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CES 2011: Aimed at consumers, digital signage & kiosks sneak in

While the show's focus is on consumer electronics, digital signage and kiosk tech will also be on display.

January 5, 2011

The International Consumer Electronics Show 2011 kicks off today in Las Vegas, but while the show's focus is on consumer electronics, there will be plenty of digital signage and kiosk technologies on hand as well – another sign of the industries' growing pervasiveness.

Cloud-based digital signage solutions company MediaTile, along with digital sales and marketing firm MarketStar, recently announced they would be demonstrating MediaTile's HumanKiosk. The HumanKiosk combines 4G, kiosk and digital-signage technologies to provide immediate, face-to-face interactions with consumers to influence purchase decisions and drive sales.

"With MediaTile's HumanKiosk, an interactive digital-signage solution with built-in, live two-way video, and MarketStar's remote 'video attendants,' consumers can engage interactive digital promotions while also getting their questions answered 'from the cloud'," MediaTile CEO Simon Wilson said in a recent announcement.

The HumanKiosk with MediaCast Video Presence is an all-in-one, freestanding interactive digital signage solution, and the cloud-controlled MediaCast system can run pre-scheduled, interactive digital merchandising promotions while also providing a live, two-way video session between a consumer in the store with a question, and a representative of that product or service with an answer. The system incorporates the 4G and 4G LTE high-bandwidth wireless networking services which are now becoming available from leading carriers, and with 4G and 4G LTE networking services, the HumanKiosk requires no on-site network infrastructure, setup or maintenance, just add power and the system is ready to run, according to officials from MediaTile.

The HumanKiosk with MediaCast Video Presence and MarketStar on-call experts will be highlighted in the MarketStar hospitality suite and several other CES show locations.

Digital signage and communications solutions firm ViewSonic Corp. recently announced that it is extending its ViewPad line at CES 2011 with a 4-inch tablet.

"ViewSonic's heritage in display technology serves as a natural extension of our product expertise," Jeff Volpe, vice president and general manager for ViewSonic Americas, said in a recent announcement.

The ViewPad, like the iPad, is a consumer device that could also have commercial applications in both the digital signage and kiosk spaces.

ViewSonic will now offer connected ViewPad solutions ranging from four to 10 inches, and as part of this expansion, the company is introducing the ViewPad 4, an Android-based 4.1-inch WVGA touch capacitive device offering tablet power and performance — and a phone.

Also at CES, EngenderApp.com will introduce the iPad Engender Kiosk that the company said will expand the iPad's utility into business and educational settings by maximizing the iPad's functionality and flexibility.

According to EngenderApp.com, its kiosk is lightweight but rugged, can travel easily and can be set up in less than a minute, thereby extending the showroom to trade show floors, the mall, retail stores or any public places. The pubilc may purchase the Engender Kiosk tomorrow at the show.

MultiTouch Ltd., which develops modular multitouch LCD screen for large-scale displays, also has announced that it will demonstrate at CES 2011. The company will display its recently-launched platform for large-scale multitouch LCD displays, MultiTaction — which company officials said will enable display developers to create multi-user, multitouch displays for screens ranging from 32 to 100 inches and beyond. MultiTouch announced that it will showcase a 55-inch full-HD demonstration display that is eight inches deep, running the MultiTaction platform, at CES 2011.

"In the near future, multitouch features will be built into all large-scale displays, and developers will be able to create rich multitouch features much in the same way that one creates touch applications for smartphones," MultiTouch CEO Petri Martikainen said in an announcement. "Our vision is to extend the value of multitouch to a broad category of professional display developers, manufacturers, and application providers, with the view to eventually moving downstream to the consumer channel."

Also, Alcatel-Lucent's ng Connect Program recently made several announcements about new concepts the company is debuting at the Alcatel-Lucent booth "that focus on the benefits high bandwidth networks provide that will transform the retail industry, in-store customer service, comparative shopping, and how consumers shop in-store, at home or on-the-go."

Among the concepts the company is featuring at the show are three of particular interest to the digital signage and kiosk industries:

• Virtual Personal Stylist – Alcatel-Lucent, HFMUS, Samsung, TelePresence Tech, [TC]2, Vidyo and VisionMax are showcasing an enriched retail experience made possible by 3D telepresence, video conferencing, cloud computing and ultra-high bandwidth connectivity: an augmented reality shopping experience providing consumers with professional, personalized styling advice based on the shopper's online profile. Via new solution concept, models at CES will show their personalized avatar trying on clothes in a store environment and at home, showing how consumers can see how clothes will fit on them instead of on a model. The company said the same avatar can be pulled up at the makeup counter to get the latest tips and recommendations on cosmetics.
• Gametime Media Table – Alcatel-Lucent, Brass Monkey and MediaTile created a network-connected table which provides advertisements and media in a variety of retail and hospitality environments, allowing customers to try before they buy to encourage purchases. At CES 2011, users will be able to play a racing video game using a smart phone as a controller.
• Media Hotspot – Alcatel-Lucent, Atlantic Records and MediaTile developed a new digital-age jukebox concept for hospitality or small retail environments that allows consumers the opportunity to purchase their favorite music, movies and more via their mobile phone taking advantage of 4G/LTE connectivity. The Media Hotspot also provides Wi-Fi access to encourage patrons to purchase new media content and surf the web. They can listen to or view their chosen content later on any device.

At CES 2011, Mitsubishi recently announced, some of Mitsubishi Electric's commercial divisions will highlight their respective technologies, including the super high contrast 155-inch OLED display geared for the digital-signage market and a Mitsubishi Mini Photo Album Printer which offers the ability to design and instantly print personalized pocket-sized photo books.

Also at CES, Symwave and Xona Media will be showcasing their new MK3 DVD+Digital kiosk. The companies said the kiosk uses USB 3.0 technology to deliver full movie downloads to customers in less than 10 seconds.

And finally, AVT Inc. (formerly Automated Vending Technologies) is unveiling its new product line at CES this year, including its advanced, proprietary vending technology with touch-screen interfaces.

Some of the new units that AVT will showcase include its breakthrough Self-Serve Retailing Wall, which can dispense items as diverse as iPods, headphones, swimsuits, video games and pre-paid cell phones.

AVT also will be joined in displaying at CES by business partner Flix On Stix – a company that has developed a new technology that allows consumers to download movies, games, books and television shows from a self-service kiosk to a portable flash drive.