Digital Signage Expo (DSE) is set to return March 21-23, 2022 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. DSE, which was acquired by Questex earlier this year, will take place concurrently with the Bar & Restaurant Expo (formerly known as Nightclub & Bar Show).

[The Digital Signage Best Practices Guide]

“Our research shows that the industry strongly desires an event that brings digital signage suppliers and solution providers together with designers, buyers, and stakeholders in a wide range of adjacent and vertical markets," said Marian Sandberg, VP and market leader, DSE. "The conference program will be designed to attract and engage a broader audience, focused on innovative applications and outcomes, while the exhibitor list will expand beyond digital signage equipment providers to those who use digital technology to design and implement experiences that attract, inform, educate, and entertain."

"Our goal is to design an event that becomes the foundation for a digital community platform and calendar of events that encompass the interests and goals of a broad community interested in how digital media technology can enhance lives and experiences in the physical world,” she added. 

Questex will be drawing from the expertise of digital signage industry veteran, Brad Gleeson, co-founder and managing partner of TargetPath to relaunch the event. Gleeson is a veteran of the technology-based business start-up world who has worked on Digital Signage Magazine, and other initiatives that helped build the foundation of the digital signage industry.

Questex  will rely on an advisory board to to share expertise and insights about technology, digital-out-of-home, and experiential events. In addition to Gleeson, the advisory board will include:  Rich Ventura of Sony, Laura Davis-Taylor of InReality, Nick Belcore of Peerless-AV, Stephanie Gutnik of Verizon, and more.

Additional details regarding the conference schedule and registration will be posted here. 

Questex, owner of Live Design International (LDI), has acquired the assets of Digital Signage Expo. The company says the acquisition complements its business and aligns with its growth strategy including both acquisition and organic growth in the experience economy. 

 “We’re starting 2021 in a very strong position with the right people, the right products, and the right processes. We’ve created a strong foundation and strategy that is incredibly relevant to the disruptive trends currently in the market," said Questex CEO Paul Miller. "Digital Signage Expo complements our portfolio perfectly, and we’re excited for the opportunity to grow these properties as part of the Questex family. We hope to build upon the past success of the brand to connect suppliers with buyers across this very exciting market.”

[ Related: The Digital Signage Event Addresses Market Challenges and Opportunities ] 

Questex, owned by MidOcean Partners, acquired the rights to the live and digital assets including all trademarks, tradenames, websites, domain names, databases, and customer, vendor, and attendee lists. Questex will announce the go-forward strategy for these assets in the near future.

Registration for the exhibit hall at this year's Digital Signage Expo (DSE) is now open.  As announced by show organizers, the DSE exhibit hall will be open Sept. 16–17 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Exhibit hall passes are free to qualified attendees.

[Download the 2020 Digital Signage Best Practices Guide]

DSE’s 2020 show floor is planned to feature more than 150 exhibitors with product and service offerings including display screens, kiosks, media players, content management systems, and wayfinding solutions—as well as distribution and cloud-based systems, mounts, enclosures, and much more.

The exhibit hall will also offer free on-floor workshop presentations on the latest solutions, technology, and trends in digital signage.

Conference registration is anticipated to open in the coming weeks, and will feature networking lunch roundtables, end user case studies, and industry panel sessions.

To register or learn more, visit digitalsignageexpo.net.

To read more DSE 2020 news, visit avnetwork.com/tag/dse.

Digital Signage Expo (DSE)'s  2020 event has been rescheduled to be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center South Hall Three on Sept. 15-18, with access to the show floor Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 16-17.

DSE 2020 will reprise the more than 100 educational opportunities which were originally scheduled. Events include nine pre- and post-show events, 21 industry-specific peer networking luncheon roundtables, 32 general conference sessions, 49 free on-floor workshops, and a program of study to ensure certification renewal in cooperation with the Digital Signage Experts Group. (DSEG)

[What's Exciting About DSE 2020]

According to Chris Gibbs, president/COO of Exponation (producer of DSE), current exhibitor locations will be maintained on the new floor plan. And, it will not be necessary for anyone to re-register. Registration information will be retained "as is" for exhibit hall passes and conference selections.

Registration will re-open soon for any of the DSE 2020 educational conference sessions, which are eligible for DSEG certification renewal credits.

To read more DSE 2020 news, visit avnetwork.com/tag/dse.

Digital Signage Expo (DSE), which was scheduled to take place in Las Vegas March 31 – April 3, has been postponed until late summer/early fall due to spread of the coronavirus.

"We have decided to postpone DSE 2020 to the late summer or early fall," said Angelo Varrone, CEO of Exponation, the show's organizer. "This was not an easy decision to make, but the escalation of travel bans and coronavirus cases dictates this action. We are working with the Las Vegas Convention Center to secure new dates for DSE 2020 and will be making that announcement in the near future."

To stay up to date with the latest DSE 2020 news and the impact of coronavirus on pro AV, subscribe to our enews. 

NAB 2020 Cancelled Due to Coronavirus

Enterprise Connect Moved to August 2020 Due to Coronavirus

The organizations of Digital Signage Expo (DSE) released a statement to address concerns about the Coronavirus. The statement is posted below.

With our trade show and conference staging March 31- April 3, and no outbreak of this virus in the U.S., we can confirm that DSE 2020 will take place as planned.

We have been closely monitoring the situation and will continue to do so over the coming weeks. The greater majority of DSE’s exhibitors and attendees are based in the U.S. There are currently no travel restrictions within the U.S., or to and from most international destinations. We don’t expect that to change prior to the show dates. So, travel to and from DSE 2020 should be as convenient and safe as ever.

The travel restrictions to and from China and South Korea have caused a select few of our 2020 exhibitors to cancel their plans to exhibit. This will not have a material impact on our trade show. Also, DSE traditionally does not have many attendees (less than 2 percent) from China and South Korea; based on the current restrictions to and from these countries, we don’t expect any attendance from either for DSE 2020.

While we’re committed to stage DSE as planned, we are also dedicated to the health and safety of all participants. We have assurances from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority that the convention center and all member hotels are maintaining high-level cleanliness and safety standards. As you likely know, Las Vegas is one of the world’s top convention destinations, so the safety of their visitors is a high priority. They, too, are monitoring this situation closely and will be ready to respond accordingly should anything change.

To read more DSE 2020 news, visit avnetwork.com/tag/dse

The SEGD Branded Environments event is returning to DSE in Las Vegas for the fourth year in a row by popular demand. 

"SEGD Branded Environments 2020— held in partnership with Digital Signage Expo (DSE) 2020 — is the event for the design of brand-centric customer experiences," said Anna Crider, principal at Entro, and president of the SEGD. "Integrating meaningful brand experiences into places and spaces provides the highest branding return on investment to owners and their users, and we're thrilled to be bringing this program back to the show."

As part of (non-vendor) registration, attendees will also receive access to the DSE show floor to see the latest developments in digital technologies and fire their imaginations about new ways to create solutions in experiential graphic design projects.

To see the full agenda or to register for SEGD Branded Environments, visit segd.org/workshop/2020-branded-environments.

To read more DSE 2020 news, visit avnetwork.com/tag/dse

On March 31, around 5,000 digital signage professionals will descend on Las Vegas to forge new business relationships and seek out the latest digital signage innovations at the 2020 Digital Signage Expo (DSE).

We spoke with Chris Gibbs, president and COO of Exponation (owner of DSE), to learn more about what attendees can expect at the 2020 show.

SCN: Let’s get right into it. What’s new at DSE this year?

CHRIS GIBBS: There’s a lot of new, exciting things happening at the show this year—starting with the DOOH Marketplace. This new area on the show floor is dedicated specifically to education and solutions for digital out-of-home providers, including topics and product offerings addressing programmatic delivery and measurement, anonymous video analytics, network and audience measurement, and IOT devices.

For integrators, we’ve created a special education track dedicated to how they can take their businesses to the next level and expand services beyond traditional installations.

We will also have dedicated lunch roundtables where attendees can share and deliberate on real-world strategies and issues with industry peers. Plus we’ll be featuring case studies from successful multifaceted projects on processes and challenges.

SCN: Why should integration professionals attend DSE 2020?

CG: DSE is the only centralized marketplace where integrators can meet with a wide variety of solution providers from all aspects of the digital signage universe.

In addition, DSE’s educational offering is second to none, with more than 100 industry experts sharing their knowledge and best practices. There is also an opportunity to network with a wide variety of end user clients who attend the show.

SCN: Are there events specifically targeted to integrators?

CG: Yes! We have plenty of sessions targeted specifically toward the integration community, including an Integrators Lunch Roundtable on both Wednesday and Thursday.

SCN: What trends do you expect to see at the 2020 show?

CG: Digital signage is becoming smarter. The need to prove ROI has driven solution providers to offer digital signage that includes analytics and audience measurement technology. Systems such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) help operators with measurement data to ensure screens are placed in the best location and the content is most relevant to the customer.

SCN: Where can attendees learn more about these trends?

CG: The best way to learn about these trends is to visit the exhibitors at the show and see firsthand how the newest technology is shaping the future of the industry. We also have several sessions that address upcoming trends.

SCN: Where can people learn more about the show?

CG: Integrators can visit digitalsignageexpo.net to see the latest info on DSE 2020. And be sure to follow us on Twitter to @DSExpo for real-time show updates!

To read more DSE 2020 news, visit avnetwork.com/tag/dse

Digital Signage Expo (DSE), the world’s largest international trade show and educational conference dedicated to digital displays, interactive technology and digital communications networks, announced that its 2020 educational conference will again feature four individual full-day educational programs for Digital Signage Expert Group (DSEG) certification or renewal credits.

Digital Signage Certified Expert Program (DSCE)

Designed for anyone whose professional involvement requires a full understanding of all the elements of digital signage and the interconnected technologies that produce the images on screen.

Digital Signage Content and Media Expert Program (DCME)

Designed for content creators and managers, this program addresses how content fits into a digital signage or DOOH system, what makes content most effective in this medium, the cost of content and how to measure it.

Digital Signage Network Expert Program (DSNE)

Designed to provide an introduction to and a full understanding of the complexities and elements which comprise a digital signage network along with what is necessary for successful network operation, communication and adequate security policies.

Digital Signage Sales Professional Program (DSSP)

Designed for salespeople tasked with explaining to end-users “why” they should buy digital signage technologies, this program will also explain how to tailor the benefits to the customer synthesizing the messages and explore successful methods behind the past decade’s top sales methodologies.

DSE’s Early bird discounts‚including free Exhibit Hall Passes—have been extended through March 6! Save on all sessions and up to $300 on conference packages. More details can be found here. 

Registration for any of the DSE 2020 educational conference sessions, which are eligible for Digital Signage Expert Group (DSEG) certification renewal credits, is available online at dse2020.com.

DSE 2020 is scheduled for March 31- April 3, 2020, with access to the Exhibit Hall April 1-2 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. 

To read more DSE 2020 news, visit avnetwork.com/tag/dse

Registration is now open for Digital Signage Expo (DSE) 2020, held March 31 - April 3,  at the Las Vegas Convention Center. To celebrate the launch of the 2020 show, DSE is offering a 20-percent discount until Nov 1 using promo code "LAUNCH20"*.

"At the 2020 show, we will offer more than 100 educational opportunities—including  over 50 free on-floor workshops," said Andrea Varrone, show director, DSE. "In addition to the return of key vertical tracks, we'll be showcasing new initiatives like our DOOH Marketplace and a Content + Experience Theater. This year's Expo will be a can't-miss experience for digital signage professionals."

Registration for any of the DSE 2020 educational conference sessions, which are eligible for Digital Signage Expert Group (DSEG) certification renewal credits, is now open at www.dse2020.com.

*Attendees can use promo code "LAUNCH20" for a discount on the purchase of any conference package; this offer expires at 11:59 p.m. PT on Nov 1 and cannot be combined with any discount or used on à la carte items.

To read more DSE 2020 news, visit avnetwork.com/tag/dse

Digital Signage Expo (DSE) is now accepting nominations for its 16th Annual APEX Awards. 

The DSE APEX Awards, presented by the Digital Signage Federation, recognize and honor achievement in the creation and installation of compelling viewer content and interactive technology. Since its inception, the program has honored hundreds of companies for innovative projects that have met and/or exceeded project goals while providing meaningful ROI and ROO for clients, thereby advancing the digital signage industry.

“The most exciting part about DSE is seeing the advancements in digital signage technology,” said DSE show director Andrea Varrone. “The APEX Awards showcase the very best installations that continue to come to life around the globe.”

The APEX Awards will be presented to three outstanding entries—Gold, Silver and Bronze—in a total of 12 categories. Additionally, one entry will win the APEX Installation of the Year, one entry will win the APEX Content of the Year, and DSE 2020 will again recognize one company for Integrator of the Year. 

The deadline to submit entries is Dec. 18, 2019. For more information or to enter, visit digitalsignageexpo.net/apex-awards-submissions.

Digital Signage Expo (DSE) has opened its call for speaker proposals and is accepting submissions for presentations to be given at its 2020 educational conference, taking place March 31 - April 3, 2020 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The application deadline is August 28, 2019.

DSE’s 2020 educational conference will largely focus on peer-presented case studies in 14 different categories that will offer an inside look at innovative installations, business cases, the work they required from internal approvals to creative application and how management challenges are being met going forward.

Submissions may be made for pre-show events, including the Digital Out-of-Home Strategy Summit and Guided Installation Tour, or for conference sessions and on-floor workshops using the form available HERE. Proven case studies are highly encouraged.

Proposals, which may include traditional lecture or panel discussions, should align with the DSE 2020 categories, which include the following:

• Digital Content 
• Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) 
• Digital Signage Fundamentals 
• Pro AV / Integrators 
• Maintenance & Management 
• Industry Trends & Issues 
• Campus Tech 
• Retail 
• Restaurants 
• Smart Cities 
• Experiential 
• Corporate Environments 
• Transportation 
• Venues

With the exception of proposals for the Digital Signage Fundamentals track, presentation submissions should be geared to advanced topics, reflecting attendee interest in taking their communications networks to the next level and adopting new technologies.  

Program space is limited, and DSE will be able to select only a certain number of proposals. For more information on presenting at DSE, contact Conference Director Helen Kang at hkang@exponation.net.

To read more DSE 2020 news, visit avnetwork.com/tag/dse

Digital Signage Expo (DSE) has revealed the total verified attendance at its 2019 event was 4,260. That represents a 6 percent gain vs. 2018 and is the second largest attendance in show history, according to show officials. 

International attendees, sourced from 63 countries accounted for 17.6 percent of the overall attendance. In addition, DSE delivered the highest number of qualified end users in its history: 1,848.

This high-impact audience included many new as well as familiar end-user attendees including Canada Post, Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, Crate & Barrel, PepsiCo, Boston Children’s Hospital, Choice Hotels, Harkins Theaters, Incheon Airport, NASCAR, Famous Footwear, Yale University, Seattle Art Museum, University of Southern California, Banner Bank, Smashburger, 24-Hour Fitness and Garmin and more.

Digital Signage Expo is scheduled for March 31-April 3, 2020, with access to the Exhibit Hall April 1-2 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For more information, visit www.dse2020.com.

DSE 2019 was held in Las Vegas March 27-28. 

Watch the video below to discover top moments and innovations at the show.

There’s no better way to experience the dazzling impact of digital signage than a tour in a stretch-limo down the Las Vegas Strip during Digital Signage Expo (DSE) week. 

“Coming up on the left is Harmon Corner—it has the largest LED wall on the Strip,” said Jeff Gray, executive account manager in Gaming & Hospitality for Samsung Electronics America, and guide for our tour. The 60-by-306-foot, Prismview curved application wraps around the third story of the building. “It lights up the entire intersection at night,” he said. 

In 2015, Samsung purchased Utah-based YESCO Electronics and rebranded it as Prismview, a Samsung Electronics Company. The acquisition positioned the company as a major player in outdoor LED digital signage responsible for a vibrant gallery of digital canvases throughout Las Vegas. 

“We’ve got thousands and thousands of guest rooms on the Las Vegas Strip with Samsung’s H.Browser, and system on chip (SoC) design,” said Shawn O’Connell, director of sales in the Enterprise Business Division for Samsung Electronics America. “It allows the integrator to code directly over IP to the back of the Samsung hospitality-grade television,” he added. Firmly in high-roller territory, O’Connell reports there are 75,000 Samsung hospitality-grade televisions in hotel rooms and casinos on the Strip. 

As the limo approached The Cosmopolitan, O’Connell noted, “we have signage in the elevators, a number of small videowalls and standalone digital signage, and—of course—all of the guestrooms.” Every guestroom in The Cosmopolitan has either a 65- or 55-inch Samsung TV. “They’ve got full IoT control using Crestron as the infrastructure,” he added.

On the DSE show floor, Samsung showcased several of its SMART signage innovations and displays which included the LED Display IF Series with fine pixel pitches, to the 82-inch QLED 8K Signage, to its OMN-D series, an out-of-the-box ready, double-sided screen optimized for storefront window environments. “In the past, digital signage in various industry verticals was often more focused on futurism and the ‘wow factor’ rather than fully developed deployment strategies,” said Mark Quiroz, vice president for the Digital Signage Product Group, Samsung Electronics America.  

Changing the Narrative

Just a few years ago, an attendee would walk the DSE exhibit halls and see a variety of disparate solutions. Display manufacturers would tout resolution, bezel-thinness, nit-brightness, and pixel pitch. Content management systems (CMS) solution providers might show grids and templates. Foundational companies demonstrated innovations in mounting and supporting the hardware. An overstatement, perhaps, but not too far from the truth. 

Increasingly, however, manufacturers are choosing to present the experience rather than leading with the hardware and software.

In Living Color 

Walking into Epson’s booth at DSE 2019, attendees were transported into a stunning and engaging home décor retail shop on one wall where colorful vines of 2D flowers appeared to grow out of physical vases onto the wall. Epson presented three activation spaces that were thoughtful, beautiful, and inspiring.   

“A lot of retailers talk about how they're struggling to engage people the in same way as the online experience,” said Remi Del Mar, senior product manager at Epson. “We wanted to bring some of that online experience—of being able to get a little bit more in-depth about products—to the shelf,” she said. 

The majority of the wall activations were driven by Epson’s LightScene EV-105 Accent Lighting 3LCD laser projector. The hourglass shape on the wall was created using the PowerLite L615U, a 6,000-lumen projector targeted to classrooms. “It’s about thinking of new ways to incorporate technology,” said Del Mar. 

Be Our Guest 

Optoma showcased an enchanting experience using 3D-projection-mapping content. Using Optoma’s ZK750 4K UHD, 7,000-lumen projector, animations were brought to life over each of the four table settings, while “Le Petit Chef” and his team assembled dinner and entertained guests. 

Sharp created three interactive experiences which included a travel agent, a shopping experience, and a hotel lobby destination content to showcase the capabilities of its smart signage technology. 

Sony made a statement at this year’s DSE by more than tripling its presence over last year. The team from the powerhouse brand was there, en masse, with its BRAVIA Signage brand and its three levels of offerings: standalone, networked, and cloud (through its partnership with iRevo). 

If You Can’t Measure It… 

One of the most significant barriers to entry for digital signage has been the inability to justify the hefty price tag not only for the upfront hardware, but to continued operation. Without a clear path for monetization showing a return on investment (ROI), the category has sometimes been viewed as a tough sell. But this is changing.

The biggest trend at DSE 2019 was the number of manufacturers and solution providers offering varying degrees of integrated data analytics through third-party relationships.

At DSE, NEC shared its next innovation: the NEC Analytics Learning Platform (ALP) Pro, an evolution of its business intelligence analytics platform for retailers. ALP Pro uses artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver real-time content and data measurement. “You can upload a piece of content and our AI will analyze that content and assign a series of metatags based on age, gender, location or other variables,” said Richard Ventura, vice president of strategy, NEC Display Solutions of America. “ALP Pro provides variance reporting and allows you to understand the effectiveness between different ads to see which one is driving revenue.” 

This type of intelligence helps retailers make informed decisions and can clearly demonstrate an ROI. “When we go deeper into content strategies, it [ALP Pro] can say play this, but not this because we have high levels of inventory coming in,” Ventura added.

Panasonic showed its turnkey quick service restaurant (QSR) Self-Service Kiosk that automatically promotes upselling opportunities to customers, increasing retail and food service profitability. 

“Businesses are using professional displays with very specific objectives in mind—placing screens strategically and using a wide range of tools to maximize relevance and transform experiences,” said Samsung’s Quiroz. One of these tools is Samsung’s Nexshop analytics platform-based solution which helps retailers to deliver contextually aware content by analyzing customer behavior collected in-store.  

Capture It and Push It

Peerless-AV demonstrated its fully integrated Smart City Kiosk by showcasing its partnership with VSBLTY Groupe Technologies. VSBLTY provides audience measurement using machine learning through computer vision. VisionCaptor combines interactive brand messaging with its FacialAnalytics. Measurement technology records engagement rates, interactions, sentiment, and real-time behavioral analytics.

CyberLink demonstrated its AI engine, the FaceMe facial recognition system. Powered by deep learning and a neural network algorithm, it yields up to a 98.5 percentage true acceptance rate (TAR). The results are used for edge-computing security systems, and person identification solutions as part of smart cities, retail, offices, and homes.

While this treads in Big Brother territory, Craig Campbell, technical specialist at CyberLink said, “As far as personal information, we’re capturing vector points. We capture from the video stream, and we don’t save the video.” It is up to retailers to understand and adhere to privacy laws. “Our software doesn’t make them non-compliant.”

Enhanced Personalization

Retailers have the option to target marketing to an identity or an individual. “In one instance, you are visitor 630; I can target my message to you every time you come in the store, but when you’re not in the store I have no way of accessing you,” said Campbell. “But if you are willing to sign in, and give me authorization with your email, next time you come as Susan, and we saw you smiling at that dress yesterday, we can send you an email and let you know it’s on sale tomorrow—come on by,” he explained. 

On the flip side, let’s say you want to reach customers with your message wherever they might be hanging out—maybe the mall, driving on the highway, or an event. “Every location has an exposure area that has mobile devices pass through,” said Jonathan Gudai, CEO of Adomni, a digital signage software company that specializes an online platform to manage and sell ads on digital screens, anywhere. Announced at DSE 2019, Adomni announced AudienceIQ.  The new feature gives advertisers the ability to spend campaign dollars more effectively and target their audience based on behaviors. Think of it as the Google AdWords of physical spaces.

“The location-based consumer insights provided by data industry leader PlaceIQ are driving an evolution in digital out-of-home (DOOH0 buying and selling,” said Gudai.

Like so many areas of the AV technology ecosystem, digital signage is converging with the powers of IT to provide data-rich content and analytics. The path to solid ROI has never been clearer.

Digital Signage Expo (DSE)  announced the winners of the 2019 APEX Awards. The announcement was made at the 15th Annual APEX Awards Ceremony on March 27 in Las Vegas. The APEX awards are judged and presented by The Digital Signage Federation.

The APEX Installation of the Year award went to Revel Media Group for their work on the Hale Centre Theatre; and the APEX Content of the Year award went to Magic Innovations for their work on the Saudi Airlines Multimedia Solutions. New for 2019, Dimensional Innovations was named Integrator of the Year for their work for the Minnesota Vikings – The Viking Museum. The three overall winners were selected from the 12 Gold award winners. 

Gold, Silver and Bronze APEX Awards were presented to winners in 12 categories from a field of 112 entrants:

Corporate Environments (10 entries)

• Gold - TechTAP TELUS Vancouver Innovation Centre for TELUS Magic Doors
• Silver - StandardVision for One Culver 
• Bronze - MAP Global – Musion Turkiye for Maya Holding Maya Kemer and Anatolium Marmara Retail Tower Showroom Space mpty list

Digital Out-of-Home Campaigns (3 entries)

• Gold - Vistar Media for Samsung Mobile and Starcom 
• Silver - Cineplex Digital Media for Toys R Us Endless Aisle Solutions 
• Bronze - Socionext for S8 8K Media Player 

Educational Environments (11 entries)

• Gold - TSItouch, Inc. for Morphogenesis- Stanford Biology Building – Anderson Krygier 
• Silver - Tierney Microgigantic for U of M McNamara Alumni Center Discovery Nexus Center 
• Bronze - University of Illinois Alumni Alliance for Richmond Family Welcome Gallery at Alice Campbell Alumni Center 

Entertainment & Recreation (13 entries)

• Gold - Dimensional Innovations for Minnesota Vikings – The Vikings Museum 
• Silver - C&G Partners for “Bible Now” Reactive Media Space 
• Bronze - Publicis Sapient/Second Story for The Parlors/Thomas Cole National Historic Site 

Experiential Design & Planning (11 entries)

• Gold – Ideum for Exploring Pueblo Pottery 
• Silver - BARTKRESA Studio for Shogyo Mujo @ Life is Beautiful 
• Bronze - YCD Multimedia and Belle & Wissell, Co. for The Spheres: Immersive Visitor Experience – Amazon, Downtown Seattle Headquarters 

Healthcare Environments (6 entries)

• Gold - Publicis Sapient/Second Story for Sanford Imagenetics/Sanford Health 
• Silver - Dimensional Innovations for Cleveland Clinic Children’s – Interactive Lobby Experience 
• Bronze - Envision Canada for Sunnybrook Foundation Digital Donor Wall

Hospitality (5 entries)

• Gold - Publicis Sapient/Second Story for Holland America Line/Explorations Central 
• Silver - Magic Innovations for ROYAL WEDDING 
• Bronze - Almo Professional A/V for Housing Trust GroupEmpty list

Public Spaces (10 entries)

• Gold - Kolo Digital Signage for Paseo Interlomas 
• Silver - Westbury National for The Idea Exchange – The Digital Library, City of Cambridge 
• Bronze - NEC Display Solutions of America for Rooted In Greatness 

Restaurants, Bars & Foodservice (7 entries)

• Gold - Nova Media for Hotel Indigo Hsinchu Science Park 
• Silver – ProntoTV for Pink Fish 
• Bronze - Userful for Tiger Nightclub 

Retail Environments (22 entries)

• Gold - Publicis Sapient for T-Mobile Signature Stores/T-Mobile 
• Silver - Nanonation for Ellynne Bridal 
• Bronze - Shikatani Lacroix Design, Metathink Nu Skin for Nu Xtore Shenzhen 

Transportation (9 entries)

• Gold - Magic Innovations for Saudi Airlines Multimedia Solutions 
• Silver - MTA Arts & Design for “Skyys” in Fulton Center 
• Bronze - NanoLumens for Charlotte Douglas International Airport 

Venues (5 Entries)

• Gold - Revel Media Group for Hale Centre Theatre 
• Silver - Sensory Interactive for Bank of America Stadium 
• Bronze - Dreambox Visual Communications, Inc. for Integrated 360 Video Mapping Show for Opening Ceremony of the Gyyanly Polymer Plant 

Almo Professional A/V (DSE Booth #DC4) is showing its newest Digital Signage Services during the Digital Signage Expo (DSE) in Las Vegas, March 27-28. These services are now available as products on Almo’s line card, enabling AV integrators to incorporate them at the outset of every installation. 

According to Jim Nista, senior director of content creation services for Almo Professional A/V, “The primary issue that a lot of AV integrators face today is that they don’t want to touch the digital signage part of the business for their customer, which is dangerous because then that business easily goes elsewhere. It’s critical for integrators to take this more seriously and to own the digital signage part of the integration project from start to finish.” 

The following Almo Digital Signage Services are now available as products: 

• Software Training & Support Services. Almo offers a standard two-hour curriculum of BrightAuthor or BrightSign network software training, as well as customized BrightSign training options that go beyond the basics and cover a range of topics based on integrator needs. Additional services such as client onboarding, media player setup, consulting, enhanced support agreements and ongoing content maintenance are also available through Almo.
• Content Widgets: Easy-to-deploy informational widgets for digital signs including news, weather, custom calendars, waiting lists and tickers. 
• Content Templates: Pre-designed templates for lobby directories, digital menus, directional signage, waiting lists, wayfinding, interactive lobby directories, photo directories, interactive donor walls, virtual concierge and more.
• Content Customization: The development of unique content for an installation. Includes advanced design, programming, content loading and setup. 

Nista added that Almo Digital Signage Services revenue has grown more than 250 percent since the acquisition of Insteo, Inc. in 2018. “Almo was the first to offer profit-enhancing digital signage content services and now we have greatly expanded what we can provide beyond just content, such as BrightSign software training, advanced design, programming, content loading and complete setup. We are able to offer Digital Signage Services as line items on our product list so integrators can easily incorporate them into their AV installation at the outset of a project.” He added, “Since both AV integrators and end users attend DSE, we end up becoming matchmakers by connecting them on the many project opportunities we learn about during the course of the show.” 

In late 2018, Areas, the leading brand in world travel catering, was awarded the concession to operate 15 restaurants at Minneapolis-Saint Paul international airport. Areas is also present through its franchises at other North American airports, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, Newark, Washington, Indianapolis, Orlando and Detroit, where it has also initiated implementation of Smart Digital Signage solutions from Netipbox Technologies. 

Some time ago, Areas established an action plan — rolled out initially in Spain and Portugal — that aims to provide dynamic interactive client information systems at its restaurant spaces in airports, highways and railway stations as a central element of its traveller communication policy and to reinforce its branding. Areas has relied on Smart Digital Signage solutions from Netipbox Technologies for this purpose. Areas has already been using Netipbox Technologies solutions in restaurants and retail outlets in Europe, solutions it is now moving to the North American territory, with Minneapolis - Saint Paul airport being one of its most recent exponents. 

Areas began its digital strategy in 2008, implementing the Netipbox solution because of its adaptability to any type of Menu Board or screen, an essential aspect in light of the diversity of Areas' catering spaces. In addition, Netipbox is easily integrated into Areas' PST platform, enabling management of the second PST screens in Areas' restaurants. Of particular value in this case was the ease of use offered by Netipbox to the people managing the system in Areas and its connectivity with additional functionalities such as audience analytics, an aspect that will bring great value to Areas in the coming years.

The engineering and supply of hardware and software equipment was carried out by Netipbox Technologies, while the creation of contents was carried out by Impactiva Global DS Agency, a division of Netipbox Technologies. The integration and installation of the system was carried out by North American integrator Safco Systems, Inc., using Menu Board screens from various manufacturers.

Paula Antich, Director of Marketing and Communication for Areas USA, explained that "the Netipbox technology we are installing in our restaurants represents a step forward in the group's digital strategy to provide us with modern, flexible and scalable tools that enable us not only to dynamically inform customers about our food offers but also to be able to manage all the digital assets of all the brands we manage under a single platform. In addition, content management is highly intuitive and its ability to generate WOW effects over several screens is something completely new and which gives us an edge in Digital Signage. This is something that we are going to take advantage of further as we implement Netipbox Technologies in different locations.”

The Smart Digital Signage cloud solutions from Netipbox Technologies provide operators with a wide range of own and third-party functionalities that enable important additional values such as: Scan, which provides valuable information to the consumer, giving screens greater value; Audience: identification of audience typology and metrics using camera systems (in collaboration with French company Quividi); and Synchro WOW: the creation of mega banner effects synchronized over different screens.

The core hardware of Smart Digital Signage solutions from Netipbox Technologies is the Nbox Android-based Plug & Play player that transforms any digital support (screen, totem, kiosk, etc.) in a window that interacts with the consumer while at once capturing audience data for business holders, among other kinds of possible interactions. Netipbox Technologies has developed a native APK that allows the screen to be controlled 100 percent in a robust, totally scalable solution easy to use for all kinds of customers.

Netipbox Technologies which will be showcasing the full potential of its integral solutions for the whole American market at Booth 1141 at the Vegas Convention Center. 

The What: Userful Corporation is launching an unlimited resolution feature to its Userful Cloud solution. Unlimited resolution enables organizations to create and display ultra-high-resolution visual content directly from the cloud to smart displays—at the display’s native resolution—with no additional hardware needed.

The What Else: “We are seeing more and more companies looking to create bigger, better, and more immersive video content,” said John Marshall, CEO, Userful. “The problem is lack of easy and cost-effective options to scale up so that every display is at its full native resolution. Combining our cloud management, content streaming, and support for an unlimited number of screens—with no additional hardware and on any angle rotation—makes for a powerful tool to create new immersive experiences.”

The Bottom Line: Userful Cloud is one solution within Userful’s Visual Networking Platform, announced in January. The unlimited resolution feature will be available to customers in Spring 2019 and can be seen at DSE 2019 in Booth 1734.

In our series of #DSEDiaries, we're talking with Digital Signage Expo (DSE) exhibitors about the innovations and trends they expect to see at the 2019 show.

Q&A with Brandon Breznick, Assistant Communications Manager, Premier Mounts

Why DSE?

BRANDON BREZNICK: DSE allows us to connect with enterprise brands in a variety of vertical markets that are looking to transform their customer experiences. When we have the opportunity to showcase the power of digital signage, we can better educate them on how our products and solutions fit into the equation of building a complex AV system.

What will you focus on at the show?

BB: Premier Mounts will focus on showcasing many different kinds of video wall solutions. Video walls are dynamic forms of digital signage mainly due to their size and scalability. The external face of the video wall can be used to play all kinds of compelling content that captures the attention of an audience. From native sales messaging to immersive digital art, video walls provide the best canvas to showcase on, but a video wall is only as good as the mounting foundation it sits on.

What is the hottest trend you expect to see at DSE 2019?

BB: Direct-view LED is continuously improving each year and is becoming the standard for video wall configurations. Seeing the advancement in these displays means that digital signage can be crisper and clearer than ever before.

To learn more, check out Premier Mounts in Booth 1918 at DSE 2019.

BONUS: DSE is giving our readers a discount for the 2019 show! Integrators and end users can use code "SCNDSE" for 15% off conference packages. Click here to register. 

In our series of #DSEDiaries, we're talking with Digital Signage Expo (DSE) exhibitors about the innovations and trends they expect to see at the 2019 show.

Q&A with Liseanne Gillham, VP of Marketing, Broadsign

Why DSE?

LISEANNE GILLHAM: What we love most about DSE is that it’s one of the best opportunities for our product people to connect directly with visitors, walk them through our platform face-to-face, and hear their needs and challenges. It’s also a good time to check in and see what our colleagues across the space have been up to—the show has grown a lot over the past few years, with the biggest names in digital signage all participating. DSE is really an embodiment of the strength and excitement present in the digital signage space right now, and we look forward to it all year.

What will you focus on at the show?

LG: This year, Broadsign’s primary focus is showing how digital signage network owners and operators can improve their bottom lines—either by growing their revenue through new advertising channels, or improving the efficiency of their network and sales operations functions. Visitors are invited to drop by to learn more about programmatic DOOH advertising, see how they can streamline their sales operations, or how they can implement advanced automation within their network. It’s all about making it easier to buy, sell, and deliver screen content securely and confidently.

What is the hottest trend you expect to see at DSE 2019?

LG: It comes down to two main trends—the first is that programmatic has started to take off in the digital signage space in the past year. We have more than tripled the amount of inventory available in the past year on our own platform, and on the buy-side, advertisers are starting to recognize the creative and efficiency value inherent in the technology—we can see this in the type of campaigns that have run. 

The second is that DOOH networks are looking to remove points of friction from their internal processes to make it easier to scale and transact even more business while ultimately improving their bottom lines. This is a big growth driver for the industry, and we expect that will be reflected in the conversations and presentations that go on at DSE this year.

To learn more, check out Broadsign in Booth 2022 at DSE 2019.

BONUS: DSE is giving our readers a discount for the 2019 show! Integrators and end users can use code "SCNDSE" for 15% off conference packages. Click here to register. 

The What: Shuttle Computer Group will feature its new large-screen, frameless all-in-one (AIO) computer (P90U) at DSE 2019 in Booth 1111. The screen is designed for customizable applications in digital signage, retail, wayfinding, kiosks, food service, medical, queueing, entertainment, and other interactive computing applications.

The What Else: The P90U is IP54 rated and is designed for challenging environments—including indoor applications where the touch screen may be exposed to humidity and occasional splashing of water. Its frameless design with no bezel means dirt can’t get into the frame so it’s easier to clean, especially in kitchen or medical environments. 

It features a large, 19.5-inch, 16:9, 1600 x 900 resolution, multi-touch screen particularly suitable for interactive kiosks and POS. The P90U can stand alone or be VESA-mounted.

“The P90U adds a new 19-inch option into our all-in-one line. More importantly, its motherboard is interchangeable with the smaller P20U,” said Tosh Akhgar, solutions manager, Shuttle Computer Group. “You can replicate a master image across either, which gives integrators and end users more installation flexibility.”

The Bottom Line: Offering 7th generation Intel Kabylake platform with an Intel Celeron 3865U 1.6 GHz dual-core processor with max TDP of 15W (i3/i5/i7), the P90U has memory frequency support up to DDR4-2133 MHz, with built-in Intel HD Graphics 610 to play full Ultra HD/4K content on external displays. 

The P90U is currently available through computer resellers; they come with a three-year limited warranty.

The What: Chief—part of Legrand AV—has expanded its Impact Series of kiosks to include the new Impact Bolt Down Portrait Floor Standing Kiosks. The kiosks are designed to provide an aesthetic solution for enclosing displays in open areas.

The What Else: Impact Bolt Down Portrait Floor Standing Kiosks are designed with no exposed fasteners while maintaining full access and serviceability, and Chief's exclusive design keeps the display mounted to the frame when opened. There are keyed locking security to keeps displays safe, and a universal AV Storage plate holds supporting equipment. 

[What to Look for at DSE 2019]

The Bottom Line: The kiosks will be available for 49-, 50-, and 55-inch displays in black or white finish to complement a variety of environments and will be shown at DSE 2019 in Booth 1312.

The What: Just in time for DSE 2019, Peerless-AV has introduced the second generation of its All-in-One Kiosk powered by BrightSign (KIPICT2555). Featuring a sleek and stylish design with lean frames and a smaller footprint, the new and improved All-in-One Kiosk seamlessly creates a complete digital signage solution for any indoor application setting, according to the company.

[What to Look for at DSE 2019]

The What Else: The All-in-One Kiosk, powered by a BrightSign XT1144 Expanded I/O Player, is designed for a variety of settings, including hospitality, retail, corporate, transportation, entertainment, and education. The updated kiosk delivers Full HD 1080p60 single video decoding, HTML support, networked content playback, as well as an abundant set of features, including interactivity via the GPIO port, remote snapshot, live text, media feeds, and multi-zone.

“With a continued focus on providing customers with fully integrated solutions, we are excited to introduce the latest iteration of our popular All-in-One Kiosk powered by BrightSign,” said Brian McClimans, vice president of sales for North America and APAC, Peerless-AV. “The new All-in-One Kiosk now includes a slimmer design and a new media player that delivers faster and more powerful HTML and graphics engine as well as an HDMI input to play content from other devices. From wayfinding to entertainment to advertising to digital merchandising, the new All-in-One Kiosk can be easily implemented to create an interactive customer experience.”

The Bottom Line: With an integrated 55-inch commercial LCD display offering 10 points of IR touch, the new All-in-One Kiosk fully engages users through a Wi-Fi enabled device, such as a tablet, computer, or phone. It can be see at DSE 2019 in Booth 2407.

BrightSign has unveiled its plans for Digital Signage Expo (DSE) 2019, which takes place March 27-28 in Las Vegas. The company’s technology will power digital experiences in BrightSign’s booth and across the show floor.

[What to See at DSE 2019]

“To demonstrate the full potential of our hardware and software, there’s nothing more effective than to highlight what various partners are accomplishing with our technology,” said Jeff Hastings, BrightSign’s CEO. “Visitors to our booth at this year’s DSE will participate in an array of demos showcasing some of the most innovative ways our partners are harnessing the power of the BrightSign platform.”

BSN.cloud Demos

BrightSign will demo its new network management platform for connected BrightSign players—giving attendees a first-hand look at the new tools and functionality BSN.cloud avails to BrightSign’s customers, integrators, and CMS partners. 

Partner Integration Demos

BrightSign will demonstrate several recent partner integration efforts, including the company’s collaboration with AdMobilize, whereby BrightSign’s players integrate support for AdMobilize’s audience recognition capabilities. This, and a similar integration with Bluefox, makes it possible for DOOH and retail signage networks to gather fully anonymous audience intelligence. Other partner demonstrations include Nexmosphere’s “elements for experience” products, InStoreScreen’s “Smart Retail” solution, and interactive kiosks from Kollins and Convergent, each using BrightSign Built-In screens by Bluefin.

Powering Signage Throughout the Show Floor

The company’s media players will power the entry signage that greets attendees as they step onto the show floor. This year’s entry signage includes screens by Samsung, mounts by Peerless-AV, and content by OpenEye Global. Additionally, BrightSign’s media players will drive multiple exhibitor demos in booths across the show floor.

To see BrightSign's latest products, attendees should visit Booth 2222 at DSE 2019.

Digital Signage Expo is one of the highlights of the digital signage calendar year. Taking place at the Las Vegas Center from March 26-29 this year, show organizers have been keen to highlight the more than 250 vendors that are scheduled to unveil new products and programs as well as the impressive lineup of education events geared toward digital signage experts and customers. We spoke with DSE’s Show Director Andrea Varrone about how the show has developed over its 16-year history and what we can expect to see and experience on the show floor. 

How has the show expanded over the past few years? 
DSE has experienced consistent exhibit floor growth throughout its entire history. We have won seven Fastest 50 awards, which are given to the 50 fastest growing trade shows in the U.S. each year; most recently in 2017; 2018 winners are not yet announced. Also, the DSE show floor itself has expanded to more than 90,000 net square feet of exhibit hall space dedicated to the latest digital signage and interactive technologies.

Which area of the show’s growth do you think has the most impact on the industry?
This industry’s technology keeps advancing at a fast pace with larger, thinner and more flexible screens, not to mention the additions of things like Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the  increasingly interactive approaches to content aimed at improving the customer experience across the industry. All of these areas have had a big impact on the thousands of digital signage and interactive technology networks that are deployed all across the U.S. and around the world.

What are you looking forward to most about this year’s DSE? 

My favorite part of DSE is the networking opportunities; a chance to catch-up with industry friends and to meet new ones. This is a fantastic industry filled with wonderful colleagues who share a great comradery as we all strive to help this market grow. It’s also great fun to have the opportunity to work as matchmakers, helping new colleagues meet important new contacts face-to-face.

What new show floor features and/or services will DSE 2019 visitors experience that they have not had at past shows? 
Our theme this year is “Transform the Customer Experience” which focuses on the real need that this technology fulfills. And to help illustrate how we can go about this, we’ve introduced an Experiential Theater in the front of the show floor called “The X.” In this large space, presenters will show how the new world of immersion and interactivity is fusing with traditional digital displays and screens. The X will feature VR artist performances, technology demos and designed project from real life that show how physical spaces can be transformed into amazing environments. Attendees will be able to feast on a multimedia and multisensory experience!

We have also added Manufacturer Training to the Friday conference program. Here, select manufacturers will host educational events to benefit those that use their technology, software or content solutions.

What new show floor features and/or services will DSE 2019 visitors experience that they have not had at past shows? 
Our theme this year is “Transform the Customer Experience” which focuses on the real need that this technology fulfills. And to help illustrate how we can go about this, we’ve introduced an Experiential Theater in the front of the show floor called “The X.” In this large space, presenters will show how the new world of immersion and interactivity is fusing with traditional digital displays and screens. The X will feature VR artist performances, technology demos and designed project from real life that show how physical spaces can be transformed into amazing environments. Attendees will be able to feast on a multimedia and multisensory experience!

We have also added Manufacturer Training to the Friday conference program. Here, select manufacturers will host educational events to benefit those that use their technology, software or content solutions.

What innovations or new technology do you anticipate will cause the biggest stir on the show floor this year?
As this technology continues its advance, companies are making leaps forward in everything from screen resolution and facial recognition to projection mapping and more. Most exhibitors keep their innovation plans somewhat secret, hoping to provide some buzz and attention on the show floor. It’s something that we all wait for with great anticipation. There hasn’t been a past DSE that didn’t have several totally surprising new innovations that provided a great wow factor during the show.

tvONE plans to introduce a new, enhanced CORIOmaster video wall processor at DSE 2019 in Booth 1118. During the show, the company will also feature new HDMI 2.0 products—including active optical cables and a new series of distribution amplifiers.

The latest CORIOmaster enhancements include a secure communication suite with full REST API and multi-user control. Other improvements include an HDMI 4-port output module (CM-HDMI-SC-4OUT), audio support for the CORIOmaster and CORIOmaster mini for embedded audio, and a dedicated audio module (CM-AUD-2IN-4OUT).

[DSE 2019 Preview]

The HDMI 4-port output upgrades the C3-540 CORIOmaster to up to 56 outputs to create massive video walls, projector edge blends, and LED installations. The new embedded audio support and audio module ensure the CORIOmaster is designed for situations when integrators need both video and audio in an installation. The IP streaming module now accepts both H.264 and H.265 (HEVC) for higher quality and increased bandwidth performance, and includes a low latency mode.

Magenta’s new HDMI 2.0 products supporting video resolutions up to 4Kx2K@60Hz 4:4:4 HDR and providing 18 Gbps of high bandwidth.

The MG-AOC-66x series of active optical cables provide a simple, robust solution for extending ultra-high resolutions over long distances. This reliability is also available in DisplayPort 1.4, (MG-AOC-88x) supporting resolutions up to 8K/60. Both variants are available in plenum and non-plenum versions.

Also showcased at DSE 2019 will be the MG-DA-61x series, which the company says provides a high-performance solution for distributing HDMI signals in an ultra-compact form factor. 

In our series of #DSEDiaries, we're talking with Digital Signage Expo (DSE) exhibitors about the innovations and trends they expect to see at the 2019 show.

Q&A with Jeanne Lewis, Product Marketing Manager, Sony Electronics

Why DSE?

JEANNE LEWIS: Over the past few years, Sony has reestablished itself in the digital signage marketplace with the launch of a range of 43- to 85-inch BRAVIA 4K/HDR displays optimized for professionals. These models support diverse verticals and applications including meeting rooms, classrooms, lobbies, corporate offices, retail and sports venues. As a company, Sony’s focus on image quality is the cornerstone that unifies nearly every aspect of our business. We’re excited to demonstrate our professional series of BRAVIAs to show attendees why our images are second to none.  

For Sony, attending DSE is not only about showcasing our newest products in their natural environment, but it’s about meeting and collaborating with current and prospective customers, integrators, and solutions providers. This enables us to learn more about the challenges and opportunities within the market and to better understand how Sony can help support these objectives through developing, designing, and implementing products and technology that tackle these requests head-on.

What will you focus on at the show?

JL: Our focus at the show will be on meeting customers old and new and introducing them to the Pro BRAVIA BZ35F series. While the industry is familiar with the BRAVIA name, we want to make them aware of some of the features that we feel make these models the most well-rounded lineup in the market. Built on the HTML-5 platform, these displays feature an all-in-one design, reliable, and dependable 24/7 rating, Energy Star efficiency for low power consumption, Creston certification, Android 8.0 capabilities, low ownership costs, and an optional license enabling cloud-based digital signage connectivity, we offer features that differentiate BRAVIA displays.

What is the hottest trend you expect to see at DSE 2019?

JL: Interactivity and accessibility are big trends and something regularly requested by our customers. At the show, we’ll be hyper-focused on these trends as we introduce new and improved Touch Overlay Panels, as well as optional solutions including iRevo cloud connectivity, object sensing, NFC and IP integration. For added engagement, we’ll have a puppy in the booth—Sony’s AI-enhanced aibo companion robot!

To learn more, check out Sony in Booth 1607 at DSE 2019.

BONUS: DSE is giving our readers a discount for the 2019 show! Integrators and end users can use code "SCNDSE" for 15% off conference packages. Click here to register. 

Join the editors of Digital Signage Magazine as they do a deep-dive into things you won't want to miss at DSE 2019 during a free webinar on Wed., March 20 at 2 pm ET. The webinar will offer digital signage professionals an insightful and candid preview of key products and trends to watch for as you peruse the show.

Registration is free for the webinar, which will be hosted by Llanor Alleyne, content director, Digital Signage Magazine, and Megan A. Dutta, content director, Systems Contractor News and Digital Signage Magazine. 

REGISTER TODAY

Sony’s popular BRAVIA 4K HDR line of professional displays boast even more powerful features, ranging from cloud-based digital signage to complementary Touch Overlay Panels (TOP) with IR touch technology. Thesix current BRAVIA 4K displays, ranging in screen size from 43 to 85 inches, will be shown with their latest enhancements at Digital Signage Expo (DSE) in Sony’s booth (#1607), from March 26-29 in the Las Vegas Convention Center.  Also new to the show is Sony’s 98-inch 8K BRAVIA, FWD-98Z9G.

The BZ35F BRAVIA series adds professional features such as network and serial communication control, flexible installation options and high brightness, while taking advantage of the display technology in Sony’s consumer televisions. All BRAVIA displays feature an all-in-one “system on a chip,” resulting in easy installation, excellent system reliability, and lower cost of ownership.Sony’s BRAVIA displays support enhanced 4K resolution, HDR imagery, integrated support for HTML5, and open API support optimized for businesses. The six BZ35F models are ideal for professional digital signage, information and monitoring applications, as well as use in meeting rooms, classrooms, retail, showrooms, sports venues and more.

A new 98-inch 8K BRAVIA professional display, FWD-98Z9G, will also be introduced at DSE. This new BRAVIA features Sony’s next-generation image processor, the X1 Ultimate, equipped with an 8K ultra-resolution algorithm that enables 8K up-conversion of any content. Sony's Backlight Master Drive technology includes a newly developed LED module and control algorithm that’s optimized for 8K. It incorporates the design and feature set of Sony’s 8K LCD Z9G TV, with a worry-free limited warranty for three years of coverage. The FWD-98Z9G is planned to be available in summer 2019, with suggested pricing to be disclosed later.

Also at DSE, Sony will introduce next-generation Touch Overlay Panels (TOP) for the BRAVIA 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch BZ35F series of displays that operate with IR touch technology. Customers, staff, or visitors can interact with the touch-enabled display by finger or stylus. Up to 10 multi-touch points ensure accurate, responsive performance across the entire display area. The overlay's tough anti-glare surface ensures optimum visibility, even in sunny environments. Anti-fingerprint coating helps keep the screen virtually smudge-free.

These slim, easy-fit overlays create interactive multi-touch screens, ideal for meeting rooms, interactive signage, and informational kiosks. Powered by direct USB connection to a PC or server, the energy-efficient touch overlay keeps running costs down (display is powered separately).

Announced last October, the BRAVIA line added an optional iRevo Digital Signage (iDS) software license, enabling a cloud-based signage solution that provides BRAVIA users with intuitive templates, interactive touch support without writing a program, richer customization for signage projects and the ability to publish from anywhere. The iRevo Author and Manage cloud apps interact with the iRevo Android application which installs directly onto BRAVIA displays. These cloud apps run on Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud and support a comprehensive list of input sources and content types for enhanced functionality. The iDS offering supports photos with animations, videos, music, documents, websites, widgets, RSS feeds and social media content, as well as content from sources that include network cameras, LAN services and live TV.  

Additionally, a new knowledge portal for customers, systems integrators and anyone looking for in-depth, one-stop information on BRAVIA professional models is available at pro-bravia.sony.net 

The What: Chief has expanded its award-winning TiLED LED Video Wall Mounting System to include the Samsung IFH Series, the Absen Acclaim Series, and the Unilumin UpanelS Series. The mounts will be on display at DSE 2019 in Booth 1312.

The What Else: The TiLED Series is a modular LED mounting system to support creative video wall configurations. The system can include any of three mounts that support LED displays and connect together to form a seamless video wall.

“As creative as you are with the content, you can be as creative with the supporting structure as well,” said Kathryn Gaskell, manager, product managers, Chief. “We want to support AV companies by providing the unique experiences that make them shine.”

Integrated plumb adjustment of up to 1 inch (25 mm) helps to compensate for imperfections in the wall, keeping everything flat. Offset mounting slots allow for easy installation and protect LEDs from the damaging friction that can occur when display edges rub together. A secure adjustment screw gently nudges displays together and keeps them in place.

The Bottom Line: Chief’s TiLED Series maintains a low profile to enhance the sleek aesthetics of LED displays. The total depth, including display, ranges from 3.48- to 4.85-inches, depending on the amount of plumb adjustment needed. Check with each mount for specific depth ranges for that system.

The What: Navori will officially launch its QL 2.1 software at DSE 2019. The updates empower customers to take full advantage of data integration and high-resolution image processing, while also making digital signage easier to control and manage directly from the software. The QL 2.1 software release also extends Navori’s System on a Chip (SoC) interoperability to new platforms, and introduces Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) support for the first time.

The What Else: In addition to new conditional playback and triggering, the software leverages data-tagging of media assets, players and scenarios, along with real-time data integration with systems, to enable more flexibility in dynamic, targeted content delivery that is meaningful to audiences. For example, retailers can base what is playing on specific screens in stores on inventory levels or deliveries. Similarly, promotions can be dynamically removed from digital signage playlists if inventory levels run low, and hit a pre-set threshold that triggers the spot to be expired.

Other new features include Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) Support, which exchanges public warnings and emergencies between alerting technologies; a new mobile interaction app that streams digital signage content management for businesses and organizations; performance rendering with IPR technology which drive 8K video walls or four clusters of 4K digital signage displays from a single media player; and a LG webOS SoC player.

The Bottom Line: Navori will demonstrate QL 2.1 and its various new applications at Booth 2809 in the Las Vegas Convention Center from March 27-28.

Digital Signage Expo (DSE) is the one place to go see the newest cutting-edge technologies available today. Among the more than 250 vendors that will be exhibiting on the show floor, many of them will be introducing new products at DSE 2019, including:

ABCOM’s 58in. Swedx 4K Lamina Kiosk is one of the world’s thinnest 4K commercial touch display kiosks — warm, inviting materials attract people from a distance and with <3” depth, it allows for interactive experience while occupying minimal space. Built-in media player or use a mini PC that fits inside a lockable cabinet.  We also completely customize. Booth 1834 

AOPEN eTile-X15 is a commercial-grade, ultra-thin, and robust multi-touchscreen optimized for interactive smart kiosk applications. It features a secure tamper-proof design, built-in cable management, hidden ports, FHD display (1080p), 160/160in. viewing angle, IP65 rated for dust/water resistance, hidden keypad, and front-facing 1MP webcam option. Stand and mount options available. Booth 2138 

Bluefin Ultrawide Screen with BrightSign Built-in is an all-in-one LCD digital signage solution pairing an industrial quality, fully enclosed LCD screen with a board-integrated BrightSign HD player now available in several ultra-wide sizes designed with endcaps, lite kiosks and digital price-tags in mind. Booth 1120

Enplug’s Slack App is a smarter way for users to manage Slack content on digital signage. Now employees can share individual public messages from Slack, even if they aren’t CMS users. Real-time content updates, customized message appearance, automatic channel streaming and negative sentiment filtering deliver full content control. Booth 3211

Inhance's Interactive CMS Mural is a blend of beautifully animated art and sophisticated software. The mural consists of an ultra-high definition animated background image. Up to 30 people can interact with the content simultaneously. The content management system lets you add and change text, images, video, PDF and other files. Booth DC7

Registration for any of the DSE 2019 educational conference sessions, which are sponsored by Ayuda, makes one eligible for Digital Signage Expert Group (DSEG) certification renewal credits, available online at www.dse2019.com. More information on Ayuda, the DOOH industry’s most widely used all-in-one business operations software, is available at www.ayudasystems.com.

Digital Signage Expo has announced 36 finalists for the 15th annual APEX Awards.

The 2019 APEX Awards, presented by the Digital Signage Federation, are designed to recognize and honor achievement in the installation of digital displays and interactive technology and the creation of compelling viewer content. For well over a decade the APEX Awards have honored hundreds of companies around the world for their innovation. 

This year’s APEX Award finalists were chosen by an independent panel of 15 industry experts and journalists from a field of 112 entrants from 13 countries vying in 12 major digital signage categories. 

The list of finalists and images of the entries can be found here.

Gold, Silver and Bronze awards will be presented in each category as part of the Free Networking Reception and APEX Awards Ceremony sponsored by Gable, Peerless-AV and Samsung, Wednesday on March 27, from 5 to 7 p.m., staged at the Pavilion Ballroom at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. DSE will also present the APEX Installation of the Year, Content of the Year and Integrator of the Year Awards to three of the Gold winners. 

The Digital Signage Federation’s 2019 APEX Award Finalists are:

Corporate Environments (10 entries)

Maya Holding Maya Kemer and Anatolium Marmara Retail Tower Showroom Space nominated by MAP Global – Musion Turkiye
One Culver nominated by StandardVision
TELUS Magic Doors nominated by TechTAP TELUS Vancouver Innovation Centre

Digital Out-of-Home Campaigns (3 entries)

Samsung Mobile and Starcom nominated by Vistar Media
S8 8K Media Player nominated by Socionext
Toys R Us Endless Aisle Solutions nominated by Cineplex Digital Media 

Educational Environments (11 entries)

Morphogenesis- Stanford Biology Building – Anderson Krygier nominated by TSItouch, Inc.
Richmond Family Welcome Gallery at Alice Campbell Alumni Center nominated by University of Illinois Alumni Alliance
U of M McNamara Alumni Center Discovery Nexus Center nominated by Tierney Microgigantic

Entertainment & Recreation (13 entries)

“Bible Now” Reactive Media Space nominated by C&G Partners
Minnesota Vikings – The Vikings Museum nominated by Dimensional Innovations
The Parlors/Thomas Cole National Historic Site nominated by Publicis Sapient/Second Story

Experiential Design & Planning (11 entries)

Exploring Pueblo Pottery nominated by Ideum
Shogyo Mujo @ Life is Beautiful nominated by BARTKRESA Studio
The Spheres: Immersive Visitor Experience – Amazon, Downtown Seattle Headquarters nominated by YCD Multimedia and Belle & Wissell, Co.

Healthcare Environments (6 entries)

Cleveland Clinic Children’s – Interactive Lobby Experience nominated by Dimensional Innovations
Sanford Imagenetics/Sanford Health nominated by Publicis Sapient/Second Story
Sunnybrook Foundation Digital Donor Wall nominated by Envision Canada

Hospitality (5 entries)

Holland America Line/Explorations Central nominated by Publicis Sapient/Second Story
Housing Trust Group nominated by Almo Professional A/V
ROYAL WEDDING nominated by Magic Innovations

Public Spaces (10 entries)

Paseo Interlomas nominated by Kolo Digital Signage
Rooted In Greatness nominated by NEC Display Solutions of America
The Idea Exchange – The Digital Library, City of Cambridge nominated by Westbury National

Restaurants, Bars & Foodservice (7 entries)

Hotel Indigo Hsinchu Science Park nominated by Nova Media
Pink Fish nominated by ProntoTV
Tiger Nightclub nominated by Userful

Retail Environments (22 entries)

Ellynne Bridal nominated by Nanonation
Nu Xtore Shenzhen nominated by Shikatani Lacroix Design, Metathink Nu Skin (pictured)
T-Mobile Signature Stores/T-Mobile nominated by Publicis Sapient

Transportation (9 entries)

Charlotte Douglas International Airport nominated by NanoLumens
Saudi Airlines Multimedia Solutions nominated by Magic Innovations
“Skyys” in Fulton Center nominated by MTA Arts & Design

Venues (5 Entries)

Bank of America Stadium, nominated Sensory Interactive
Hale Centre Theatre nominated by Revel Media Group
Integrated 360 Video Mapping Show for Opening Ceremony of the Gyyanly
Polymer Plant nominated by Dreambox Visual Communications, Inc.

Mark your calendar now: DSE 2019 is scheduled for March 26-29, 2019, with access to the Exhibit Hall March 27-28 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. To reserve exhibit space, contact Andrea Varrone at (770) 817-5905. For more information, visit www.dse2019.com.

In our series of #DSEDiaries, we're talking with Digital Signage Expo (DSE) exhibitors about the innovations and trends they expect to see at the 2019 show.

Q&A with Sandi Stambaugh, Vice President, Product Management, Synnex Corporation.

Why DSE?

SS: Digital Signage Expo is the premier event completely focused on the digital signage market. The trainings, break outs, product showcases, and networking opportunities at DSE allow Synnex VisualSolv to stay connected, engaged, and “in the know” in the ever-changing digital signage market. DSE attendance and participation is a must if we expect to support our integrator community in the best possible way. 

What will you focus on at the show?

SS: Synnex VisualSolv will have around 15 team members at the Digital Signage Expo this year. Our primary focus is to meet with our partners, attend trainings and seminars, and learn more about new and upcoming trends in the market. 

What is the hottest trend you expect to see at DSE 2019?

SS: The hottest trend we are seeing right now, and that we expect to see more of at DSE this year, is the expansion of the fully connected digital experience including cloud, mobility, IoT, and analytics.  From a product standpoint, we are excited to see more advances in the direct-view LED space along with the expansion of the outdoor and kiosk markets.

To learn more, look to connect with Synnex team members on the show floor at DSE 2019.

BONUS: DSE is giving our readers a discount for the 2019 show! Integrators and end users can use code "SCNDSE" for 15% off conference packages. Click here to register. 

In our series of #DSEDiaries, we're talking with Digital Signage Expo (DSE) exhibitors about the innovations and trends they expect to see at the 2019 show.

Q&A with Jeffrey Weitzman, Managing Director, Navori.

Why DSE?

JW: Digital Signage Expo has historically been a great show for Navori. Many of our partners and target customers attend. While the show seems to have grown smaller from an exhibitor perspective, it has also become more precise. We are certain that attendees who walk the floor are looking for digital signage products and digital signage software. We can speak and meet with people who know what they want, and have relevant, practical conversations that ultimately leads to real business and strong solutions.

What will you focus on at the show?

JW: Navori will capture the trend of everything that is smart in digital signage today. By smart, we mean taking all the information that is available across the different verticals we sell into. It can be as simple as weather, and rise to more sophisticated needs such as audience analytics, inventory tracking, room scheduling, and emergency notification. Content moving forward will be dynamic and responsive as opposed to having to be pre planned and scheduled.

We want to empower the customer to use all data that is available and have the ability to make sure the tight content plays at the right time for the right audience.. This shouldn’t require extra programming or complexity for the end user. We want to make digital signage easy to control and manage, and ensure that it is 100-percent built into the software. This includes our new conditional triggering capabilities, which will analyze data sets and respond with relevant content. It is no longer about scheduled playlists; it’s about delivering content that is based on what’s happening in real world.

What is the hottest trend you expect to see at DSE 2019?

JW: We will continue to see a big push for system-on-a-chip (SoC) displays. Navori is fully interoperable on all relevant hardware and operating systems. We will launch our LG WebOS player, which joins our Android 4K and Samsung Tizen players. We also have strong relationships with Phillips and Sharp, for example. We will continue to strengthen all of these relationships and innovate.

To learn more, check out Navori in Booth 2809 at DSE 2019.

BONUS: DSE is giving our readers a discount for the 2019 show! Integrators and end users can use code "SCNDSE" for 15% off conference packages. Click here to register. 

Digital Signage Expo has unveiled additional new products that will be on display during the organization's DSE 2019, which will feature more than 250 vendors on the show floor. Many of them will be introducing new products at DSE 2019, including:

Want to verify content updates on hundreds of screens at once and ensure 100 percent uptime – without ever leaving your desk? With Goverlan Reach you can monitor, automatically remediate or maintain your digital displays and self-service kiosks from your desktop. Perform all this without disrupting the guest experience. https://www.goverlan.com/solution/remote-access-digital-signage Booth 1445

Protective Enclosures’ The TV Shield PRO Portrait with IR Touch Frame is a weatherproof, secure, touch capable and robust USA made protective outdoor display enclosure built with triple-coated steel for ultimate strength. Perfect for any standard TV or digital display, it’s ideal for commercial and professional vertical signage needs.https://www.thedisplayshield.com/the-tv-shield-pro-portrait/ Booth 1538

ScreenCloud’s all new platform has a fresh design and all the features organizations need to make managing multiple digital signage screens a breeze – such as smart scheduling, screen takeovers, enhanced role-based security, and an amazing new design tool that lets you combine text, images and videos. https://get.screen.cloud/dse-2019 Booth 2831

Signagelive’s new Workplace Communications solution is a great way to engage, inform and positively impact employee productivity in offices, factories, sales departments, reception, staff canteens and across time zones and languages to share company data, messages and KPIs. https://signagelive.com/blog/2018/11/20/why-use-signagelive-digital-signage-for-your-workplace-communications/ Booth 2418

Videotel’s VP90 is a 4K/1080 industrial grade network and interactive digital signage media player. Access and update content remotely via a web browser, FTP or LAN. Play content locally on USB, SD, or design from templates. Unlimited zones. Trigger content with touch screen, push buttons and sensors.  No software fees! https://www.videoteldigital.com/vp90-4k-industrial-networked-digital-signage-media-player-built-in-    scheduler-and-interactive-functions Booth 2244

Registration for any of the DSE 2019 educational conference sessions, which are sponsored by Ayuda, makes one eligible for Digital Signage Expert Group (DSEG) certification renewal credits, available online at www.dse2019.com. More information on Ayuda, the DOOH industry’s most widely used all-in-one business operations software, is available at www.ayudasystems.com.

Mark your calendar now: DSE 2019 is scheduled for March 26-29, 2019, with access to the Exhibit Hall March 27-28 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. To reserve exhibit space, contact Andrea Varrone at (770) 817-5905. For more information, visit www.dse2019.com.

You can follow DSE on Twitter (@DSExpo) or Facebook (facebook.com/DSExpo). For all DSE 2019 updates, use #dse2019. For year-round news and information on digital signage, visit DSE’s Digital Signage Connection web portal at www.digitalsignageconnection.com.

In our series of #DSEDiaries, we're talking with Digital Signage Expo (DSE) exhibitors about the innovations and trends they expect to see at the 2019 show.

Q&A with Alison Maxson, Senior Manager, Marketing Communications, Absen.

Why DSE?

AM: While our LED solutions cover a wide range of vertical markets, DSE allows us to showcase them in a more specialized manner and meet with potential customers for more direct discussion.

What will you focus on at the show?

AM: We will be showcasing our new N Plus Series which is designed with the retail environment in mind as well as the very popular Acclaim Series. 

What is the hottest trend you expect to see at DSE 2019?

AM: I love seeing how LED is being incorporated more and more into the retail experience by creating an immersive as well as interactive environment that not only entertains consumers, but helps collect specific data on their buying patterns and behaviors. 

To learn more, check out Absen in Booth 1232 at DSE 2019.

BONUS: DSE is giving our readers a discount for the 2019 show! Integrators and end users can use code "SCNDSE" for 15% off conference packages. Click here to register. 

Now that the hullabaloo of CES and ISE have passed, the industry is turning its focus to Digital Signage Expo (DSE), a comprehensive international event dedicated to digital signage solutions from retail to entertainment and beyond. DSE will take place March 26-29 in Las Vegas, NV.

“We’ve really increased our options for integrators at the 2019 show,” said Andrea Varrone, DSCE, show director, Digital Signage Expo. “We have an entire track of programs geared just toward that segment of the industry. Between the education and the demos of innovations on the show floor, integrators will walk away confident that they have the expertise to add revenue and future-proof their businesses for more opportunities and competitive relevance.”

This year’s keynote will be presented by Tom Goodwin of Zenith, who will address the ways the pro AV industry can drive innovation and transform all industries by embracing the power of new technology. “I’m very excited about the keynote,” said Laura Davis-Taylor, Digital Signage Federation board member and co-founder of High Street Collective. “He’s someone I actively follow, and he will be a fresh, enlightened voice for the industry.”

BONUS: DSE is giving our readers a discount for the 2019 show! Integrators and end users can use code "SCNDSE" for 15% off conference packages. Click here to register. 

Trends

Digital signage technology is often thought of as cutting-edge innovation. With everyone from mount manufacturers to data visualization experts exhibiting at DSE 2019, what do industry experts expect to see at the show?

“The digital transformation is happening in more and more vertical markets,” said Varrone. “I expect to see exciting new technologies for employees, consumers, and community members. Along with this, we’ll also see advancements in analytics.”

“At DSE 2019, we should be seeing solutions geared toward machine vision with deep learning,” said Manolo Almagro, managing partner, Q Division.

Bryan Meszaros, CEO and founder of digital experience design agency OpenEye Global and president of the Society of Experiential Graphic Designers, agrees. “End users want to know who their audience is—and so should integrators and content creators. Data visualization can be used to create a visual story, and we should use it to our advantage.”

LED displays will continue to be a topic of conversation, with a focus on tighter pixel pitches, he notes. “Who says they have to be big? We saw earlier this year at shows like NRF 2019 that the shelf is an important area that has the ability to help retailers make an impact in the aisle.”

In terms of trends, Davis-Taylor says she is looking forward to “encountering some new flavors of place-based digital that expand the boundaries of what’s expected from a digital signage show. The category is bleeding into exciting new platforms and I’m really looking forward to discovering some new things!”

When looking for trends and products at the show, Alan C. Brawn, DSCE, DSDE, principal, Brawn Consulting, recommends looking beyond the “obvious glitz and glamor that is the main focus of the big booths.” The larger booths, he says, have hidden gems within and “elements of value” that aren’t being actively advertised. “Look beyond the displays for developments in analytics, IoT, artificial intelligence, mobility connectivity, managed services, content creation, etc.,” he concluded.

Content Creation

Content is king—we’ve heard that since the early days of digital signage. As we move toward becoming an experience-driven industry, the idea rings true now more than ever.

According to Meszaros, DSE is a show that fosters collaboration across all facets of the digital signage industry. He believes content creators, experience designers, integrators, and manufacturers are all looking for partners at the show and neither side is unapproachable. “The mindset of a traditional integrator needs to change in order for us to create successful relationships. Design isn’t a ‘fluff’ term—it’s a necessary part of any project and requires a multitude of skillsets to execute on the vision,” he said.

Almagro suggested integrators conduct an outreach effort before they even hit the show floor, researching content creators and experience designers and getting in touch with the ones who are a fit for their respective markets. “Select a partner who truly understands what people want and need out of their experiences—for example, a designer who understands how people shop if you’re in the retail sector of digital signage,” he recommended. “Look for a pedigree that goes beyond just digital signage and is inclusive of data-driven experiences.”

“The reality is that the majority of designers are hybrid practitioners. They can understand the tech, but the execution of it is not necessarily something they want to take on,” Meszaros said. “Both integrators and designers need to understand that they have a role in the project, but they need to be flexible about what the role actually is. No content agency or designer wants to be told how something should come together—they want an open forum for collaboration.”

2019 and Beyond

Digital Signage Expo typically sets the tone for the industry, debuting new technologies, providing an environment for fostering new (and old) relationships, and educating the community about the latest business and tech trends.

Braun had one final bit of advice for attendees: “The most important thing to do at the show—from this consultant’s perspective—is to listen and get out of one’s own bubble and comfort zone. Listen to the end user attendees. Listen to the exhibitors and their perspectives and then compare. The truth lies beyond what we know today.”

Spotlight on Digital Signage

Manufacturers gave SCN a sneak preview of the innovations they plan to showcase at DSE 2019. Scroll through the gallery below to learn more.

BONUS: DSE is giving our readers a discount for the 2019 show! Integrators and end users can use code "SCNDSE" for 15% off conference packages. Click here to register. 

Digital Signage Expo (DSE) has announced more than 250 vendors that will be exhibiting on the show floor, many of them will be introducing new products at DSE 2019, including:

Advantech’s CRV-430WP, designed with a 43” UHD industrial grade curved LCD and an industrial display card, supports standard video outputs such as HDMI, DisplayPort and VGA. The introduction of deep curved profiles in a large area display creates exciting opportunities for digital signage, slot machines, entertainment kiosks, and more. https://www.advantech.com/products/714b2398-e1c8-4d50-a1b4-f00fb1c63b2f/crv-430wp/mod_80bd47ea-d9ea-4ea5-94e0-51fbd4c577c1     Booth 2031

Daktronics’ all new Optica Series is a revolutionary new video product – the industry's first sub-1mm display with true outdoor brightness. Visit Daktronics booth #2422 to learn more and experience firsthand the vibrant HDR color, radiant brightness and superior contrast from the most power efficient technology in the industry. www.daktronics.com/optica      Booth 2422

With its lightweight and slim design, LED Sign Supply’s EnviroSlim Electronic Message Display provides a cost effective outdoor LED advertising solution that is versatile and easy to install for any type of application or environment. https://www.ledsignsupply.com/enviroslim-led/     Booth 2840

NEC’s C651Q 4K UHD large-format display is packed with commercial-grade features. It features anti-reflective high haze coating, full external controls and is landscape compatible, making it ideal for any application. NEC’s advanced color management and stabilization system provide complete control and uniformity, and real-time temperature sensors control integrated cooling fans. https://www.necdisplay.com/p/c651q      Booth 2300

The Convergent series from Premier Mounts offers built-in adjustment for the x-y-z planes to create totally seamless  direct-view LED video walls from the biggest display manufacturers in the industry. This new solution is designed to the exact millimeter for mounting points and can be shipped to your jobsite in 48 hours! https://www.premiermounts.com/product/convergent-if/   Booth 1918

Registration for any of the DSE 2019 educational conference sessions, which are sponsored by Ayuda, makes one eligible for Digital Signage Expert Group (DSEG) certification renewal credits, available online at www.dse2019.com. More information on Ayuda, the DOOH industry’s most widely used all-in-one business operations software, is available at www.ayudasystems.com.

Mark your calendar now: DSE 2019 is scheduled for March 26-29, 2019, with access to the Exhibit Hall March 27-28 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. To reserve exhibit space, contact Andrea Varrone at (770) 817-5905. For more information, visit www.dse2019.com.

In our series of #DSEDiaries, we're talking with Digital Signage Expo (DSE) exhibitors about the innovations and trends they expect to see at the 2019 show.

Q&A with Sean Matthews, CEO, Visix.

Why DSE?

SM: DSE affords attendees and exhibitors the opportunity to see, first-hand, the latest technologies influencing the digital signage markets, and not only compare those technologies, but evaluate their nuances. There is no single signage platform capable of meeting the needs of all of the vertical market demands—QSR, FIDS, retail, self-serve, and enterprise communications.  Not only are there opportunities to discuss the various technologies with vendors, but there are social and educational opportunities to meet with or hear from some of the most experienced professionals in the industry.

For exhibitors, there are hundreds of opportunities to see clients, prospects, consultants, investors, and integrators. Maybe of equal importance is the chance to see new technologies and determine how your own technologies might integrate with what is new and on the horizon.

What will you focus on at the show?

SM: As an exhibitor, we will focus on presenting our technologies to a variety of audiences in search of opportunities that are a good fit for what we do.  Additionally, we will meet with our partners to exchange ideas about our products and market trends.

What is the hottest trend you expect to see at DSE 2019?

SM: Practically, we expect to see further innovations in display technologies—zero bezel, flexible materials, and transparency. Conceptually, we expect to hear about artificial intelligence and augmented reality. It’s always interesting to hear about or see the conceptual technologies, but in my experience, the adoption curve is incredibly slow or non-existent. We demonstrated augmented reality (AR) married to our wayfinding solution four years ago, and have not received any real interest since.

To learn more, check out Visix in Booth 2631 at DSE 2019.

BONUS: DSE is giving our readers a discount for the 2019 show! Integrators and end users can use code "SCNDSE" for 15% off conference packages. Click here to register. 

Women of Digital Signage is hosting a luncheon at Digital Signage Expo (DSE) 2019. The organization will hold the event on Thursday, March 28, at 12 noon.

“We’re very excited for our second year as an organization,” said Andrea Varrone, DSCE, co-founder of the group and show director for DSE. “During the event, our members will have a chance to reconnect with old friends and form relationships with new members. We’ll also be announcing the details of our mentorship program, which will allow women in the industry to foster new talent and create new business opportunities with one another.”

The luncheon is $25 for members and $35 for non-members. For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/DSE2019WomenDS.

In our series of #DSEDiaries, we're talking with Digital Signage Expo (DSE) exhibitors about the innovations and trends they expect to see at the 2019 show.

Q&A with JJ Parker, CEO, Carousel Digital Signage.

Why DSE?

JP: DSE is a great place for us to connect with existing customers and showcase our products to new customers. The show allows customers to evaluate the broad variety of digital signage offerings on the market, and compare them in the same place. 

What will you focus on at the show?

JP: We will focus on our new Carousel Cloud product, showing customers how to keep their digital signage content fresh and networks dynamic. While Carousel Cloud offers all the benefits of a SaaS model—lower costs, lighter infrastructure, minimal maintenance—we’ll demonstrate how bringing Carousel Cloud together with Apple TV devices for content playout further strengthens the value proposition for our customers, especially in education and corporate facilities. We will also communicate how Carousel Digital Signage, whether deployed in the cloud or on-premise, can help organizations deliver content that is always up-to-date for classrooms, conference rooms, and common areas, with exceptional ease of use and management.

What is the hottest trend you expect to see at DSE 2019?

JP: I expect the main trend at DSE will be a focus on administration, up-time, and total cost of ownership of signage networks. As digital signage networks expand, the 'care and feeding' effort and costs escalate. Since keeping content up to date and relevant is one of the most critical components of the digital signage network, we should see new tools come to market that make this part of the job easier.

To learn more, check out Carousel Digital Signage in Booth 2627 at DSE 2019.

BONUS: DSE is giving our readers a discount for the 2019 show! Integrators and end users can use code "SCNDSE" for 15% off conference packages. Click here to register. 

In our series of #DSEDiaries, we're talking with Digital Signage Expo (DSE) exhibitors about the innovations and trends they expect to see at the 2019 show.

Q&A with Brian McClimans, Vice President of Sales, Americas and APAC, Peerless-AV.

Why DSE?

BM: Our goal at Peerless-AV is to increase our focus on specialized shows where we can tailor our messaging to attendees and provide information they are specifically looking for. DSE is one of these shows—every exhibitor and attendee is there for one reason—to showcase and learn about new digital signage solutions and trends. Shows like this let us cut through all of the extraneous noise and provide a truly personal experience for each attendee that visits our booth.

What will you focus on at the show?

BM: Outdoor continues to be a big focus for Peerless-AV. There are more and more installations of outdoor DOOH advertising and QSRs are increasing attention on the outdoor drive-thru experience with fully-sealed menu boards. To address these needs, we will be showcasing solutions like our brand new Xtreme High Bright Outdoor Display, which is IP68 rated and perfect for any application, including our Smart City Kiosks, drive-thru menu boards, transportation, entertainment for outdoor sporting events like stadiums, and amusement parks. We are also fully committed to our Direct View LED mounting solutions and will be unveiling many unique products at DSE. 

What is the hottest trend you expect to see at DSE 2019?

BM: Outdoor will be big focus at DSE. There will be a lot of discussions about outdoor digital signage, whereas, in the past, the focus was more on the indoor implementations. It will be exciting to see what everyone has in store for this year’s show. 

To learn more, check out Peerless-AV in Booth 2407 at DSE 2019.

BONUS: DSE is giving our readers a discount for the 2019 show! Integrators and end users can use code "SCNDSE" for 15% off conference packages. Click here to register. 

Digital Signage Expo has announced more than 250 vendors will be exhibiting on the show floor with many of them introducing new products at DSE 2019, including:

- The Adomni Ad Marketplace for BrightSign enables media player operators to drive new ad revenue by listing and selling their digital signage on Adomni.com.  Media player owners can choose to switch to using the Adomni online CMS or continue using BrightAuthor CMS capabilities with the embedded Ad Marketplace widget.

www.adomni.com/brightsign  (booth 2634)

- iBase Technology’s SW-101-N waterproof digital signage player is fanless and designed for both indoor and outdoor environments, built to withstand dust, water and extreme temperatures, ensuring the system’s stable operation and reliability in harsh outdoor environments. It meets IP68 standards, allowing it to handle submersion in water for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1.5 meters.

https://www.ibase.com.tw/english/ProductDetail/DigitalSignagePlayer/SW-101-N  (booth 3203)

- NEXCOM’s NDiS M539 is an OPS PLUS-compliant media engine powered by 8th generation Intel Core processor. It leverages the latest processors to deliver outstanding graphics support via multiple independent 4K2K video output. The superb, but power-efficient NDiS M539 can therefore maximize visual impacts for applications such as digital signage, interactive whiteboard, and video walls. 

https://mailchi.mp/nexcom.com/ndism539  (booth 3248)

- AxisTV Signage Suite is the latest release of Visix’s digital signage CMS, with drag-n-drop widgets for building interactive content and data-triggered message elements. Using configurable widgets, clients can automate text, artwork and design changes on screens, all triggered by external data sources.

https://www.visix.com/products/digital-signage-software/  (booth 2631)

- Zytronic will demonstrate a new Hybrid Touch technology that enables full integration of physical controls within an active touchscreen. Zytronic’s Hybrid Touch allows mechanical buttons and dials to be incorporated in the active area of projected capacitive touchscreens, which can be used in video walls, touch tables and kiosks.

https://zytronic.co.uk/technology/multi-touch/ (booth 2034)

Registration for any of the DSE 2019 educational conference sessions, which are sponsored by Ayuda, are eligible for Digital Signage Expert Group (DSEG) certification renewal credits, available online at www.dse2019.com. More information on Ayuda, the DOOH industry’s most widely used all-in-one business operations software, is available at www.ayudasystems.com

Digital Signage Expo (DSE) has announced the fourth installment in its free 2019 webinar series, which targets specific end user verticals, is to be presented Thursday, January 24 at 2 p.m. ET.

Moderated by Healthcare Innovation Editor in Chief Mark Hagland, the 30-minute session will benefit healthcare operators, technologists and communications professionals responsible for their facility’s digital signage communications network. 

Featured discussion leaders include:

• Dileep Varma, Head of Product Development & Operations, Outcome Health
• Kim Sarubbi, Chief Operating Officer, Cannabis Medical Network

The webinar will discuss applications currently in use in a variety of healthcare settings, with a focus on the effectiveness of third-party networks in doctors’ offices to further patient education, help reduce perceived wait times, use technology to illustrate care alternatives and better understand treatment goals.

Attendees will learn:

• The importance of patient education
• How to increase compliance
• How to create up-sell opportunities
• Who and how to target audiences with digital signage in healthcare settings
• How doctors are using interactive signage in the course of treatment
• How to maximize digital signage impact in healthcare

Attendance for this 30-minute webinar is free, but registration is required HERE.

Digital Signage Expo (DSE) will reprise its popular opening keynote address the morning of Wednesday March 27, 2019, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Tom Goodwin’s address will look at the ways in which we can drive innovation and transform all of our industries by truly embracing the power of new technology. It’s been common practice that every time a new technology comes around, we embrace it by applying it to what we’ve done before rather than rethinking our world around what it makes possible.

However, Goodwin believes that we should be excited by new technology, from 5G to Artificial intelligence and projection mapping to innovative displays, but in a way that reimagines customer journeys and expectations using leaps of creativity and imagination to drive entirely new experiences.

Goodwin’s keynote will kick off the two-day conference on Wednesday, March 27 at 8:00 a.m. The conference will run March 27-28 concurrent with access to the show floor. Pre- and post-show educational programs are also available on Tuesday, March 26 and Friday March 29 respectively.

Registration for any of the DSE 2019 educational conference sessions that are eligible for Digital Signage Expert Group (DSEG) certification renewal credits, is available online at www.dse2019.com.

Digital Signage Expo has announced the second installment in its free 2019 webinar series, which targets specific end user verticals, is to be presented Thursday, January 10 at 2 p.m. ET.

Moderated by QSR Magazine Editorial Director Sam Oches, the 30-minute session will benefit QSR operators, technologists and communications professionals responsible for their restaurant facilities’ digital signage communications network. 

Featured discussion leaders include:

The 30-minute webinar will discuss trends in hardware, software and operational component technologies, identifying those innovations that have been applied or should be considered in the QSR space. The discussion will also explore the types of innovations that could be helpful to generate additional efficiencies.

“The QSR space is ripe for digital signage disruption,” said Eftekhari-Asl. “Pulling from other industries, we’ll discuss some emerging trends in digital signage…everything from the use of facial recognition to serving up perfectly curated content and the power of data and analytics to give deep insight into your customers and how these can be applied to QSR.”

Attendance for this 30-minute webinar is free, but registration is required HERE.

While additional events are being confirmed, upcoming webinars in the series, which will focus on digital signage trends in each sector, include:

Registration for any of the DSE 2019 educational conference sessions that are eligible for Digital Signage Expert Group (DSEG) certification renewal credits is available online at www.dse2019.com.

Digital Signage Expo (DSE), an international trade show and educational conference dedicated to digital displays, interactive technology and digital communications networks, announced that registration for its 2019 event is now open. DSE will be held March 26-29, 2019 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

DSE 2019 will offer more than 95 educational opportunities, including 10 pre- and post-show events, 15 industry-specific peer networking luncheon discussion groups, 42 general conference sessions, 32 free on-floor workshops, and a program of study to ensure certification renewal in cooperation with the Digital Signage Experts Group.

New for 2019:

• High-profile singular keynote on innovation (TBA)
• No tracks – sessions are designed to be action-oriented
• Peer networking luncheon discussion groups
• Sessions now timed to allow more time in the exhibit hall
• Friday All-Day Content Workshop 
• Manufacturers’ training/user groups
• More focused on-floor workshop program featuring four pavilions
• More end user peer-presented case study conference sessions
• Streamlined pricing structure

Halloween Registration Special: For one week only from Oct. 29 to 11:59 p.m. PT on Nov. 2, you can register using the promo code DSEBOO for 20 percent off the purchase of any conference package. 

Registration for any of the DSE 2019 educational conference sessions are eligible for Digital Signage Expert Group (DSEG) certification renewal credits, is available online at www.dse2019.com. 

Mark your calendar now: DSE 2019 is scheduled for March 26-29, 2018, with access to the Exhibit Hall March 27-28 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. To reserve exhibit space, contact Andrea Varrone at (770) 817-5905. For more information, visit www.dse2019.com.

Digital Signage Expo (DSE) is now accepting nominations for its 15th Annual APEX Awards.

The DSE APEX Awards, presented by the Digital Signage Federation, recognize and honor achievement in the creation and installation of compelling viewer content and interactive technology. Since its inception, the program has honored hundreds of companies for innovative projects that have met and/or exceeded project goals while providing meaningful ROI and ROO for clients, thereby advancing the digital signage industry.

“The most exciting part about DSE is seeing the advancements in Digital Signage technology,” said DSE show director Andrea Varrone. “The APEX Awards showcase the very best installations that continue to come to life around the globe.”

The APEX Awards will be presented to three outstanding entries—Gold, Silver and Bronze—in a total of 12 categories. Additionally, one entry will win the APEX Installation of the Year and one entry will win the APEX Content of the Year. New in 2019 will be a third overall award, Integrator of the Year, which will honor the company that had the most successful overall year with multiple project installations that achieved goals based on the criteria of challenge, creativity, ROI, and ROO.

The 2019 awards program will be held in the Pavilion Ballroom on Wednesday, March 27, from 5-7 p.m. at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.

Online entries are being accepted until December 21: https://www.digitalsignageexpo.net/apex-awards-submissions