Article

Duke University upgrades with digital signage

Digital signage is rapidly expanding into the realm of higher learning. When universities open new buildings and locations, they will often deploy digital signage and kiosks to help create a more engaging space, such as Duke University.

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November 1, 2019 by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator

Digital signage is rapidly expanding into the realm of higher learning, as universities use the technology to keep students informed of events and services while also celebrating their history and heritage. When universities open new buildings and locations, they will often deploy digital signage and kiosks to help create a more engaging space, such as Duke University.

A new building

The college, located in Durham, North Carolina, recently unveiled its Karsh Alumni and Visitor's Center to help engage with both visitors and alumni. In order to create a more engaging environment, the university turned towards digital signage.

"We wanted to create a space in our new alumni center that was interactive and transformational—where alumni and visitors could learn something new about the campus they love. This is the first stop for visitors when they visit campus, and we can't think of a better way to set the tone for their day," Scott Greenwood, COO, Duke Alumni Association, said in an interview. "We want them to feel inspired, proud and excited about engaging with Duke even before they begin their campus tour."

The solution

To accomplish this, the university partnered with T1V, a visual collaboration company, to deploy a 6.5-foot high by 24.5-foot wide interactive touchscreen wall which supplies interactive content on Duke's history, vision for the future as well as student, alumni and donor stories. The company also deployed multiple smaller touchscreen displays with the same information as the main videowall, according to a press release.

"After several meetings with Duke, they were looking for something that would be uniquely Duke, and offers its visitors a totally one-of-a-kind experience," Mike Feldman, CEO, T1V, said in an interview. "The T1V software team looked at our Suite platform - which is essentially a series of app modules that range from Interactive Map, Interactive Timeline, Media Viewer, and more...which can all be customized to match the branded look and feel of Duke University while presenting digital content in a refreshed way that many people haven't seen before."

T1V also worked with Duke's mobile team to integrate the Alumni app into the overall experience. The interactive wall can identity who is interacting with the display based on their app settings and change the content accordingly.

"Once we've ID'd the user, we can also piece together information - like what year they graduated, what major or extracurricular activities the alum was involved in, and more… This allows the wall to ‘push’ content to that user’s experience which is most relevant to them," Feldman said.

The challenge

Of course, a deployment of this size came with a wide variety of challenges. The first one, according to Feldman, was just sorting through the sheer amount of history and content from Duke University and picking the best pieces.

The other major issue was the wall's location. T1V had to deploy the wall in a hallway, opposite of an all-glass wall looking out onto an area with a large amount of foot traffic. T1V had to work carefully on the software side to make sure the content could be visible from both far away and up-close with that location.

"The other challenging piece was the interactivity itself - as a 24-foot wall, we could support multiple people using the wall at the same time. So we had to work through what this experience would be like for a single user with the entire wall, up to multiple users who had the option to either interact independently of one another or with one another for a shared experience," Feldman said. "What's more, as the user progresses throughout the Karsh building, there are additional touchscreens running different versions of the content, that have been optimized for a smaller touch format."

Lastly, T1V had to integrate Duke's app directly into its software platform for a more personalized experience.

The big picture

Sterly L. Wilder, associate VP for Duke Alumni Affairs, believes this wall helps "create and expand community."

"It allows alumni and visitors to explore a rich timeline of Duke history, learn about notable alumni, watch videos of students telling their stories —and more," Wilder said in an interview. "Users instantly enter the Duke story and carry it forward. Each visitor can use the technology to create their own unique Duke journey and to explore what they want to explore."

Feldman also points out that other universities need to look at how they can transform their experiences for both students and staff.

"We think as other universities explore ways to enhance on-campus experiences, it's crucial to put the user first," Feldman said. "How can we elevate their experience, and make it more memorable?"

About Bradley Cooper

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Bradley Cooper is the editor of ATM Marketplace and Food Truck Operator. He was previously the editor of Digital Signage Today. His background is in information technology, advertising, and writing.

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