Scala Digital Signage Helps BI Norwegian School of Management Communicate with Campus Audiences

Posted on Sep 4, 2009 by Jane Goodwin at 12:05 am

NewswireToday has posted a very interesting article about digital signage in education:
NewswireToday – /newswire/ – Oslo, Norway, 08/17/2009 – The BI Norwegian School of Management, one of Europe’s largest business schools, has launched a digital signage network spanning all five of its campuses.

Working with Scala and YIT Building Systems, a Scala Certified Partner based in Oslo, the school installed a 38-screen network that broadcasts important news and information to students, staff and visiting campus groups.

The Oslo campus features 25 of the screens, seven of which are controlled by student organizations. The screens display different content at individual locations across the campuses, including:

• Entrance areas: Messages welcoming visitors to BI and showing daily information;

• High-traffic areas: Where students and crowds tend to gather, the network displays national and global news, financial information, weather, BI-specific news, exam information, and notices about special lectures, job vacancies, activities and important IT information;

• Library: Screens inform visitors of operating hours, new materials and information about training classes;

• IT Department: Screens at the Helpdesk alert viewers about training classes;

• Student Administration: Select screens display important student information, including details about exams, deadlines and office hours.

BI already has received positive feedback about the digital displays. After using the network to communicate information about its “Career and Recruiting Service” campaign, BI measured a dramatic increase in the number of students who registered via specific Web sites and jobs for which they applied.

“We are really satisfied with Scala Content Manager’s ability to handle different types of content like pictures, messages and videos,” said Stein-Oddvar Evensen, Communication Consultant at BI. “Now that we’ve used Scala for a while, we feel our experience within digital communications has grown tremendously. We are currently looking into new ways to automate the content, which will allow us more time to produce better information campaigns with clearer messages and dynamic effects.”

About BI Norwegian School of Management
BI Norwegian School of Management (bi.edu) is a self-owned foundation whose purpose is to conduct education and research at a high international level within management, administration, economics and marketing. It has become one of the larger Higher Education Institutions in Norway and one of the largest business schools in Europe, with campuses in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, Kristiansand and Drammen.

About YIT Building Systems
YIT Building Systems (yitgroup.com) offers design and installation for HEPACE, automation, security and networks technology systems.

About Scala
Driving more than 300,000 screens worldwide, Scala (scala.com) is a leading global provider of digital signage and advertising management solutions. Scala is the world’s first connected signage company, offering the leading platform for content creation, management and distribution in digital signage networks and the first unified platform for advertising management of both traditional and digital signage networks. The company’s digital signage customers include Rabobank, IKEA, Burger King, T-Mobile, Virgin MegaStore, Warner Brothers, The Life Channel, Rikstoto, Repsol, NorgesGruppen, Audi, ECE Flatmedia, Kaufhof (Metro Group) and thousands more. Advertising management customers include CBS Outdoor, Clear Channel Outdoor and Magic Media, among others. Scala is headquartered near Philadelphia, USA, and has subsidiaries in Canada, The Netherlands, France, Norway, Germany and Japan, as well as more than 450 partners in more than 60 countries.

Scala Powers Indiana University’s Campus-wide Digital Signage Network

Posted on Jul 27, 2009 by Jane Goodwin at 12:05 am

From PR Web comes the news about Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, and its over 30 channels of individualized content all over campus:

Using Scala software on the university network, Indiana University Auxiliary IT now has the ability to drive more than 30 channels of individualized content to numerous screens all across campus

Bloomington, IN (PRWEB) July 21, 2009 — The number of digital signage deployments on university campuses in the U.S. has skyrocketed during the past few years. Earlier this year, Indiana University (IU) Bloomington joined the fray when it launched a campus-wide digital network to more quickly broadcast important news and information to students and staff.

With the aid of Digital AV, a Scala Certified Partner based in Fort Wayne, Ind., IU’s Auxiliary IT group installed 30 40-inch LCD monitors and computers powered by Scala digital signage software. The complete installation took less than one year to accomplish, and the network was fully operational in spring 2009.

“Digital media is not only modern and eye-catching to students, but it’s less of a hassle than printed materials,” said Aaron Sudduth, Senior System Administrator of IU’s Auxiliary IT Services. “It’s evident that the marketing departments have been able to reduce the cost of printing, and the real return has been on getting information to students and staff much faster.”

Users can access a Web-based template that can be used by any authorized Web browser to input the content into a Microsoft SQL database. This ability to remotely access the system brings great functionality to the system and is one of the most powerful components built into Scala Content Manager.

Using Scala software on the university network, IU Auxiliary IT now has the ability to drive more than 30 channels of individualized content to numerous screens all across campus. Currently, LCD monitors are located in all 12 campus dormitories, food service areas, parking operations and the IU Memorial Union Building. Additionally, one digital signage channel is tied directly to the TV cable network within the Memorial Union hotel to display meeting announcements and other upcoming events in each meeting room.

Moving forward, Auxiliary IT would like to integrate digital signage with IU’s emergency alert system, which is currently set up to send emergency text and e-mail messages to students on the go. Additionally, IU plans to investigate ways to harness this technology as a digital way-finding system for the Student Union.

For more information about Indiana University’s digital signage network, please visit http://www.scala.com/news/studies/indiana-university-deploys-digital-signage-system.

About Indiana University
Indiana University is located in the state of Indiana. The university has more than 99,122 students on its eight campuses across the state. IU is internationally known for the quality of its academic programs and attracts students from all over the world. IU’s original and largest campus is located in Bloomington, which has the most international students –more than 4,000 students from more than 125 countries. IU plays a key role in the economic and social well-being of Indiana residents, offering educational, cultural and financial benefits to the state.

About Digital AV
Digital AV (www.digital-avd.com) is the largest digital signage company in the Midwest, focused exclusively on digital signage applications. Located in their 3,000 sq. ft. technology center in Fort Wayne, Ind., they specialize exclusively in digital signage development and services. Areas of expertise include deployment of DS software, hardware, content development, managed software services and network management. DAV is a fully authorized and Certified Partner for Scala Inc., LG Commercial, Premier Mounts, Equus Computer, and many other quality lines of professional AV and DS products. Display mediums include LCD and plasma displays, LED display tiles and video walls, plasma walls, front- and rear-projection systems and other specialty displays. Deployments include universities, corporate communications, hospitals, convention centers, museums and retail stores. Additional case studies are available at www.digital-avd.com. Call (260) 485-5400 or e-mail experts(at)digital-avd.com.

About Scala
Driving more than 300,000 screens worldwide, Scala is a leading global provider of digital signage and advertising management solutions. Scala is the world’s first connected signage company, offering the leading platform for content creation, management and distribution in digital signage networks and the first unified platform for advertising management of both traditional and digital signage networks. The company’s digital signage customers include Rabobank, IKEA, Burger King, T-Mobile, Virgin MegaStore, Warner Brothers, The Life Channel, Rikstoto, Repsol, NorgesGruppen, Audi, ECE Flatmedia, Kaufhof (Metro Group) and thousands more. Advertising management customers include CBS Outdoor, Clear Channel Outdoor and Magic Media, among others. Scala is headquartered near Philadelphia, USA, and has subsidiaries in Canada, The Netherlands, France, Norway, Germany and Japan, as well as more than 450 partners in more than 60 countries. More information is available at www.scala.com.

©2009 Scala, Inc. 350 Eagleview Blvd. Exton, PA 19341. Scala and the Exclamation Point Log

British Columbia Children’s Hospital Foundation Uses Digital Signage for Campaign Fund-raising

Posted on Jul 24, 2009 by Jane Goodwin at 12:05 am

From PRWeb.com comes this extremely interesting post about an Interactive donor wall powered by Scala and 2C Visual Communications’ diVA™:

Vancouver, British Columbia (PRWEB) July 7, 2009 — The British Columbia Children’s Hospital Foundation (BCCHF) is harnessing the power of digital signage to spread the word about its Campaign for BC Children, a $200-million initiative to build a new hospital and create a legacy for the province’s children.

Using Scala Content Manager and Player, and 2C Visual Communications’ diVA™ — an interactive software and hardware system that creates a responsive environment — the BCCHF Donor Relations team constructed a 10-foot by 15-foot interactive mural in the lobby of BC Children’s Hospital. It features four LCD screens, four audio speakers, two motion sensors, four distance sensors and lighting effects. When a passerby enters the area immediately surrounding the mural, sensors detect movement and bring the mural to life with video, audio and lights.

We wanted to do something outside the box and use technology, so we developed the idea of an interactive donor wall. It adds an element of fun to the lobby.
“We had a temporary space in the hospital that we could use for keeping the public and hospital staff up to date on the Campaign for BC Children,” said Debra Kerr, Donor Relations Coordinator at BCCHF. “We wanted to do something outside the box and use technology, so we developed the idea of an interactive donor wall. It adds an element of fun to the lobby.”

According to Chris Sweeting, the Web and Technical Support Specialist at BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, the BCCHF Donor Relations team updates the donor wall regularly. Once the team determines what new material to include, content updates only take 10 to 15 minutes to upload into the network using Scala Content Manager and Player software.

Originally launched in April 2008, the interactive donor wall continues to educate the public about the campaign, encourages donations, profiles key donors, and keeps everyone up to date on the progress of new hospital construction and campaign proceeds.

For more information on the BCCHF interactive donor wall, please visit http://www.scala.com/news/case-study-pdfs/bc-childrens-hospital-case-study.

About Scala:
Driving more than 300,000 screens worldwide, Scala is a leading global provider of digital signage and advertising management solutions. Scala is the world’s first connected signage company, offering the leading platform for content creation, management and distribution in digital signage networks and the first unified platform for advertising management of both traditional and digital signage networks. The company’s digital signage customers include Rabobank, IKEA, Burger King, T-Mobile, Virgin MegaStore, Warner Brothers, The Life Channel, Rikstoto, Repsol, NorgesGruppen, Audi, ECE Flatmedia, Kaufhof (Metro Group) and thousands more. Advertising management customers include CBS Outdoor, Clear Channel Outdoor and Magic Media, among others. Scala is headquartered near Philadelphia, USA, and has subsidiaries in Canada, The Netherlands, France, Norway, Germany and Japan, as well as more than 450 partners in more than 60 countries. More information is available at www.scala.com.

POPAI Awards Gold Prize to Scala-Powered Innovative Infiniti “I-View” Showroom Project

Posted on Jul 3, 2009 by Jane Goodwin at 12:05 am

From Trading Markets.com comes this very informative article about Scala and SoftAudioVisual:

Paris, France, Jun 30, 2009 (PRWeb.com via COMTEX) — SCLOF | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating — Scala (www.scala.com), together with Scala Certified Partner Soft Audiovisuel (www.soft.fr/), received the Gold award in the “Digital Media: Innovative Materials” category at the POPAI European Awards 2009 ceremony. The award recognized Scala and Soft Audiovisuel for the Scala-powered “I-View” digital media project for auto manufacturer Infiniti’s showrooms throughout Europe. At the same awards event, Infiniti received the Gold award in the “Automobile” category for its showroom vehicle visualization and configuration I-View system.

Since 2008, the I-View project has been deployed in over 15 Infiniti dealer showrooms in Europe with plans to reach 35 dealers during 2009. At the inception of the project, Infiniti wanted to enhance its customers’ experience in its showrooms through an innovative concept called I-View. Infiniti tasked Scala and Soft Audiovisuel to develop I-View to promote the high quality of the Infiniti brand and to allow each customer to design his/her vehicle through interactive digital signage (www.scala.com) functionality and high-definition digital media. Infiniti has also emphasized the integration of I-View with specially designed furniture of each showroom which, together with ambient sound, provides a unique, high-quality and pleasant shopping experience for its customers. While the digital media system is centralized and maintained by Scala in its SaaS facility in Paris, Soft Audiovisuel manages content playlists customized for each showroom.

“Infiniti’s implementation of digital media through its I-View showroom project represents a unique blend of the best Scala can offer,” said Philippe Lemaire, Director, Scala France Sales. “This project brings together the power and ease of implementation of Scala’s SaaS offering, the extensive project management capabilities of our partner Soft Audiovisuel, the unique interactive and high-quality content design abilities of Scala partner AS Video, Scala’s international project management expertise, and an experienced network of Scala partners throughout Europe to care for installation and maintenance.”

“We are proud of this award as it represents the culmination of a unique, all-inclusive proposition for the implementation of digital signage projects resulting from Scala’s experience and ecosystem developed through our 22-year history,” said Oscar Elizaga, VP EMEA, Scala. “We immensely appreciate Infiniti’s confidence for this strategic project. We thank our colleagues at Soft Audiovisuel for their professionalism, and our special gratitude goes to the entire Scala France team for their energy, dedication and unique knowledge in making this project a reality.”

About POPAI Point of Purchase Advertising International (POPAI) is the only global, not-for-profit, trade association exclusively dedicated to serving the interests of all those involved in retail marketing. POPAI has 20 national offices covering 45 countries and more than 1,700 members worldwide.

About INFINITI Born in the US from its Japanese parent company Nissan, Infiniti now has presence in China, Russia and Switzerland, with headquarters near Geneva. Infiniti has been building up gradually over the last 20 years to make certain its brand DNA – called ‘Modern Japanese Luxury’ – is at the heart of everything Infiniti does. Adapting this for the most sophisticated automobile market in the world, and the most discerning drivers, has taken time to craft.

The Infiniti Centers are known for their awe-inspiring architecture, welcoming environment and unique services. And over the coming years Infiniti will continue to build these with its renowned care and attention to detail. By the end of 2009, 25 more centers will be open across 15 cities, and by 2010, Infiniti aims to have 80 centers in total across Europe.

About SOFT AUDIOVISUEL Soft Audiovisuel is one of the principal Audio/Visual companies in the French market. With a national coverage of 15 agencies and an international network of over 300 collaborators, the Soft group offers 35 years of experience and expertise. Soft specializes in the consulting and implementation of services and audio/visual equipment and broadcast, with activities in France and throughout Europe. On the basis of its strong foundation as an Audio/Visual architect, Soft has developed a particular set of solutions for digital signage.

About Scala Driving more than 300,000 screens worldwide, Scala is a leading global provider of digital signage and advertising management solutions. Scala is the world’s first connected signage company, offering the leading platform for content creation, management and distribution in digital signage networks and the first unified platform for advertising management of both traditional and digital signage networks. The company’s digital signage customers include Rabobank, IKEA, Burger King, T-Mobile, Virgin MegaStore, Warner Brothers, The Life Channel, Rikstoto, Repsol, NorgesGruppen, Audi, ECE Flatmedia, Kaufhof (Metro Group) and thousands more. Advertising management customers include CBS Outdoor, Clear Channel Outdoor and Magic Media, among others. Scala is headquartered near Philadelphia, USA, and has subsidiaries in Canada, The Netherlands, France, Norway, Germany and Japan, as well as more than 450 partners in more than 60 countries. More information is available at www.scala.com.

Peabody-Essex Art Museum Sports New Scala InfoChannel Digital Signage

Posted on Jun 24, 2009 by Jane Goodwin at 12:05 am

From the Digital Signage Expo website, we read about the new Scala InfoChannel visual messaging solution, and how, thanks to Scala, the Peabody-Essex art gallery’s information system can change faster than any other museum in the world.

Art Museum Expands With 21st Century Displays
Extensive Digital Sign Network Updated From Central Control Room

SALEM, MA – Before the Big Dig engineering marvel was finished in December, Boston went through another major transformation… but of culture, not transportation. After a huge three-year expansion, the Peabody-Essex in Massachusetts is now one of the 25 largest art museums in the nation. The suite of new galleries dedicated to changing exhibitions is among the largest on the East Coast… and now sporting a new Scala InfoChannel visual messaging solution, the gallery’s information system can change faster than any other museum in the world.

InfoChannel has alleviated the need to replace constantly changing posters or videotapes. Now curators can show a wealth of information through scheduled multimedia playback on a low-profile screen instead of having to plaster walls with a bulletin board or worry about replacing degrading or outdated VCR cassettes.

The information display system shows content from Scala’s InfoChannel Player 3, a networked solution that can be updated remotely and run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Content is changed by periodic or exact schedule, so the museum can easily adjust to the expected audience depending on the season or even the time of day.

The main admissions desk signage includes a high-resolution 42″ plasma screen that shows information about the latest museum exhibits. The ticket counter is the perfect place to educate new visitors about ongoing exhibits as well as daily events, and it can all be continuously updated behind the cashier without interrupting customers or his workday.

Additional infrastructure for adding other displays in the network is located throughout the museum, such as the small orientation theater next to the Yin Yu Tang Chinese exhibit. Visitors can view a video on a 60″ plasma display panel, complete with a theater sound system. Several other exhibits such as the Idea Studio have large flat panel monitors, too.

The screens can all be tied into the same Scala electronic signage system and administered centrally by InfoChannel Network Manager 3 in the museum’s control room. Creative work and textual updates are also conceived in the same room via Scala’s InfoChannel Designer 3. When published, changes can either be seen instantly or scheduled to appear later throughout the building.

The high-resolution images are transmitted over standard CAT5 cable using special Extron CAT5 transmitters and receivers. The changing exhibits area was designed with the future in mind for transmitting computer graphics, video and audio to produce a truly interactive exhibit space.

As the oldest continuously operating museum in America, it has held countless historical objects since opening in 1799. Now, the remodeled Peabody-Essex is a prime example of cutting edge technology helping curators to stay modern and work efficiently in a traditional setting.

Visit http://www.pem.org for more information on the Peabody-Essex expansion project.

Scala and Partners Showcase New Digital Signage Technologies at InfoComm 2009

Posted on Jun 13, 2009 by Jane Goodwin at 12:05 am

Newswire Today posted the following press release about Scala and its technology partners, and their InfoComm 09 exhibit.  (Booth 2354) :

NewswireToday – /newswire/ – Exton, PA, United States, 06/12/2009 -Scala, the leading provider of end-to-end solutions for the digital signage and advertising management industries, and some of its technology partners will exhibit Scala 5 Release 5 software and compatible hardware that allows end users to power digital signage networks at virtually any price point (Booth 2354).

Scala’s latest innovations for cost-effective video appliances (MPEG players) will be displayed by IAdea Corporation. IAdea has worked closely with Scala to develop firmware that allows Scala Content Manager and Ad Manager platforms to connect with compatible video appliances, including ViewSonic’s RISC-based media player. These appliances reduce the total cost of ownership of hardware and software per player.

FrameMedia Inc. will present its low-cost and easy-to-use digital signage based on wireless photo frame technology. Small to medium-sized companies can now take advantage of digital display technologies without high service and equipment costs. Through FrameMedia’s new service SignChannel, Scala 5 Release 5 provides template-driven digital signage content and messages that can be automatically delivered to select WiFi-enabled digital photo frames, including devices manufactured by Kodak, Samsung, D-Link, ViewSonic.

Equus Computer Systems Inc. will also exhibit its commercial-grade hardware solutions in Scala’s booth. Together, Scala and Equus Computer Systems support end users seeking to use built-to-order hardware to meet their digital signage needs.

MediaVue will showcase its fanless and solid-state PCs designed to provide a low total cost of ownership to digital signage end users. Built with specialized, industrial-grade storage solutions and specified to operate at cooler operation levels, its SureVue2A digital signage player is able to withstand the most demanding digital signage applications and avoid downtime.

For more information about Scala or its technology partners, or to schedule a booth interview at InfoComm, please contact Lorena Crowley.

About IAdea Corporation
Founded in 2000, IAdea (IAdea.com) is dedicated to the development of leading-edge, industrial-grade digital signage systems. IAdea’s media players feature the XML-based W3C SMIL scripting interface allowing system integrators to quickly customize functionality tailored to project-specific requirements. IAdea is an active member of the Digital Standards Committee of POPAI, the industry’s organization to promote open, standards-based digital signage systems.

About FrameMedia Inc.
FrameMedia (framemedia.com) is the leading platform provider for content delivery to wireless digital picture frames and connected gadgets. Its flagship product, FrameChannel, can be branded and tightly integrated to work with any WiFi- or Internet-enabled photo frame, media player or connected gadget, transforming these devices into dynamic information appliances.

About Equus Computer Systems Inc. Corporation
Equus Computer Systems Inc. (equuscs.com) is a 100% employee-owned company and has over 200 employees. It is one of America’s largest manufacturers of build-to-order desktops, notebooks, servers and workstations. Recognized as a top OEM of industry-leading vendors such as Microsoft® and Intel® and named by Computer Reseller News as one of the top North American systems builders, Equus has delivered more than two million custom computer systems to business, education and government customers.

About MediaVue Systems
MediaVue Systems (Hingham, Mass.) designs and builds fanless, high-performance PCs for digital signage and other demanding applications. Products are designed to operate continuously under heavy load in severe-duty environments. (mediavuesystems.com)

About Scala
Driving more than 300,000 screens worldwide, Scala (scala.com) is a leading global provider of digital signage and advertising management solutions. Scala is the world’s first connected signage company, offering the leading platform for content creation, management and distribution in digital signage networks and the first unified platform for advertising management of both traditional and digital signage networks. The company’s digital signage customers include Rabobank, IKEA, Burger King, T-Mobile, Virgin MegaStore, Warner Brothers, The Life Channel, Rikstoto, Repsol, NorgesGruppen and thousands more. Advertising management customers include CBS Outdoor, Clear Channel Outdoor and Magic Media, among others. Scala is headquartered near Philadelphia, USA, and has subsidiaries in Canada, the Netherlands, France, Norway and Japan, as well as more than 450 partners in more than 60 countries.

NEC Corporation Unveils New LCD Display Model

Posted on Jun 1, 2009 by Jane Goodwin at 12:05 am

Virtual Press Office has published an excellent article about NEC’s new LCD display model:

NEC Corporation unveils a new LCD display model enhanced by more than 30 advanced features of the Digital Signage Technology Suite that allow it to stand out in heavily-lit environments.

With a brightness measurement at 1500 cd/m² and remarkable contrast ratio of 3500:1, the MultiSync X461HB boasts 110% higher brightness than NEC’s previous-generation displays. The MultiSync X Series display is ideal for environments heavy with ambient light, such as corporate lobbies, atriums and restaurants.

The MultiSync X461HB includes ambient light sensor technology, which automatically adjusts the backlight depending on the ambient lighting brightness and maximizes the power management feature. Its advanced thermal protection begins with an extra thermal layer on the display panel to diffuse heat and follows with a fan-based technology specifically designed to work in both landscape and portrait modes. Internal temperature sensors control self-protective circuits, while special self-diagnostics communicate the status of thermal characteristics. The thermal protection can be monitored and controlled both locally and remotely.

The MultiSync X461HB includes the following features:

* Professional-grade LCD panel and components for the most demanding digital signage industry requirements
* 1360 x 768 WXGA native resolution in true 16:9 aspect ratio
* Brightness of 1500 cd/m2
* Contrast ratio of 3500:1 (typical)
* Built-in expansion slot, which allows for seamless integration of current and future NEC accessories and third-party components
* Sealed panel design, which provides protection against dust, grease and steam in less than optimal environments
* Carbon footprint meter, which informs and motivates responsible use of the display by calculating and tracking carbon savings
* Ethernet Control and Communication technology, which provides the highest level of remote display management and includes such features as automatic email notification for diagnostic purposes
* Diverse input connectors, which allow for maximum compatibility and flexibility during product implementation
* Improved auto-detection scheme, which quickly finds new connections and allows for user customization of input selection
* Optional speakers and stand

The MultiSync X461HB is backed by a 3-year parts and labor warranty including the backlight and will be available for July 2009 shipment with estimated street price of $3,899.

About NEC Display Solutions of America, Inc.

Headquartered in Itasca, Ill., NEC Display Solutions of America, Inc., is a leading designer and provider of innovative desktop LCD displays, professional-grade large-screen LCD displays, a diverse line of projectors, and integrated display solutions. NEC Display Solutions develops leading-edge visual technology and customer-focused solutions for a wide variety of markets, including enterprise, professional, education, medical and digital signage. For additional information about NEC Display Solutions of America, consumers can call (866) NEC-MORE, or visit the Web site at www.necdisplay.com.

Media Contact:
Philip Anast
Tech Image (for NEC Display Solutions)
(847) 279-0022, x238
philip.anast@techimage.com

Panasonic Lowers Price of Full HD Plasma Display

Posted on May 20, 2009 by Jane Goodwin at 12:05 am

From TechShout.com we find an excellent article about Panasonic’s new pricing for its 103-inch full HD plasma display:

Cost-efficient customers come one step closer to owning a 103-inch full HD Plasma Display.  Panasonic has lowered the price of its 1080p display device from $69,999.95 to $50,000.  It was the initial price when it first debuted in December 2006.

The company claims that its Plasma displayl is the industry’s leading large-format display.  It can be used for commercial or home theater applications such as digital signage, high-end home theater and higher education.  More than 6,000 of these devices have made its way into the customers’ homes and offices since its release.

The full HD Plasma display makes watching sports, action movies and video games a delight.  It produces smooth and crisp pictures on its 7-1/2 x 4 feet viewing space.  Also known as the TH-103PF10UK, it boasts of superior panel longevity with a 100,000-hour service life.  The display also comes with a 3 year warranty and ProPlasma Concierge Service.

Andrew Nelkin, President of Panasonic Professional Display company, explained, “The combination of advancements in Plasma production technology and the tremendous worldwide success of the Panasonic 103-inch Plasma HD Display over the last two plus years have enabled us to increase range of customers at a lower price point.  When our 103-inch Plasma first debuted, it was a made-to-order product.  It soon became obvious that in ultra-large screen sizes, nothing comes close to the Panasonic 103-inch Plasma in delivering crisp, clear, blur-free images in 1080p High Definition.  D emand for the 103 exceeded our initial expectations, and its popularity continues.”

Along with its other properties, the device is also able to support up to 5 x 5 video wall natively.  The display incorporates new video processing capabilities which help achieve clear and sharp images.  Picture clarity is also observed while displaying low resolution content or zooming images in video wall applications.  With the Portrait Zoom function, a horizontal image can be displayed across three vertically placed 103 inch plasmas.  This gives users wonder visuals of more than 90 square feet.

The 103-inch Plasma display is widely used for high visibility commercial applications in the U.S.  Some of these places include CBS network’s The Early Show set, NBC  network’s Sunday Night Football studio, and 2009 Beijing Summer Olympics studio.  Other places include New York’s City Hall,  Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall in Las Vegas, and Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula.

The Digital Signage Show: Las Vegas, May 6 & 7

Posted on May 6, 2009 by Jane Goodwin at 6:31 pm

The Digital Signage Show is at Mandalay Bay in Vegas today and tomorrow – May 6 and 7!

Follow the Digital Signage Show doings on Twitter.

You’ll find most of the best digital signage companies at the show, including Scala, Netkey, and Symon.

Here’s what the Digital Signage Show website has to say about the show:

The Digital Signage Show offers an in-depth look at how digital signage/OOH/Place based media – from one location to thousands, both interactive and non-interactive – can bring increased brand impact and sales, as well as improved customer experiences and revenue for organizations. Discuss and plan for all phases of your deployment from pre-launch to budgeting and measuring ROI, and find all your technology solutions under one roof!

Scala Partner New Vision Media Implements Signage in the Kursky Rail Terminal

Posted on Apr 23, 2009 by Jane Goodwin at 12:05 am

PRWeb.com has posted a press release informing us that Scala partner New Vision Media has implemented “the first multi-screen digital passenger information and way-finding system in the Kursky Rail Terminal, Moscow’s largest terminal by passenger volume.”

Here is the press release:

Passenger Information and Way-Finding at Moscow Train Terminal Finally Sheds its Industrial Past

From metal to microcomputer: Kursky Rail Terminal modernizes its message

Moscow (PRWEB) April 22, 2009 — Scala, the leading provider of end-to-end digital signage and advertising management software, announced that New Vision Media, a Scala Certified Partner in Russia, has implemented the first multi-screen digital passenger information and way-finding system in the Kursky Rail Terminal, Moscow’s largest terminal by passenger volume.

Built in 1896 during the reign of Nikolai Romanov, Russia’s last emperor, Kursky Rail Terminal’s passenger information system remained stuck in the nineteenth century. Until New Vision Media approached the owners to modernize the station’s signage in 2008, it had four large boards communicating passenger information throughout concourses. The boards used magnetic metal letters that required three staff members to manually update content each night. They had to align letters by hand with great precision, but inaccuracies and spelling errors were common, and the boards were also difficult to read.

This process limited the amount of information available to passengers because it was not updated in real time. It was also costly to employ staff to update boards nightly.

New Vision Media identified contemporary digital signage technologies as a solution for reducing labor costs and providing additional communication benefits to the station and its operators. The operators backed the proposition based on their need to enhance the information offered to passengers, lower operational costs and reinforce a modern image and approach courtesy of the network’s deployment, a first in a train terminal in Russia.

New Vision Media worked closely with terminal administrators to specify and install screens across the site, with the largest comprising five large-format video walls of multiple 40″ LCD panels. The panels are suspended more than 65 feet (20 meters) high to provide concourse-wide visual impact. The implementation alone required a significant amount of design and development work in terms of construction, refurbishment and installation and, where possible, site impact has been mitigated by delivering content wirelessly.

These screens display schedules for long distance and domestic trains in real time next to additional information, such as local news, weather, general travel information, and Euro and Dollar exchange rates. This information is generated by New Vision Media from online sources (RSS feeds) and fed to the screens’ branded templates created in Scala. Unlike the original design, this solution is more automated.

The network is capable of broadcasting advertising messages from third parties and, in the future, advertisers may have the opportunity to target passengers in the terminal.

As part of its full-service offering, New Vision Media uses Scala Designer to create a range of animated templates that allow images, text, movies and feeds to be composed quickly and effectively. Size, layout and assets are pre-configured to ensure each item is consistent with the brand guidelines and visual requirements of the station, providing few opportunities for misspelled words or missing letters. Once completed, these templates are scheduled and remotely broadcast to the network using Scala, via New Vision Media’s network operations center in Moscow.

Anecdotal customer research conducted suggests that passengers are highly satisfied. They cite that the screens offer more helpful, relevant and appropriate content than before in terms of assisting them on their travel, helping them navigate the terminal efficiently, and providing added-value content (news, weather, etc.) in a format that is easy to see and read.

Likewise, the administrative owners of Kursky Rail Terminal are pleased that phase one of this unique development has proved effective. Working with New Vision Media, they are likely to look at developing further products and services using the screen network in the coming months.

“As a first of its kind project in Russia, we are delighted that we have been able to take an antiquated information system and bring it up to date. In doing so, we are offering passengers a much more dynamic and proactive information system more akin in style to other media they consume elsewhere. The provision of real-time information has been a big hit with passengers as it directly helps them in planning their journey and also with our clients who, through this project, have experienced considerable cost savings over the previous system,” said Vitaly Korol, Managing Director, New Vision Media.

Adding to Korol’s comment, Oscar Elizaga, VP Operations for Scala EMEA said, “In some countries we have become familiar with the digitization of information and way-finding systems. New Vision Media’s experience with Kursky Rail Terminal reflects today’s cutting-edge mindset with regard to large-scale screen and content deployment at rail terminals. Not only is it an excellent example of its kind, it is to be applauded given it is the first of its kind in Russia. I look forward to working with New Vision Media in the coming months to capitalize on this experience and develop our offering to the Russian transport sector.”

For images of the installation, please visit http://gallery.schubert.com/categories.php?cat_id=22.

About New Vision Media

New Vision Media is a Scala Certified Partner in Russia. The company provides digital signage solutions based on Scala’s wide range of design and content management platforms. An individual approach to each client makes it possible to scope, design and implement custom solutions using proprietary know-how, techniques and methods gained from many years of experience in developing signage solutions. New Vision media partners in Russia are Mirax InTV and Mobil TV among others. More information is available at www.nvme.ru

About Scala

Driving more than 200,000 screens worldwide, Scala is a leading global provider of digital signage and advertising management solutions. Scala is the world’s first connected signage company, offering the leading platform for content creation, management and distribution in digital signage networks and the first unified platform for advertising management of both traditional and digital signage networks. The company’s digital signage customers include Rabobank, IKEA, Burger King, T-Mobile, Virgin MegaStore, Warner Brothers, The Life Channel, Rikstoto, Repsol, NorgesGruppen and thousands more. Advertising management customers include CBS Outdoor, Clear Channel Outdoor and Magic Media, among others. Scala is headquartered near Philadelphia, USA, and has subsidiaries in Canada, the Netherlands, France, Norway and Japan, as well as more than 450 partners in more than 60 countries. More information is available at www.scala.com.

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