The Digital Gist

Social TV Shake Up?

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:48:00 +0000

It's a very interesting time in the world of social TV. It's early days for the integration of real-time synchronization and interactivity with traditional broadcast television. Because the opportunity is so large, there are a growing number of companies competing to be the de facto social TV platform. New second screen and companion apps are emerging every week. Many have "me too" models, or are offering slight variations on the likes of GetGlue and IntoNow.

Synchronization of media through automated content recognition (ACR) is being touted as unique, when, in truth, most social TV companies are licensing the technology from Audible Magic, Civolution, Zeitera, or Gracenote. It's worth noting that both Shazam and IntoNow use their own homegrown audio fingerprinting solutions. My point here is that ACR is an easy to copy feature that shouldn't be viewed as a key differentiator. The technology, in and of itself, is becoming commoditized.

Some of the early leaders in the world of social TV are predicting the demise of many of the new companies that are popping up in the sector.

“There’s a lot of noise in the social TV space. A lot,” Randy Shiozaki, cofounder of social technology company TVPlus, told Mashable. “Many of these companies will disappear over the next year as leaders emerge in the space and capital dries up for these guys. The innovative ones will get acquired…This is a defining year for social TV.”

I think the fight for social TV supremacy is going to be fought for years to come. The noise is not likely to die down anytime soon. It's only going to get louder as companies succeed in carving out niches within the industry.

Commitment to enriching the viewing experience is going to separate social TV startups from one another. Companies looking at the coming media revolution as a purely money-making opportunity, hoping to quickly grow and sell their respective startups, are going to fail. The companies willing to face the daunting challenges inherent in disrupting the TV industry, a multi-billion dollar behemoth filled with entrenched players, have a long road ahead. That path will see some social TV startups achieve varying levels of success and others fall through giant potholes along the way.

Social TV Apps Must Not Be Anti-Social

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:17:00 +0000

Thinking back to the Super Bowl, one of the largest social TV events in the last year, I continually picked up my phone to check out the different interactive experiences that were available to me on apps like GetGlue, IntoNow, Shazam and Miso. Every time I looked down at my phone I felt as though I were isolating myself from my friends. I was checking out of the conversation to "check in" to digital ones. This created a major digital divide.

Even though these second-screen experiences offered additional content, and opened me up to conversations happening well beyond the walls of my apartment, they didn't offer social value to my friends. There were a few moments that did cross the digital chasm. These included reading witty commentary from Twitter to my couch mates, and the sharing of particularly sarcastic Facebook updates about the game. These were the moments that represented the best social TV experiences to me. They allowed me to reach into the digital funnel and pull out content that proved value to my entire viewing group.

In a shared viewing environment, constant attachment to one's device can be horribly isolating behavior. Responding to polls and predicting game action could easily pull you away from the true socialization happening right in front of you. There needs to be a balance between complete engagement with the second screen and passive participation. Well-timed alerts, matched to exactly what I have defined to be most interesting to me, would go a long way in bringing the mainstream to social TV.

Not everyone wants an experience that is going to require all of their attention. If anything, they want something they can freely pick up when they recognize the need to. On the other hand, certain users want to be immersed in digital content at all times. The best social TV experiences must satisfy both of these extremes. Content must be curated that appeals to both audiences. Give users the ability to choose how engaged they want to be. Give them the ability to determine their second-screen commitment level.

Moving through a stream of tweets is just too time-consuming and arduous of a task for the average viewer. But, a stream of only three to five of the most poignant and relevant tweets, based on a user's individual preferences, would satisfy many amongst us. Television viewers are far from a one size fits all group. In today's world of second screen engagements we must embrace mobile's ability to adapt to different user requirements.

The capability to throttle up and down social commentary, polls, and other forms of second-screen content puts the power in the hands of the user.

DOOH Aggregator Adcentricity Acquired by Mobile Startup Bee Media

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:27:00 +0000

Very interesting news hot off the Techcrunch presses that Adcentricity has been acquired by mobile company Bee Media. I don't know much about Bee Media other than the fact that the company has a shopper-centric app platform. Bee Media is largely focused on delivering contextually relevant location-based offers and retail-focused mobile apps.

While the terms of the deal have not been disclosed, it doesn't appear as though much money could have exchanged hands. This seems to have largely been a stock-based deal. It is interesting to note that Bee Media will be assuming the Adcentricity name.

In merging Bee Media's location-based mobile platform with Adcentricity's DOOH-centric solution suite, the combined company aims to streamline the delivery of in-store digital media across all available communication channels.

Said another way, Bee Media has built expertise in consumer mobile apps, whereas Adcentricity specializes in the location-based delivery side of marketing, so together the two give brands, advertisers, and retailers a more unified platform that makes it easy to create, launch, and measure hyper-local mobile marketing campaigns. via Techcrunch

Rob Gorrie, former CEO of Adcentricity, will assume a strategic advisor role within the new company. I'm a bit surprised that Rob hasn't been locked into a long-term senior role, as his knowledge base and rolodex in the DOOH space is of enormous value. I guess time will tell how long he sticks around the new Adcentricity, and whether or not he must abide by a term-specific non-compete.

What do you think about the new mobile-focused Adcentricity?

Social TV and DOOH Convergence

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:58:00 +0000

Wow! The last few days have seen the emergence of vibrant conversations about the colliding worlds of Social TV and DOOH. Normally, such discussions would be led by Stephen Randall, Steve Gurley, or myself, but, in this case, two traditional digital signage/DOOH players are throwing their hats in the ring. It's a wonderful thing to see.

Recent articles from rVue's CEO Jason Kates and Real Digital Media's CEO Ken Goldberg champion the benefits of integrating Social TV thinking into the world of DOOH. In both pieces, Jason and Ken highlight the changing landscape of broadcast TV, the rise of co-viewing, and the smartphone's place in our evolving digital media ecosystem.

It's refreshing to read Jason and Ken's impassioned pleas for the entire digital signage/DOOH community to reach beyond itself. DOOH is a powerful digital touchpoint that should be included within the interconnected web that defines today's media world. Mobile, TV, social media, DOOH, etc. are all dots that must be linked in order to provide the best user experience.

There's a reason my team and I at Screenreach are heavily targeting the television and DOOH markets to expand the reach of our interactive experience platform. It's because TV and DOOH share many of the same challenges, and the routes to expanding their relevancy, social media reach, and overall impact run parallel.

Users are demanding richer experiences when they connect to different forms of media. DOOH is just as beholden to this as any other form of media. Because of the medium's targeting power, flexibility, and contextual awareness, it requires the integration of technologies that build upon those strengths.

I am proud to be working at a company that is so heavily focused on bringing the worlds of Social TV and DOOH together. I welcome industry contemporaries espousing the benefits of such technology convergence. These active conversations will only push DOOH forward.

Can Square, iPads, and Jack Dorsey Disrupt Taxi TV

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:10:00 +0000

News came out this week that Jack Dorsey, founder of Twitter and mobile payment company Square, is angling to place iPads in taxis around New York. The move is designed to chisel away at the market dominance held by VeriFoneMedia and Creative Mobile Technologies. Dorsey sees the deployment of iPads as a way to further disrupt the payments space, giving taxi riders the ability to pay via Square.

Dorsey believes that the installation of iPads in place of Taxi TV would deliver a more enriching rider experience. Through an iPad, a rider would be able to move between different apps, everything from Angry Birds to innovative news, weather, and social apps. Cabdrivers would benefit greatly as well, arguably more than riders. Through Square, cabdrivers would realize lower transaction fees on credit card payments.

I envision Dorsey and his team at Square handpicking applications to feature on the Taxi iPads. News reader apps like Flipboard, Pulse, and The Daily would be obvious choices. Following that with image-rich apps like Pinterest and Instagram would provide further visual candy for riders. The gaming options are endless.

Square could even charge apps to be featured on the in-Taxi iPads. With over 500,000 iOS apps and counting, the opportunity to get in front of New York taxi riders is something developers would happily pay for.

The pilot project is designed to see iPads installed in 50 taxicabs. It’s a small number, but it’s a start. VeriFone and Creative Mobile Technologies should treat this attack on their business very seriously. Given his history at Twitter and Square, Dorsey is not one to underestimate.

Digital Signage Insights is now The Digital Gist

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:14:00 +0000

I finally made the move to a dedicated domain. It's something that I have been planning for a long time. I love writing about the digital signage and digital out-of-home industries, but my interests have always extended to mobile, social, and the evolution of the Internet. The Digital Gist is meant to embody all parts of the digital media spectrum. This site will live at the convergence point of media and technology.

I will continue to write about digital signage. I think the industry is poised to play a major role in bridging our physical and digital worlds. As I have done on this blog for a number of years, I'll be focusing on digital signage's role in the vast ecosystem of media and technology. Expect to encounter a mix of insights on everything from mobile to social, local media, big data, emerging web applications, and all of the technologies in between.

Users Define Startup Success

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:18:00 +0000

At any stage of a company’s life cycle, it’s an organization’s customers and loyal supporters that fuel its balance sheet. From viewers to fans, social gamers, diehards, and everything in between, these different user groups define success for companies across the globe. Without the support of passionate and strong audiences, movies, TV programs, and online content portals wouldn’t exist week-to-week.

Regardless of the partnerships that a startup strikes in its early days, such deals must generate traction. If such relationships don’t foster a growing user base, the press releases touting their existence won’t be worth the paper their printed on. People often ask me about competitors and other mobile applications who secure partnerships with major broadcasters and television networks. They ask if I’m disappointed, or if such news is a huge blow to my team. My answer is always a resounding, “NO.”

Strategic relationships are critical to getting a startup on the right track, but partnerships without user growth is like cereal without milk. Edible? Yes. Satisfying? No. Something that others will want to share? Definitely not.

Partnerships can lead to operational and creative synergies. They can open up new markets. Strategic relationships have the potential to transform organizations. Even if a competitor strikes a partnership with a sought after media entity, that doesn't mean the game is lost. It may give the company a slight leg up. It's important to remember, however, that media partners will always cross the fence if your startup proves user growth and your competitor does not.

London Deploys Digital Smart Bins

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:00:00 +0000

A new digital screen network just sprang up on the streets of London. In the simplest terms, it's a digital trash can network. The "smart bins" are recycling stations with LCD screens affixed to each side. Renew, the company behind the project, has installed 25 units around the city of London.

Articles on Techcrunch and the Daily Mail cite that the 25 "smart bins" cost a total of $47,000 to deploy. That number seems extremely low to me, especially considering the costs associated with weatherproofing such systems and protecting them against vandalism.

Encouraging recycling is great, but Renew is clearly aiming to turn these units into a DOOH network. Given the extra costs and risks associated with outdoor digital signage installation, this network could be dead on arrival. I certainly wouldn't invest in Renew's next round of funding.

What do you think? Is there a future for Renew and its "smart bins?"

Physical App Store Presents Digital Signage Opportunities

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:59:00 +0000

The app store is making its way from the digital world to the physical. Openspace, a startup focused on making app discovery easier and more efficient, has opened a bricks-and-mortar retail presence in Colorado. At first glance, this may appear to be a ridiculous idea. "Why do I need to visit a physical store when I can purchase apps right from my phone?" some of you may be asking. But, I happen to think that Openspace is on to something.

Apple's app store has over 500,000 apps, whereas the Android marketplace is cresting over 300,000. Those numbers are only getting bigger. It's clear that app discovery is broken. It's becoming ever more difficult to identify the best apps in a sea of copycats and gimmicks.

Openspace's digital platform is aiming to match users with apps according to interest-based collections. Companies like Appsfire and Chomp are attempting to solve the app discovery problem as well. With this in mind, Openspace has made a calculated strategic decision to open a physical retail store. The store is staffed with "App Gurus" who make recommendations and direct customers to the most useful apps for their unique needs.

The cost of the store is likely marginal, and the benefits are already being seen. The company has received a significant amount of press coverage stemming from its retail gambit, from the likes of Techcrunch, Mashable, CNET, and All Things Digital. That alone is worth it.

Where Does Digital Signage Fit In?

With a folder of press clippings tucked away, now it's up to Openspace to realize even more value from its retail presence. That's where interactive digital signage comes in. The Openspace retail store is pitch perfect for an array of interactive displays and kiosks. As the entire idea of the venue is to merge the digital and the physical, next-generation retail technologies should be employed to take customers' app discovery process to the next level.

An installation similar to Obscura Digital's Hard Rock Wall would be perfect. The Rock Wall is all about discovery, acting as a digital gateway to the Hard Rock Cafe's global memorabilia catalog. Carrying the same idea to mobile apps would create both a rich and engaging user experience.

Even if the Rock Wall may be beyond Openspace's scale, it's impossible to deny the vast benefits the company would realize in maxing out its digital signage potential. From the photographs of Openspace's retail store, it's clear that they are using computer stations to facilitate app discovery. What I'm recommending is taking that idea to the next level. Openspace could become a leading paradigm for virtual meets physical retail.

Mobile Strategy Discussions at #CETW

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:46:00 +0000

At last week's Consumer Engagement Technology World conference, I led round table discussions on the topic of "Demystifying the Mobile App Ecosystem." My topic was part of a round robin Mobile Strategies Workshop in which I met with five different groups over the course of two hours.

I really enjoyed the musical chair nature of the workshop, answering a range of questions as diverse as the attendees' business backgrounds. While each of my conversations were centered around mobile apps, they all ended up being very different. The attendees at each table ultimately shaped unique discussions around the opportunities and risks inherent in launching a mobile application.

I started each conversation with a few charts that highlight accelerating smartphone adoption in the US. These statistics provided the foundation for why each attendee, whether he worked for a retailer, an out-of-home company, a display manufacturer, or a media agency, needed to think about the evolution of mobile engagement through the lens of a smartphone user.

As you can see from the charts above, smartphones are becoming the norm in our increasingly mobile society. With that in mind, companies need to think about how once standard mobile initiatives (where's the short code?) must evolve to take advantage of the unique features of smart devices. In many cases, those conversations have revolved around thinking about APPS.

Mobile applications present opportunities to create an ongoing conversation with consumers that reach far beyond a mobile website. The caveat, however, is that the hurdle for initial adoption is significantly higher than driving a person to a mobile site. Once the app adoption hurdle is overcome, the path beyond that obstacle can be significantly smoother than the road offered by a dedicated mobile website. The mobile website hurdle, getting a consumer to navigate to your URL, is a challenge that never goes away.

The mobile app versus mobile web debate isn't an either or proposition. The two aren't mutually exclusive. In reality, with the optimal strategy in place, each channel can be used to strengthen the other.

To be continued...

Taxi TV Targets Audience Purchases

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:49:00 +0000

There's a solid article on Ad Age today that looks at new features being offered by VeriFone Media Group's Taxi TV. The ad enhancements include in-cab commerce, coupon printing and user-specific targeting.

Given VeriFone's market share in the payment processing space, which is a fundamental component of the company's Taxi TV platform, it's easy to see the genesis of these new features. The integration of direct product purchases within Taxi TV's ads is a solid step for any DOOH network. With the frequent promotions for broadway shows that run on Taxi TV, tapping into the purchase funnel at the point of engagement could, in theory, produce strong results.

I happen to be very bullish on VeriFone Media's long-term prospects. With the parent company's giant reach across a diverse range of venues, I envision a day in which small consumer-facing screens are directly integrated into all of the company's point-of-purchase terminals. We are beginning to see this already, with screens primarily being used to display purchase information to each customer. The long-term play is the distribution of place-based ads to consumers, in which VeriFone's payment processing systems provide real-time data for just-in-time targeting. This, in essence, represents the evolution of some of the features Taxi TV is now rolling out.

Is Mobile a Threat or Opportunity for Taxi TV?

Even though Taxi TV offers one of the most "captive" audiences in all of DOOH, the media network's biggest threat is the screen we have in our pockets. What could be viewed as a threat, I see as an enormous opportunity. It's impossible to deny people's impulse to take their phones out of their pockets the moment they step into a taxicab. Rather than viewing mobile as a competing medium, I believe Taxi TV needs to embrace it as a channel for audience interaction.

My recommendation is to extend the network's new features to mobile, thus allowing passengers to purchase items from their phones based upon on-screen content. With an optimized second-screen mobile experience, Taxi TV could leverage people's smart devices to enhance and extend its core content. This could include everything from multi-player social gaming, location-based alerts, single-click mobile purchasing, to exclusive content layers.

Digital Signage Investor Conference is Right Around the Corner

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:56:00 +0000

Strategy Institute's Digital Signage Investor Conference is less than two weeks away. The event is a must attend for digital signage and digital out-of-home practitioners in the New York area and beyond.

Having attended the Digital Signage Investor Conference on multiple occasions, I find it to be a great event for networking and gaining powerful insights on the future of DOOH. You will also have the opportunity to meet investors with sizable experience and knowledge of our sector.

The Strategy Institute has brought together an enviable collection of speakers. I am proud to say that Screenreach's CEO, Paul Rawlings, will be in from the UK to speak at the event. Given that Paul and I communicate all of the time via Skype and email, it's always fun for us to be in the same country.

I know that attendees will garner incredibly valuable information from Paul; Rishi Shah, CEO of Context Media; Niko Drakoulis, CEO of Akoo; Virginia Cargill, Venture Partner at Alerion Partners; and the entire crop of conference speakers. When combining the event's educational focus with its commitment to creating a a vibrant networking atmosphere, the motivation to attend is impossible to deny.

Wired's Social Media Clash at Advertising Week

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:16:00 +0000

It's the tail end of Advertising Week in New York. I have attended a handful of sessions in person, and have watched a bunch online. I highly recommend taking some time out of your day to watch the pre-recorded mobile sessions.

This morning I attended Wired's Social Media Summit. It was designed to be an hour-long session about social media innovation through the eyes of sector thought leaders. It turned in to something much different.

The panelists included agency CEOs and senior executives. Wired's NY Bureau Chief served as the session's moderator. He certainly fueled an active discussion, but one that saw the panelists argue with one another. The panel devolved in to a philosophical look at what social media is and isn't. The moderator threw gas on the fire by declaring that advertisers seek to "take advantage of" social network users. It's safe to say that this wasn't a comment warmly received by the panelists.

While the Chief Evangelist from social analytics company MicroStrategy used his spot on the panel to pitch his product, other panelists, including Y&R's Global Chief Executive, tried to focus the conversation on enriching the user experience. In my mind, that should have been the focus of the entire session.

The days of brands inserting themselves into our social streams, using Facebook as a broadcast channel, are giving way to a framework that champions value-added brand engagements. It's no longer about just "liking a brand." It's about weaving a brand into a user's digital and physical lives, such that an enriching experience defines the engagement.

Interactive Technology Engages at NBC's Education Nation

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:34:00 +0000

Having just moved to Manhattan with my wife, we decided to take a stroll around Rockefeller Center yesterday. The journey took us through an interactive technology exhibit highlighting the state of education in America. Part of NBC News' Annual Education Nation Summit, the experience center welcomed visitors into a digitally rich environment of interactive quiz stations, seamless video walls, and beautiful infographics.

Given the wealth of content NBC News had at its disposal for such a project, the execution succeeded in making the information easily digestible. NBC achieved this through a heavy focus on rich graphics and visual menus. Each interactive station, whether it were question and answer driven or video-based, featured an intuitive user interface. I do wish, however, that I could have changed the height of the displays. Standing roughly 6'3" tall, I found myself crouching down a lot to effectively navigate each content pane.

I was really struck by the breadth of information presented within the exhibit, as well as how much I was able to take away from it it. Because of the rich visual nature of each interactive zone, users of all ages had the opportunity to mold a unique experience for themselves.

As my wife and I navigated to the end of the exhibit, we encountered two user-generated content stations. The interactive UGC displays gave visitors the ability to record a video response to specific questions about the future of education. I couldn't help but jump at the chance to, not only, voice my opinion, but to also gauge the user experience of the impromptu video booth. Follow the link below to see my video.

Can you guess what element of our society I believe presents the best opportunity for improving education in America?

http://bit.ly/o5AVhf

The overall video recording experience was good, but not great. The display touted the ability for a user to share his video to Facebook and Twitter, but the Facebook feature failed to work correctly. The other issue of this feature was that it required a user to enter his FB username and password to ultimately share his video. I don't think this is behavior that the average person would ever feel comfortable doing. As Facebook's utility and value increases, people are becoming ever more reticent to log into their accounts from public workstations.

I would have greatly welcomed the ability to use my mobile phone as part of the interactive exhibition. There were countless opportunities for the integration of mobile calls-to-action, including QR codes, app-based experiences, augmented reality, or something as simple as SMS. In a time of high traffic, when all of the interactive displays are in use, I imagine that NBC would love to continue to engage waiting visitors. Is there a better way to achieve this than through the delivery of mobile content, such as quizzes, videos, and location-based experiences?

Overall, I would rate the Education Nation Experience Center as above average in its use of interactive technology and very good in terms of its content. It succeeded in making strong use of available information, which walking a fine line between providing users ample knowledge without making it overwhelming. The lack of a mobile component is still really surprising. Given the role mobile plays in our lives, including the mobile channel would have spoken to the technology's place in augmenting the education experience.

Facebook Retires the Check-In to Unlock Location Relevance

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:39:00 +0000

Facebook's recent decision to change its approach to location awareness is an interesting step for the company. When the company's check-in feature, known as Facebook Places, launched, I thought that it would become the center of the location-based world. It's safe to say that I was wrong. Only 6% of Facebook users ever tried its Places feature.

Now, FB is scrapping the mobile check-in all together. In and of itself, the check-in is an arbitrary action. It's something that you may be drawn to do initially because of the newness of the act, but it ultimately becomes a monotonous activity to do at every location you visit. While I noticed some FB friends utilizing the feature, often people who I never thought would "check-in" to a location, such usage has waned considerably.

Location is most important when it's grounded in something larger: a night out with friends, camping with your family, attending a live sporting event, or going out on a first date. In each of these examples, the "Where" of the activity is something that you would like to know.

Even though Facebook is retiring the manual check in, the company is still bullish on location. It has just made the decision to approach location awareness from a different angle. Rather than viewing the check in as an activity unto itself. FB is making location an outgrowth of broader user actions. Essentially, FB is saying that it's what you do at a geographic place that gives weight to the actual location. FB is making location a persistent characteristic (one that a user must activate) of any, and all, status updates, wall posts, and photos.

The question now is whether or not users will embrace FB's new location functionality or ignore it like the company's mobile check-in feature. I remain optimistic about location awareness in the context of Facebook user activity. Once you know the "What," the "Where" becomes that much more important.

Purchase eBooks Through a Kiosk

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:12:00 +0000

I came across an interesting article on PSFK recently that highlighted a kiosk that facilitates the review and purchase of eBooks. Kiosks are an ideal platform through which to market digital items and virtual goods. When you think about purchasing books through your Kindle, it fails to engender the same feelings as searching through shelves at a bookstore. Moving through the artistic covers of the week's new arrivals and bestsellers is very difficult to convey through a black-and-white eReader.

The ease of purchasing a book through the Kindle store is hard to match. Being able to access Amazon's full library of eBooks from the comfort of one's home, lying in one's bed, or sitting in a chair, is one of the greatest benefits of owning an eReader. While the convenience can't be matched, the experience lacks the vibrance of a traditional bookstore. Now, one could argue that this problem is solved through color eReaders, like the Nook or tablets like the iPad, but it's easy to see how eBook kiosks could supplement the purchase of literary content through one's personal device.

These kiosks would be a complement to the eBook ecosystem rather than a replacement. They could help you pick out and purchase books in the absence of having your eReader with you. Or they could give you a larger viewing canvas through which to make your selection. eBook kiosks could offer unique user interfaces, such as interactive relational maps that connect books according to their underlying themes.

I find that I still venture to Barnes & Noble bookstores. Since purchasing a Kindle, I no longer buy physical books. I use my trips to Barnes & Noble as window shopping for items that I will eventually purchase on my Kindle. I assume that many eReader owners do the same thing. Merging the traditional bookstore experience with the convenience of an eReader can be realized through a next-generation kiosk solution. Think of it as a multi-faceted digital vending machine for eBooks and virtual goods.

You could even imagine a fully interactive digital bookcase lining the wall of an airport terminal. Multiple users could interact with the digital books resting on the virtual shelves. Mobile payment capabilities could facilitate a seamless purchase experience.

Intel Capital Invests in Omek Interactive's Gesture Technology

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:30:00 +0000

As I have noted frequently on this blog, Intel is a company to watch in this space. From the company's cutting-edge proof-of-concepts to its extraordinary booth at NRF, Intel is committed to showcasing how diverse technologies, such as touch, gesture, and anonymous video analytics, are going to transform a range of sectors.

Intel made a big splash with its acquisition of Cognovision, a startup specializing in anonymous video analytics and facial recognition software, last year. Intel featured the technology in a variety of interactive retail concepts at NRF, DSE 2011, and Screenmedia Expo. With the company's recent investment in Omek Interactive, a provider of tools that enable companies to incorporate gesture recognition and full body tracking into their applications and devices, we are likely to see more gesture-based executions in Intel's future.

It's important to note that Intel Capital, the company's investment arm, led Omek Interactive's $7 million Series C funding round. While Intel Capital is a distinct business unit, I think we can all agree that its investments are done strategically for the benefit of the whole company. It's in this regard that I believe we will see the fruits of this investment realized in a greater number of Intel's next-generation retail and digital signage executions.

Intel's Digital Signage Endcap, which the company featured prominently in its "Future of Retail" trade show exhibit, made strong use of gesture recognition. What's interesting is that the company never identified who provided the gesture recognition technology included within the proof-of-concept. Given the company's close relationship with Microsoft, I assumed that Intel made use of a Kinect-based system.

With its recent investment in Omek Interactive, Intel is taking a shot across Microsoft's bow. Microsoft's gesture-based Kinect system has been an amazing success. As realized in the release of a Kinect for Windows SDK, Microsoft sees a bright commercial future for gesture recognition. Intel clearly does as well.

A very small investment, relative to Intel's size, in Omek Interactive isn't likely to have a material impact on the company's long-standing relationship with Microsoft. It does, however, highlight Intel's desire to have an ownership stake in technologies the company believes are set to transform our relationship with computers.

Do you think Intel Capital's investment in Omek will reduce the company's use of Microsoft's Kinect technology in future interactive digital signage executions? How do you think Microsoft views Intel's investment in Omek Interactive?

Can Crowdsourcing be Applied to DOOH?

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 17:37:00 +0000

Crowdsourcing is one of the hottest buzz words in tech right now. By definition, crowdsourcing is the outsourcing of tasks to large groups. Actions traditionaly handled by a single person are now being completed by the masses. Crowdsourcing leverages the power of the whole to more efficiently, and at a lesser cost, complete tasks. Kickstarter, GigWalk, GetAround, 99Designs, and Waze are just a few of the startups leveraging crowdsourcing as a major function of their business models.

Today's hottest crowdsourcing startups make strong use of social media, real-time communication, and mobile technology to fulfill their objectives. Our increasingly always-on and connected world is the ideal breeding ground for companies seeking to source everything from content creation and location-based tips to startup capital from the community-at-large.

Could such actions be applied to the out of home sector? Could we crowdsource the creation of DOOH content, or could we apply crowdsourcing principles to track proof of play?

I emphatically say, "Yes!" Tapping into the talents and skills of the collective is something that DOOH networks should definitely pursue. Given the significant investment capital and time required to get a DOOH network up and running, crowdsourcing certain tasks would enhance operational efficiency.

Check-In Services are Not the Only Location-Based Answer

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:39:00 +0000

Check-in services need to define a complete value chain. In order to exist beyond tech circles, these services need to champion key lifestyle utility. Whether that be in the form of real-time discounts or functionality that takes the place of analog actions, the check-in is really an outgrowth of a much larger experience. It's not the end all and be all. It's a byproduct of different behaviors that apply greater context to physical environments.

The significance of a check-in pales in comparison to actions that bubble up naturally. I'm more interested in experiences born from serendipitous discovery. Forced behavior becomes tired and monotonous, independent of the virtual trophies a user gets to put on his non-existent mantle.

Location-based experiences need to enhance a user's relationship with a specific environment. They need to speak to the unique characteristics of a user while respecting the shared understanding and goals that permeate distinct places.

Screenmedia Expo, Thinking Digital, TEDx, and Everything in Between

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 11:49:00 +0000

It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks. I made my first trip to the UK, spent time in London for Screenmedia Expo, spoke at 3 conferences (including a TEDx event), and spent awesome face-to-face time with the Screenreach team.

My Experience at Screenmedia Expo

I really enjoyed my time at Screenmedia Expo. Since I was manning a booth, I, unfortunately, didn't get much time to walk the show floor. Next time I'm going to block a piece of my schedule out for this very activity. I did have some great conversations with attendees and other exhibitors on the show floor. Overall, I would say that the conference was a success.

I had a full session for my talk around mobile and digital signage convergence (I'll post the slides on Slideshare). I posed some questions to the session attendees around location-based services, mobile applications, and social media. Only a handful had ever used a check-in app like Foursquare or Gowalla. When I asked the audience how many people accessed Facebook on their phone, everyone raised their hands. I used that information as a foundational part of my discussion. The mobile-social connectivity realized through accessing Facebook on one's smartphone embodies the fullness of the cross-platform opportunities that exist for digital signage.

The Diverse Group of Speakers at Thinking Digital

Paul Rawlings, CEO of Screenreach, and I shared the stage at Thinking Digital in Newcastle, UK. Thinking Digital was a really interesting conference, with speakers that spanned a myriad of sectors and disciplines. The speakers included a Carnegie Mellon University Roboticist, the CEO and Founder of Wolfram Research, the Director of Microsoft's Applied Science Group, the CEO of Wordnik, and a Cisco VP - an eclectic group, to say the least.

Through the event's diverse range of speakers, Thinking Digital illustrated the various ways technology is impacting our lives. By looking at the subject from a collection of different perspectives, it provided a holistic view of technology's transformative effects. It did so by looking at the anthropological, societal, academic, and scientific forces leading us toward an increasingly digital future.

Using Mobile Interactivity to Tell a Dynamic Story at TEDx

A little over a week ago I had the privilege of speaking at TEDx Chapel Hill. The theme of the event was Global Health & Technology. While the subject matter was just a tad different (gross understatement alert) from my typical day-to-day musings, the event's overarching philosophies toward technology's global reach run parallel to my own.

I demoed a Screach trivia experience, which included questions from the other speakers and IntraHealth (the event's organizer). I polled the audience on topical global health issues in a manner that elicited dynamic audience feedback which was visualized on the venue's large projection display.

The purpose of the demonstration was to illustrate mobile technology's ability to put power in the hands of the audience. It showcased how "Serious Games" could be embedded across healthcare to engage, inform, and learn from an audience. I have embedded the video of my presentation above. Rather than describing every aspect of the experience in text, watching the video will give you a deeper understanding of mobile technology's reach and potential.

Joining Screenreach - Bringing the Worlds of Mobile, Social, and Digital Signage Together

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:22:00 +0000

I am extremely excited about joining the amazing team at Screenreach as the company's Chief Strategy Officer. Screenreach made the announcement on Tuesday in conjunction with Screenmedia Expo. I spent a whirlwind couple of days in London for Screenmedia Expo, speaking at the event about interactive experiences beyond the check-in, manning the Screenreach booth on the show floor, and ultimately meeting a wealth of great people.

As evidenced through this blog, my passion for digital signage has always resided at the medium's convergence point with mobile, social, and online. Screenreach sits at that exact spot. Becoming an official member of the Screenreach team is the realization of a long-term dream to work within a startup aiming to transform digital signage through mobile and social interactivity.

I have been a friend of Paul Rawlings, the CEO of Screenreach, for a few years. We connected digitally over shared interests - pretty much geeking out over where we saw the mobile, social, and DOOH worlds headed: a perfect storm of industries colliding to create a world of opportunities for enterprising companies. Paul has always been someone with whom I have had amazing conversations about emerging technology, the future of media, and this crazy thing we call digital signage.

When Paul presented me with the opportunity of joining the Screenreach team it was an offer that I just couldn't pass up. I have loved my time at Obscura Digital. It is a fantastic company with an unbelievable team. Obscura's awe-inspiring work, from 3D mapped projections of iconic buildings around the world to Hard Rock's 18' multi-touch wall, is a testament to the company's innovative and holistic approach to immersive customer experiences. I am leaving on great terms, and will be filling an advisory role with the company's Retail group.

I share Paul's overall vision of the future of mobile, social, and digital OOH interactivity. I have been a fan of Screenreach since the company's start at the Difference Engine, a startup incubator in Newcastle, UK. Over the last year, the company has continued to push the boundaries of digital signage and mobile interactivity. Between projects with New Castle United and its announced deal with RMG Networks, Screenreach is well positioned to emerge as a major player in a variety of sectors.

The company is being built on the vision that we should be able to interact freely with the world around us; that any content, on any screen, can be interactive. The platform has been built for open development, giving creatives and designers the ability to build experiences on Screenreach's programming language, ScreachML. Screach experiences are free to use and deploy. It's that open mindset that has furthered my passion for the company and its products.

As Screenreach's CSO, I will be supporting the company's overall vision and global strategy. I will be heading up the company's US office in New York. Screenreach is an opportunity that directly matches with what I want to accomplish in the digital signage industry and beyond. It really is a dream job.

#NFC Developments Showcase DOOH Opportunities

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Fri, 13 May 2011 21:26:00 +0000

There has been a lot of really exciting NFC news this week. From NFC-powered Foursquare check-ins at Google I/O to "Tap to Follow" interactions in Japan, the emerging wireless technology is being showcased across the globe.

There have been rumblings for a couple months now that Foursquare has been experimenting with NFC check-ins at its headquarters. It's a natural progression for the location-based leader to enable "Tap to Check-In" functionality as more phones come equipped with NFC chips.

“NFC is, obviously, a long way from being available everywhere and in all phones,” reads a Foursquare update on the news, “but we’re excited by some of the potential.”

The news this week, though, that Google and Foursquare were partnering on NFC check-ins caught me a little off guard. Google, of course, has its own location-based service, Latitude, that would appear to be a more logical choice.

Not only is the Foursquare/Google tie-up compelling in its own right (especially given the supposed ill feelings 4Sq founder Dennis Crowley has toward Google for killing his service Dodgeball post-acquisition), but where the initiative was launched - at the developer conference Google I/O - makes it all the more interesting.

Foursquare posters with embedded NFC chips were placed throughout the conference center. All a user had to do was place his phone in close proximity to a poster, and "Voila!" he was checked-in. The caveat being that said user would have needed an NFC-equipped phone to make the entire interaction possible. Good thing Google I/O is destination numero uno for Nexus S owners. Let's just say that the US market for NFC phones is in its nascent stage.

Google executives have touted the benefits of NFC for a while now, including major love for the technology from former CEO Eric Schmidt. Google is committed to supporting NFC adoption, showcased by the technology's inclusion within the Nexus S (one of the few phones in the US market with NFC). Google's Nick Pelly, the technical lead for NFC in Android, told delegates at Google I/O today that "dozens of NFC phones are in the pipeline" for later this year.

NFC is going to play a huge role in the world of location-based services. I know this is something I have been saying a lot lately. But, since it's 100% the case, I am happy to repeat myself. From mobile payments and check-ins to single-tap social logins, NFC lowers the barrier to entry on many LBS interactions. Now, just imagine when posters like the ones Foursquare distributed at Google I/O are digital. "Tap to Check In" will be one of the most basic things you will be able to do.

Does Digital Signage Have a Technology Problem?

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:13:00 +0000

The title of this post may lead you to believe that I am going to lambaste the current state of digital signage technology. It is instead meant to highlight digital signage's image problem. For many, digital signage is thought of as just another technology rather than a powerful marketing and communications platform.

Just as a company's website once resided under the direction of the IT department so too has digital signage fallen into the world of switches, routers, and servers. Digital signage is oft looked at as another pick or shovel in a company's technology tool shed. It's a problem that has kept an organization's digital signage operations siloed from other departments, such as internal communications, graphic design, marketing, and advertising.

Digital signage must speak to the needs of visual merchandisers, brand marketer, and media planners. To do so it needs to become less about the technology and more about what digital signage delivers. It's my contention that we are trying to communicate to two very different audiences with a single broad message. Non-technology folks care little about the ins and outs of what makes a DS system tick. They just want to know that it works.

There will always be a place for IT in the world of digital signage; in the same way that IT has always remained a key component of a company's online efforts. In order to get the necessary monetary, creative, and strategic attention from business leaders, digital signage needs to shed its techno-centric layers.

When digital signage is only framed by its technological guts, company's miss the opportunities that can be realized in letting interdisciplinary teams participate in the platform's refinement. Could you imagine what the web would look like today if it hadn't expanded beyond a company's IT department?

The look, feel, and direction of a company's website is lead by digital marketing teams for a reason. The creativity and vision such individuals bring to the platform make its technological underpinnings disappear. The technology fades away and the experience becomes the driver.

I have had conversations with marketing executives who lamented the fact that their companies' digital signage networks were designed solely by the IT department. They would tell me of the time, effort, and money it would cost them to make these systems suitable for their marketing needs. It's like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

Most people only care about technology when it doesn't work. That's not how digital signage should be thought of. The more the digital signage conversation is framed around brand engagement, customer experience, and marketing message, the greater attention the platform will attract.

CNBC Highlights Supermarket Biz, Misses Broader Tech Story

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:12:00 +0000

I recently watched a special on CNBC about the $500 billion supermarket business. The program highlighted the challenges that retailers and brands face in reaching today's price-conscious shopper. The show focused significant attention on the changes supermarket store environments are undergoing to better meet their customers' needs. I felt, however, that CNBC missed a major opportunity to highlight the new technologies impacting customers at shelf-edge.

CNBC discussed the data-mining capabilities of loyalty cards and traffic counters. The special identified the benefits to retailers that these technologies bring, and the fact that the average consumer has no idea how much information is being stockpiled on him as he shops. Extending upon the technology focus from a customer research perspective, CNBC made special mention of Modiv Media, a technology solution that allows customers to price check and purchase products by scanning items with a handheld device.

What I found interesting about the segment is that it made little mention of the smartphone applications and social media integration opportunities that make up the fabric of next generation retail. CNBC didn't talk about the utilization of check-in applications such as Foursquare, Gowalla, Loopt, or SCVNGR. There wasn't any mention of AisleBuyer, Location Labs, or Simple Geo, just a few of the startups that are aiming to transform how we interact in the physical world.

In a perfect world CNBC would produce a second segment focused on technology's transformation of the supermarket industry. Are you surprised to hear that CNBC didn't make any mention of the growth of digital signage in grocery environments? I sure was. Even though super market digital signage is in its nascent stages, in terms of creativity, strategic framework, and effectiveness, its long-term potential to impact shoppers at the point of decision cannot be denied.

Social Photo Sharing, DOOH, and You

noreply@blogger.com (David Weinfeld) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 20:51:00 +0000

This pic was taken with a Motorola Droid X on February 24, 2011. It was processed with the Enhanced Definition filter.

I love telling people about new mobile applications. As of late, two of my favorite applications to recommend to people are Instagram and PicPlz. The social photo sharing apps with built-in filter effects are as addictive as they are cool. Not only that, but I find great utility in the apps due to their all-encompassing focus on social sharing. Automatic location-tagging, on-the-spot photo editing, and seamless connectivity to social networks make these apps incredibly valuable to individuals and brands alike.

PicPlz and Instagram are just two of a growing breed of social photo sharing applications. Path, Color, and Foodspotting are just a few of the other mobile photo apps fighting for users' attention. On top of that, the majority of these companies are making their APIs widely available so people can develop on their platforms. From interactive screensavers that pull pictures from Instagram to maps with geo-tagged photos that exist as beautiful mosaics, these applications foster the expansion of vibrant communities and experiences.

While bringing in feeds from Instagram, PicPlz, and Foodspotting is the simplest example of how DOOH networks could leverage social photo sharing apps, these applications present countless opportunities to place-based media networks. Everything from location-based gaming to augmented reality photo booths could be explored at the convergence of DOOH networks and social photo sharing applications.