UNC’s digital signage system was outdated and difficult to use. Some tasks required up to 24 steps to complete, discouraging users from creating even the simplest messages. What’s more, the system often required USB drives to load content onto signs. The College of Business was the primary user of this legacy system since the complexity deterred other colleges from adopting digital signage. These roadblocks caused two major issues:

• Screens frequently displayed outdated information
• Students faced communication gaps while navigating campus

UNC placed a high priority on improving student communications and engagement. It also sought to strengthen connections with residents and improve their communication technology. The university needed a user-friendly digital signage solution that could easily integrate with its other systems and scale as they grew.

The Appspace Digital Signage Solution

After an extensive search for a new digital signage provider with a scalable platform, UNC chose Appspace. The platform offered UNC flexible centralized management and control of posted content. It also provided a user-friendly interface, customizable templates and integration with other systems. UNC also needed Appspace to integrate with its class scheduling software, 25Live. The Appspace team used 25Live’s Publisher feature to feed the data into Webview Cards, resulting in a near-real-time integration that showcases class schedules and event information on digital signage across the university.

“We’ve been impressed by Appspace’s user-friendly platform and excellent support. Our adoption rate among students, faculty and staff has soared. University-wide visibility has improved significantly, thanks to dynamic content displays. Overall, it has been a fantastic experience with a strong growth trajectory,” says Joshua Purdy, senior desktop engineer, University of Northern Colorado.

Success of Appspace at UNC

UNC’s team was impressed with the overall implementation and the Appspace team’s knowledge and responsiveness. A seamless 25Live integration meant up-to-date class schedules and other information are displayed throughout the campus.

Overall, the university has saved resources due to the integration with other systems and the availability of APIs for further customization.

The highly visible success of the Appspace digital signage implementation has helped UNC overcome skepticism in other departments, resulting in 72 digital signs across campus and growing. With their digital signage flawlessly displaying class schedules, campus events, athletics information, and performing arts updates across campus, UNC is now evaluating how Appspace Wayfinding can further enhance the campus experience for all.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on February 16, 2024. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post Appspace Enhances Campus Engagement at University of Northern Colorado (UNC) appeared first on My TechDecisions.

“At ReliaQuest, our mission is to make security possible, therefore, it’s critical that we have access to the latest technology,” says Regina Marrow, ReliaQuest’s chief information officer and executive VP of operations. “On any given day, we are hosting customers from large enterprise companies, and the technology that we are using, and our operating centers, serve as the underpinnings of those interactions. So that technology must be world class and reliable because it reflects our brand. This technology directly impacts the effectiveness of those interactions because consistent experience is crucial for our teammates and customers.”

Choosing the Sony Pro BRAVIA Displays

ReliaQuest ultimately chose a range of 150 Sony Pro BRAVIA displays to help suit their business’s needs in their operating centers. These included the 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, 85-inch and 100-inch models. AVI-SPL provided ReliaQuest with product guidance and delivered on the installation.

According to Marrow, the team selected the technology due to its combination of quality, reliability, durability, ease-of-use and design aesthetic. The displays are used broadly for playing videos and running meetings in their collaboration spaces, huddle rooms, conference rooms, common areas and performance centers, where the company holds its trainings. The Sony Pro BRAVIA displays are also used for multi-purpose collaborations with customers and teammates, and for digital signage in the open areas of its operating centers including in the cafés and reception spaces, as well as sitewide communications and company town halls.

The Pro BRAVIA displays were especially important to ReliaQuest for regularly hosting leaders at its operating centers for interactions ranging from executive business reviews to trainings. “The high-quality, consistent and reliable experience that we have with the displays gives us peace of mind. We know that they’re going to work every time and the images are crisp, they’re clear, they’re colorful and they’re stable.” says Marrow.

Sony’s Pro BRAVIA Displays Boost ReliaQuest Operations

Since ReliaQuest opened its new operating center with Sony’s professional BRAVIA displays and other technology, the overall experience has been enhanced for customers and teammates. A perk the company noticed about the Pro BRAVIA displays was that they had the ability to operate without interactions from the everyday user. ReliaQuest set up its displays so everything could be managed centrally. This proved to be helpful for teammates, especially when the displays run on a schedule to maximize the energy efficiency and minimize wear. Due to the Pro BRAVIA screen mirroring feature, employees can also work collaboratively by utilizing Microsoft Teams. With the company building having large windows and being located in areas with natural bright light, the displays have no issues providing good, vibrant image quality — even when it’s midday, says ReliaQuest.

In addition, the displays also benefit ReliaQuest’s customers whether they are hosted at ReliaQuest’s locations, or utilizing the company’s spaces for their own team meetings.

“As a global security provider for the largest most trusted brands around the world, we understand that quality matters and we take what we do seriously. We wanted a partner that has the same attention to detail that we do and prioritizes the same level of quality and excellence. We align with high-quality, world class companies because we know that helps us in our mission to serve our customers and to make security possible,” adds Marrow.

Shop and compare the latest Sony professional display solutions on our sister-site AV-iQ.

Editor’s Note: Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on January 5, 2024. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post AVI-SPL Enhances ReliaQuest UX with Sony Pro BRAVIA Displays Nationwide appeared first on My TechDecisions.

The Tech Decision 

“Warren County Public Schools has a focus on student-centered instruction, and we prioritize technology where appropriate, including providing every student with a Chromebook,” Kresslein says. “We’re always looking for sustainable solutions that provide consistency in our instructional spaces, and Airtame, in conjunction with TV displays and devices for each student and teacher, provide that consistent experience. We have transitioned from interactive whiteboards located at the front of each room to TVs with the Airtame platform, which has freed our teachers to move around the room as they lead digital lessons delivered wirelessly from mobile devices. This has proven to be far more impactful than standing in the front of the room while students use their Chromebooks.”

With every room featuring the same technology design, teachers can now walk into any classroom and instantly connect their laptop or mobile device to the display and begin screen sharing. Teachers can even designate a “Favorite Airtame” that keeps the chosen Airtame and TV at the top of their connections list so there are no complications or barriers to presenting wirelessly. It’s a secure, virtually foolproof procedure that ensures schools can be as flexible as required while delivering consistent quality.

Airtime platform capabilities in the classroom

One of the major advantages of using Airtame is that the platform protects and prioritizes teachers’ wireless connections, strengthening their control of the classroom. The prior whiteboard solution allowed any wireless device to override teachers’ connections, which presented an opportunity for students to interrupt lessons and disrupt class.

“Users love Airtame because of its ease of use, flexibility to support different apps and devices, and its robust digital signage capabilities that enable centralized management,” says Simon Hangaard Hansen, Airtame VP of product. “When we talk about an entire school district, the effects cannot be overstated. Thanks to the addition of Airtame to every classroom, all of Warren County Public Schools’ TVs are now scheduled to turn on and off at specific times each day and around vacation days, so teachers don’t have to worry about it. This saves electricity, time and frustration, allowing teachers to focus on their lessons and students rather than troubleshooting or technology procedures.”

Airtime capabilities beyond the classroom

Unlike the independently operated whiteboards, the Airtame platform allows administrators at the school or district level to treat every TV as an endpoint in a consolidated digital signage network. They can present messages, announcements, notes of recognition and other info to specific classrooms or schools, or across the entire district. Beyond the classroom, this has enabled the school to easily deploy digital menu boards for cafeterias, among other usage scenarios. Spaces with multiple Airtame-powered TVs also offer teachers the option to stream simultaneously to multiple displays, which was not possible previously.

“Airtame has empowered us to share district-wide signage and videos, such as the student-created projects we displayed during Digital Citizenship Week to celebrate students’ digital agility and safety,”  Kresslein says. “Student access to wireless sharing is decided at the school level, and Airtames’ device-agnostic experience makes connecting as easy as possible, whether users connect from our Chromebooks or a smaller number of iPads, MacBooks and PCs deployed in various locations. Finally, having centralized control of all the devices’ settings allows us to quickly perform software updates and identify any issues to initiate IT work tickets without bothering the teacher.”

It was important for the school’s new technology solution to support all existing functions, including annotation apps teachers currently use on their Chromebooks. Since Airtame wirelessly mirrors the user’s entire screen, and doesn’t require using a specific app or device, teachers can use content from a wide variety of sources without changing any settings or remembering any specific procedures. The new system also eliminates the need for teachers to sign in.

Warren County Green Energy Initiatives 

The district includes some of Kentucky’s first schools to receive an ENERGY STAR certification and has pursued green energy initiatives for nearly two decades. In fact, the first school to achieve net-zero certification is in Warren County. Since then, WCPS now includes two schools that are net-zero certified, and seven net-zero ready schools. In recent years, the district added a 520kW solar farm spread amongst six locations, LED lighting and modern smart appliances with greater efficiency. Airtame’s ability to schedule the on/off times for all 1,200 TVs ensures maximum power savings and screen lifespan, while also taking one item off the teachers’ list of responsibilities.

Enhancing the classroom experience with Airtame

After extensive testing and evaluation, Warren County Public Schools entered into a five-year licensing agreement to ensure reliable and repeatable learning environments and instructional processes. The district may find even more uses for the technology in the future, as Airtame regularly issues software updates and new features to further enhance the classroom experience

The post Airtame Platform Simplifies Collaboration in 28 Kentucky Schools appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Per the company, the Philips Tableaux ePaper displays have opened up a new era of digital signage displays. Here, the innovative series has helped pioneer full color, energy efficient and eco-friendly digital signage. It thus delivers full color content while running 24/7, unplugged and with zero power.

Telelogos’ software solution enables easy remote management of displays. This includes changing content across sectors such as retail, corporate and education environments. Telelogos harnesses the power of the Android SoC within the Philips Tableaux displays. With this, it thus provides the functionality for managing content, applications and security. It also allows users to take remote control of the display.

PPDS, Telelogos, A Mutually Beneficial Partnership

Tim de Ruiter, global business development and partnerships’ director at PPDS, says, “Our longstanding partnership with Telelogos made this latest collaboration incredibly easy. And Our Philips Tableaux range has made an immediate impact with our customers; delivering on the energy savings and sustainable business opportunities they need. We have been delighted to collaborate with Telelogos to bring this solution into the mix just a couple of months after our Philips Tableaux launch.”

Christophe Billaud, managing director at Telelogos, then adds, “We are delighted to be the first ISV to be able to provide a solution for remotely managing the Philips Tableaux range from PPDS. With our expertise in Android development, device management; and thanks to the close collaboration we have created over the many years partnered with PPDS; we [could] support this new technology in displays very rapidly. The interest and feedback from our integrator partners and our clients has been hugely positive.”

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on April 13, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post Telelogos Approved as First Remote Solution for Philips Tableaux Displays appeared first on My TechDecisions.

The new Samsung display, the WAC Interactive Display, allows educators to customize home screens, share up to nine screens at once regardless of operating system or device, and use intelligent applications to aid in lessons. In addition, the display features integrated WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.

The WAC is available in 65-, 75- and 86-inch models and can integrate into any classroom setting, allowing teachers to move around the classroom while students wireless cast to the display and collaborate on work from their own devices, the company says.

The WAC also features a 3-in-1 USB-C port, which enables hassle-free screen connection, touch control and eternal device charging. An HDMI out function also allows educators to share content on a projector or larger screen.

The WAC display allows users to use a pen or their fingers to write and draw, with multi-touch support for up to 20 people. In addition, the display comes with a dual-point pen that can write with two different color son each side.

For management, the WAC series includes a device management solution (DMS) that allows remote device monitoring and control, including powering on and off, volume and brightness adjustment. The DMS also provides emergency response capabilities, including the ability to send alerts to all screens installed across the campus.

The Samsung Whiteboard App can also be installed on the WAC Interactive Display, allowing educators and students to connect their Windows OS devices to write on top of content from their own screens and have annotations appear on the display in real time.

Users can also store, access and share content, documents, screen captures and recordings via the device’s built-in cloud drive integration.

The company officially unveiled the device at education technology conference British Education Training and Technology (Bett).

“Our education technology is designed to equip educators with the tools they need to engage students and enrich any learning environment,” says Hoon Chung, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “At Bett, we are excited to showcase our interactive display solutions, demonstrating the level of advanced usability and interactivity required for the tech-enabled future of education.”

The post Samsung Launches New Interactive Display for Education appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Aside from the common desire to return to pre-pandemic life, going to the movies has always held a special place in people’s hearts. With many having gone to the same theatre since they were a kid, a movie theatre is a library of memories for the community—it holds some of one’s most precious moments. For American theatre giant, Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatres, a strongly community-oriented business, being a place for people to continue to create memorable experiences is what fuels them.

By adopting advanced technological tools, including the Broadsign platform, Megaplex was able to simplify its workflows and increase digital concession sales by integrating its back-end sales system, Vista, through API. Furthermore, Megaplex gained dynamic capabilities that previously weren’t available, allowing it to innovate and further elevate the movie-going experience in its theatres.

The BroadSign Platform Solution

Founded in 1999, Megaplex’s mission has always been to enrich lives by giving back to the community. In fact, the first Megaplex theatre was built to preserve a high school building that was a landmark in Sandy, Utah. Today, it now has 15 locations with a network of approximately 800 digital signage screens. In 2022, Megaplex welcomed 5.1 million moviegoers to its venues.

Megaplex’s digital screens feature a wide variety of movie-related content, including movie posters, MyMegaRewards membership content and concession promotions. It also offers paid advertising partnerships to local businesses that want to leverage their network and audience reach. Aside from leveraging Broadsign for its ad-serving capability, one unique way Megaplex is utilizing Broadsign is by integrating the platform with its back-end sales system to increase its operational efficiency and concession sales through digital channels.

Improving operational efficiency

Before the pandemic, all concession sales at Megaplex Theatres were made on-site. Customers would come in early to purchase their snacks and drinks before heading to the auditorium. However, with everyone having the same idea of buying items before their movie, it often led to long lines at the concession stands, leaving customers worried about missing the start of their movie. To eliminate that stress, Megaplex decided to sell its concession items through digital channels, including web, mobile, and digital kiosks on-site.

By integrating with the Broadsign Platform, Megaplex Theatres were able to display the real-time status of orders on concession stand screens and notify customers when orders were ready for pick up. By the end of 2022, Megaplex Theatres’ concession sales through digital channels represented $6.1 million in revenue, with the success of this initiative primarily attributed to how smooth the pickup process was for customers.

Megaplex Theatres also uses Broadsign to ensure that the right information is shown on the 800 screens across 15 movie theatre locations. This is particularly useful in updating concession menu boards. Prior to adopting Broadsign, if a change needed to be made to a product, a graphic designer would have to manually modify 50 variations of their menu boards, taking around a week to complete. Now, they input the product or price information in their back-end sales system the night before and by the next morning, the new information is reflected on their menu boards.

Dynamic customer experience at the concession stand

For customers that forgot to place their concession order ahead of time, Megaplex Theatres found a way to entertain customers waiting in line for concessions. Leveraging Broadsign’s dynamic capabilities, Megaplex experimented with disruptive overlays on concession menu boards, allowing them to have movie characters pop-up on screens to promote the movies they’re featured in.

Collaborating with the movie studios, Megaplex Theatres would receive masked out videos of the characters which they would then upload onto Broadsign platform for them to run on the menu board screens at the concession stand. To promote Disney’s “Lightyear” movie in 2022, an animated Buzz Lightyear appeared on the digital menu board, revealing characters from the film and title treatment. This allowed Megaplex to provide Disney with a fun, dynamic brand moment, while simultaneously promoting Lightyear-branded concession items on the menu.

During the promotion of Dreamwork’s “The Bad Guys”, Megaplex Theatres had the main characters drop down from the top of the digital menu board and steal the popcorn, highlighting a small movie promotion to appear on screen afterwards. While these may seem like small touches, it provides customers with a more personalized experience and gives advertisers new creative opportunities when they advertise with Megaplex.

Convenient experience for Megaplex guests

Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatre’s Vice President of Digital Strategy, Ryan Miner, says “While the pandemic has definitely challenged theatre operators, we expect to see continued growth for our business and ultimately an improved, more convenient experience for our guests.”

As Megaplex continues to experiment with disruptive overlays, their network will become increasingly more valuable to advertisers that are looking to reach an audience that are in a mindset to spend. With manual operations now being automated with the Broadsign Platform, Megaplex can devote its time to building new state-of-the-art facilities so they can continue to innovate and stretch the boundaries of what can be done in a movie theatre.

The post Miller Megaplex Theatres Increases Digital Concession Sales Using Broadsign appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Insight Way Design

“The moment someone enters this building, they are surrounded by innovative technologies,” says Matt Skaff, Insight’s director of IT. “From the rotating displays and touch screen tables in the lobby to the digital smart boards found in various meeting spaces, the building’s design offers everything needed for efficient meetings and communication, while also displaying our own systems design knowledge. One of the most unique ideas is the three Boulevards, which are hallway installations that feature multiple LG 88-inch UltraStretch displays that brighten when approached.”

The main Boulevard is an entrance hallway just past the lobby, making it one of the most high-traffic areas in the entire building. Knowing this, the company decided it would be an ideal space to highlight employee stories, company successes, value statements and messages welcoming honored guests.

The LG Display Solution

All three Boulevard hallways feature vertically mounted LG UltraStretch displays (model 88BH7G-B) that are angled slightly off the wall in a custom cabinet solution Insight calls a Prism, giving the space a professional aesthetic. The Prisms are designed to mimic the letter I in Insight’s logo to further the feeling of a branded environment.

Each Prism unit includes a motion sensor that detects a viewer’s distance, enabling automatic adjustment of the screen’s brightness and contrast to optimize visibility when viewers approach. This special feature ensures the displays aren’t overly distracting to those who pass by, while providing meaningful experiences for anyone who approaches to learn more. For content reproduction, a picture-by-picture feature can divide the screen into four sub-screens, each with its own individual video input, allowing Insight to display multiple different messages at one time.

As an added benefit, the auto-brightness function can also reduce total energy costs and extend the working life of the displays. LG’s Stretch ultra-wide or ultra-tall HD displays can be installed in any orientation to turn columns, doorway overhangs and other non-standard locations into attractive and profitable digital signage endpoints. The displays’ 32:9 aspect ratio and 700 nits of brightness help deliver eye-catching moments in each of the three hallways.

“These installations are in view all day, every day, so it is critical that we utilize reliable digital displays that will last for years and can be tied in with content systems for easy, rapid content delivery,” Skaff adds. “The new drag-and-drop content system we set up is vastly more efficient than prior office signage solutions, and the technologies have advanced so far that we now have hundreds of displays throughout the building with different sizes, tied into a single content system.”

Skaff notes that when new internal teams or clients visit the office for the first time, they consistently rave about the architecture and the technology, including the ‘wow’ factor experienced when walking by the Prism displays.

LG Displays for a variety of collaborative spaces at Insight Way

Insight Way emphasizes “collaborative” zones, including formal meeting spaces ranging from small-group focus rooms to the Crown Room auditorium and training areas that accommodate up to 300 people. Rooms are adorned with digital smartboards to accommodate hybrid meetings, “writeable” walls and ad hoc conference booking, and there is ample individual “hotel” workspace for visiting remote workers.

According to Tom Carroll, director, commercial displays at LG Business Solutions USA, Insight’s use of technology demonstrates the exciting possibilities that can be achieved by designing creative and unique experiences in virtually any setting.

“In many ways, Insight’s new global headquarters resets standard expectations to include novel technology interactions and a variety of collaborative spaces equipped with remote communications technologies,” Carroll says. “The custom-designed Prisms are both a proof-of-concept and an advertising mechanism that we can easily envision hanging on the walls of corporate HQs, retail spaces, transportation hubs and other high-traffic pedestrian locations. We’re thrilled that our displays are part of this forward-thinking project and are excited to see what Insight will do next.”

Insight Way Sustainable Technologies

Insight Way was designed to achieve Gold LEED certification and utilizes sustainable technologies to reduce impact, including solar panels, sensor-based automatic window shutters, an HVAC ionization system, and smart temperature and lighting control. The building also features an abundance of natural lighting and 800 indoor trees and plants to improve air quality and reduce teammate fatigue.

The post LG Commercial Display Solutions Deliver Engaging Experiences at Insight Enterprises HQ appeared first on My TechDecisions.

These Philips Tableaux displays mark the introduction of a brand new product category into its ever-evolving portfolio of professional displays, says PPDS. This includes digital signage, interactive displays, direct view LED and professional TVs.

The new series are thus part of a relentless focus and deepening commitment to bringing high impact, highly sustainable and more eco-friendly solutions to market. According to PPDS, the new Tableaux displays from PPDS are the world’s first 60,000 colour (including blue) ePaper signage solutions. It aims to deliver an array of new opportunities – including cost and energy savings – for customers operating in a variety of verticals. These verticals comprise retail, corporate, hospitality, public spaces and transportation.

Energy-Efficient Solution

Available in 25 inches and 16:9 format, as well as 28 inches and 32:9 stretched variants at launch, Philips Tableaux displays are a suitable energy-saving solution for businesses across sectors looking to digitize their paper-based signage offerings. Some examples include store opening hours, timetables, and menus or promotions and offers. The series is also suitable for those looking to swap out current digital models (where features may far exceed day-to-day requirements, adding unnecessary running costs) with colorful, power-free, easily updatable Android SoC displays.

PPDS adds that the Tableaux range is ideal for any environment, including in spaces with limited or no access to power sources. Moreover, it will show content without even being plugged in or using power at all. It is also light enough so users can move it around easily when required. In addition, the displays only require connection to an electricity source when content is being updated. They then immediately revert to zero power upon completion.

Users can manage content updates manually, or entirely remotely. To do so, they can use PPDS’ in-house or third-party professional display control and management platforms. The Philips Tableaux Series will also soon be compatible with the PPDS Wave cloud-based fleet management platform, designed and built exclusively for Philips professional displays.

Cost-Saving Benefits

PPDS states that it has already received significant interest and orders from around the world. It now has attention of customers in the retail, corporate, hospitality, food and beverage, public spaces, transportation and healthcare sectors, following a global pre-launch at its Global Access: Future Tech showcase ahead of ISE 2023. The company adds that it will release further Philips Tableaux display sizes in the coming months for customers.

Martijn van der Woude, VP of global marketing and business development at PPDS comments on the Tableaux series. He notes, “There are very many instances where digital signage is used only display still images, which may change only once a day, and sometimes even less. For these, you do not need a solution that offers a refresh rate of 60fps or invest in a technology that far exceeds the capabilities required to achieve the desired impact. With the Philips Tableaux Series from PPDS, businesses can achieve their aims and ambitions at a fraction of the running cost; bringing immediate savings for themselves and for the environment.

He continues, “Sustainability is a top priority for many businesses….At PPDS, we feel it is our duty to lead the industry with this challenge, bringing products that deliver on energy and environmental savings, without compromising customers’ digital-display objectives.”

Commitment to Sustainability

PPDS observes that it has cultivated its commitment to sustainability over many years.  And the company continues to embed this aspect as a key pillar in its strategy and future plans. PPDS states that it is taking a leadership role in developing technology to significantly reduce power consumption, carbon footprint and resources. At the same time, it aims to do so without compromising the quality of performance of its display solutions.

Franck Racape, VP of global commercial at PPDS adds, “At PPDS our mindset is to listen to the market and lead from the front in delivering the solutions customers need, when they need them. Sustainability and energy consumption are both becoming an increasing part of the conversation and this is something we have focused heavily on in the past 12 to 18 months.”

He then continues, “[The Tableaux series] provide incredible opportunities, allowing businesses to digitize their business communications and messaging in ways they never thought possible. [It] is the perfect, complementary solution to our wider range of incredible Philips professional displays; providing customers with a full portfolio of choice and opportunity to fit their everyday – and extraordinary – needs.”

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on February 15, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post PPDS Introduces ‘Zero Power’ Tableaux Series appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Commercial Integrator Expo 2023 (taking place Sept. 6 to Sept. 9, 2023, in Denver, Colo.) will feature educational opportunities, market insights, subject matter experts and networking around digital signage as part of the joint partnership. DSF, is, of course, the only not-for-profit independent voice of the digital-signage industry since 2010.

As a result, DSF has built a strong foundation for the advancement of the digital signage industry. The not-for-profit partners with members and key organizations to provide education, networking and advocacy to continue moving the digital signage industry’s growth forward. The partnership with Commercial Integrator Expo will offer the opportunity to grow the industry through education, insights and networking.

Use cases and applications for digital signage technology have accelerated rapidly in recent years — making it one of the largest solution areas in the pro AV industry.

“Digital signage is a powerful means of informing, educating, entertaining and communicating in a variety of markets,” says Jason McGraw, CTS, group vice president and show director for Emerald. “Partnering with Digital Signage Federation will enrich Commercial Integrator Expo’s educational programming by providing relevant, forward-thinking educational opportunities, subject matter experts and market insights that will enable attendees to catapult their businesses further.”

“The DSF is a by members for members organization and our goal is to power up this industry by meeting our members where they are,” adds Len Dudis, chairman of the Digital Signage Federation. “Collaborating with Commercial Integrator Expo will allow the DSF to bring our industry leading education and thought leadership to those who might be new to the digital signage industry but are looking to learn more about our growing industry.”

At Commercial Integrator Expo 2023, DSF will produce a track of live educational sessions billed as “Digital Signage Day” leveraging its industry members and content from its online micro-credential course catalog. Commercial Integrator Expo attendees can take advantage of relevant and informative educational opportunities to drive digital-signage opportunities for their businesses forward.

The Expo will offer attendees the ability to forge new connections between peers and manufacturers, discover new opportunities and ideas through training on new markets and emerging technology trends.

The post Commercial Integrator Expo Teams Up with Digital Signage Federation for Educational Program appeared first on My TechDecisions.

The free-to-join platform will offer educators an online discussion forum, access to peer and expert coaching and free, self-paced professional development courses. This will enable them to develop new strategies for leveraging technology that can enhance classroom engagement and learning outcomes for all students.

Building New Communities for Educators

“Nearly three years have passed since the COVID-19 pandemic upended classroom teaching and learning, yet educators are still addressing the impacts of prolonged remote learning, from declining test scores to rising rates of stress and burnout. In this challenging climate, educators need more support and professional development than ever before,” says Chris Mertens, VP of U.S. sales, displays, at Samsung Electronics America.

When conceiving the idea of Samsung’s Education Community Platform, Dr. Micah Shippee, director of education technology consulting and solutions at Samsung, brought his 22 years of experience as an educator to the forefront. He and his team thus developed a collaborative, online hub that aims to meet the professional development needs of today’s educators. It does so by offering innovative lesson plans that embrace best-in-class technology.

“At Samsung, we strive to build community through technology. Educators and EdTech enthusiasts will be able to use the Samsung Education Community Platform as their go-to destination to convene and share bold ideas to reimagine the future of learning,” Dr. Shippee adds. “Through our platform, educators can embrace more innovative teaching practices and technology that solve common pain points we’re seeing in classrooms across the country.”

Features of the Platform

According to Samsung, educators who join the platform can access professional development courses led by Samsung Education Coaches. These coaches are experts in curriculum development and instructional design, the company notes. The courses will thus teach participants how to create an interactive, immersive learning environment through engaging-lesson design.

Platform members will gain access to continuing education certificates and monthly professional webinars where they can learn more tips and teaching practices from their Samsung Education Coach.

Also Read: How Schools Can Ensure Better Interactive Touchscreen Management

All monthly webinars will be recorded and made available in Samsung’s rich library of member resources. These resources will also include blog posts, tutorials, lesson plan templates and self-paced online courses. As educators complete their coursework and engage in thoughtful discussion through the online forum, they can collect digital badges that demonstrate their progress and knowledge of EdTech strategies.

Samsung adds it will identify the most active power users to become Ambassadors to create their own content, serve as conference presenters and host Samsung-sponsored webinars to inspire their fellow educators.

Samsung’s Vision for Schools of the Future

Samsung will also showcase its portfolio of Display Solutions and software designed to transform the student experience not only in the classroom but across all corners of campus life. Products on showcase will include:

• Samsung Interactive Pro: Available in 55-, 65-, 75- and 85-inch models, the Interactive Pro is a transformative interactive display that helps educators bring vivid learning to life with multimedia content, a real-world writing and drawing experience and wireless screen mirroring from any mobile device.
• The Wall: Helps transform any school lobby, auditorium or campus space with the Wall All-in-One. Easy to install and available in 110- and 146-inch models, the Wall helps schools make a lasting impact with spectacular, stunning visuals. Samsung notes that private and higher education institutions use the Wall to tell inspiring alumni stories to drive new student applications.
• Samsung Kiosk Windows 10 IoT Enterprise Edition: Now available in Celeron i3, i5 and i7, as well as Windows Operating Systems (OS), Samsung’s new Kiosk brings the same convenient self-service experience that’s revolutionizing retail and Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) into schools. Per the company, the new product is suitable for transforming food service, front-office sign-ins and campus events. The secure self-service display solution thus includes a touch display with a speaker, printer, scanner and payment solution in a sleek design.

Additional Products

• QBH Smart Signage: Featuring state-of-the-art UHD picture quality, Samsung’s QBH series of displays provide captivating digital signage that schools can incorporate into high-traffic areas to share important announcements and promote clubs and events. They can also highlight student achievements and raise school spirit among the student body. Per the company, Stevens Institute of Technology has embraced its digital signage in the design of all buildings across its campus.
• XPR-B Outdoor LED Signage: Samsung’s outdoor LED signage works for reliable outdoor operation and clear visibility in virtually any weather conditions. School leaders can easily and dynamically control on-screen content with time-sensitive information. These include school closings, sports events and parent-teacher conferences.
• MagicINFO Software: At the heart of the connected school is Samsung’s MagicINFO software which provides full remote-device management and control of the content published to all Samsung displays. In the event of an emergency, schools can thus use MagicINFO to automatically push alerts to all displays with on-screen content to direct students and staff to safety.
• Gaming Monitors: For schools with eSports programs, Samsung’s gaming monitors offer a next-level gaming experience. They feature an ultrawide DQHD screen for maximum immersion and minimal eye strain. Additionally, its Incredibly low input lag can provide the millisecond advantage for teams to seize victory.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on January 24, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

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