Interactive Donor wall in the Synnex Booth

While 3 days on my feet working a booth at Infocomm seemed like an eternity, I spoke to several AV integrators that didn’t even have a chance to see the entire exhibit hall over the 3 days.  The show floor continues to grow year after year and I was impressed with how the digital signage section has grown into a sizable footprint.  Just a few years ago it was a small portion of the show while today it has evolved into one of the feature areas.

While I did see lots of “new” technology from vendors and partners I didn’t run into anything that blew me away as revolutionary.  There were a lot of new software faces or people evolving their product from another area into software for digital signage but the most common theme was “me to”.  The one trend that I did notice with all of the software companies was the advancements into interactivity.  If there is one inevitable trend in digital signage it is the fact that people want to touch the content and interact with it.  As software and content advance to improve the user experience the hardware and touch technology are getting more economical and more functional making for a bright and exciting future for digital signage.

Interactive Touch Screens, Software-as-a-Service

In this edition, SVC contributing editor Bennett Liles talks with Ryan Cahoy, managing director of Rise Vision in Etobicoke, Ontario, a leading provider of software as a service providing 24/7 content to thousands of digital signage screens worldwide. In Part Two, Cahoy goes further into details of the signage installation for Healthcare Management Associates (HMA), installed by partner Vertigo Group USA and he provides some insight into the installation’s mechanics and some trends in the digital signage industry.

Click her to access the Podcast

Digital Signage Software Digital Signage Installation

52" NEC LCD Display

I had the opportunity to attend 2 Ingram Micro events in the past few weeks and for the most part Ingram’s digital signage team does a great job of setting up 3 to 4 displays through out the conference posting the agenda and sponsorship information.  They also do a nice job preparing a 1 hour digital signage overview to help inform and educate the VARs about the advancements in digital signage and how easy it is for them to start selling.

While I will probably get a little grief for posting this picture I couldn’t help myself as I love the irony of the use of this static sign to promote the session on digital signage.  While I could probably write more – I will let the picture of this “digital sign” do the talking.

Static Sign

LCD Displays

As you make your travel and meeting plans for the upcoming conferences in June please put Rise Vision on your list of destinations to learn about our web-based digital signage software.  You can learn more about our participation at the links below:

• If you are attending Infocomm in Orlando, FL June 17 through 19 please stop by and see our software in action at either the Ingram Micro booth or the Synnex booth.
• Visitors to Infocomm should also take advantage of the Digital Signage Experts tour hosted by Minicom.
• Educomm attendees can learn more about digital signage in my session on Tuesday at 4pm entitled “Digital Signage on Campus – Transitioning from Plan to Reality“
• For attendees of the ACBSP Annual Conference in San Antonio June 26-29 make sure and attend our informative session Sunday, June 28 from 10:50 – 11:30 am in Conference Room 8 on using digital signage for Finance Labs and Campus Communications.

Safe travels and we look forward to seeing you.

Digital Signage Software, Software-as-a-Service

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – June 9, 2009 – Rise Vision, Inc. has announced it is partnering with AOpen America, Inc. to pre-load the Rise Display Network, its web-based content management system for the control of digital signage networks, on AOpen’s robust, ultra small form factor Digital Engine™ powered media players. The upcoming bundled players will be available through Ingram Micro and Synnex distribution partners, enabling customers to quickly and affordably deploy complete digital signage solutions.

The partnership powers both companies to leverage their expertise, distribution partnerships, and technical support capabilities to deliver a turnkey solution to customers. Benefits include:

• A low-cost solution, delivering AOpen’s state-of-the-art media player bundled with a one-year subscription to the Rise Display Network content management solution.
• A plug-and-go turnkey solution, enabling customers to jump-start their digital signage deployment and focus on messaging and content creation rather than technological deployment.
• Wide network distributor access and reseller partners.
• Enhanced education, market-building expertise, and technical support services.

“AOpen is committed to increasing market share of digital signage by partnering with independent software vendors such as Rise Vision to develop complete and affordable turnkey digital signage solutions,” says Dale Tsai, President, AOpen America. “This partnership leverages Rise Vision’s significant expertise in digital signage content management, and enables customers access to an affordable, web-based solution.”

“This partnership makes sense for Rise Vision and AOpen, but more importantly, it makes sense for digital signage resellers and their customers,” says Ryan Cahoy, Managing Director, Rise Vision, Inc. “This bundled solution enables customers to get started on the things that are important to them – displaying their messages in an attractive and compelling way – without wrestling with technology issues. That, combined with the affordable price point, makes it an easy sale for our reseller partners.”

Please note that attendees to the Infocomm’09 conference and exhibits may stop by the Peerless booth to sign up for the Digital Signage Experts tour offered by Minicom Digital Signage. The tour is offered at no cost to attendees; for more information, visit www.minicomdigitalsignage.com/events/infocomm09tour.htm.

Digital Signage Software, Software-as-a-Service

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – June 5, 2009 – Rise Vision, Inc., a provider of a web-based content management system for the control of digital signage networks, will participate in the guided tour offered by digital signage experts at the 2009 Infocomm trade show. This tour is provided at no charge by Minicom Digital Signage, developer of “last mile” player-to-screen connectivity platforms, to enable participants to gain a holistic overview of the digital signage market. The Minicom experts will guide participant to digital signage vendors’ booths, including the Synnex booth (#2379) utilizing the Rise Vision software.

Participants will learn about the digital signage industry from industry experts, and will get a first-hand account of how a real-life application is constructed and which companies presenting at the show can best help attendees to deploy a project.

Infocomm, the Information Communications Marketplace, will be June 17 through 19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. The tour will be offered at 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM on Wednesday and Thursday with additional tours depending upon demand at 10:00 and 12:00 PM on Friday. In order to participate, attendees can meet at the Peerless Industries booth (5441) at the scheduled times.

For more information, visit http://www.minicomdigitalsignage.com/events/infoComm09tour.htm

The Rise Display Network is a web-based, Software-as-a-Service content management system operated by Rise Vision. Subscriptions include access to live content such as news headlines, local weather, sports scores, and stock ticker updates. Users incorporate this live content with their own information, including media files, graphics, and text, and publish it directly to their network of digital signs. The new Private Network Operator program provides resellers with a personalized log-in page where they can promote branding, cross-selling, and event messages directly to end users every time they access their digital signage networks.
About Rise Vision, Inc.

Rise Vision, Inc. owns, develops, and operates the Rise Display Network, a web-based, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) content management system for digital signage that brings live data, custom messages, and content to thousands of displays. The Rise Display Network is a web service that does not require hosting infrastructure; users login from any Internet-accessible browser to update, control, and monitor their displays, or use their smart-phone browser to send critical alerts. Every display needs a message – we believe that it should be as easy as creating that message from the web, anywhere, anytime and knowing that it has been delivered. It’s that simple. For more information, call 877.538.7473 or visit http://www.risevision.com.

Contacts:

Digital Signage Software