News

Screenmedia Expo 2011 on the digital signage horizon

February 14, 2011

Screenmedia Expo is evolving beyond just digital signage and DOOH to become the European forum for all digital place-based media technologies and applications, according to an announcement from event organizers Screen Event.

Convergence is the big theme this year in recognition of the impact that growing media channels such as mobile, interactive, augmented reality, 3-D and social media are having on the traditional digital signage sector.

Returning for its sixth year on May 18-19 at Earls Court, London, the expo is hosting a new Screenmedia Professionals Conference and the third Annual DOOH Media Summit, along with a learning program and a series of workshops, presentations and seminars.

According to the announcement, BroadSign and Intel have been announced as 2011 title sponsors, and confirmed program speakers include executives from 3M, Ayuda, Akeman Solutions, Arsenal Media, Kinetic WorldWide, LocaModa, Open Eye & SCG London, ROI Team and GoldRun.

"With our bullish tactics and broadened profile, I can promise visitors and exhibitors that Screenmedia Expo 2011 will be the biggest, brightest and boldest yet," Screen Events Director Mark Pigou said in the announcement. "The expo is consistently growing year on year, as is the digital place-based media sector, and this makes for exciting times ahead. What is essential is that we as an industry continue to collaborate, network, inspire and create in order to establish digital media as a more attractive, viable opportunity for brands, agencies, marketers and end-users to engage with."

More than 4,000 visitors are expected to attend Screenmedia expo 2011. This year's visitors will be guided through a "digital day", exploring how digital place-based media impacts a person as they journey through a typical day travelling to work, at work, shopping and relaxing. Using physical screens, kiosks and interactive installations to provide real examples, visitors can self-guide or be guided by resident experts in a structured tour. This Digital Day installation will also showcase The Screen Forum's LOVE CONTENT initiative demonstrating how creative content can drive the next stage of the industry's development. The installation will also show how people can engage with screens using hand and body gestures, mobile phones and user-generated content.

Also new for 2011 is the Screenmedia Professionals Conference, a one-day event for business leaders, senior managers and expert practitioners within the digital signage, interactive kiosk, ATM, mobile, augmented reality and multichannel media sectors regardless of the specific vertical. This standalone conference, co-located with Screenmedia Expo, will be held on May 18. The Call for Papers is now open and the agenda is being directed by the Imperative Group, an independent digital place-based media development and communications agency.

Additionally, over the two days of Screenmedia Expo, a free-to-attend education program will be running in four theaters on the show floor. Thought leaders from across the spectrum of digital place-based media will offer visitors insight and opinion on the big debating points, share experiences, offer guidance and present real case studies.

Produced in association with the Imperative Group, the four program tracks are as follows:

• Track 1: 24/7 Digital – Reaching people with digital place-based media when and where it matters
• Track 2: Exploiting Digital – Best practice to help retailers and future network owners build a case for developing a digital place-based media network
• Track 3: Joining the Dots – The diversification and unification of place-based media: making sense of your digital options
• Track 4: Power to the People – Digital place-based media is becoming more democratic: what this means and how to embrace the shift.