Well, it depends on your company’s situation and risk tolerance I suppose, as well as the app requirements.  Yes, we can run the app full screen and provide rich functionality with our mobile app development team.  Yes, we can enclose it in a secure kiosk stand, desktop mount or wall mount.  So on it’s face it looks like a good kiosk solution.   The screen & PC are all included in one slim and low low cost device that even has a camera and cellular connectivity as an option.  But is it ready?

We sell a lot of enclosures for tablets and we build a lot of apps.  In the current economy everyone is looking for value and trying to do more with shrinking budgets from the corporate bean counters.  I understand that.  But not having a watchdog environment to ensure your app stays running is a serious flaw in IOS that means if your app crashes, someone has to relaunch the application before some young punk starts surfing the web on your exposed Ipad desktop.  You may even have to open up the enclosure to get to the home button or power button when the system needs a reboot.  These are things you only find out after running it for months in a live environment.

Another serious drawback is the lack of remote access for in the field support.  In a traditional kiosk deployment we can monitor the health of a kiosk remotely, be alerted to problems, restart a pc that is turned off, push OS updates, run scripts remotely on hundreds of units at the same time. And we can remote into the desktop, blank the screen and remedy any environmental issues on the PC.  All done from our office in Ohio, even if your kiosk is in Africa, California or the far east.  Ipad?  Not so much.  There is no remote access to the Ipad. You can use the Ipad to remote into PC’s & Macs but not the other way around.  So if there is a problem with the Ipad kiosk in Kalamazoo you could spend hours on the phone with whomever is there to talk them through the remote troubleshooting process (this could be hours depending on the staff’s technical ability) but the only real solution is to have a replacement Ipad waiting to be overnighted and replace the unit at the remote location.  Your staff will have to open the enclosure and swap the systems or you can pay one of our techs to come do the work.  Either way, this is not an elegant solution and the cost of downtime can, in some instances, be expensive in terms of sales or transactions.

Cracking the Point of Sale Printing with the Ipad

Also, until recently the only way to print from the Ipad was to use an Apple AirPrint enabled printer.  And if you check the list of supported hardware, all of them are consumer grade printers.  Most people printing to a POS style receipt printer at the kiosk were using a work around where the printer is networked and print jobs are served up by a Windows or Linux machine on the network.

However, we’ve recently found a POS thermal receipt printer that we can integrate with our IOS mobile applications to allow direct printing to the printer.  No intermediary hardware required.   Using our code libraries and specific hardware models we can use the Ipad as a retail kiosk that prints out receipts, order slips, product information, recipes and more.   We still have the above drawbacks mentioned, but we have at least conquered this hurdle.

Podium Kiosk Stand $475

Ipad Frame $105

Combined Solution - Ipad Kiosk

For example, we recently bundled two separate items from our hardware catalog to make a kiosk stand for a client.  This would include the Podium Kiosk stand and the Ipad Frame which is normally wall mounted.  Combining these two and using the Podium printer arm option allowed the client to have a low cost printer enabled stand.

The photo showing them combined also shows a keyboard which is not part of the final solution, although a bluetooth keyboard could conceivably be used.  But batteries would need to be changed periodically making for a maintenance head-ache.  We just use the on-screen keyboard as needed.

Ipad Kiosks For Self Service and Retail

So were do we fall on the side of using kiosks for retail?  We like it as long as your business doesn’t rely on it for mission critical transactions or are prepared to tackle the above limitations.  If your app is in an unmanned location and expected to run 24/7/365 we would not recommend an Ipad as a kiosk.  The reliability and dependability is not there.  This is after all a consumer device meant for surfing, playing games, listening to music or taking notes during meetings and checking emails.  The rock solid dependability of a PC or Linux based kiosk is just not available yet.  But I’m confident that over time Apple will mature the devices and perhaps have a retail ready version of IOS that includes remote access and watchdog features.  But when?  Apple isn’t talking about it so we can only wonder.

Empty Shelves Show Coming Product

Occasionally I see a product promotion that strikes me as genius.  And this was one of those times.  In the local Cincinnati supermarket beer aisle there was a glaring hole of white shelving where beer cases should be.  And in place of the beer were signs telling shoppers that a new product was coming soon.  Just weeks away was the oldest brewery in America… Yuenling.

This beer has been popular with Ohioans and many others across the country but it has never been available for sale before.  We always enjoyed it when we were in Pittsburg, Philadelphia and many other east coast cities but it could not be sold in the midwest.  So on many of my four hour drives to Pittsburg I would bring home a case to use as gifts.  I can remember an employee of mine years ago who had family in Philadelphia brought cases of it back to me as a gift along with a t-shirt from the factory.   That’s how special this beer was.  And let’s face it… it’s good beer… but this is just beer.  A bottle of refreshment you consume in about 20 minutes.  And then it’s gone (unless you have a case).  Yet consumers loved the brand.  Cherished the heritage as the oldest American brewery and spread the word of this brand to other beer lovers.

The folks at Yeunling (or their agency) are pretty smart.  For years they used the marketing tactic of scarcity to drive demand.  This exclusive product that had to be “black market” smuggled into neighboring states.  They let their advocates and fans spread the word for them without the need for a national marketing budget.

And now they were using this low cost promotion to announce their wider distribution of their long sought after product.  A blank grocery shelf with a sign reading “Yeunling Lager – Available October 31st”.   In two weeks I can get my hands on this widely lauded brand without having to drive eight hours round trip.  I predict that after they load up these empty shelves with Yeunling they will soon have another empty spot in this aisle.  The stock boy had better be ready with another pallet of product in the back room.

And all they’ve done is used a $5 sign to drive awareness and demand.  It goes to show that in a time of a down economy there are creative ways to promote your product.  Yes, they have it easy because they have an existing brand with demand.   So perhaps they are just smart not to spend thousands of dollars on promotion and keep that marketing budget for other necessites like making more product!   But even a new or less known brand can be creative and use low cost guerilla marketing methods to drive awareness.  Consulting with an agency such as ourselves can open up the doors to many ways to promote online, digitally or using social media to let advocates tell your story for you.

So I raise a toast to you and your brand.  May the coming year bring you more sales and profit.  May your company be able to hire new employees and help turn this country’s economy around and make us the economy of envy that we’ve lost over the past decades.  Governments can not turn around a down economy, legislators can’t do it.  Businesses and consumers are the only force that can make that change.  So put on your marketing thinking caps and create something that people want, need or desire.

It makes me wonder how long it will be until there are no more LCD displays and LED is the standard.  It’s probably not far away as the new LED screens are up to 50% more energy efficient which is so important with rising energy costs.  And being so thin and slender certainly makes for a cleaner looking installation because it doesn’t protrude so far from the wall.   And they are mercury free and easier to recycle.  All very important topics when deciding what the total cost of ownership of these screens are over time.

In past years we have sold a lot of Samsung screens for libraries, trucking companies, ski resorts and general corporate communication.  We’ve even sold Proctor & Gamble a 9 screen video wall last year that was used in their lobby for an Earth Day event.  I think we’ll have a lot of success with the new LED screens as well.

A new change in the LED line-up is a built in simple media player.  It will play basic Jpegs, video and powerpoint (not sure why anyone would use Powerpoint for screen media… but that is another story).  in a simple rotation.  This new USB plugin method is using what they call MagicInfo Lite software which comes free with the screens.  Other commercial screens with a built-in PC have come with MagicInfo Pro as a free product to manage a small number of networked screens. And there is also the MagicInfo-I premium which is a more robust enterprise application available (not free).   So Samsung has brought added value to their commercial LED lineup to enable an easy to use simple media player right out of the box.  Of course you can still add PC player devices and run more processor intensive applications like Flash and use more sophisticated digital signage management software.  But a small office or low budget project can benefit from these new products from Samsung.

If you’re looking to do digital menu boards, corporate communications, retail signage or you just want to be able to welcome your guests in your lobby, call us.  We can recommend the best solution for both your short term and long term needs.  We offer full integration including installation services, software configuration, training, remote system monitoring and content creation.

Related Reading: Also read the white paper on “Why Buy Professional LCD’s” here.

Tim Burke CEO

Tim Burke is the president of Electronic Art LLC and also on the advisory board of the Digital Screenmedia Association which is the leading industry association for digital signage, kiosks and mobile interactive.  He also is chairman of their marketing and PR committee.  Electronic Art is a full service integrator and a Samsung partner.

Samsung Partner

For Immediate Release                                                      Aug. 29, 2011

Electronic Art Creates Interactive Website to Showcase Cincinnati Library’s 1848 Panorama Daguerreotype Exhibit

CINCINNATI —Electronic Art (www.ElectronicArt.com), a Cincinnati interactive agency specializing in touch-screen kiosks, digital signage and integrated websites, announces their new interactive website, http://1848.cincinnatilibrary.org/, to accompany the Cincinnati Library’s restored Cincinnati Panorama of 1848 daguerreotype interactive display.

The original Daguerreotypes and Interactive Touch Kiosk

Electronic Art created and installed two 52-inch touch-screen displays to showcase the Cincinnati Library’s restored Cincinnati Panorama of 1848 daguerreotype. The exhibit opened to the public this past May, and has since been featured in several publications, including the New York Times, Cincinnati Magazine, and the Cincinnati Enquirer. The new interactive website will allow online visitors to experience this priceless piece of Cincinnati history up close.

Similar to the exhibit’s flat-panel touch screens, the library’s website feature, designed by Electronic Art, allows the public to view the daguerreotype in high definition and zoom in to see its incredible detail and clarity. Online users can click any of the several “points of interest” to learn more about particular landmarks and gain insight into mid-nineteenth century Cincinnati. Categorical tabs allow viewers to focus on the points of interest that are relevant to certain historical topics, such as everyday life, immigrants, or science and inventions.

Visitors can also create and share their own points of interest by clicking on the “create and share” button. They can then add their own comments and even share them via their social media networks. For example, a fan of Cincinnati architecture could comment on a favorite historical site in the daguerreotype and share it with friends on facebook.

Web Interactive exhibit

“It’s about empowering guests to share their favorite pieces of this interesting subject. When people share the website with their friends and social networks it extends the exhibit’s reach to thousands more viewers than the library could alone,” said Tim Burke, President of Electronic Art. “The website is meant to serve as the second phase of this interactive project. This remarkable daguerreotype now has a comprehensive digital exhibit and online component to revitalize it and bring it into the 21^st century.”

Visit http://1848.cincinnatilibrary.org/ to experience the interactive online exhibit. The Cincinnati Riverfront Panorama of 1848 is now on permanent display in the Joseph S. Stern, Jr. Cincinnati Room at the Library. For more information, visit www.cincinnatilibrary.org.

For more information about Electronic Art LLC, contact Tim Burke at (513) 321-1771, or visit www.ElectronicArt.com.

About Electronic Art

Electronic Art (www.ElectronicArt.com) is a Cincinnati-based interactive agency specializing in computer kiosks and digital signage, as well as many related online interactive services. Originally founded in 1998, Electronic Art began primarily as a Web studio, offering high-end custom programming, ecommerce, and design. Today, Electronic Art provides custom solutions for many industries via kiosks, digital signage, and website development.

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Electronic Art provides Interactive display for Cincinnati Public Library’s Riverfront Panorama of 1848

CINCINNATI — Electronic Art (www.ElectronicArt.com), a Cincinnati interactive agency specializing in touch-screen kiosks, digital signage, and integrated websites, announces their contribution to a new exhibit at the Cincinnati Library. Electronic Art has integrated two large-scale digital touch-screen displays into the Cincinnati Library’s much-anticipated exhibit showcasing the restored Cincinnati Riverfront Panorama of 1848 daguerreotype.

The daguerreotype consists of eight slides covering two miles of Cincinnati’s riverfront in 1848. Charles Fontayne and William Porter took the photographs on a rooftop in Newport, Kentucky, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. The daguerreotype, invented in 1839 as the first practical method of photography, captured images with a very high resolution.

Electronic Art installed two 52-inch flat-panel interactive touch-screens that will allow library visitors to view the images in high definition, and zoom in, much like on an iPad, to see the detail and clarity of the photographs. Visitors will also be able to touch certain areas on the screen to learn more about the photo, view life in mid-nineteenth century Cincinnati, and gain more insight into the city’s then developing neighborhoods.

“The Library has had this daguerreotype for a long period of time, and we knew we had to showcase it. The question was, how do we display it in a way that both protects it and also enables people to appreciate the historic value and relevance of this remarkable piece of Cincinnati history?” said Jason Buydos, Cincinnati Library Assistant Director of Support Services & Project Manager for the daguerreotype display. “That’s where Electronic Art came in. Together we came up with a flat touch-screen display that would allow visitors to tap on the screen to zoom in for a closer look and more information. I am very happy with the result.”

Electronic Art also contracted with Harlan Graphic Arts Services, who helped build the enclosure.

“We installed the enclosure around the daguerreotype and kiosk, and created the display graphics. It was definitely and honor and pleasure to work with such a priceless piece of Cincinnati history. Electronic Art and everybody at the library were great to work with. I am proud to be a part of it,” said Dave Johnson, Managing Director, Harlan Graphic Arts Services.

“We enjoyed the challenge of using a multi-touch interface on a grand scale to enable guests to interact with the art,” said Tim Burke, President of Electronic Art. “Our staff faced many challenges, such as working with large file sizes. We had to implement high-end machines with 12GB of memory, and determine a technique to allow the best interaction with the high-resolution images. A database enables staff to add points of interest in an overlay layer within the Adobe Flash-based application, which brings a rich educational component.”

More Information About the Daguerreotype

Conservators at the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film in Rochester, New York , cleaned and stabilized the photos, digitized the images, and remounted them in their original antique frame. Along with being the first and most well-known daguerreotype to depict an American city, this photo is also one of the most famous in the history of the medium. It was displayed in the Crystal Palace at the first World’s Fair in London, and is widely considered to be the “Mona Lisa” of daguerreotypes. It contains the first photographic images of steamboats, a railroad station, and one of the country’s earliest astronomical observatories.

The Cincinnati Riverfront Panorama of 1848 is now on permanent display in the Joseph S. Stern, Jr. Cincinnati Room at the Library. For more information, visit www.cincinnatilibrary.org.

For more information about Electronic Art LLC, contact Tim Burke at (513) 321-1771 or visit www.ElectronicArt.com.

About Electronic Art

Electronic Art (www.ElectronicArt.com) is a Cincinnati-based interactive agency specializing in computer kiosks and digital signage, as well as many related online interactive services. Originally founded in 1998, Electronic Art began primarily as a Web studio, offering high-end custom programming, ecommerce, and design. Today, Electronic Art provides custom solutions for many industries via kiosks, digital signage, and website development.

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“Museum exhibits are starting to move towards more interactive, digital content,” said Tim Burke, President of Electronic Art. “Museum goers have come to expect leading-edge technology as well as some element of interaction to be a part of the overall experience. We’re honored that we could contribute to Invisible: Slavery Today and use technology to bring awareness to this issue and help it resonate with people. This exhibit was created in a very short time frame, yet we were able to deliver quality design and programming for the exhibit opening.”

“Electronic Art was a tremendous partner in putting this exhibit together,” said Paul Bernish, Director of Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Initiatives at the Freedom Center. “We’ve had a longstanding collaboration with them for our website design. Their work on this exhibit is a tribute to their versatility. I would recommend them without hesitation.”

Invisible: Slavery Today is a museum-quality, permanent exhibition on the subjects of modern-day slavery and human trafficking that occupies some 4,000 square feet in the Freedom Center’s east pavilion. Through a variety of techniques and media, including videos, sounds, and touch-screen presentations, Invisible offers a comprehensive examination of slavery in the modern world through the life experiences of five individuals who were caught up in one of the five most common forms of exploitation.

The concluding section of the exhibition is devoted to anti-slavery activities underway around the world, including efforts from the Freedom Center’s partners in the exhibition: Free the Slaves, Goodweave, International Justice Mission, and Polaris Project. Visitors are also asked to make a personal commitment to be 21st Century Abolitionists in the cause of freedom by adding their commitment to touch screen kiosks, which are digitally integrated into large format content.

The exhibition opened on Oct. 9 and will be a permanent addition to the museum.  The Freedom Center is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Access to Invisible is included in the regular price of admission.

For more information about Electronic Art LLC, contact Tim Burke at (513) 321-1771 or tburke@electronicart.com, or visit www.ElectronicArt.com.

About Electronic Art

Electronic Art (www.ElectronicArt.com) is a Cincinnati-based interactive agency specializing in computer kiosks and digital signage, as well as many related online interactive services. Originally founded in 1998, Electronic Art began primarily as a Web studio offering high-end custom programming, ecommerce, and design. Today, Electronic Art provides custom solutions for many industries via kiosks, digital signage, and website development.

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Unique Pub Locations

The 2010 digital Non-Conference is now behind us.  And everyone I spoke to seemed to really enjoy the conference and the quality speakers at the event.  The “Non-Conference” is so named because of it’s non traditional format tailored after a similar non-conference in Ireland in the early 2000′s where each session was held in various pubs.  The Cincinnati event held it’s main sessions and keynotes at the Millennium hotel and then each topical session was in a nearby bar, art gallery or lounge which kept it fun and interesting. As a sponsor of the event we were very pleased with the overall conference.

Ugly Betty's America Ferrera

The keynote speakers included a panel with Ugly Betty’s America Ferrera who is producing the first bi-lingual telenovela with MTV that will allow viewers to interact with the outcome of the show called “Pedro and Maria. Another compelling keynote was Tim Westergren, founder of Pandora online radio. While building the music website, Westergren said he maxed out three credit cards and accumulated a quarter million dollars in debt in 2003. But by listening to its consumers and being persistent, the company now represents 60 percent of online music, showing that the proper mix of passion, persistence and  technology can make all of the difference in the digital world.

As a presenter I enjoyed talking about digital signage to this audience of mostly ad agency staff, designers, media, bloggers, marketers and brand managers who are likely to know little about digital signage.  I hosted a panel on the topic of “Trends and Insights: Digital Signage Opportunities for Marketers” which tried to convey the benefits to this audience as well as some basics of our industry. On the panel was Christopher Hall of DigitalSignageToday.com, Chuck Gose of The MediaTile Company, Bill Collins of DecisionPoint Media and myself.  We were hosting our discussion in a place called “Passage Lounge” which is an upscale lounge bar with a secret passage to the VIP lounge which provided a relaxed environment.  We kicked off the discussion with some basics on digital signage along with photos to ensure the audience was up to speed on what we were discussing. Then our panel fielded very relevant  questions from the audience on important topics such as:

• “Why should marketers invest in digital signage, when social media and smart mobile phones are so hot?”
• “Many brands see the value of Digital Signage at retail, but they have been frustrated by the lack of good opportunities that they have to tell their story at retail.   What do you expect the brands to do in order to break through at retail?”
• “Why should marketers invest in digital signage at all?”

The discussion was lively and the panel did a professional job with no “selling” to the audience. Although I saw several audience members get business cards afterward to be able to continue the discussion. One audience member drove all of the way from Toronto Canada after reading about the conference and our panel online.  He was wanting to start a new digital signage network in Toronto and had many questions for the panelists after our event.

Tim Westergren - Pandora

It was good to see traditional agencies and marketers taking an interest in digital signage. Several people asked me how they could learn more and I directed them to the digital screenmedia association web site and handed them a brochure.  They expressed interest in using digital out of home media to target their audiences but felt that the biggest problem they have is the lack of network ubiquity (just as Tim Westergren had noted was a key to Pandora’s success). Until there are large ubiquitous networks available for them to spend their ad money, digital signage will not be perceived as a primary vehicle for out of home advertising.   We discussed the integration of social media and used the Foursquare / Local Moda example to show how brands are leveraging social media with digital signage in their bricks and mortar locations, which was of particular interest to many in the audience.  This lead to some interesting tweets from the audience which can be seen here: http://digitalcincinnati.org/2010/top-tweets-from-145pm-breakouts/

So, did they get it?  Yes.  The audience got it and they seemed jazzed about many of the technologies that can help them measure digital signage.  This is something most marketers don’t realize is available to them.  I wouldn’t doubt that our discussion helps to grow the digital signage industry in our region as well as perhaps getting some of the global brand managers to become more open to the use of digital signage spend in the upcoming years.  We have already begun working with a lead that we met at the conference, so our firm is happy with the exposure it has given us.

Hands-On Session on Innovation

The digital non-conference was put off by the Cincinnati Ad-Club and the American Marketing Association. This is the third year for the event and has grown quite a bit.  This year there was a real emphasis on growing the reach to other cities in the midwest including Columbus, Indianapolis, Louisville, Lexington and Dayton making this a Midwest digital conference not just a greater Cincinnati event.  Our panel had someone from Louisville, Indianapolis and Cincinnati so it was a diverse group.  I believe that the next couple of years will see dramatic growth of the conference.  And the event is always timed to coincide with the Midpoint Music Festival which adds a bit of cool factor to the experience.

I hope you can plan to attend next year’s event.  If not, consider how you or your company can help to expand the knowledge and education around digital signage in your part of the world.  Get involved, sponsor, speak and provide a consultative approach to helping others realize the potential of digital out of home marketing.  When you give unselfishly, you will always get back more than you anticipated.  It may be as simple as volunteering to staff the DSA booth at an upcoming event or giving a show and tell event for your local chamber of commerce.  Lean on the DSA to provide you with content, networking with other industry professionals and membership materials. Its your association, use it!

I’ve been the chairperson for the DSA Marketing & PR committee for about 1.5 years now and with the merger of the two associations and two committees it was a bit up in the air if I would be the new combined committee chairperson or if the esteemed Bill Lynch of the SSKA committee would lead going forwards.   Well it’s official that I am indeed the new chairperson of the combined committee and we had our first conference call a few weeks ago to engage the now larger committee.  It was a great call as we reviewed old news and new items including some very exciting programs we will be recommending to the board.   I can’t speak of them yet but I’m hopeful they will make an impact in the marketing of the DSA, giving us several PR opportunities and help fulfill the mission of the DSA.   More word on this when it’s public knowledge.

To learn more about the DSA and get involved as a user/integrator/agency of digital signage, mobile or kiosk technologies visit their web site at: http://www.digitalscreenmedia.org/

NURFC's homepage in 2007

We’ve been working with the Freedom Center since 2006 and got a chance to redesign their website in 2007. It was a huge undertaking, a complete rethinking of the site’s purpose, architecture, and design.

Over time the homepage was updated to meet the changing needs of the organization. Recently we were tasked with addressing an upcoming shift in the Freedom Center’s online communications goals and didn’t feel the existing layout could accommodate that without pushing other important information into the background.

The center plans on highlighting the work they do combating modern slavery and want the website’s blog to be the primary avenue for this push. That meant getting articles on the homepage without overwhelming visitors with walls of text. We accomplished this goal by bringing a list of recent blog articles to the homepage and also dedicating a large navigation element to the Slavery Today section of the website.

The Freedom Center's new look

The other elements of the homepage each provide quick access to the site’s more popular sections, we also brought a list of upcoming events in to help balance out the blog headlines.

One of the biggest challenges we faced during our initial design was the lack of great photography. The building and the exhibits are truly stunning but we struggled to get that across. Cincinnati architecture photographer Miles Wolf has taken some amazing interior and exterior shots since our first go around and we weren’t going to miss the chance to incorporate them into the new site (the home page greets visitors with one of 6 randomly chosen images and each of the main sections also sports a large photograph).

Fortunately, due to the modular approach we took to our rebuild of the site in 2007, the process of applying the design to the site went very quickly. With the exception of the home page, which was built from scratch, we were able to apply the new design across the whole site in just a few hours work.

Visit the site and let us know what you think.

AccelAdvisors.com viewed in FireFox

We originally built (but didn’t design) Accel Advisors’ website way back in 2006 and recently tweaked the layout and color scheme a bit and also updated the code to take advantage of some of the new css3 properties like rounded-corners and drop-shadows* (translation: the site downloads a bit faster and is easier to maintain).

Visit AccelAdvisors.com

*These elements don’t display in the current versions of Internet Explorer but do in all modern browsers and will in IE9, which Microsoft is releasing later this year.