Digital Posters Installed To Inform Children Father Christmas Is Here

By Dave Bradley

Countless department stores are gearing up to the most profitable and demanding time of the year, with Christmas being a few weeks away some retail outlets are utilizing digital posters to announce Father Christmas, discover how this is being done.

A 26 inch digital poster is being deployed near elevators, so mum and dads with young children in push chairs see the campaign for Father Christmas, this uses the clock inside the LCD poster to tell visitors how long it will be before the "big man" is here and where to find him, pointing out the floor and place on the floor in the appearance of an image of the area.

A price list with typical merchandise are also shown on the display, so mum and dads can see if the outlay is worth it, meaning that the children get a quality product at an affordable price, not a product that will fall apart 6 minutes out of the store.

Once deployed, the advertising media on these digital posters can be updated by the Audio-Visual administrator using a USB drive and it only takes a couple of minutes.

The key benefit of a digital poster ad campaign is the speedy return on investment and how it can be used throughout the year to advertise other offers from January sales to advertising lingerie in time for Valentines day with the underlying effect of lifting profits.

Throughout the build up to the Holidays, the marketing department can create the media that is needed to sell the most worthwhile items; this can include the "activity day vouchers", such as the "Drive a Porsche" these are reported to be the most lucrative as only a tiny number are ever redeemed.

A digital poster is a an extra tool of the marketer now a days, these let offers to be set up quickly and when the stock is gone, they can be removed as quick as they were deployed. The versatility of the advertisement is also a victorious point, as Flash technology can be used in the advertisement, just be adding a Flash converter to the memory card, this allows the retail outlet to have even more engaging marketing material than its opponents and resulting in increased revenue streams for the sale items.

A ticker at the bottom of the screen can bring shoppers up to date with the weather, news bulletins and even meal deals for the nearest eateries.

Most forms of electronic signage are eye-catching and can when done correctly stop shoppers in their tracks with the unique media, what else can we expect from the electronic marketing industry over the next 14 months, well we will have to just wait and see.

Dave supplies a range of indoor digital poster, this range of digital poster and digital menu board are available in size from 19" to 80" and can be used in either portrait or landscape.

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Flintshire Council

We required a solution to a business need for improving accessibility and awareness of Flintshire web services. Kiosk technology was the ideal solution for delivering this and Kiosk4Business were selected as our supplier following a sucessful and impressive pitch to IT & Communications Managers within Flintshire.

The project was delivered professionally and on time with regular communication a key theme between Kiosks4Business and Flintshire - ensuring all project milestones were reached.

Upon successful completion of the project we anticpate Take Up of this service to increase with further marketing. Using the Kiosk4Business reporting module we can quickly see usage statistics helping to develop the service in a user centred approach. This will further increase Take up with the potential of reducing avoidable contact between the public and Flintshire County Council.

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myKiosks Portable Touchscreen Kiosk from Kiosks4Business

myKiosk portable uses the same design as our desk and wall mount touchsreen kiosk but in a mobile kiosk format. The portable kiosk includes 17in screen, seperate USB keyboard and carry case and can be connected to the internet using 3g.

Read more about myKiosk Portable...

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Family Information Service Kiosks

Kiosks4business have been working with Family Information Services to create Parent Information Point, a complete solution for providing access to information, support and assistance for parents and carers of children.

Traditionally, information could be supplied to parents by posters, newsletters, leaflets and other printed materials which quickly age or get discarded.
Parent Information Point (PIP) is an intuitive, colourful and friendly system for parents and carers to access an unlimited range of information relating to all aspects of childcare, family development and support. The system is easy to use and administer.

PIP gives you the power to add as much information as you wish, categorise the links for ease of use, check links are still valid and even find great information resources using FIS and public service organisations shared library.
PIP also has local messaging for you to add information specific to each location.
PIP can also connect your users with support organisations including your own FIS team using the free-to-use warm phone.

With PIP you can easily create usage reports for each touchscreen kiosk by date and location.

Download the Family Information Service Kiosks Leaflet...

Read more about FIS Touch Screen Kiosks...

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Wrexham Borough Council

Wrexham County Borough Council has decided to implement a Parent Information Point system at it's Children's Information Bureau sites in Wrexham. The project was created bilingually, with Welsh and English sections.

Wrexham chose to implement the system with warm phone and printer options and kiosks4business were responsible for installing all of the DSL networking infrastructure. Phyllis Mathews, Children's Information Bureau Manager commented "The new duty in the Childcare Act 2006 requires Local Authorities to make information accessible to a wide range of parents. Parent Information Points are an ideal, cost-effective way to enable this to happen. At the touch of a button our service is now accessible to parents in disadvantaged and rural areas who would otherwise not be able to take advantage of our service. We are delighted with the response from parents and professionals and are grateful to kiosks4business for the successful installation of the Parent Information Point system in Wrexham and for their continued support". At the launch event attended by the Mayor of Wrexham it was recognised that Parent Information Point has created new ways of informing the people of Wrexham.

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Kiosk4Business

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Bournemouth Early Years

Bournemouth Council has had 3 Parent Information Point systems and one 'Surveypoint' system deployed in their Boscombe's Children's centre for some time now. After their experiences with the system and its unique software Bournemouth Council have decided to deploy seven more systems along with Survey Point software on the same platform. Bournemouth Council see this as a compelling use of technology for their CIS and Youth Information & Guidance Centres.

Kiosks4business have worked closely with Bournemouth Early Years and Youth Service, through the Children's Information Service for a number of years now creating a unique look and feel for the machines which have been installed since May 2007. The original launch for the system took place at Boscombe Children's Centre on 13th July 2007. The new roll-out will take place over December 2008 to April 2009. This enables not only CIS and Youth information to be accessed from the kiosks but customer consultation at the same time on the same kiosk.

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North Staffordshire NHS

NSCHT came to hear of Kiosk4Business and our work with Local Authorities, and asked us whether we could adapt our systems to work in a healthcare setting – in particular, mental health. After a few weeks, Wellbeing Information Point was born. The system has the specific objective of linking service users with healthcare professionals, as well as allowing them to research their condition in a relaxing and stigma-free way.

The technology to connect users with any level of healthcare professional is now a core part of our offer, and is this subsystem known as Virtual Reception. The system allows configurable levels of access from users to staff, all the way from no contact, up to text, voicemail and direct call; users can then choose the method they feel most comfortable with to contact staff. In common with all our systems, the NSCHT kiosk network is controlled and co-ordinated from our web-based management console, where all the key aspects of the system can be changed at any time, making management very easy. Further developments are in the pipeline for this project which will add exciting new dimensions to the project. This project is a great example of our intention to significantly shift the “kiosk” paradigm into the twenty first century forever!

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Virtual Tourist Information To Steak House Signage

An interactive Electronic Display is a very adaptable tool in the leisure field predominantly for Tourist Information. Not only does it give the fundamental points of interest for travelers, but it is interactive and can locate and highlight exact areas of interest and importance. This has advanced a long way since the days of a printed map.

These monitors can be found integrated contained by the windows of the neighboring Tourist Information office juxtaposition of the city, where customers can find their own way around by just touching the monitor or special film using their finger or a stylus provided. The advantage of this can be to gather more information than by asking the staff. It is also achievable to have the exact information transmitted directly to a cellular phone device, to facilitate the customer to enjoy the sightseeing tour with access to other points of interest along the route.

Marketing companies have also considered this strategy for publicity, for instance, a bistro offering a discount during the lunch time service sends out an email or message via blue tooth, enticing the passing prospect to visit their establishment.

The electronic TVs themselves can provide additional sales revenue by hosting a number of commercials in conjunction with the Tourist Information, like hotel vacant rooms, shopping offers and additional tours (like river punting or a ghost tour).

This kind of communication for the city visitor is as exciting as it is practical, technology knows no bounds and is certainly a huge leap forward, and the only headache is keeping up with the evolving technology!

Now on to steak house digital menu boards

Want a big juicy steak this evening? Head out to a Steak House in town and there may be a new, state of the art, digital menu board for you to peruse your choice of meal.

The touch screen board is both colorful and practical as it tempts the taste buds with delicious animated images of plates full of appealing foods. You can put together your own selection of courses, including that extravagant desert, which you know you'll in no way have room for!

A digital table is set before you, on the monitor and you can touch the categories to add or swap meals to create the ultimate dinner. Engaging with the monitor is done by using your finger or a stylus supplied and is set out in a user friendly manner.

Possibly not all bistros will have such innovative systems, but those moving with the times will have a simpler form of an LCD display board. This may be positioned outside the bistro in a protective enclosure, where digital pictures dance across the screen, teasing the taste buds.

Meal deals and reductions can also be marketed and displayed for the customer to use at the café. It is also possible to have the offer directed at the passing customer via blue tooth to a mobile phone device, where the patron can hand over the electronic coupon'.

Advertising companies have taken advantage of this kind of digital menu by supplementing the content with ads and products, for example soft drinks suppliers and other brands who supply the restaurant.

So, next time you feel like a tender, medium rare steak - call by a bistro showing you an animated digital poster!

Dave is the leading manufacturer a range of LCD enclosures, this range of product is supplied to digital signage integrators throughout the world, now they also offer an indoor solution a digital poster, but it does not have the protection of an LCD enclosure.

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Photon Kiosk

Designed for museums, shopping malls and other public spaces, the Photon Kiosk features a large wide-screen high-definition LCD with touchscreen for interactive displays.

Photon Kiosk Description
Designed for use indoors the stylish Photon Touch Screen Kiosk looks great in museums, art galleries and other public spaces to provide your customers with wayfinding mapes, interactive displays, advertising and other content.

Read more about the Photon Kiosk...

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Interactive Digital Signage To LCD Enclosures Used in Health Care

By Dave Bradley

Touch Screen technology is being used in Dental Surgeries.

Customer facing hardware is becoming an acceptable part of everyday life, without us even considering them. So using a tablet computer on entering the dental surgery to sign in for a consultation is nothing new.

Capturing data in this way helps the staff to manage the information in an effective way, all helping in the smooth running of the operation, and providing the patient with the greatest care. Everything from a basic change of address or telephone number, to renewing any prescribed medicines can be simply changed.

These interactive computers are usually wired to the main server within the dental practice, or otherwise linked via the Internet to a central processor, as in the case of a dental franchise. The information is stored securely with little if any paperwork (though inevitably there is always some!). The displays can be touched using a finger or stylus which stops the challenges of illegible writing, causing blunders to be made. And the program can be set out in the form of a flow chart - YES or NO boxes leading to other related questions, or a color coded format, with simple boxes to fill in. This is applicable to almost everyone, including older patients, who may not be as familiar or self-confident in utilizing such technology.

Another lucrative use of the LCD advertising screen is to include advertisements, for the patients. Watching a moving image is far more eye-catching than reading the more usual static board and it supplies a revenue 10 fold, as more than the one advertising campaign can be running in succession over a time.

This form of engaging data inputting is something we'll see a lot more of in every walk of life, now let us look at Flat screen housings, that are being used in hospitals.

TV Enclosures - Applications In Hospitals For Digital Advertising Protection

We are all conscious that dynamic advertising is prevalent every where we look; now we are noticing dynamic advertising deployed in hospital car lots.

Hospitals have awoken to the reality that they can profit from the revenue they get from ad agencies that install the dynamic signage equipment and take possession of the dynamic marketing system.

Now marketing agencies are focusing on local organizations and pharmaceutical companies who are in turn marketing on the advertising network, the funds paid is then split on a percent rate to the hospice.

So these organizations have discovered that the most effective way to safeguard the electronic hardware is to put them within LCD cases, these units offer the ideal amount of fortification from the elements and from human abuse.

Way finding.

The LCD housings are used in conjunction with the dynamic signage technology for way finding in the car park to direct visitors and patients to the correct wards, this eliminates anger and misunderstanding when visiting friends and family. These enclosures give the proper protection from the rain, snow and vandals.

Emergency Rooms - Time warping.

Would you not rather look at a TV program to while away the time, whilst waiting to be seen by a doctor? But the issue is as the nights go on, the ER are often filled with patients who are smashed by drink or drugs and this is a tricky time for workers, as a noticeable number of physical attacks on medical professionals have been reported in the past couple of years.

As well as the staff being protected by security staff, the dynamic signage in the emergency room is also protected from attack with LCD housings. These prevent patients trying to remove the TV hardware or even worse, stops them from damaging the screen.

Ward use.

When young children come to a hospital it can be a disturbing experience, as nothing will be familiar, however some hospitals are fitting televisions in children's wards to get them into familiar surroundings by letting the children watch cartoons, this then relaxes them and puts them at ease. As we all know with offspring, the need is there to prevent little fingers getting to any electrical cables, hence the use of LCD housings; these give a level of protection throughout the medical establishment.

Now if there are areas of the hospital that are not protected or monitored, the technology needs to be protected by anti vandal LCD enclosures, these stop vandals breaking into the housing and stealing equipment this is prevented by using state of the art, high security locks - even defacing the display with spray paint is difficult as the viewing window has a particular coating that just wipes clean of any spray paint!

Dave is the owner of LCD enclosure USA, who manufacturer a range of LCD enclosures for outdoor use, that protect the internal hardware from damage from the weather and hooligans.

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icon Kiosk Digital Sign

The Icon kiosk is a digital sign which can be used with a touch screen to create an interactive digital signage solution for wayfinding, advertising and information access.

Icon Kiosk Description
Designed for use indoors the stylish vectorKiosk looks great in hotels, reception and waiting areas to provide your customers with wayfinding mapes, advertising and other content.

The Icon kiosk is available with a choice of 17in, 19in or 22in widescreen displays mounted in portrait orientation.

The Icon Kiosk is fully equiped for a multimedia experience with integrated stereo speakers.
The Icon Kiosk can be supplied with painted steel, stainless steel or vinyl wrap.

Read More about the icon Kiosk Digital Sign...

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Touch Screen the Next Step in the Digital Signage Adventure

C0656S Industrial LCD Monitor	C0846S Industrial LCD Monitor	C1045S-800X600 Industrial LCD Monitor
Size/Aspect Ratio: 6.5"/ 4:3 Max. Resolution: 640 X 480 Brightness: 400 cd/m² Contrast: 500:1 Response Time: ≤25ms	Size/Aspect Ratio: 8.4"/ 4:3 Max. Resolution: 800 X 600 Brightness: 350 cd/m² Contrast: 400:1 Response Time: ≤35ms	Size/Aspect Ratio: 10.4"/ 4:3 Max. Resolution: 800 X 600 Brightness: 350 cd/m² Contrast: 400:1 Response Time: ≤35ms
C1045S-1024X768 Industrial LCD Monitor	C1205S-800X600-400 Industrial LCD Monitor	C1205S-1024X768-200 Industrial LCD Monitor
Size/Aspect Ratio:10.4"/ 4:3 Max. Resolution: 1024 X 768 Brightness: 400 cd/m² Contrast: ,1200:1 Response Time: ≤25ms	Size/Aspect Ratio: 12.1"/ 4:3 Max. Resolution: 800 X 600 Brightness: 400 cd/m² Contrast: 600:1 Response Time: ≤35ms	Size/Aspect Ratio: 12.1"/ 4:3 Max. Resolution: 1024 X 768 Brightness: 180 cd/m² Contrast: 500:1 Response Time: ≤16ms

Touch screens have been around since the 1970s. Traditionally, touch screen monitors have primarily been used for more durable and industrial devices. They have a great advantage over conventional displays in that there doesn't have to be a separate input device such as a keyboard which saves space.

Traditionally their use has been restricted to industrial computing, however, there are other industries where this space saving advantage of touchscreen could prove advantageous: digital signage.

The rise of the mobile phone has seen the popularity of touch screen increase with many phones, PDAs and tablet PCs operate by them. Touch screens are therefore familiar to us all, so it makes sense to combine this technology that people are keen to embrace with the world of digital signage.

Many signage kiosks have already embraced touchscreen technology. Shopping malls like them to provide interactive information to customers such as wayfinding but there are far more applications for touch screen in the digital advertising and signage market - even digital outdoor signage.

Many of the traditional LCD TV and plasma screens currently deployed in digital advertising, digital outdoor signage and other Dooh projects (digital out of home) can be replaced by touchscreen technology. This enables interactivity, and the advertisements, therefore, go from passive to being more active, encouraging interaction and in doing so promoting the brand message.

Digital menu boards are one example. These menus are often small outdoor digital signage units fixed outside a restaurant or eatery but by including touchscreen technology customers can interact with the menu, call up pictures of specific dishes - and even book a table.

A recent report, "Touch Screens: Technologies, Materials and Markets", from marketing specialist Nanomarkets identified the importance of touchscreen in the digital signage market, with revenues from touch screen displays increasing by a third over the next few years.

We can therefore expect to see more touchscreen displays being implemented in shopping malls, concourses and even on main streets in the from of touchscreen operated digital outdoor signage.

Richard N Williams is a technical author and a specialist in the digital signage industry helping to develop outdoor digital signage and protection for plasmas. Please visit us for more information about LCD Enclosures or other digital signage solutions.

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C1205S-1024X768-450 Industrial Display	C1505S Industrial LCD Monitor	C1705S Industrial LCD Monitor
Size/Aspect Ratio: 12.1"/ 4:3 Max. Resolution: 1024 X768 Brightness: 450 cd/m² Contrast: 700:1 Response Time: ≤20ms	Size/Aspect Ratio: 15"/ 4:3 Max. Resolution: 1024 X 768 Brightness: 250 cd/m² Contrast: 500:1 Response Time: ≤12ms	Size/Aspect Ratio: 17"/ 4:3 Max. Resolution: 1280 X1024 Brightness: 300cd/m² Contrast: 800:1 Response Time: ≤5ms
C1905S Industrial LCD Monitor	C2005S-800x600 Industrial LCD Monitor	C2005S-1600X1200 Industrial LCD Monitor
Size/Aspect Ratio: 19"/ 4:3 Max. Resolution: 1280 X 1024 Brightness: 300cd/m² Contrast: 800:1 Response Time: ≤5ms	Size/Aspect Ratio: 20.1"/ 4:3 Max. Resolution: 800 X 600 Brightness: 450cd/m² Contrast: 700:1 Response Time: ≤16ms	Size/Aspect Ratio: 20.1"/ 4:3 Max. Resolution: 1600 X 1200 Brightness: 300cd/m² Contrast: 1000:1 Response Time: ≤8ms

Apex Kiosk - Free-standing Touchscreen Kiosk

The Apex kiosk is a free-standing touch screen internet kiosk for a wide range of applications and environments. Using a 17in screen as standard and choice of other sizes the kiosk can be fully branded with colours and logos.

Apex Kiosk Description
Designed for use indoors the Apex Kiosk looks great in hotels, reception and waiting areas to provide your customers with internet access and access to other services.

The Apex Kiosk is fully equiped for a multimedia experience with integrated stereo speakers and optional microphone and webcam.

The Apex Kiosk can be supplied with painted steel, stainless steel or vinyl wrap to include your logo or other images.

Read More about the Apex Kiosk

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