KioskCom Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show
at New York’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center

Last April Digital Signage Universe covered the KioskCom Self Service Expo and Digital Signage Show combined event at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. At that time we noticed several providers had introduced hybrid systems that combined digital signage displays with kiosk-based functionality. The shows were just held again on the on October 15th and 16th at New York’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The New York event provided more evidence that the convergence of digital signage and kiosk systems is accelerating.

Advanced Software Platforms

What is driving this convergence is the advancement of software platforms that extend functionality through multiple inputs such as proximity sensors, RFID, and touchscreens to drive interaction and engage customers. At the New York event, 5 companies, Intava, DT Research, Ecast, NCR, and Nanonation demonstrated new products that offer a high degree of interactivity that moves away from passive one-way information toward a highly interactive experience that is ideal for engaging consumers at the point of purchase.

Intava, a Bellevue, Washington–based software developer with expertise in retail-based interactive systems demonstrated a system that enables consumers to interact with its system using smartphones, such as Apple’s iPhone, to receive information such as store maps, special offers, inventory counts, product details, promotional videos, and more. The system uses Intava’s Sphira™, a flexible platform that facilitates rapid development and management of in-store interactive and digital signage systems. Another example enables consumers to enter their mobile phone number into a digital signage touchscreen. A text message link is then transmitted back to the smartphone, enabling a personalized mobile experience that they can access from anywhere in the store. Customers can also take the smartphone application, which may include customized offers, outside the store and make purchases at their convenience. Intava’s booth also featured a large 360-degree display that was running live graphics using Intava’s Sphira™ platform. It was a real eye catcher.

DT Research™ introduced a new version of its WebDT Digital Signage system that uses proximity sensors to trigger events on screen. The WebDT Event Trigger Digital Signage System detects when a customer picks up a product or walks up to a product display. The motion can then trigger an event to begin playing on a nearby digital display such as product information or advertising. The system speeds up the sales process by providing customers with immediate, accurate, and up-to-date information about products they may be considering. The new Event Trigger System is available in 3 configurations— an 8-port, a 16-port, and a 32-port model. A new version of the WebDT Content Manager is scheduled to ship by the end of the year and will include enhanced reporting features, including the ability to take screen shots of advertising and record the time as part of a proof-of-play report.



Ecast is a leader in place-based interactive media and runs one of the largest and most successful out-of-home networks in the United States covering bars and restaurants. Ecast is now extending its expertise to a range of new markets that include retail, hotels, sports arenas, entertainment venues, and healthcare.

Ecast has now launched its next generation Ecast IQ™, a 40-inch vertically oriented touchscreen with a 1080p high-definition (HD) display. Ecast has developed a very robust media platform that brings the functionality of the Internet directly on screen. The Ecast platform utilizes Web-based technologies that include DoubleClick® DART®, to deliver targeted, on-demand content, including interactive advertising, video, real-time surveys, games, and more to the out-of-home environment. The IQ System offers advertisers the same measurement and reporting capabilities found on the Web.

The Ecast platform also supports a wide array of third-party applications, allowing easy integration of popular services such as mobile, e-commerce, and social media, including photo sharing. Through a partnership with LocaModa consumers can use their cell phones to interact with Ecast IQ, enhancing the experience by extending it beyond the device itself. We were very impressed by Ecast’s IQ system.

NCR had a large presence at KioskCom and presented a wide array of self-service solutions that include a new distribution agreement with Experticity. Experticity gives retailers a new vehicle for delivering face-to-face service to consumers when and where they need it. It is the only retail-specific solution that engages shoppers at the point of service with high-quality, live-video customer support. Remote expert service agents, supplied by the retailer, consumer goods manufacturer, or a third party, can be accessed by the consumer according to language and skill level. According to NCR, 44 % of consumers are frustrated by waiting in line because of the lack of employees able to assist them. Experticity looks like a great fit for NCR.

In addition to the Experticity agreement, NCR previewed a new comprehensive digital signage platform. From what we saw, it looks like this new platform could have a big impact on the retail sector when it is officially released in the first quarter of 2009. Retailers and industry watchers would be smart to keep an eye on NCR.

Nanonation, a leader in digital signage and kiosk systems that drive sales and enhance customer experiences, showcased its newest Smart Shelves technology. Smart Shelves uses intelligent triggers to deliver information to screens when a consumer interacts with a product, creating a seamless experience between the marketing message and product promotion. Nanonation also highlighted their newest mobile technology that enables Apple’s iPhone to provide consumers with a guided selling experience and enables sales assistants to dynamically control and manage in-store media. Nanonation also had an impressive new booth at the show that provided a high level of intimacy within the booth in order to showcase its core technology.


Additional Provider Highlights:

5point is an Ohio-based firm specializing in the design, engineering, manufacturing, and deployment of self-service kiosk and digital signage products. 5point presented its new Concierge series of Interactive Digital Signage (IDS) platforms. The Concierge series is a uniquely designed modular system that enables the units to be deployed as either freestanding or wall-mounted. The modular approach gives retailers, museums, and other end users greater flexibility in how they configure the signage system over time. The Concierge series is available in 3 screen sizes: 26”, 32”, and 42” TFT LCD and includes a touchscreen option, all in a sleek aluminum enclosure.

Fujitsu announced the Fujitsu Digital Media solution that integrates all the components of digital signage system to provide customers with a complete end-to-end solution. The solution provides customized hardware, Fujitsu’s TELentice software, installation consulting services, optional hosting (SaaS), and managed services. The Fujitsu Digital Media solution is completely modular and offers a more cost-effective path for deployment and maintenance. If a Fujitsu system goes down a technician only needs to replace the faulty module rather than replacing the entire display. This is an attractive option when one considers the cost of a system over its lifetime.

AG Light and Sound is a digital display and technology provider specializing in new and innovative LED displays for indoor and outdoor applications. AG’s 37.5 mm Mesh Tile system welcomed visitors at the show’s entrance. AG’s exhibit also featured 2 large video walls using Lighthouse Technologies 4 mm indoor black-faced LED system. The combined displays provided an immediate wow factor for visitors to the show.

Workshops and Educational Sessions

More than two-dozen Tech Talks and conference sessions were held during the two-day event and cover a broad range of topics that included Digital Signage From A to Z: Enhancing Your Brand through Out-Of-Home Digital Signage Networks; Identifying and Avoiding the Five Most Common Oversights of Self-Service; Improving the Customer Experience through Self-Service Ordering, Check-Out and Check-In; and New Metrics for OOH Digital Signage.

Interest in customer-facing technologies continues to increase. KioskCom Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show are experiencing a 30% increase in traffic. All of the exhibitors that DSU spoke with were very enthusiastic at the level of traffic and interest they received at the New York event.

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