Content plus context
An increasing number of facility managers are putting such systems in place, using advanced software to ensure their digital signage is truly dynamic.
“Most digital signage software has been presentation-oriented, but this trend is more about bringing in relevant information from different sources,” says Collard.
The Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC), for example, ties its digital signage network into its reservations system, so changes trigger on-screen updates, while the Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC) ties its screen content in with its emergency notification system. In some malls, airports and train stations, directory signs are automatically updated when new shops open or old ones close.
In addition to connecting with existing sources of information, some facility managers go further by installing location-specific sensors to help enhance their systems’ wayfinding functionality.
The Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC) has connected its digital signage network to its emergency notification system. Photo courtesy King Architectural Products
“There are a lot of factors that can come into play, like escalators that change direction at different times of day or emergency routes that come into effect if there’s a fire,” says Collard. “Databases and back-office servers can send this information to the screens’ media player personal computer (PCs). This way, you can suggest different routes, such as one that doesn’t go outside because it’s raining or doesn’t go through a dark parking garage at night. Context is added to the content.”
“You can classify locations in a database and then define rules for the content,” says Bannister. “Then the system can map through or around various ‘dynamic status points’ to optimize traffic flow.”
Adding interactivity
Another factor that has helped digital signage achieve new advances in wayfinding is interactivity. Just as individual screens can display customized content, based on the context of their location, so too can visitors now access content customized to their individual needs, such as special route recommendations for disabled people.
“Interactivity may involve cameras, radio-frequency identification (RFID), gestures, touch, card readers or bar codes on employee badges,” says Collard. “In a baseball stadium, for example, you could have fans scan their tickets to find their seat on an on-screen map. Or you can even let people send maps to their mobile phones, so they have their wayfinding information on the go.”
With files from Omnivex. For more information, visit www.omnivex.com.
