Nothing is changing the retail experience like digital signage, but add interactivity, and it’s a whole new ROI playing field. DT Research (N7425) announced the expansion of the WebDT Signage System to include 12in. (DS1200), 42in. (DS4200), and 65in. (DS6500) displays, all with the ability to go interactive.

The DS1200 includes a built-in media player, but it’s the touchscreen option that really zeroes in on what Director of Business Development John Ochoa says is a new trend: combining interactive kiosks-type devices and digital signage players into one unit. more…

Avocent is certainly blowing the wireless technology horn when it comes to possibilities for digital signage. The company introduced Wednesday its Emerge MPX 1500T HD multipoint extender transmitter as its latest offering in this category. Basically, it’s a smaller than ever before wireless transmitter for distributing HD content from one source to multiple destinations.

Avocent executive Matt Nelson told me improvements in such technology in recent months have made wireless a much more attractive option in the signage game, largely because of the speed of deployment of such systems and improvements to Avocent’s web interface and system management software, allowing long-range management. more…

Digital Signage is a crowded and sometimes confusing marketplace of hardware, software, systems and services. There are a lot of in points. Today at the Visix press conference it was clear what Visix potentially brings to the mix.

President Sean Matthews did a brief overview backed by screen shots of the software which immediately started to suggest it’s applications as a content management and delivery system. Here’s the most important thing I got my head around: Visix turns every screen into a sign. That’s because it’s browser based software that enables distribution of a range of content elements (Flash, photos, power point, etc.) to any device–not just the usual sigange LCDs, but to desktop computers, mobile phones, PDAs, etc. anything with a screen capabile of carrying the content and reading an RSS. more…

Echolab‘s switchers become more interesting all the time as elements of broadcast and presentation continue to merge and overlap. With a long history serving broadcast, Echolab has always charted its own course in serving the presentation market. One of the first companies to really understand the importance of IT and how it did–and did not–translate to video, the company has never been afraid to work a little ahead of the curve towards a time when the expertise and technology of the two markets would edge ever closer. more…

I just came from talking with Paul Reeves at the Cabletime booth where he was showing me their Linux-based Mediastar Evolution for showing multimedia content in a variety of distribution situations. The box has been out for a couple of years now but the new administration program is what they’re releasing here at the show. The display looks like a video editing timeline where you can drag and drop to insert content such as web pages, video in various formats, stills and just about anything else including live camera video. You’ve got RJ-45 and RS-232 interfaces, S-video, composite, DVI outs; a very versatile little box and now the new administrator software is adding a whole new angle of power to it.

Kramer Electronics is pleased to announce the introduction of the VS-66HDMI high performance matrix switcher for HDMI signals. The product is a 6×6 HDMI switcher that re-clocks and equalizes the signal and can route any or all of the six inputs to any or all of the six outputs simultaneously. It is ideal for a wide range of Pro AV and residential applications. Read on at The Briefing Room

More InfoComm 08 news from The Briefing Room

The buzz is black, but the news is green at Da-Lite. I refer to the commercials on CNN, etc. promotiong Da-Lite‘s 3D Virtual Black theater and big queues for said theater here on site. The green news is that all 13+ of Da-Lite’s fabrics were certified by Green Guard on Friday, too late to include in the press announcements (though the team made two sets of booth graphics–one with the 5-screen certification that was already in place, one to announce the full-line certification). more…

It seems busy everywhere in Central Hall this year; the Bosch booth was dense with people at midday, especially around the conferencing and PA systems.

News includes the worldwide debut of the entry-level Plena Public Address Easy Line. This plug-and-play system has some reassuring ease-of-use features including Cat 5 loop-through call stations and wall panels. It sits on existing 70 volt PA and fire alarm systems with override to prioritize phones or alarms in an emergency.

Also new is the DCN Wireless Discussion System. While Bosch is well-known for their industry-standard, 32 channel wired and IR voice interpretation and translation systems, this new system with channel selection allows up to 10 languages plus 4 discussion channels all carried over a single channel on the 2.4 Ghz band. more…

AMX continues to simplify technology with its introduction of a new, pre-packaged solution that provides AMX dealers with the tools they need to sell, design and install complex meeting room systems. AMXmeetingroom simplifies set up and execution for faster installations, higher reliability and increased dealer profitability. This first-of-its-kind solution includes all functional system programming and can be fully operational within only a few minutes. AMX is demonstrating AMXmeetingroom in booth C2902 at InfoComm 2008, being held June 18 – 20 in Las Vegas. Read on at The Briefing Room

More InfoComm 08 news from The Briefing Room

Just back from the massive Crestron booth (N5600), where marketing manager Jeff Singer squired me around several new products and initiatives, which wasn’t easy considering Cresetron has something like 70 new products on display at InfoComm. Jeff had some definite thoughts on major industry trends and pointed me to how Crestron is addressing them. In particular, the following caught my attention:

*Jeff filled me in on Crestron’s new Research Center, which opened a few months ago in a new building on 3,000 square feet of land at Crestron’s headquarters in New Jersey, with over 300 fulltime hardware and software engineers working there. The Center was designed to be an AV research center for Crestron as it dives into new products. Singer says manufacturers of other technologies have even made inquiries about renting time in the facility to do their own research. more…