Digital Signage Certification

Well,

I should note here that I am not certified YET, I must go write the exam which I will have the details on in the coming week.

Although I have some signage experience, I must admit that there is so much information to absorb. I would like nothing more than to take in other sessions.  To name a few, Digital Signage and NFC, Digital Signs Hardware Details, and most importantly, the digital signage tour of Las Vegas (that I will have to do on my own tonight).  However, since I am quite new to this world, I (and my work place Trapeze Media) rightfuly decided that this certification was the best bet.

My brain is full an tired now, but I am sure I have it in me to get this out there.   Firstly, one of the most important things in planning a Digital Signage solution (here after I'll replace Digital Signage with DS, because I am lazy.  There I said it!)  is the 7 key elements.   They are

• Hardware
• Software
• Connectivity
• Content 
• Operations 
• Design
• Business

Many would say the most complex would be the hardware and man, could the masses not be more INCORRECT.  Having had experience now in the marketing industry, the old saying is content, content, content!!!  If you cant deliver the content, you will loose your audience.

You have about 3-6 seconds to capture the attention of your audience.  In most cases they are in transit and will pass by an DS installation in said time.  There is a large degree of psychodynamics here.  But to be honest, content is not what puts the drive behind me personally, its the technology and making it all tick.  But planners, be warned...  content, content, content!

More interestingly, retail only makes up 1/3rd of the DS market space and is the most easy one to penetrate.  Draw customers in to your message.  There are many other applications of DS that most dont often think of.  Such as industrial, and education.  Education is one area where I can see it being of great and wholesome use!  It enables a teacher with a class of more than 15 to help maintain that intimate interaction that they loose after you pass that 15 student barrier.  Other areas of Signage that people often miss are security and healthcare.

Another area of focus is that of consumer technology vs. commercial technology.  Many people opt to use the much less expensive consumer gear over the commercial gear.  This can be a very bad mistake!   Lets face it, commercial gear is more costly due to its solid construction, longer MTBF (Mean Time Before Failure) and environmental robustness!  Moreover, warranty and support.  With consumer, you have to take apart, and return the gear yourself whereas most manufacturers of commercial gear will have on site support, and fast too!  So this is an area where many make their first blunder.

It seems that DS customers see DS as a commodity.  They could not be further than the truth, if its done right, however the integration can be.  When a DS customer works with the right integrator, with clear communication and a firm understanding of the customers objectives, the whole package from the customers idea to the working solution can be positioned as such.

Must of the last half talked about recognizing your value as an integrator, ROI, and ROO (Return on Objective) and was very much more business geared.  Great stuff, and I have a lot of learning to do around it,  but far beyond the scope of this blog.

Stay tuned as tomorrow, the expor floor opens and I get to see and maybe get my grubby hands on some of  this gear.  Until next time...

//Ian\\

Digital Signage 2012

Hi Folks,

I will be heading to Vegas tomorrow to attend Digital Signage 2012  (http://www.dse2012.com).  While I am there I will be taking in as many workshops as I can, and getting my Digital Signage certification.   I hope to post a few blog during the show.   The Expo floor is Wednesday/Thursday where I get to see the really cool toys  (cough cough... transparent displays!!!)

So tomorrow I am heading YYZ to LVS to take in the Digital Signage playground!  There is a Digital Signage tour of Vegas Tuesday which sadly I will not be able to take part in as I will be doing the certification track.  Oh well, I will have to take my own tour.  Part of that will be the Cosmopolitan!   I just wish I could get a behind the scenes tour of that!!!   Anyone out there have any contacts that could get me in?  I would love nothing more than to learn how all that is wired, powered, and content is fed!

So stay tuned!  If you think there is anything I really NEED to see other than the Cosmopolitan, in this Mecca of signage, please do let me know and I will be sure to swing by (time permitting)

Cheers!
//Ian\\

Acer Iconia A100

New Toy Folks,

I will spare you the Android 3 reviews, if you really want to know more about Honeycomb, there are many good reviews out there and you just need to spend about 1.5 nano seconds with Google.   I will however, talk a litte about the hardware.

My previous tablet was the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7".  That was a well rounded device.  Although the A100 is not as hefty as that, it does have  a good feel for a 7"'er  :P   I chose the A100 over its bigger brother the a500, a 10".  Personally, if I was to use a 10" I would rather just use a laptop.  The A100 is small enough to actually get in your pants pocket if need be.

Its construction is quite solid.  However, the screen seems like very low grade plastic.  I fear that its going to get scratched easily.  More over it picks up finger prints and oils from your hands VERY fast on both front and back.   Other than that, its very solid.  It has a nice feature, the Rotation Lock.  With a rocker switch on the top right, you can lock the rotation in.  (If you are like me, a screen rotating when you dont want it to is very annoying)

It has a dedicated home button (capasitive).  The lower edge features, a pin hole reset button, Left/Right speakers, dedicated Micro HDMI port, Dock Port and a Micro USB Port.  Its power is a dedicated coax plug.  A little annoying, however, the Tab never charged from a standard usb supply anyway, you had to use the supplied adapter.  So in another way, at least you can charge AND use the USB at the same time.

I should note that a feature that I would have liked to see, was what its brother the A500 has, is a dedicated standard USB Input port.  However if I am not mistaken, this can be done with an adapter for the Micro USB.

I find the touch on the screen not quite up to par.  Touching notifications on the edge are often miss interpreted.  Also touches are not as sensitive as one would like.  I actually found myself wondering if it was resistive.  However once I installed a better keyboard into the system, things got much easier.

The camera is very quick to focus and grab your shot.  This was a very refreshing thing to see.  Its rotation is also very fast compared to other devices I have used.  Notifications are shown by flashing the LED on the power button and the home button as well.

Something that really is important in my opinion is the SD Card slot.  There is also a MicroSD card slot to compliment its onboard 8 or 16 gig memory.  I see things like the iPad, Galaxy Tab 10", Playbook without a simple MicroSD card slot.  WHY??  I dot get it.  So this has a slot that can accomodate up to 32GB.

So all in all, for a sub $300CDN device I can't complain.  The value of a dual core 1Ghz tablet usually sits at 400-500+  This one costs $250CDN.  If you can deal with the finger prints, add a screen protector, install better keyboard software, you are good with this device.

Happy Tabbig!
//Ian\\

Digital Signage Expo 2012, Las Vegas

Hi Folks,

Just a quick update to let you know that I will be going to LasVegas on Monday and will be attending Digital Signage Expo 2012 (www.dse2012.com)  I will be writing soon so stay tuned!

//Ian\\

Macintosh Default Printer Settings

Ok, WOW!  Sometimes an easy answer is just not an easy place to be found!  This one has shocked me!!!  Here is the scoop.  In the office where I work, we have a colour printer.  Its on a maintenance contract and we pay 9 cents for every colour page used.  and yes, I spell colour with a U!   I am Canadian after all eh!?

I have a fleet of Macs in the office and I could NOT figure out how to change the default printer settings.  Yes, sure I could create a new preset, but then I have to assume that my users would remember to change the setting every time they printed.  Lets be real here, thats not going to happen!  I don't blame the users, hell I have forgotten and I am a systems guy and the one who has to answer for the higher than normal printer costs.  I just wanted to be clear on that.

So, back to the point.  You want to know how to adjust the printer defaults so the user will not have to make changes every time they print.  I did see a posting where you could start hand editing some .plist files, but lets not get into that.  Why not just change the defaults.

So here's how.  Apple probably doesn't want you to think you are using a UNIX style system.  But you are  :)   That being said, the system uses CUPS (Common Unix Printing System)  Most people are not aware that CUPS runs a local web service where you can make changes to the....  wait for  it..... DEFAULTS!!!!

1. Go here:    http://127.0.0.1:631/printers  (Yes this is a local address {Its on your computer})
2. Select the printer you want to change the defaults on.
3. On the drop box that says, Administration, select Set Default Options!
4. Make your setting changes (remember, there are other option classes on the top (Options Installed, General Banners etc...)  Go through them too.
5. Click Set Default Options
6. You will now be prompted for a user name/password.  Use your Macintosh Login credentials and you are done!

NOTE:  If you don't use a Mac Password at login, that's horrible!!!  I will not tell you about the security issues with that here, only that you will need to set a login password.  You can do this while the password dialog is up, click APPLE > System Preferences > Accounts.   Set a password (leaving your old password box blank.  you can now go back to the web CUPS interface and use the new password.

I don't understand for the likes of me why Apple has not gotten around to making this a Mac UI select-able option.  But there you have it!     Enjoy!    I hope my coworkers like me today, now I can take back all the user codes and passwords I was ab out to make them use to print!!!

Why Don't Touch Screens Work for Me?

Over the years and being one of the pioneer touch screen adopters, I have heard the phrase several times, "Why don't touch screens work for me?"  So I began to watch people as they interacted with touch screens.  The problem becomes more of an issue depending on the angle of the touch screen.

When I say touch screens, I should clarify, I am not talking about phone usage.  But more rather, larger tablets and full on screens of 10" or more.   The problem is quite simple.  Don't drag your knuckles  :)  Yes, its usually that simple.

I noticed that people would point with their index digit, however the remaining 3 fingers were not tucked away, they would drag the screen ever so slightly.  Thats it, I swear.  If you have issues using a touch screen, pay attention to your final 3 digits.  :)   Even though you may not "feel" then touch the screen, they likely are firing a touch point.

Remember the two most prevalent touch screen technologies today are capasitive and optical (Lets just forget resistive   :P  ).  Without going into details of how these work, you don't really need to "touch" the screen.  You can try this.  Slowly move your finger to a touch point on a screen and notice that the touch point will fire jjjjjjjjuuuuuusssssstttttt before your finger touches.  :)

Your remaining 3 digits are firing touch points on the screen without your knowing and causing the issues  of a touch screen not working for you.  :)

Linux Mint 12 is Unofficially Official.

That's right boys and girls... Its hitting the Mirrors now.  Although nothing is said on the Linux Mint site, they are on the mirrors.  See for yourself  :)

http://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/linuxmint/stable/12/