Sixteen:Nine - The Digital Signage Blog

Mar

2010

DS Show enlists some smartypants to help show industry newcomers around

Written by Dave Haynes

DSE is more than a bit of a blur, but I do remember standing around at one point and seeing a Minicom guy walk by with a bunch of people following him, which my remaining neurons slowly stitched together to make me realize that was a trade show tour thing.

I thought it was kind of amusing.

So, of course, now I find myself doing tours that will probably look even more amusing than that at the upcoming Digital Signage Show back in Lost Wages.

Show organizer Lawrence Dvorchik approached The Preset Group guys about doing floor walks for newbies that would usher people around and help them develop some sense amid all the pitches and assertions. As a long-time booth bunny, I have chatted with people just coming into the industry at the start and finish of shows, and many have said they were leaving more confused than when they walked in.

So me and the other guys will walk groups around and give them an overview of the so-called eco-system. We're not getting paid to do it, but we get some profile and I think a lot of people who've been doing this for a while don't mind taking some time to show people what matters now and what they can worry about later.

Here are the details:

The Digital Signage Show today announced themes for the April 14-15, 2010 Digital Signage Connection Tours, complimentary tours offered to all interested attendees on the exhibit hall floor during both days of The Digital Signage Show. They will run concurrently with The Kiosk & Self-Service Expert Tours. Taking place at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, this year's spring show will continue a 14-year tradition of furthering the growth of digital signage, kiosk and self-service deployments and education.

Each tour will focus on a particular subject or interest area and will be guided by no-nonsense industry veterans, eager to provide participants with straightforward opinions and ideas on what to look for and how to efficiently navigate the trade show floor and accomplish the goals set prior to attending the event.

Participants will get a clear sense of the digital signage and digital out-of-home ecosystem, how companies present themselves, terminology, value propositions and trends. Tour guides will give a thorough overview of how the different parts of digital signage and DOOH programs develop, the roles various vendors play, the scope of services, fundamental keys to success, and an overall picture of how a digital signage project fits within the moving pieces of an organization.

The tours will be guided by members of The Preset Group, an independent industry consultancy led by industry veterans Paul Flanigan, Pat Hellberg and Dave Haynes.(It now looks like the 4th Mousketeer, David Weinfeld, is also going to get out to the event).

Each tour is approximately 45 minutes in length and will depart from the Tour Stop Station at the front of the Exhibit Hall.

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Last Updated on Friday, 12 March 2010 13:17

Mar

2010

Virtual trade show on industry planned for late April; possible learning, but no jet lag, no cocktails

Written by Dave Haynes

Some of the people who most need to go to digital signage trade shows and get up the curve never do get to them - because of measly budgets, no free time, or notions that they already know it all.

Some people don't go because even one day in Las Vegas is three days gone with travel time, time zone changes and jet lag.

So ... the notion of a virtual trade show for this sector is kind of interesting to me, and I will be intrigued by how Digital Signage 2010, planned for April 28th, comes off. NewBay Media and the trade organization InfoComm have put together a "virtual event, so attendees can visit booths (manned by real people), attend presentations (with live Q&A), receive white papers and product specs, chat live with other attendees and presenters, and visit the attendee lounge for networking–without leaving your office."

NewBay Media, which publishes Digital Signage Magazine in print and online, appears to be the driver behind this and in many respects it is a sneak preview and promo tool for the show in June in ... you guessed it ... Las Vegas.

There is no fee to attend. Attendees need to register online at: http://www.media.qualitytech.com/client/digitalsignage2010/launch.htm

Digital Signage 2010 is a one-day event that will take place on April 28, 2010 from 10 am EST to 6 pm EST. It will be conducted exclusively online, and is free of charge to all attendees who register and supply their demographic information. And many of the sessions will also be available for post-event attendance.

The event will also include a virtual lounge that serves as the place to connect with colleagues to discuss the latest developments in the industry. Plus, there will be a series of scheduled Live chats on pertinent topics led by InfoComm educators and the editors of Digital Signage Magazine, AV Technology, Systems Contractor News, and Tech&Learning.

There will be keynotes and training modules and various presentations. There won't be endless pens, branded note pads and bowls of mints. There won't be surly grannies at the entry checking badges.

There is a session on hiring a consultant, which you can avoid by going to www.presetgroup.com. Kidding. Well, sorta. Well, no.

Anyway, overall, this gets full marks for trying something different. I don't think (and hope) the intention is to do a goofy Second Life virtual world thing, and it is more a way to apply broadband connections and present a more organized version of webinars. The one issue I'd raise is the good old "usual suspects" thing. The people mentioned as speakers are all great people, no issues there, but they are the same people who get wheeled out at ALL of these things. ALL of them.

On the other hand, I'm not the target market. The AV and integrator crowd that would be the target here has probably not seen many, or any, of these names before.

Virtual trade show image, not for this event, from VentureBeat

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Last Updated on Friday, 12 March 2010 08:45

Mar

2010

TO mixer for March -- off, sorta

Written by Dave Haynes

There is no formal mixer planned for Tuesday as much of the mob that attends was also recently in Las Vegas. If they are anything like me, they are still tired. I do know a few people are talking about meeting up for a drink anyway at the usual location.

There is one set for 2nd Tuesday of April, however that is also Kioskcom/NAB week, so a few folks (like me) will be missing, as we'll be down in Lost Wages again.

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Mar

2010

Best wishes to Bill Yackey

Written by Dave Haynes

Bill Yackey has spent at least a couple of years - maybe a lot longer but that's what it seems like - as the very hard-working editor of Digital Signage Today - cranking out a pile of material as well as doing a lot of great video work.

This is his last day on the job, as he is moving on to a marketing communications gig with a unified communications company in Louisville. If you are in marketing in this sector, in some way, you've dealt with Bill.

Very sharp and solid guy and I wish him all the best, and thank him for his support in helping me build up pressDOOH, and letting me know I was on to something.

I kinda sorta knew already, but probably few people know he's an accomplished musician, playing guitar and leading a band called Sixty-Four West. Videos are online. He can sing, too.

Best wishes Bill, and maybe we'll see you back in this nutty business at some point.

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Last Updated on Friday, 05 March 2010 15:14

Mar

2010

Samsung intros super-wide 4:1 LCD for mass transit, other public spaces

Written by Dave Haynes

This looks like a PhotoShop job, but I get the idea.

Digital Signage Today, and others, are reporting that Samsung now has a 43-inch LCD panel that has a panoramic aspect ratio of 4:1 and doesfull HD-ready (1920x480 resolution) signals. It is meant for public standard platforms, malls and schools.

No price but assume crazy-expensive for now. Interesting, but odd, as Samsung has some nice thin-bezel monitors that make screenms tiled together look pretty nice.

And unless these people and this rail car are really short, that's not a 43" diagonal display.

Photo from technobahn, but saw same one elsewhere.

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Last Updated on Friday, 05 March 2010 09:18

Mar

2010

DSE numbers up 14% from previous year

Written by Dave Haynes

If you went to DSE this year and it seems to be busier than the 2009 version, that's because it was.

The show last week, says a news release, attracted more than 3,400 attendees, up roughly 14 per cent from a year earlier. There were also 56 new exhibitors.

I thought it was a good show, and was terrific for my business interests and building my base of knowledge. I could have used a third day on the show floor, but that's just me. If I stop at a booth, there goes 45 minutes. With scores of booths, that math doesn't work so hot.

In the blur that was last week, I did not have a chance to report on the mixer. We had 210 on the RSVP list, and about 180 showed. We figured that was really good, and were fairly thankful not everyone showed - as we knew the place was going to feel tight at 200. Great crowd. Great conversations. We'll do it again.

The feedback we've solicited has all been positive, but about 90 per cent think we need name tags ... so people can more easily meet, and more easily dodge others they'd rather not get tied up with. Thanks to our sponsors who ponied up a share of the $15 (honest) drinks - that would get me a tray of Michelobs at Casino Royale - and brought in some of their clients and industry friends.

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Mar

2010

The DS Turf Battle (Such as it is): Comparing The Gangs