Trying to read a window poster or digital signage is often compromised by the glare and reflections on the window surface.  Even the brightest image with the best content, might not be seen or noticed by your prospective customer.  Pedestrians will not stop and look if they have to shield their eyes from the window glare and reflections.

TRaC now offers an external window Anti-Glare film that cuts down on the distracting reflected outside images and improves the visibility of the window signage.  This film is applied like normal window films with a water activated adhesive for long term use without peeling or yellowing.

At a fraction of the cost of a digital signage system, the film allows potential customers to actually see and read your messages.  Remember the old cliché…“if your message can’t be seen, it isn’t there….”

Please contact TRaC Associates for further information.

Toll free at (877) 382-8948

Email to sales@tracassociates.com

Web: www.tracassociates.com

No matter what visible display technology you choose to use, such as projection screens from TRaC Associates or other electronic displays, there is far more to making your digital signage program successive than just the visual display itself.  We came across an article by Kevin Thomson that addresses some of the key points that need to be considered in your content design.

We gleaned the article topic areas for a quick read and have shown them below.  Please note the links at the bottom for proceeding to the complete article.  For further information on projection window films or other specialty projection screen materials, please contact TRaC Associates.

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5 Key Ingredients of Digital Signage Content

02/02/2009

Despite the many different recipes for creating content, the essential ingredients for successful creative are invariably the same.

By Kevin Thomson

It’s more difficult than one would think to engage customers with digital out-of-home media and specifically, digital signage content. Understanding the objectives, being educated on the abilities of the technology and engaging the end-consumer through mobile interaction are all valid considerations. However, from my experience, the essential elements — or key ingredients — of digital signage content are:

1. Relevance — Creating content that’s not only relevant to your customer’s needs at your operation but also to their lives outside of your establishment is crucial………………

2. Placement — We’ve all witnessed Walmart’s transition from screens on the ceiling to screens at eye-level. Experience in retail suggests that customers are often over-stimulated by all the products and messages thrown at them when they enter a store……….

3. Refresh rate — Content seen over and over is eventually ignored, and unfortunately, the customers then ignore the device forever………………

4. Audio and visual stimulation — Getting the initial attention of the customer is challenging………………………

5. Intrigue — This is my favorite ingredient. Developing content that has the propensity to engage the customer is, in my opinion, the most important aspect of digital signage. I haven’t seen many implementations that do a great job at this, but I believe it’s improving overall………………..

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Kevin Thomson currently works as manager of customer loyalty for a major retail chain. He has been researching consumer behavior and relationship marketing for more than eight years and has designed and deployed solutions that have brought marketing success and enabled further research. Kevin is currently focused on designing digital signage networks that can measurably impact consumer behavior.

For the complete article, please go to www.digitalsignageexpo.net and look for the Tuesday, February 10, 2009 edition

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For further information on TRaC Associates please review our web site or call toll free (877) 382-8948

Everyone knows “content” is king, no matter what display technology you choose to bring the content to the public eyes.  TRaC and A.R.T have worked together to couple each of our company core capabilities to provide some of the best digital signage solutions into the market.

TRaC Associates has succeeded in bringing to the market some of the best valued, most innovative and unique projection screen materials that move projection out of the class room or board room into the retail, commercial and entertainment markets.

TRaC Associates is a supreme leader in understanding the projection screen materials and how to match the right screen to the application.  We offer a broad assortment of the best projection screen materials available and the consultation of what would work in the “where and when” of the installation site and within the budget constraints.  TRaC can become a partner in your design and your client’s desires, in order to ensure a vivid projected image.

A.R.T. can provide the expertise for content creation and distribution of the content to the best viewable display technology, whether it is projection, LCD’s or alternative display technologies.

Below is a clip of Artistic Resources Technologies web site.

“Whether you need full-package signage solutions or individual components for an existing signage project, call us today. We have expert knowledge using REAR PROJECTION FILM SOLUTIONS (including window films, daylight viewable, 2-Way and high gain screens) along with assessing proper projector needs.

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For further information on unique projection screen materials, contact us at this web site or call TRaC Associates toll free at (877) 382-8948.

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Please contact A.R.T. toll-free at 877-ARTDART for detailed information on content creation and distribution or at their web site shown below.

www.tracassociaties.com

www.artdart.com

In a collaborative effort, Brookview Technologies has tested all of TRaC Associates wide array of rear projection screen materials and found them to be totally compatible with their ViP touch technology films.  This opens up

almost unlimited selections of a rear projection screen that can become an interactive

digital signage interface.

Proven screen material options include;

• Rigid acrylic panels
• Window films applied to glass or acrylic
• High contrast, bright color or transparent screens
• High gain and wide viewing angle foils
• Lightweight, durable, easy to clean and low installation costs
• High and low ambient lighting conditions
• Broad degrees of projection angles to fit the application site

TRaC Associates and Brookview Technologies strive to provide the consulting assistance to ensure you are choosing the right combination of ViP touch technology films with the screen material and projector to give you and your client the desired visual image.

Please contact;

TRaC Associates for further screen material selection and assistance at this web site or call toll free 877 382-8948

Brookview Technologies for information on the ViP touch technology product range at www.brookviewtechnologies.com

Choosing the right projector screen for the right application is not always easy.  Likewise, once you have chosen the screen, you must make a choice on the right screen mounting hardware for the site installation. This is critically important for the décor and appearance of the installation site.  TRaC Associates not only offers different screen options but also different framing hardware and consultative guidance on what to choose.

Installations against a wall typically require a permanently framed option.  A black frame always does well, with or without light absorbing black frame felt.  But the frame doesn’t have to be black; you could choose a color of your choice…  TRaC offers standard aluminum frames in black or custom colors.

Trade shows and corporate events might also use a traditional black frame on a back wall.  However, if you want a rear projection screen, perhaps flying above the viewer’s eyes, you may want something less “heavy” in appearance. 

Frameless panels work well, suspended only from guide wires, or self standing table tops.  But for some of the best, and brightest rear projection screen foil materials (or two way images) you may want it to be “floating in air”. Tubular brushed aluminum frames hold the screen material flat and taunt, for a perfectly flat projection surface. 

Their high tech appearance and light weight purvey a modern, architectural and simplistic appearance, without the visual appearance of a heavy picture frame solution.  They also allow simple disassembly and packing in tubes for shipments to another location.

For a retail window, you may want a screen affixed directly to the window or a clear substrate.  Or perhaps, consider a temporary screen that could be moved to another location at a later date.  TRaC can offer both alternatives.  Permanently fixed to a window, or simply suspended behind it. 

We have had several installations of rear projection screens flying in large retail stores in a similar fashion to POP printed banners.  These were held only in hanging/holding strips at the top and the bottom of the projection screen in-store or at window sites.

Call us for assistance to tackle the aspects of the installation site and techniques.  We can help.

For further information, contact us at this website or call our toll free number at 1-877-382-8948

Digital signage has strongly moved forward in the retail and entertainment industries to adapt touch technology as an interactive interface.  TRaC Associates has expanded its “touch technology” compatible rear projection screen material offerings to enable window mounted, free standing, suspended or framed interactive visual systems.

The RearVu family now includes a rear projection rigid panel and two lightweight foils for these applications.  Screen gain options range from 4-8 with ½ gain viewing angles of 60° to 100°.  The foils can easily be attached to any clear acrylic or glass substrate.

TRaC Associates also offers window films that can be permanently adhered to a clear glass or acrylic substrate.  Available in transparent, white opaque and high contrast gray versions.

For more rear projection screen information, please contact TRaC Associates at this web site or via phone or email.

1-877-382-8948

sales@tracassociates.com

For more information on the Brook View ViP touch screen product line, please contact them at www.brookviewtechnologies.com.

Below we have inserted a brief overview on one type of application that can be found on Brookview Technologies web site (www.brookviewtechnologies.com)  It is an excellent and brief description on how projection screens with interactive touch capabilities can be used to create an engaging experience for all users.

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Please contact Brook Technologies for additional information on their ViP interactive touch foil.

Brook Technologies VIP Interactive Application

(from their web site at www.brookviewtechnologies.com)

Stick It and Touch It -Interactive Foil for Through-Window Touch Applications

If you are looking to take advantage of the expanding market for through window/glass touch screen applications then the ViP Interactive foil has been designed for you.

Our lightweight touch foil can be applied directly to a window or a glass sheet and then a rear projection screen or LCD can be mounted behind the touch foil to create a through-window/glass touch experience.

The ViP Interactive foil can be mounted using either a permanent or a removable fixing method allowing the touch unit to be moved to another location if required.

The touch foil is ideal for upgrading existing through window rear projection or LCD displays to create a through window touch experience.

There are no external components required with the VIP Interactive foil so the installation is completely safe behind the window.

Through window touch with rear projection 

Product Features

• Lightweight foil simple to apply to a window, glass, acrylic and rear projection screens and any other non-metallic material.
• No requirement to have any external wires or devices as all of the touch screen components are
  situated safely behind the glass
• Interactivity works even with gloved hand
• Not affected by external light conditions
• Wide range of screen sizes available up to 80 inch 4:3 or 100 inch 16:9 format
• Works with all existing multimedia applications PowerPoint, Macromedia flash, Web sites etc.
• Simple set-up
• 
  

Interactivity Specification

Direction Method:         Projected Capacitance technology using horizontal

                                     vertical wires.

Screen Sizes:                 30″-80″ 4:3 32″-100″ 16:9 as standard, other

                                     sizes available upon request.

Fixing Options:              Removable/re-useable, Removable (with no

                                     residue) and permanent options.

Position Accuracy:        Approximately 3mm absolute, 1mm relative, No

                                    drift.

Alignment:                     Software drivers provide a calibration facility.

Touch:                          Single touch and touch and drag function. Can be

                                    used with gloved hands.

Sensitivity:                     Can be programmed for different thickness of

                                     glass.Standard configuration functions with

                                     non-metalized single construction glass

                                     16mm thick. Double glazing option up

                                     to 25mm available.

Speed of Response:      Depends upon material thickness. Typically 50 to

                                    100ms

Output:                          RS232 communications to a 9 pin D female. USB

                                     via a USB to RS232 convertor.

Software Compatibility:  Drivers are available for Windows Operating

                                      Systems & Linux

Temperature Range:       Better than -10 to +70 Celsius

Humidity Controller:       0% to 95% Unaffected by condensation

Light Transmission:         Typically better than 93%

Product Construction

 Brookview Technologies, Inc. Minneapolis, Minnesota Phone 239.642.5772  

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 Please contact TRaC Associates for further information

on rear projection screen materials.

The photography studio in Texas had a challenge.  How to show examples of their excellent creative talents and stunning photography to the average citizen walking by their studio store front?  A collage of multiple photos in the window rarely stops a pedestrian.  However, light and changing photographs will hold a person’s interest.

The studio decided on using a high gain rear projection screen material, called PowerVu, from TRaC Associates for their digital signage display in their front window.  Not only did it capture the attention of the pedestrians in front of their business but also those from across the street. 

The images could be seen during the day and night.  By utilizing a timer to slowly rotate through a series of photographs they also achieved eye catching variations in light and color. So not only were they able to show examples of their work but also increased the public awareness of their business in the location.

Please contact TRaC Associates for more information.

TRaC Associates recently brought to market a new 2-Way Projection screen material, designed to provide a projected image on both the front and the back of the screen surface in almost equal brightnesses.  This new addition to the projection screen offerings from TRaC Associates opens new opportunities for getting “two images for the price of one” with only one projector. Restaurants, Sports Bars, Night Clubs and other entertainment centers could all use a multi-purpose projection system for the enjoyment of their viewing patrons.

This new 2-Way, double sided screen has recently been installed in a Sports Bar / Restaurant in California.  The facility utilized a glass partition to separate the sports bar section with the live sports games from the quieter restaurant seating area.

The glass partition consisted of four vertical panels of glass, approximately 4′ W x 8′ H from the ceiling down to within four feet from the floor.  The design criteria designated a projected image over the entire glass area with one projector, but to have the image viewable from both sides of the glass partition.

The 2-Way projection material worked beautifully.  The screen material of the 2-Way was scientifically designed to provide a even balance in achieving good, viewable images on both sides of the projection screen material on any clear acrylic or glass partition.

The 2-Way screen material was easily trimmed on site to custom fit the glass sizes.  It was invisibly mounted to the glass with an optically clear commercial grade 3M thin (~1.8” breath) line of tape right along the edges of the film at the window mullions.

The smooth, durable screen material also met the normal cleaning requirements for any glass surface within the dining and entertainment environments.

Contact TRaC Associates for further information.

These films can be permanently mounted with an integrated adhesive to a clear substrate. Or as an inexpensive temporary alternative, held against a window with banner clip strips or low tack adhesive tapes.  Controlled lighting recommended.

We also have newly developed 2-Way film that equalizes the balance between front and rear images with one projected image.

Call TRaC Associates at (503) 657-6599 or toll free 1-877-382-8948 for assistance on your project or additional product information.  Samples available.