Kiosk

It works like this. Customers view themselves on a screen through a Webcam and hold up a 2D picture. Suddenly the 2D picture pops up and consumers see themselves holding a 3D simulation of the product in the brochure on the kiosk's video feed. Sometimes it doesn't work: the 3D image will disappear if you hold the picture at a wrong angle. Still, it's an eye-grabber for a kiosk application.

Minneapolis firm Spyeglass has put a demo on YouTube showing how consumers can interact with a large touch screen. The clips show a viewer touching an element, and dragging it to the center of the screen. It's a nifty trick, but the platform's key may be the laptop that powers the sign. Clearly the screen is programmable, which is where the real future lies. Rather than just drag a screen element, viewers could tap it for more information. In a sense, a billboard whose content consumers control.

Digital Signage Today has published a new how-to guide for those planning for a digital signage network deployment. The guide is titled "Digital Signage Project Planning" and is immediately available for download. Sponsored by Diversified Media Group, this guide tackles the digital signage deployment process from concept development to rollout.

People have discussed ad applications for RFID tags for some time, and they may be getting closer. Consider a YouTube clip titled "RFID in Mirror." RFID stands for radio frequency identification, small electronic tags manufacturers and retailers attach to products. The mirror in this case is being used for a party, but imagine it reading tags from a clothing store. You could program the signage to advertise related accessories. How relevant is that? And there's no better time to make a pitch than at the point of the sale (POS to you acronym lovers).

The Digital Signage Expo just took place is Las Vegas, and Digital Signage Today was there. For a comprehensive overview of the state of the industry, be sure to check out this excellent summary. Gas pumps, bar tops and more.

Ford will use the interactive RoninCast digital signage system at auto shows and other special events to demonstrate and promote Ford SYNC features and benefits to customers. The system integrates 50-inch and 32-inch touchscreens with fabricated Ford SYNC branded enclosures. The program simulates the key SYNC features with on-screen virtual guides that interact with the audio "voice" of Microsoft's SYNC to demonstrate hands-free calling and playing audio tracks from an MP3 player or USB drive.

The Pearl Harbor Memorial Museum and Visitor Center is turning to digital signage to boost awareness and donations.  The self-serve donation kiosk is a particularly clever and innovative tactic. From a fundraising standpoint, every visitor is a qualified lead. If they weren't interested, they wouldn't be there. Even better, the self-serve signage kiosk lets donors come to the fundraisers and view very targeting messaging.