Digital Signage

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

CBS Outdoor Launches wannaBILLBOARD.com

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

From DigitalSignageExpo.com comes word that CBS Outdoor has launched its new web-based wannaBILLBOARD.com, a service that lets local advertisers choose their own outdoor ad creative for static or digital signage from a catalog of customizable designs.

Here is the Digital Signage Expo article in its entirety:

CBS Outdoor has announced the launch of wannaBILLBOARD.com, a web-based service that lets local advertisers choose their own outdoor ad creative from a catalog of customizable, ad-agency quality designs to display on static billboards or dynamic digital signage in choice locations.

The web-based program offers clients more than 50 local categories to start from, letting them choose industry-tested templates to start the design process. Clients can then add in their business name, address and contact information, as well as a text code to action, in just a matter of minutes, the company said.

According to the company, the new program is its latest offering designed to eliminate the lack of creative as a barrier to entry, which has prevented many smaller advertisers from taking advantage of out-of-home media. WannaBILLBOARD.com will allow both large and small companies to access the kind of professional ad-agency quality designs they could not have afforded before.

The process begins with clients selecting designs from CBS Outdoor’s library of creative, which includes many categories of businesses and different style designs. The Web site allows advertisers to customize the ad space, including uploading their own logos into specified areas of the creative. They also can choose what type of media they want from a menu of different options, including billboards, bus ads, kiosks and bus shelters, among others. Electronic billboards and LCD urban panels are among the digital signage choices.

Once the design process is complete, clients can search and then choose their preferred locations, using a map element to the site that allows users to zoom in on specific areas to see the billboard in its natural surroundings. Finally, wannaBILLBOARD.com lets the client request specific space for their signage from CBS Outdoor’s vast portfolio of outdoor media, one of the largest collections in North America.

“wannaBILLBOARD.com gives local advertisers entree into a medium they might not have considered before,” said Jodi Senese, executive vice president, marketing, of New York-based CBS Outdoor. “We are offering a portfolio of the very best designs by CBS Outdoor artists, and it’s a collection that will consistently expand in choices and categories. This is a great way for local advertisers to begin the out-of-home media experience, with a hands-on-element few other advertising media can offer.”

The company said it plans to grow wannaBILLBOARD.com beyond its current stage with more enhanced features and greater customizability for clients. CBS Outdoor has begun promoting the site through radio and its nation-wide network of billboards and transit ads.