Last month I attended the Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas. The conference seems to be growing steadily each year and it’s a great place to evaluate hardware, software and services pertaining to this growing industry. On top of that, the seminars are a great place to see what others are doing, how they’re doing it, and what they are using.
This year there were several areas of obvious progress. First, and most obvious, the size and brightness of screens. At times I felt the need for sunscreen even though I was sheltered from the desert sun. It really is amazing to see all of the huge, bright digital displays vying for your attention.
The SaaS, or Software as a Service, model is also growing. The idea is that customers don’t have to purchase software up front, they license software based on a monthly fee. This concept certainly helps with initial capital investment which allows for faster and better implementation. I walked the floor with a client who is starting up several small signage networks and she definitely appreciates the SaaS model.
Digital Signage software has also progressed quickly this past year. I saw innovative features added to creation and design products. I also saw some very impressive multi screen support which really allows for a dynamic signage solution.
Surprisingly, the biggest area of need is still content. Every where you go you hear of the need for content. Many new digital signage network managers quickly realize the work involved in keeping the signage fresh. Although there was a content area on the exhibit floor, there were really very few companies offering content solutions. That being realized, it was encouraging to us at CD Meyer/point2explore because we have been developing a line of digital signage content products. In the coming months, we will be rolling out our “plug and play” content library. We’re really excited to expand our offerings and already have a lot of interest in our products. If you are interested in our digital signage products, keep an eye on our new web site at www.fuelsignage.com.
If you have any questions or comments on our review of the 2009 Digital Signage Expo, please take a moment to post a comment here by using the form below. We’d love to hear from you!!
Chris Meyer
President
CD Meyer, Inc./point2explore
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