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English Summer No Problem for Weatherproof Touch Screen
Outdoor events are to benefit from interactive digital signage. Visual Planet’s touch foil technology has been integrated into a large weather proof (IP65 rated) internet-enabled LCD screen with a content management system and touch sensitive controls to create a self-contained, all weather display system.
Vernon Spencer, technical director for Visual Planet, explains that the ban on smoking has created greater interest in outdoor solutions: “Internet enabled signage allows information boards to be updated remotely and instantly. With our content-management system it is possible to create a split screen with, for example, the big match going on in the centre and corporate and other news being displayed across the top and bottom, and to control it with a touch of a finger.
“Screens of up to 57-inches can be made interactive with a menu based control. This is an advantage for an outside location as there is no requirement for a keyboard.”
At the 8th Cambridge Enterprise Conference – ‘Growing Big Gorillas’ – the Visual Planet solution is being used to provide attendees with information about schedules, speakers, sponsors, and more. It is also linked to Internet feeds to give up-to-the-minute news and has a clock feature to ensure delegates are on time for speaker sessions.
The underlying content-management system is easy to use with minimal training, as Sally Jarvis of Holdsworth Associates, Communications Coordinator for the conference explained: “I was amazed how easy it was to add and format content,” says Sally. “I could add text, scrolling banners, multi-media clips, photos and logos with a few simple mouse clicks. The content management software was really intuitive and made putting the display together a fun task, rather than a chore.”
“Delegates are invited to touch the screen to find out more about the day’s events. For instance, touching the ‘schedule’ button takes you to a breakdown of the day’s timetable. Or pressing a photo of a speaker brings up their biography.”
When not being touched, the screen cycles through video clips provided by exhibitors at the ‘Gorillas of Tomorrow’ technology press event, running in parallel with the conference.
Vernon Spencer is clear about the benefits of interactive displays in a conference context. “There are always last minute changes and breaking news. A clear, large format display provides opportunities to broadcast this information to delegates on arrival. With a few quick touches they can access the information they want, without having to rifle through endless sheets of closely typed information,” he says.
“Experience has shown that moving, interactive displays generate much more interest than traditional static displays or posters. They are also more flexible and can impart a much greater range of information, on demand.”
20th September 2007
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