[10 Years of Signage Innovation] ③ Defying Limits of Time and Space: the Future of Smart Signage

InfoComm 2019 was held from June 12 to 14 in Orlando, Florida. Those attending not only received an overview of recent trends in the global display industry, but they were also able to experience the latest innovations in display technology firsthand.

During the event, Samsung introduced various usage scenarios that demonstrated how digital signage could be installed in a variety of environments, ranging from classrooms to retail and offices. Here, to wrap up the 10 Years of Signage Innovation series, we’ll take a look at exciting new possibilities for display technology – some of which are already part of our daily lives.

Three ‘Hot Spots’ at InfoComm 2019

The corner of Samsung’s InfoComm 2019 booth that showcased The Wall Luxury transformed the event space into a movie theater. A modular display based on Micro LED technology, The Wall Luxury transcends the limitations of conventional displays in terms of size, screen ratio and resolution; measures only 29.9mm thick; and features a bezel-less design that allows it to seamlessly merge into the wall and the living room.

When the screen is off, it displays media arts or virtual wallpapers that transform The Wall Luxury into an art piece. As one attendee shared, “Pixels are invisible to the eye even when seen from up close.” Attendees also expressed excitement for the impending surge in demand for luxury home cinema products.

Have you ever wished that a detailed product description would pop up in the background automatically, without requiring you to call for assistance? Samsung MagicINFO 7 is an all-in-one system that manages advertising content on digital signage so consumers can view product information right away.

A new AI-based algorithm enables the system to display the right advertisement at the right time through customization. So for example, when shopping, if you pick up a certain cosmetic product from the shelf, the system will recognize the sensor under the product and instantly display the product information (as seen in the image above). As the system is based on the big data that includes shopping patterns of store visitors and their moving routes, there will be a countless number of scenarios for the system to use.

In meetings, where opinions are shared and decisions are made, easy and efficient communication between participants is crucial. Samsung’s new Flip 65” streamlines these situations by offering users a 65-inch touchscreen with a fast response speed. Visitors who tested out the display remarked on how impressed they were by its ability to recreate the effects of brush strokes. Not only that, the product also features a No Gap Wall Mount that allows it to be easily fixed to a meeting room wall so offices can utilize their space more efficiently.

When Advanced Technologies Enter Our Lives

Such advanced display technologies will completely change many aspects of our lives. What we have only seen in science-fiction movies is gradually becoming reality. Transformations in the office, classroom and restaurants – places where people spend a lot of their time – show us how far we have come in terms of display technology advancements.

Here we see a group meeting at a global company in which two teams from the company’s San Jose and Seoul offices are video conferencing using Cisco’s Webex Room Kit.¹ The display’s 4K resolution allows the participants to clearly see the letters on the screen so they can properly discuss the design.

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Technological innovations have changed how we work. People have become more inclined to work from home or hold remote meetings, and employ other forms of work that transcend limitations in time and space to make the work process more productive. Samsung’s SMART Signage Solution reflects this trend, and is helping to create ‘smart offices’ in partnership with Cisco.

Thanks to Samsung SMART signage and Cisco’s Webex Room Kit solution, which helps meeting participants in different locations feel as if they’re in the same room, consumers will be able to create virtual meeting rooms without any hassle.

In a middle school math class, a teacher takes advantage of visual aids with complex tables and graphs using Samsung’s Flip. The display helps the teacher conduct a collaborative class, rather than a one-sided lecture, by enabling him to pull up digital textbook files to solve problems with students. Everything written on the screen during class is sent to the students via email, so they don’t have to worry about writing everything down for future reference.

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Samsung replaced the blackboard with the introduction of the Flip in order to create a new type of learning environment. One that connects the classroom to new information in real time, and keeps students interested by helping teachers prepare a variety of class materials. This ‘live blackboard’ will help teachers foster a lively class environment that encourages students’ creativity.

For someone whose favorite lunch is a cheeseburger from the place down the street from her office, the trip to the burger joint becomes a daily routine. She’s there today too, as usual. Because she visits every day at around the same time, her favorite set automatically pops up on the kiosk when she is ready to order. When she is ready to pay for her food, the coupon stamps she gathered during the past week pop up as well, automatically applying a discount to her bill.

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The role of digital signage in shopping will also expand to the point that it will act as an ‘AI secretary’ that customizes the shopping experience for each customer. In the past, displays were a one-way communication method that offered information to the audience. Now, they deliver customized information according to customers’ behaviors and preferences. Scenarios that cater to the needs of both customers and retailers can be shown on the display, such as an automated message announcing a 20 percent discount when a fruit stall wants to sell off excess inventory.

“We will provide more advanced forms of communication by implementing touch functionality and sensors, as well as a display content management system and analysis function,” said Kay Hwangbo, Signage Products Product Planner at Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Business.

A Display that Transcends Limitations

We may not have noticed each and every change, but digital signage is now deeply immersed in our lives, connecting different parts of it together <See 10 Years of Signage Innovation: Episode ①>. For the last 10 years, Samsung Electronics has continuously pushed technological boundaries and maintained its leadership of signage innovation <See 10 Years of Signage Innovation: Episode ②>.

Going forward, Samsung will continue to lead the industry with innovative digital signage solutions. The focus will be about thinking outside of the conventional notion that signage is a one-sided advertisement that feeds information to the audience. The first step is to advance interactive communication that thoroughly analyzes customers’ interests, needs and behaviors.

“The industrial display business boasts huge growth potential,” said Seog-gi Kim, Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Business. “The industry will become a broader B2B business that covers everything from display hardware to software, solutions, consulting, content development, remastering and more.”

¹ Webex Room Kit is a collaboration tool that enables remote meetings and content sharing.