Did you ever fantasize that technology would advance to the levels of 3D printing in your lifetime? It has. (You can print pancakes now. Yes, pancakes.) And, the capabilities are only picking up speed. Wearable technology (some are better than others) and electric cars are jumping from the pages of science fiction books and into our everyday lives. While hover boards and “Jetson’s-esque” robot maids are still a few years off from becoming household standards, 2015 is sure to bring some futuristic tech trends our way.

 
1.) Internet On The Go

By now, it’s safe to say that the majority of internet users access the web from their mobile devices. So it’s no stretch of the imagination to see that users will be using these devices as their primary connection. According to Ovum, one billion people will use mobile as their only form of Internet access in 2015.

This will have a hefty impact on cellular service providers who will have to up the speed and optimization of their networks to keep users satisfied. Also, tech trends like these will lead to a wave of hardware upgrades for wireless routers. Finally.   

 
2.) Network Investments

Virtually all aspects of our working lives depend on internet access. In fact, companies actually lose money when their network is down. An Evolven study reported that network “configuration errors can cost companies up to $72,000 per hour in Web application downtime.” To remedy this situation, businesses will reinforce their networks to increase reliability and innovation.

Playing off of the effects of the previous trends, businesses will continue to rely on the cloud to store and communicate their data. Investments, especially in the cyber-security realm, will heavily impact company budgets as hacking threats continue to grow. (We predict a few more celebrity data hacks.) Software vendors will take advantage of data security best practices and implement third party audits to prove that their facilities are protected.

 
3.) The Human Brand

The advent of digital shopping allows consumers to access infinite retailers, instead of the previous few in driving distance. Because of the vast number of options, consumers are also learning to exercise skepticism. Why choose this retailer when the next one has free shipping? Why are their products so cheap? The list goes on.

Marketing efforts will become more upfront and honest to target our raw, humanistic sides. Brands that allow consumers to rate their products and services and read other reviews are having much more success than the brands who brush negative feedback under the carpet. With this level of honesty comes trust. Consumers are more forgiving when they can hear why someone had a bad experience with a brand.

 
4.) Digital Messaging on Every Screen

Digital communication is becoming a necessity among all industries, internally and externally. These dynamic signage deployments are rapidly increasing. They allow end users to transmit infinite messages to their viewers. By 2015, digital signage adoption is expected to grow by 66% and 56% for interactive signage.

The software behind these devices is certainly making leaps and bounds in the tech world. Social media integrations and interactive capabilities will be adopted as a regular use of digital signage over the next year.

The tech trends of 2015 are sure to bring plenty of advancements in hardware and software. Here’s the rundown:

•     Consumer facing products like mobile devices will be the main source of internet access.
•     Businesses in all industries will begin to make budget arrangements to implement more reliable networks.
•     Marketing efforts will revolve around honesty as brands realize that authenticity is an attractive quality to consumers.
•     Digital signage will continue to increase in popularity, allowing streamlined, innovative communications.

Colors increase brand recognition by 80%, try implementing some color in your digital signage content

This is another installment of our bi-monthly digital signage content design blog, written by our Content Creation Team, geared to help users create visually compelling content.

Few people choose to watch a black and white movie if there is a color alternative, just as no one gets excited about plain, black on white text. The same rule applies to digital signage content. Color is key to audience attraction. In fact, it’s one of the main factors that connect viewers to a message.

Did you know that almost 85% of consumers said color was the primary reason that they purchase a particular product? 1 Or that 93% of consumers look at the products overall visual appearance when they’re buying? 2 Color improves comprehension, learning and readability. And it gets better, color increases brand recognition by 80%. 3  Branding connoisseur, William Arruda, wrote in a Forbes article: “Color is powerful because it exudes brand attributes and makes you memorable. Are you using color appropriately to stand out?”  (Follow him on Twitter.)

But before you get a little too color-friendly with your slides, consider your design aesthetics. Certain messages call for certain hues, while others should be based on your brand’s criteria. Let’s discuss a few color theories to consider when choosing which part of the rainbow is appropriate for your digital signage content.

Color Can Improve: Comprehension, Learning and Reading

The Color Wizards at WebFX put together a great infographic on the Psychology of Color.

Color Strikes Our Emotional Chords

This probably isn’t the first place you’ve heard this: color plays a huge part on our psychological state.  If you do a little digging, you’ll find that brand colors of everything in branding are strategically chosen, down to the color of the tables inside your favorite fast food chain.

Colors hit close to the heart.  Whether we’re aware of it or not, they remind us of our first emotional experiences. Some, like neon yellow, attract attention. Others, like beige, blend in with the environment and stay neutral. Different colors mean different things in each culture, so for the sake of this blog, we’ll focus on western culture.

Your brand’s colors are very important and should be used in messages that promote your organization. Other messages, however, may need a few extra details. For example, a warm pink background, or a fresh green font can add a subtle depth to your design. Just remember, neutral colors should dominate while brighter/darker colors should be used more sparingly.

Harmonize Color Palettes

Think of how an interior designer would decorate a living room: The wall color might be neutral and light, the couch might be a vibrant color, and the carpet might have a pattern. Hardly ever are the all three from the same category.

This rule applies to your digital signage content, too. Pick a color for the background, then a contrasting color for the font so that it is readable from a distance. The third color, or picture should complement the first two colors. To avoid clashing, choose colors that stem from the same palette:

Pure Colors: Full fleshed colors that are vibrant, cheerful, and energetic.
Tinted Colors: Colors mixed with white for a lighter tone.
Shades of Colors: Colors mixed with black for a mysterious or dark effect.

Pure colors are often used in fast food menus and cartoons, while tints are used in heavenly paintings or bridal bouquets. A digital signage campaign in a spa might strictly use tints for all messages, while a K-12 deployment might use a lot of pure colors. If your message is about a darker topic, like identity theft, you might opt for a palette of shades.
 
Switch it Up Your Digital Signage Content

They say, variety is the spice of life, this too applies to digital signage. Staying within the same palette category is fine, but don’t use the same colors for all 17 of the slides in your campaign. The same colors time and time again may be perceived as one long, mundane slide to less observant audience members. Jump from a slide with a blue background to a contrasting orange. That’ll be sure to catch the eye of any day-dreaming lobby dweller.

So now we’ve focused on why we need design, what mistakes to avoid, which general practices to follow, and now how to incorporate colors. You’re well on your way to being a design guru. Stay tuned for more design advice, and as always, click below to download October’s free digital signage content!  Keep those signs fresh and your organizational communications strong!