our company has maintained from the beginning.”

On average, 2009 PROFIT 100 companies grew their revenue by 2,262 percent over the past five years. The PROFIT 100 ranks the 100 fastest-growing companies in Canada by percentage revenue growth from 2003-08.
“The PROFIT 100 are an inspiration to entrepreneurs at all stages of growth, from startup to major corporation,” says Ian Portsmouth, editor of PROFIT. “Their business practices and product innovations are exemplary of how businesses can succeed in uncertain times.”

FLORENCE, Italy — MIT architects and engineers have unveiled EyeStop, an interactive bus stop designed for the city of Florence. The project was presented officially on Saturday, May 16, at the Genio Fiorentino by the president of the Province of Florence, Matteo Renzi.

PHOTO GALLERY: MIT EyeStop digital street furniture

EyeStop, developed by MIT’s SENSEable City Lab, is an exploration into the next generation of smart urban furniture; it aims to enrich the city with state of the art sensing technologies, interactive services, community information and entertainment. The project is partially covered with touch-sensitive e-INK and screens, so that it can deliver information to people seamlessly. Users can plan a bus trip on an interactive map, exchange community-relevant information on a digital message board, surf the Web, monitor their real time exposure to pollutants and use their mobile devices as an interface with the bus shelter.

“Interacting with EyeStop could change the access to urban information in a similar way to how the iPhone has changed our mobile life,” said Carlo Ratti, head of the SENSEable City Lab at MIT.

At the touch of a finger users can indicate their desired destination; the system will then display the shortest bus route from where they are and the position of all relevant buses real-time. The EyeStop will glow at different levels of intensity to signal the distance of an approaching bus. Riders and passers-by can also post ads and community announcements to an electronic bulletin board placed on the bus stop, enhancing its functionality as a public space — a place to gather and exchange community-relevant information.

In addition to displaying information, the bus stop also acts as an active environmental sensing node, powering itself through sunlight and collecting real-time information about air quality and the urban environment.

“EyeStop is an experiment into urban computing: it may be considered an 'info-tape' that snakes through the city, rising up like a pole or cropping out of the sidewalk like a shelter. It senses information about the environment and distributes it in a form accessible to all citizens,” said project leader Giovanni de Niederhousern.

A generative parametric model produces a unique design for each bus stop, providing both optimal sheltering for users and maximum sunlight exposure for direct photovoltaic powering. Unlike the typical mass-produced bus stop, EyeStop is designed to fit the physical characteristics of its surroundings, with each unit being slightly different from the others. Furthermore, simple materials like shiny steel, extra clear glass and gray local stone (pietra serena), together with its minimalist design, serve to optimize how it blends into the historic urban fabric of Florence.

“Since the Renaissance, there has been an interplay between the physical form of the city (urb) and its citizenship (civitas),” added Ratti. “Today’s technologies are adding new possibilities to that age-long relationship, thanks to the addition of digital information to physical space.”

EyeStop was developed at the SENSEable City Laboratory by Giovanni de Niederhousern, Shaocong Zhou, Assaf Biderman and Carlo Ratti, in collaboration with the Province of Florence and the local public transportation authority ATAF.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two airports have announced the installation of interactive kiosks:
 
• The Greater Binghamton Airport in Binghamton, N.Y. has installed a touchscreen information kiosk, located outside the airport’s Visitor Information Center. The kiosk cost $20,000 to deploy and was funded by the Broome County hotel-motel tax.
Click to continue
 
• Officials at Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport have deployed a interactive kiosk for international travelers that a spokesperson said cuts time at the customs check from about five minutes to 40 seconds. Officials with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection are promoting the kiosk in an effort to free up officers’ time to deal with potentially high-risk travelers.
Click to continue

MONTREAL — X2O Media, a provider of digital signage technology, network management and content services, has introduced the Xpresenter vClips video kiosk, a complete interactive video application that allows users to browse and play back video clips using a simple touchscreen interface. Designed for any application requiring on-demand video playback, the Xpresenter vClips combines the highest quality HD video and graphics output with simple and flexible content management tools.

X2O's Xpresenter vClips is a solution that features unlimited categories and expandable video storage, support for popular video formats, and the ability to customize category and pop-up messages tied to the video timeline. vClips allows full-screen or windowed playback, with a graphical look and feel that can be customized by X2O's award-winning graphic artists.

Installed as a stand-alone application or as part of a multiple-location, networked solution with X2O's Xpresenter Server, the solution gives customers the choice of managing vClips' video content themselves via an easy-to-use Web control page or having X2O manage and remotely monitor content from its network operations center.

"We're excited to offer vClips to our customers as an ideal solution for a number of applications, including corporate training, retail product showcases, information kiosks, movie theatres, music stores, video jukeboxes, and more," said David Wilkins, X2O Media's president and CEO. "The Xpresenter vClips is simple to configure yet extremely powerful. In addition to the broadcast-quality video and graphics that our customers have come to expect from X2O, multiple vClips kiosks can be networked, enabling interesting configurations that could include both one-way and interactive screens, all with one platform."

The Xpresenter vClips joins X2O's new Software Plus Services strategy, the Xpresenter 2.5 platform, X2O's Data Services, a variety of monitoring services offered from X2O's network operations center, and award-winning content and design services to give customers everything they need to run a state-of-the-art digital signage network.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Popstar Networks Inc. and Digital Evolution Group, a full-service e-consultancy firm, recently partnered to develop and install interactive event and wayfinding kiosks at Crown Center. Crown Center, located in the heart of downtown Kansas City and owned by Hallmark Cards, Inc., is a multi-use 40-acre complex including a retail shopping mall, two luxury hotels, an exhibit hall and other office and residential buildings.
 
The kiosk project was commissioned to enhance the visitor experience in navigating and obtaining detailed information on retailers, dining establishments, and entertainment venues located within the complex. The state-of-the-art kiosks allow visitors to locate stores based upon the category or name of the store and provide a description of the retailer, store hours and any current sales or promotions.
 
Additionally, they offer guided direction to the store through Digital Evolution Group’s interactive property map solution. These advanced interactive kiosks also provide information on the Crown Center campus and surrounding attractions, display restaurant menus, play video clips of currently running theater productions and promote other upcoming events at the Center.
Digital Evolution Group, which designed and developed Crown Center’s Web site, partnered with Popstar to provide Popstar’s Frontstage interactive digital signage solution because of its ability to integrate directly with its Site Management System. The integration with Digital Evolution Group’s Site Management System provides Crown Center the ability to centrally control the updating of content, event listings, store and digital map information, and video and graphic files on both the Web site and the four installed kiosks via the Frontstage Server.
 
As part of Popstar’s BackStage strategic consulting process, the parties collaborated to identify all project goals and content requirements before developing wireframes and prototypes for Crown Center to review. A field and user interaction study conducted early in the process resulted in the solution being clearly defined to meet Crown Center’s unique requirements and allowed for efficient interactive development within Popstar’s FrontStage Digital Signage Network software. The project was completed in 90 days, just prior to the holiday season — one of Crown Center’s most highly trafficked periods.
”The field and user studies were a very important part to the success of the project, allowing us to confirm assumptions and verify requirements before the application development began. Utilizing the Popstar BackStage process and clearly defining goals and further refining them gave us a clear roadmap for development and final deployment,” said Maria Scarpello, sales solutions manager at Popstar, “This resulted in a solution that ideally suited the needs of Crown Center."

SAN FRANCISCO — Ecast, a provider of place-based interactive media, announced today that its EQ high-definition, flat-panel interactive media delivery solution for the bar hospitality market has been selected as a KioskCom Self Service Excellence Award finalist in the “Best Entertainment/Gaming Deployment” category. Winners will be announced at the KioskCom Expo and Digital Signage Show in Las Vegas, May 6, 2009.

The Ecast EQ award submission highlighted how the company’s interactive media platform reinvigorates place-based entertainment and advertising for the nightclub and bar hospitality market. A solution that offers a departure from the traditional jukebox, EQ is a portrait-oriented, 40-inch full HD flat-panel touchscreen display with a graphic-rich interface that uses Adobe Flash. With the touch of a finger, EQ delivers digital music, games, video, user-generated content, targeted advertising, in-house promotional messages and social media applications to offer unprecedented engagement at the point of purchase. The Ecast interactive media platform ensures content is automatically updated, while the Ecast Central (ECC) SaaS solution provides real-time, remote content management.

The EQ, introduced in September, 2008, was designed to addresses several modern day challenges such as tech-savvy consumers who expect a media experience on par with the Web, as well as advertisers’ needs to reach an increasingly fragmented market that’s on the go. For consumers, EQ addresses the technology habits of a younger generation who use PDAs to share entertainment and information. In addition to the “hip” caché EQ lends with its photo sharing, texting and music features, EQ also gives location owners in-house promotional capabilities, allowing them to advertise their events as well as drink and food specials on the unit. Finally, the EQ offers advertisers a modern form factor with visibility optimized for out-of-home engagement.

“Ecast has upped the ante by delivering the only media platform that effectively targets and engages today’s elusive 21-34 demographic while they are out of home,” said John Taylor, president and CEO, Ecast. “Combining the interactivity of self service with the reach of digital signage and the immersion of the Internet, EQ is the preeminent solution with the added value of measurable ROI.”

GRAFTON, Wis. — The Sony SnapLab has been helping professional photographers and amateur shutterbugs produce quality prints for years. Next month at the KioskCom Self Service Expo, the kiosk will help show attendees take home a 4x6 shot or two as well.
 
The SnapLab will be in the booth of Frank Mayer & Associates, a full-service in-store marketing company specializing in custom kiosk enclosures and interactive displays. The company produced the enclosure and display component for the Sony SnapLab.
 
“For the past decade, Frank Mayer & Associates Inc. has been a leader in digital-photo kiosk-enclosure design, production and hardware integration with several generations of units in a variety of major national chains,” said Dave Zoerb, senior vice president of marketing. “The Sony SnapLab is the latest example of the continuing evolution of this market and FMA’s continuing contributions to this important application.”
 
Sony introduced several enhancements to the kiosk at last month’s PMA show in Las Vegas. Those enhancements included the addition of remote monitoring and management software, a wireless print-release option, improved scalability, a pattern lamination feature and deployment software.
 
KioskCom Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show take place May 6-7 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

Atlanta Business Chronicle: The Coca-Cola Co. this spring is poised to test new interactive flat-screen vending machines at several Simon Property Group malls across the Southeast. The high-tech venders made their debut last summer in Beijing during the 2008 Olympics. The machines, developed by Coca-Cola and interactive marketing agency Sapient and Samsung, allow consumers to buy cold beverages and be entertained at the same time. The units being tested feature a large-format touchscreen display, allowing consumers to interact and experience their favorite Coca-Cola brands while learning more about Simon promotions.

Click to continue

Click to continue

Click to continue

Click to continue

• Dynamic Content Delivery – Increase consumer interaction via digital promotions at relevant times with measurable results.
• Real-Time Feedback – Boost customer loyalty by empowering guests and alerting managers if certain conditions are met.
• Infotainment – Engage and entertain guests while enhancing the overall dining experience with information, movie trailers and ticket purchasing.

TableTop Media’s solution has been installed at Cozymel’s Mexican Grill in its Grapevine, Texas, location for the past three months.

DALLAS — TableTop Media has unveiled its wireless, interactive tabletop device with pay-on-demand capabilities.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: AT&T says it will start using Microsoft Surface computers in selected retail stores later this month, becoming the first to roll out the interactive digital screens. AT&T said its retail customers will be able to place specific mobile phones on Surface's 30-inch screen to learn about features, accessories and rate plans. They also will be able to compare two phones at a time, and use their hands to navigate a high-tech wireless coverage map.
 
Read more

LONDON — Retec Digital announced that it has developed a touch-enabled digital sign used for wine retailing. Retec says the touchscreen is designed to impact the customer’s enjoyment and knowledge of wine, increase sales, reduce dependency on staff and make a positive impact on the retailer’s bottom line. The company, which already has partnered with Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, IBM UK Ltd., Boots and Argos, is currently in talks with a number of large retailers for deployments in 2008.

 

New York -- Polo Ralph Lauren today unveiled an innovative interactive shopping experience allowing its customers to shop 24 hours, seven days a week from outside of their store with the touch of their fingers. Projected on the window of the Ralph Lauren Madison Avenue store (888 Madison Avenue) is a 67" image featuring the latest in touch sensory technology. Customers can shop even when the store is closed by clicking on the window glass, the ultimate in shopping convenience.

This cutting-edge technology is being launched in conjunction with the company's sponsorship of the 2006 US Open and highlights the stylish apparel and accessories created exclusively for this renowned tournament. Products featured in the window shopping assortment include Official Polo Ralph Lauren/USTA ball boy/girl uniforms, linesman jackets, and the widely popular big pony polo shirts. In addition, users can pick up tips from tennis pro Nick Bollettieri and read about famous feuds in US Open history.

"After watching Steven Spielberg's Minority Report, I really wanted to find a way of making that amazing technology a retail reality. We are thrilled to offer such a unique and exciting way for our customers to further explore the world of Ralph Lauren; with this initiative we are reinventing the concept of shopping anytime," said David Lauren, senior vice president, advertising, marketing and corporate communications of Polo Ralph Lauren.

Further advancing the interactive shopping experience at the US Open, Polo Ralph Lauren will introduce an on-site virtual store on the club level of Arthur Ashe stadium. Now, in addition to the 3,500 square foot store, shoppers can pick up their favorite US Open fashions at three free-standing kiosks featuring touchscreen technology.

The Madison Avenue window shopping installation will be accessible to the public from August 7th to September 10th and the on-site virtual store will be open for the duration of the US Open tournament. Additionally, all official Polo Ralph Lauren US Open apparel is available in Ralph Lauren stores worldwide.

CALGARY, Alberta - SMART Technologies Inc. announces the continued expansion of its Actalyst interactive digital signage product line to include an overlay for 32" (81 cm) flat-panel displays. The overlay fastens securely to LCD or plasma displays to create touch-enabled interactive surfaces. The new 32" overlay, the smallest of the Actalyst interactive overlays, gives purchasers another option when space for digital signage is limited. Actalyst interactive overlays now range in size from 32 to 65" (81 to 165 cm) diagonally and can be oriented in portrait or landscape mode. SMART supports most 32" digital displays, including those from NEC, Samsung, LG, Panasonic and Toshiba, with others to follow.

Actalyst interactive digital signage combines with a flat-panel display to provide an increasingly popular way for people to find information in public places. They simply walk up to the product and use a finger to navigate multimedia content to find what they need. The overlay is ideal for interactive information stations in retail stores, office buildings, real-estate developments, museums, hotels and shopping malls, where people often need information, but may not need human assistance.

"SMART added the 32" overlay in response to customer demand," says Nancy Knowlton, SMART's president and co-CEO. "The full line of Actalyst interactive overlays allows retailers, facility managers, exhibit designers and others to bring high-impact interactive digital signage to virtually any public place."

Features

Touch system: SMART's DViT® (Digital Vision Touch) technology lets users manipulate the display's content simply by touching the surface of the overlay. DViT technology uses state-of-the-art digital cameras embedded in the overlay's frame to detect contact on the screen. Touch accuracy remains consistent across the entire screen area, and image quality is clear and crisp. DViT technology's durability, reliability and simplicity ensure maximum uptime for interactive stations.

Protective surface: The durable, touch-friendly, anti-glare, scratch and chemical-resistant surface protects displays without compromising image quality.

Mounting brackets: Actalyst interactive overlays feature a universal mounting bracket that fits in between the flat-panel display and the panel's specific mounting plate to allow mounting in a portrait or landscape mode.

Supported flat-panel displays: Actalyst interactive overlays are compatible with large-screen plasma and LCD display screens from more than 15 manufacturers. Sizes range from 32 to 65" (81 to 165 cm) diagonally. SMART supports most 32" digital displays, including those from NEC, Samsung, LG, Panasonic and Toshiba. For a complete list of displays supported, visit www.smarttech.com/actalyst/panels.

Software: The driver software provides touch control and is available for most Microsoft® Windows® and Apple Mac OS X operating systems and is compatible with content-development software.

Pricing and availability
The 32" Actalyst interactive overlay is available.  For more information, specifications or a list of authorized resellers, visit www.smarttech.com/actalyst or call 1.888.42.SMART.

CALGARY, Alberta - SMART Technologies Inc. announces its participation in cutting-edge research being conducted at the FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis in Tennessee for the interactive kiosk and digital signage markets. The Memphis Intelligent Kiosk Initiative (MIKI) is a research project designed to investigate the preferred and most efficient forms of human interaction with information kiosks. The Actalyst interactive overlay, from SMART, fastens securely over a large flat-panel display to create a durable, touch-enabled kiosk. Using the recordings from this kiosk, researchers are studying how visitors to the FedEx Institute access information. The three-year project is the first of its kind for the institute and will help to define objective benchmarks for the emerging interactive kiosk market.

CALGARY, Alberta -- SMART Technologies Inc. announces the continued expansion of its Actalyst interactive digital signage product line to include an overlay for 32" (81 cm) flat-panel displays. The overlay fastens securely to LCD or plasma displays to create touch-enabled interactive surfaces. The new 32" overlay, the smallest of the Actalyst interactive overlays, gives purchasers another option when space for digital signage is limited. Actalyst interactive overlays now range in size from 32 to 65" (81 to 165 cm) diagonally and can be oriented in portrait or landscape mode. SMART supports most 32" digital displays, including those from NEC, Samsung, LG, Panasonic and Toshiba, with others to follow.

Zumikon, Switzerland —  CHECKOMATâ„¢ is a joint Swiss/Swedish company with headquarters in Switzerland. We are exclusively active in distributing this state-of-the-art, fully automatic check-in and check-out system on a world-wide basis. The CHECKOMAT system has been extensively tested and proves to be reliable, flexible, innovative and economic (rent or purchase). More information on

CALGARY, Alberta --- SMART Technologies Inc. announces that Atomic Learning is now offering 45 two-minute tutorials on various features of the SMART Boardâ„¢ interactive whiteboard and its whiteboarding application, SMART Board software. Atomic Learning is an online library where teachers can access QuickTime movies on the effective use of a wide range of popular hardware and software applications. The SMART Board interactive whiteboard tutorials cover many basic functions — everything from using your finger as a control tool to navigating with the Page Sorter tool. Atomic Learning's tutorials can be found at www.atomiclearning.com.