News

Sharp showcases digital signage 'Relationships@Work,' Intel Mini OPS at DSE16

Sharp Imaging and Information Co. of America, a division of Sharp Electronics Corp., recently showcased its full line of commercial and professional HD and 4K UHD displays the 2016 Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas.

March 22, 2016

Sharp Imaging and Information Co. of America, a division of Sharp Electronics Corp., recently showcased its full line of commercial and professional HD and 4K UHD displays the 2016 Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas.

At the event, Sharp presented its lineup, including a demonstration of its 85-inch class (diagonal) 8K 120Hz LCD display utilizing IGZO technology. The display features 16-times the pixel resolution of 1080p, new wide color gamut technology and HDR functionality, the company said.

Additionally, Sharp showcased examples of its "Relationships@Work" through strategic and mutually beneficial relationships that can enhance digital signage and deployment. Notably, Sharp has been collaborating with Intel to bring a Mini Open Pluggable Specification (Mini OPS) solution to market. Intel originally introduced OPS to the market, and with Mini OPS expanding the possibilities for displays, this collaboration aligns with Sharp's open platform design philosophy. Sharp is basing its next-generation digital signage platform architecture on Mini OPS for touch displays and non-touch professional displays, as it enables simplified digital signage development and deployment, low power, reliability and a validated, compact, fanless design. The open architecture enables Sharp to deliver a user experience that includes LEED compliance and support for Windows 10 Enterprise, according to the company's announcement. 

Visitors to Sharp's DSE booth also saw the benefits of the company's Strategic Alliance Resource program, an exclusive program for third-party products and services that complement Sharp's Pro AV products. Additionally, the Sharp Certified Reseller Program helps Sharp professional display dealers, integrators and consultants increase their sales opportunities by allowing them to purchase from any Sharp authorized distributor.

Sharp also showcased a number of real-world applications for its products and alliances including the Connected Café, a solution powered by Scala, a global provider of digital technology and one of its STAR alliances. The café will have self-serve kiosks for placing coffee orders and taking selfies. Once the order is ready, the customer's photo will come up on a Sharp display. Also demonstrated with the Connected Café was Scala's real-time insight reporting, allowing for screen content optimization including pricing and promotions.

"In the digital signage business, we know relationships mean everything. As a result, we are showing how our open architecture yields seamless digital signage integration for our Relationships@Work," said Mike Marusic, senior vice president of marketing, operations and services for Sharp Imaging and Information Co. of America, before the show. "We are looking forward to demonstrating our new technology and showcasing our use of open standard to foster current and new relationships at Digital Signage Expo 2016."