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Scala - Case Studies

Come read why our list of success stories just keeps on growing: from airport digital signage to convenience store point-of-sale, from NASA to Hollywood and Highland, from call centers to schools to manufacturing plants, everyone is singing Scala's praises; whether it's used in dynamic digital signage, menuboards, corporate communications, kiosk applications or more.

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Read about our successes in dynamic digital signage, corporate communications, cable television, and more.

Indianapolis Museum of Art and Scala InfoChannel Guide the Way to Inform Museum Visitors

When the Indianapolis Museum of Art contacted Digital AV about Scala InfoChannel® software, the Indiana based digital signage company knew it was in for an interesting artistic journey. Part of the $220 million expansion program under development at IMA included the vision for a dynamic visual greeting system for visitors and guests as they entered the new Glass Rotunda at the front of the Museum. The entrance was designed with exposed structural steel framework and a glass curtain wall system creating a large, open environment to welcome visitors. The problem was, the beautiful open area left visitors without a focal point of direction and, considering potential visitor counts in thousands for key events, IMA staff knew they had to pull the minds eye of the visitors to a central point of key information.

UnoLink Launches First “VideoMenu” Setup at Cines Unidos Movie Theatre in Sambil Mall

UnoLink, a Scala Certified Partner, has pioneered the launch of the VideoMenu into the Latin American market. VideoMenu is a ground breaking new way to present menus at food retailers everywhere - instead of a traditional menu, VideoMenu displays distance controlled video feeds displayed on plasma screens strategically placed over concessions stands.

TCS Implements 70-Location Digital Signage Channel

DigiFour Technologies, a Scala Certified Partner in India has implemented Scala's InfoChannel® Platform in 70 TCS locations throughout India, as well in their overseas offices in the United Kingdom and Netherlands.

Golf TV at the Bonalba Golf Course in Alicante Spain

The Bonalba Golf Course, with 18 holes, was created as a part of an enterprising Real Estate Project. The Golf Course is located close to the Mediterranean in the Municipality of Mutxamel, in Alicante (Spain).

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To improve the BRD-Societe Generale Group bank's business and community stature, Monopoly Media, a certified Scala Partner in Bucharest, Romania created "BRD TV", a sophisticated digital TV signage network using Scala InfoChannel®.

T-Systems and Power Media Launch the First Pharmacy TV Channel in Poland Download PDF

T-Systems Polska, a Scala Certiﬁed Partner, launched the ﬁrst dynamic advertising network for Power Media. Power Media is a target-oriented media company involved in developing branded commercials that broadcast to sales outlets. The company's activities are focused on the pharmaceutical market.

Surface Navy Association Uses Avocent LongView® Wirless Extender in an “un” Conventional Approach Download PDF

When the Surface Navy Association (SNA) began to plan their annual symposium last year they knew they had a challenge on their hands. A variety of exhibitions, lectures, panel discussions and presentations were to be held at different times on three ﬂoors at the Hyatt Regency in Washington, D.C. Thousands of attendees needed an easy way to ﬁnd out what was going on at any given moment. For a solution, retired Navy Capt. Bill Erickson, executive director of the Surface Navy Association, turned to Bob Rositzke, president of Empire Video, Inc., a full service multimedia company headquartered in Springﬁeld, Va.

New Zealand Cinema Chains Deploy First Digital Signage Network Download PDF

SignActive Limited, Auckland, NZ: SignActive Limited, a Scala Certiﬁed Partner, rolls out New Zealand's ﬁrst cinema digital signage installation within Berkeley Cinemas and their joint venture partner Reading Cinemas. SignActive initially began discussing the concept of a digital signage network with Berkeley Cinemas almost three years ago. While talks were underway Berkeley Cinemas formulated plans for a ﬂagship cinema that was due to open in December 2004. One of the key drivers for the project was to use plasma screens to display movie times, trailers, cinema information and advertising. Berkeley Cinemas also wanted a cutting edge cinema environment that enhanced the movie-going experience.

Travel Agents Improve Product Communication Download PDF

"In the 18+ months that we have been using the InfoChannel® system in the travel industry we have not had a single player fail or hang! Without Scala we would never be able to offer the level of service to our customer that we do.",says Cornel van Lingen, General Manager, Public Display Technologies.

UnoLink successfully installs the first dynamic digital audiovisual channel inside “Hospital de Clínicas Caracas”

Hospital de Clínicas Caracas, the most technologically advanced health institution in Venezuela, is the first hospital to install "Vida" a digital dynamic entertainment and advertising network created by UnoLink using Scala's Infochannel software. Fourteen 42 inch, high definition plasma screens - installed in 8 different areas of the hospital - display entertainment and relevant health-related information to patients and patrons while they wait. This circuit has been fully functional 24/7 as of March 2005. It represents the first multimedia network of its kind to be installed in Latin America.

Ceridian increases productivity with displays

In 2004, Ceridian Corporation's project manager Kelly Crossley was given the complex task of implementing real-time call center statistic displays and an employee communication system in 26 Ceridian locations across the United States.

"We found the CastNET controlled Scala InfoChannel solution offered by the Digital Display Group far superior to others we looked at."

BAE SYSTEMS Deploys Scala for Total Plant Digital Signage (Corporate Communications)

BAE Systems in Fort Wayne, Indiana has deployed a digital signage network to provide real-time performance data and company communications to its 250,000 square-foot plant. Says Royce Binion, BAE Systems' operations program manager, "Scala software coupled with Digital AV's support has provided us with a truly world-class communication system for our employees."

Warner Bros. Movieworld (Theme Park)

To provide a smoother and dynamically updated customer information service, Warner Bros. Movieworld, the worldwide-known Theme Park chain turned to ASVideo, who naturally chose Scala to provide interactive digital signage and deliver a first of its kind In-Location Interactive Channel in Madrid.

NEC Karuizawa 72 Golf Tournament (Event Organization)

Faced with complex challenges in the management of the information during the NEC Karuizawa 72 Golf Tournament, NEC turned to Scala InfoChannel3 award-winning solution to integrate and dynamically display live streaming video with up-to-date location information of all the players on the green.

Azizia-Panda Supermarket (Supermarket Chain)

Looking for a way to increase "Top of Mind" brand awareness and increase sales among supermarket shoppers, Azizia-Panda launches the first of its kind in-store TV network in Saudi Arabia. The network consists of a 350 screens, and is expected to expand to 1000 by the end of the year.

Peabody-Essex Museum (Museum Information)

The main admissions desk signage includes a high-resolution 42" plasma screen that shows information about the latest museum exhibits. The ticket counter is the perfect place to educate new visitors about ongoing exhibits as well as daily events, and it can all be continuously updated behind the cashier without interrupting customers or his workday.

Hilton Auckland (Hotel Channel)

Their idea was simple: control and automate a music video service and distribute it not just to the 50" plasma screen in the bar, but also to a channel on the hotel television dial. These requirements led Paul Evans, Director of Operations for the Hilton Auckland, to InfoChannel for several reasons.

Dialect (Digital Signage)

Not only does the InfoChannel network allow for nationwide distribution of scheduled content increasing the entire chain's efficiency, but it also provides a conduit for each local store to make its own unique updates. Individual store managers love the ability to join in a solution that gives the double benefit of corporate branding while retaining some creative freedom if so desired.

Olayo Herrera Airport (Transportation)

Due to the wide range of data displayed, a template was created in Scala's Designer to accommodate existing information and real-time additions to the database. Though dynamic, the text displays with effects and transitions just as if it had been pre-rendered thanks to Scala's store-and-forward playback methodology. Parts of the broadcast in this format include quotes of the day, daily almanac facts, weather forecasts, and current events updated by the local newspaper.

P&O Cruise Lines (Hospitality)

Resiliance and quality have been maintained thanks to the 24/7 performance of Scala's content management software and MPEG-2 movie hardware decoders. The systems are RAID equipped and use Scala InfoChannel Network Manager's health monitoring functions to enable P&O to keep an eye on the status of their new network without needing to check every screen.

Rugby World Cup (Stadium Signage)

The Rugby World Cup's sports presentation group wanted a system to integrate live statistics and scores provided by Unisys, as well as referee penalty explanations, live to each of the 10 stadiums across the continent. They chose InfoChannel for its ability to integrate with external data sources and be centrally controlled and coordinated. Scala software was also the perfect choice to match the same look and feel of the broadcast graphics with its real-time rendering of visual effects.

Smedjan Shopping Complex (Digital Signage)

As revolutionary as plasma screens have been to dynamic in-store marketing, they are not the best solution for every problem. So on the front of the building, a single, much brighter 312" digital billboard soon replaced the 2x3 plasma matrix that provided a 114" display. Yet not all was lost when it came to the misused plasmas; they were soon repurposed into indoor digital displays inside the shopping mall also now displaying Scala content with a total of five InfoChannel Players.

McKee Foods (Corporate Communications)

Not every employee has the time or inclination to stop and check email or read notes stuck on the wall. McKee Foods, makers of Little Debbie snacks, therefore chose Scala's InfoChannel visual communications suite to give their staff another way to keep up-to-date on company news, events, and the weather forecast.

Oslo Stock Exchange (Financial Institution)

One of the most important pieces of any country's modern economy is the daily trade of stocks or bonds and when it came time to update the tickers in the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE), brokers turned to the reliable and professional presentation of Scala's InfoChannel 3 visual communication suite.

NASA and Space Telescope Science Institute (Museum Exhibits)

Recreating the entire universe is no easy task, and neither is getting budget-strapped planetariums up-to-date with the latest imagery downloaded every week from the Hubble Space Telescope. Yet ViewSpace is doing both... and displayed so beautifully that it keeps people coming back for more.

ITV Nightscreen (Cable Television)

The latest digital broadcast in Britain is powered by Scala InfoChannel, delivering computer generated content to 'Nightscreen' every morning on the UK terrestrial channel, ITV1.

Dubai International Airport (Transportation)

Varieties of content are piped into various airport venues. This information could be about the tourist points at destination, the hotels in that city, restaurants catering for those who have special diet, etc. Or it could be various TV programs carefully tailored and scheduled in differing languages depending on the destination and availability of contents.

Phoenixville Area High School (School Television)

Enhanced by Scala's InfoChannel 3 software suite, a new curriculum was written to support live broadcasting of school events and community calendars. Students are now involved more than ever, both during the school day and in an after school studio club, making Phoenixville a model for nearby communities and an inspiration to many educators.

Worldwide Financial News Broker (Corporate Communications)

It was the IT department's job to visually network each office together using dedicated corporate communications screens in every location around the world. "We're not talking about one building! We're talking about more than 100 offices around the world," says their director of information technology. "Scala saved my life."

Estée Lauder Display at Macy's Flagship Store (Interactive Kiosks)

Macy's flagship store on 34th Street in New York wanted to showcase a specific product to drive traffic into the store, and Estée Lauder was the cosmetics product picked. Scala's InfoChannel accomplished this by broadcasting in-store makeovers to the 4000 passersby each hour and allowing them to interact with the makeup artist?

Selected Installation Photos from Europe (Digital Signage)

Includes photos from the Oslo Stock Exchange, Palais de Congres in Paris, large screen solutions throughout The Netherlands, Virgin Mega Store in UAE, Luxury Shop in Switzerland, Corporate Information System in France, a tradeshow in Switzerland, Goody's Restaurants in Greece, and Rabobank in The Netherlands.

Royal Easter Show (Event Signage)

Every year the Royal Easter Show brings together everything that is Australian, from agriculture to entertainment, into one huge exhibition. To inform and direct almost 900,000 people over a two-week period, show organizers needed a flexible platform to maintain the messaging on their larger than life digital billboards and Scala's InfoChannel software suite exceeded their expectations.

Nationwide Hardware Chain (Digital Signage)

Each of the more than 550 hardware stores has two screens: one that is "customer facing", and one that is "employee facing", each providing unique and independent content to address both those in-store audiences. Each of these screens is controlled by Scala's Player software allowing the same network infrastructure to deliver unique targeted content to both audiences.

Hollywood & Highland Complex (Digital Billboards)

This 85-foot by 6-foot sign at Hollywood and Highland, the new entertainment/retail complex in Los Angeles, delivers news, advertising and revenue for developer Trizec/Hahn. The sign is driven by Scala software.

NLB (Financial Institution)

The bank wanted a product that would portray the same qualities it hopes to impress upon its customers and fellow Europeans: incomparable quality, unbeatable reliability, and sophistication. Within days of installation, Nova Ljubljanska Banka (NLB) knew they had found that in Scala InfoChannel, the culmination of over a dozen years pioneering the industry.

Miami-Dade Office of Emergency Management (Government)

To ensure that critical information is rapidly updated, southern Florida's Office of Emergency Management ("OEM") needed a software system that could display immediate changes. For this, OEM turned to Scala, Inc., and Scala's InfoChannel software to continuously update information without service interruptions.

World's Best Shopping Center Shopping Mall

Scala's Turkish reseller NextGenerationMedia (NGM A.S.) has developed and installed a full media solution in one of Turkey's major shopping malls, Akmerkez.

More Profiled Customers

Store 24
(Interactive Kiosks)
Store 24, a New England convenience store chain, is rolling out a novel network of kiosks with the help of FREEosk, Inc. and Scala. The kiosks help drive store traffic by providing a useful service, high-speed Internet access. At the same time, the screens above the main structure act as attractors to the kiosk and drive revenue for the store through advertising and increased sales.
The Portland Rose Garden Arena
(Stadium Signage)
When the circus rolls into town, the Rose Garden Arena (the "Arena") in Portland, Oregon is ready. Beyond the obvious physical changes that need to be made to the Arena, each event's clientele demands different food options and, of course, there is no beer served at these family events.
TechMedia and Stadium Screens
(Stadium Signage)
When the fans cheer and shout at rugby and cricket games, Scala is often the reason why. The National Rugby League (NRL), Australian Rugby Union (ARU), Australian Football League (AFL) and Australian Cricket Board ("ACB"), all in Australia, employ Scala's InfoChannel software to broadcast match day content to the big screens at the stadiums.
Christie Hospital
(Medical)
Angela Roden, Director of Appeals at Manchester's world-renowned Christie Hospital, wanted an interactive and informative medium to meet her fundraising goal. This idea materialized into an innovative interactive kiosk created by Editz Interactive of Manchester, powered by a software donation from Scala, a leading international developer of multimedia solutions for dynamic signage, television, and web applications.
General Motors
(Corporate Communications)
With over 100 manufacturing plants and offices in the United States, General Motors knows the difficulties of communicating between facilities and divisions. Yet, the ability to share information quickly has become critical in the highly competitive automotive industry. Enter Scala.
Honda
(Corporate Communications)
What connects the more than 13,000 associates employed at the four Honda of America Manufacturing (HAM) facilities in central Ohio. Beyond the great products they produce, associates stay connected via the "Honda News Network," a closed-circuit television system powered by Scala's InfoChannel IC200.
Ericsson
(Corporate Communications)
With Internet available on mobile phones all across Europe, and telecommunications convergence linking voice, video and data, the time for bringing a product to market has been compressed into weeks and months, rather than years, on both sides of the Atlantic.
SBC Ameritech
(Call Centers)
When phone giant Ameritech needed to upgrade video broadcast systems in five of its operator call centers, it selected Scala InfoChannel broadcast multimedia software.

Digital Health Information Channel at SESCAM

Kerkrade, NL March 26, 2007 - Scala Inc. (http://www.scala.com), the industry leader in end-to-end digital signage software, announced today the Health Care Services of Castilla la Mancha (SESCAM) in Spain has deployed a Digital Signage network to inform its patients and employees about the Health Services and Health Capabilities and News from the Regional Government.

Scala Certified Partner ASVideo in Spain has installed the Digital Signage System for SESCAM and created their content.

The "SESCAM Informa" Channel is composed of a Digital Signage Network in three new Medical Speciality Centres in Illescas, Tarancon and Ocaña. To date, 9 Plasma screens have been installed in Illescas, 9 in Tarancon and 10 in Ocaña.

The content displays a main Script that is composed of multiple zones where the corporate image of SESCAM is mixed with corporate videos, health suggestions and campaigns.

To attract the attention of their audience, the screens display news from the SESCAM website, and weather information from an external feed. Video clips are used to animate the content in the background. Overall, the content is composed of text, graphics, graphical images and video clips.

The entire Network is controlled from the central main offices of SESCAM and is linked to the ASVideo office where new up-to-date content and support is continually provided. The "SESCAM Informa" Channel is currently installed at the three Speciality Centres mentioned above.

The plan is to expand the installations in the three existing centres and add two new Specialty centres (Azuqueca and Daimiel) and three main new Hospitals (Almansa, Villarrobledo, Tomelloso).

"This project represents an opportunity for ASVideo and Scala to service the growing health services industry in Spain", says Oscar Elizaga, Scala Vice President, EMEA.

About Scala, Inc.

Scala, Inc. (http://www.scala.com) is the world's leading provider of software for digital signage software used in retail, education, entertainment, government and other industries. The company's cutting-edge multimedia software platform powers thousands of digital signs around the world including the digital signage networks of Tesco, Best Buy, T-Mobile, ShopRite, Virgin MegaStore, Bloomberg, Burger King, Kiwi, Azizia-Panda Supermarket, McKee Foods, Muvico, Santiago Airport, RaboBank and Warner Brothers Movie World. Since InfoChannel is proven, scalable, and easy to manage, it is the platform of choice for many digital display networks ranging in size from one screen to thousands of screens with uses including advertising displays, touch screens, retail TV, LED billboards, lobby signage, digital menu boards, interactive kiosks, and more. Scala, Inc. pioneered the industry of digital signage in 1987, and is today headquartered near Philadelphia, PA with operations in California, the UK, Norway, The Netherlands, China and Japan.

About ASVideo

ASVideo was founded in 1989 as a Video production company involved in video production, edition and content creation for corporations and companies.

The principal activity in this area was the creation and production of all kind of content for Pharmacological companies and Hospitals. In 2003, ASVideo create a new division specific and dedicated to the content creation on the Digital Signage Market, and more specific in interactive applications.

"Our point of view is that in a really near future, when screens will not be a novelty you will need a reason to keep attention on the Screen, interactivity is that reason"

ASVideo wants to fill the hollow in the digital market centering the business in what will fill all of those Screens that are going to be installed in the world. In 2004 ASVideo choose Scala as the Digital Signage application, because was the only one that covers all the points of view that ASVideo wants to cover in Quality Content Creation. Scala, InfoChannel, and the Exclamation Point Logo are registered trademarks of Scala, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective organizations.

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Indianapolis Museum of Art and Scala InfoChannel Guide the Way to Inform Museum Visitors

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - When the Indianapolis Museum of Art contacted Digital AV about Scala InfoChannel® software, the Indiana based digital signage company knew it was in for an interesting artistic journey. Part of the $220 million expansion program under development at IMA included the vision for a dynamic visual greeting system for visitors and guests as they entered the new Glass Rotunda at the front of the Museum. The entrance was designed with exposed structural steel framework and a glass curtain wall system creating a large, open environment to welcome visitors. The problem was, the beautiful open area left visitors without a focal point of direction and, considering potential visitor counts in thousands for key events, IMA staff knew they had to pull the minds eye of the visitors to a central point of key information.

Enter Mike Prusa, Manager of IMA Ticketing and Visitors Division, who had seen digital signage used in other large museums throughout the country and knew it was exactly what the entrance needed to help guide their guests to the wide range of museum locations. A call to Tom Johnson, president of Digital AV, brought the museum in closer to their quest for a signage system that would do more than one thing at the same time. Johnson recommended three large digital displays, positioned together on a custom designed steel floor stand from Premier Mounts, with special mounting brackets for flexible positioning.

The Scala InfoChannel software recommended was able to drive the three independent monitors with Scala's robust InfoChannel platform. The computer driven images would be playing in constant rotation but independently controlled by an external server in a remote location. Information displayed includes museum ticket prices, upcoming museum events and exhibits, various museum attractions and other important location information.

With InfoChannel, the museum would alleviate the need to replace constantly changing wall hangings, posters or looping videotapes within the beautiful new space. After presentations to the entire IMA senior staff, and budget approval, the project was released and the Digital AV team swung into action. The large custom LCD mount was ordered along with the 32" LCD monitors from LG Commercial Displays. Custom computers from Equus with pre-loaded Scala images on a security enabled, "ghost drive" keeps the content secure and the system easy to manage.

Johnson noted the esthetic and ambient light challenge within the large Rotunda. "With all the light and space challenges it turned out very well, easy to read and colorful, and the IMA content looks great on the system." Johnson also spoke about the return on investment for the DS system." The IMA's challenge was to quickly and efficiently help their guests to a destination decision and to guide them there after the ticket purchase. "We think the Digital Signage System answers both of those challenges with a high quality, high technology solution", said Johnson. "It has had to already pay for itself with speed to destination efficiencies."

The project was finished in just 90 days and now curators can show a wealth of IMA information through scheduled multimedia playback on the low-profile screens instead of having to cover walls with bulletin boards or worry about replacing degrading or outdated CD's and cassettes.

The Scala InfoChannel display system now shows content that can be updated remotely to run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Content is changed by periodic or exact schedule, so the museum staff can easily adjust to the expected audience depending on the season or even the time of day.

The main admissions desk signage includes the 3 high-resolution LG Commercial 32" LCD screens that show information about the latest museum exhibits with options to grow the network. The ticket counter proved to be the perfect place to educate visitors about ongoing exhibits as well as daily events, and it is continuously updated behind the cashier. IMA staff has expressed high satisfaction with the new system.

The screens can also all be tied into the same Scala InfoChannel electronic signage system and administered centrally by InfoChannel Network Manager in the museum's control room. Creative work and textual updates are also conceived in the same room via Scala's InfoChannel Designer. When published, changes can either be seen instantly or scheduled to appear later throughout the building.

The high-resolution images are transmitted over the IMA Local Area Network (LAN) and can be dispatched anywhere in the buildings. The changing exhibits area was designed with the future in mind for transmitting computer graphics, video and audio to produce a truly interactive exhibit space.

Visit www.ima-art.org for more information on the Indianapolis Museum of Art expansion project and exhibits.

About Digital-AV

Founded in 2004, Digital AV is the Midwest's largest dynamic digital signage company.

Located in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, Indiana, DAV is a leader in Scala digital signage development and service. DAV specializes in the deployment of DS software, hardware, content development, managed software services and network management. They manage specialized digital signage technologies linking to IP addresses through networked LANs, FTP distribution networks, broadcast servers and Cat-5 distribution systems.

DAV is a fully authorized and Certified Partner for LG Commercial, Scala InfoChannel, Premier Mounts, Equus Computer, DataCall Tech and many other quality lines of professional AV and DS products. Display mediums include LCD and Plasma displays, LED blocks and walls, plasma walls, projection systems and many other specialty displays.

Deployments include universities, stadiums, convention centers, museums, corporate / industrial sites, churches, hospitals and retail stores. With technology showrooms in Indianapolis their Scala customer list is available for review at www. digital-avd.com.

Additional capabilities include comprehensive content development, content management and content systems control development.

Media Contact
Mr. Tom Johnson
Digital-AV.
experts@digital-av.com
www.digital-av.com

UnoLink Launches First "VideoMenu" Setup at Cines Unidos Movie Theatre in Sambil Mall

Venezuela September, 2006 - UnoLink , a Scala Certified Partner, has pioneered the launch of the VideoMenu into the Latin American market. VideoMenu is a ground breaking new way to present menus at food retailers everywhere - instead of a traditional menu, VideoMenu displays distancecontrolled video feeds displayed on plasma screens strategically placed over concessions stands. This way, customers are able to get dynamic and attractive previews that positively influence purchases - and ultimately boost company revenues. Luis Ginestra, Concessions Manager for Cines Unidos, supervised the installation of the VideoMenu screens, which are now available in over 24 theatres nationwide. "We at Cines Unidos strive to redefine the movie-going experience, so our clientele is constantly amazed. We operate at a technological and service vanguard within the country" said Ginestra. UnoLink developed VideoMenu using special components from Scala InfoChannel® software as well as video components developed at UnoLink. This unique approach to menu presentation allows for constant and instant menu updates, price adjustments and sale offer broadcasts; operated remotely and effectively. Content is designed and updated by UnoLink, where we employ an extensive image bank supplemented of custom images for clients - including photographs, graphics, animation and video, all of which are broadcast at high definition quality - an approach which greatly increases the "appetite appeal" of the products offered on-screen. "We substitute static images that merely portray the product with video and animation providing a preliminary sensory experience, resulting in tangible sales growth," says Daniel Benaim, President of UnoLink. " Additionally, VideoMenu influences customers at the moment of acquisition influencing last minute purchase decisions" VideoMenus can be configured to fit one, two, three or more screens controlled by just one "InfoChannel Player" All information is relayed through a single database - making nationwide menu and price adjustments a breeze, and eliminating reprint and distribution costs, without costly time delays. VideoMenu also offers the flexibility to modify the menus displayed, customizing projections for certain hours, or catering to local tastes - maximizing targeted sales. For example, Cines Unidos displays a special children's menu selection at matinee times and a different selection after 5:00 p.m. This way, the menu always displays the products that are pertinent to each market target.

Media Contact: Unolink
Daniel Benaim
President
+58-212-238-8075
dbenaim@unolink.net
www.unolink.net

Media Contact: Scala Inc.
Richard F. Trask
Marketing Director
+1 610-363-3344
dick.trask@Scala.com
www.scala.com

Ya Mogu Chosen to Manage Digital Signage Network at Brazilian Retail Chain Casa & Vídeo

Exton, PA August 11, 2006 - Scala Inc., the industry leader in end-to-end digital signage software, announced today Ya Mogu, a Brazilian based digital signage company and Scala Certified Value Added Reseller, was chosen for the project development, installation management, operation and support of a digital signage network installed at Brazilian retail chain Casa & Vídeo. The retailer specializes in home goods and electronics, ranging from blankets to LCD TVs. As one of the fastest growing retail chains in Brazil, they are currently present in 31 Brazilian cities. Rio de Janeiro alone has 29 stores. A pilot project started at their downtown Rio store in early July is configured with 42" Plasma screens managed from Ya Mogu´s network operations center.

The contract was signed between Casa & Vídeo and media company VTV-Comunicação Digital, a partner company to Ya Mogu, who funded the project and is responsible for ad sales.

Content includes videos produced internally by Casa & Video as well as advertising messages from their suppliers. The system is based on the Scala InfoChannel® platform.

Ya Mogu has recently innovated visual communication in bars in Rio de Janeiro with the project at the Conversa Fiada Botequim bar chain. Now, this project in downtown Rio represents a milestone in local retail signage.

"It is the first project in Brazil of its kind and potential scale to employ digital signage modern techniques from the solid and field proven software platform, InfoChannel® to performance metrics", says Yuri Berezovoy, Ya Mogu Principal. "The next stores to be receiving this new and advantageous form of dynamic visual communication are already being negotiated."

"This project exemplifies Scala's global presence in the digital signage marketplace", says Gerard Bucas, President and CEO of Scala Inc. "With significant installations in over 45 countries, this project opens Brazil to the digital signage industry."

Several new features are being tested and scheduled to become operational in the following months. Among them, a data integration allowing for dynamic pricing updates of promotions for both internally generated content and that of suppliers. Integration with Bluetooth devices, ambient sound control and interactivity will also enter trials.

About Scala, Inc.

Scala, Inc. is the world's leading provider of software for digital signage software used in retail, education, entertainment, government and other industries. The company's cutting-edge multimedia software platform powers thousands of digital signs around the world including the digital signage networks of Tesco, Best Buy, T-Mobile, ShopRite, Virgin MegaStore, Bloomberg, Burger King, Kiwi, Azizia-Panda Supermarket, McKee Foods, Muvico, Santiago Airport, RaboBank and Warner Brothers Movie World. Since InfoChannel is proven, scalable, and easy to manage, it is the platform of choice for many digital display networks ranging in size from one screen to thousands of screens with uses including advertising displays, touch screens, retail TV, LED billboards, lobby signage, digital menu boards, interactive kiosks, and more. Scala, Inc. pioneered the industry of digital signage in 1987, and is today headquartered near Philadelphia, PA with operations in California, the UK, Norway, The Netherlands, China and Japan.

About Ya Mogu

Ya Mogu is specialized in network management, technology innovations and content development targeted to the digital signage marketplace. Its operation methodology is oriented towards Service Level Agreements and addresses commitments relative to delivery, availability, performance and support of digital signage networks.

Duke Energy Center Welcomes Delegates and Meeting Attendees to Cincinnati

Exton, PA (PRWEB) August 16, 2006 -- Scala Inc., the industry leader in end-to-end digital signage software, announced today the Duke Energy Center (DEC) was interested in developing a system that would allow for large video monitors to be used as dynamic communication tools. The digital signage network needed to have the capability of displaying pre-produced video, cable and broadcast signals, room schedule information, headline news, temperature, user defined messaging and more.

Primarily viewed as a public information source, DEC will also use the system for various communications needs including: allowing advertisers to market to event goers, providing the city with a vehicle to communicate to visitors.

The DEC is owned by the City of Cincinnati. As such, the digital signage project was a part of a multi-million dollar expansion and renovation project. City officials, the Cincinnati Architect Collaborative and members of the DEC needed approvals for the system.

The principles in the project consisted of the following:

Hammond Communications Group (HCG) - A Scala Certified Partner, provided application solution and development, programming, content production, implementation and remote content and network management
KLH Engineers - provided their expertise in system design and consultation
Duke Energy Center / City of Cincinnati- represent the owners, content management
Global Spectrum - responsible for facility management

The goal of the DEC digital signage system is to improve communications, create a competitive advantage versus other convention centers, and realize a modest revenue stream from event-based advertising.

Hardware/Software Infrastructure

Software

InfoChannel® Network Manager (1)
InfoChannel® Designer (1)
InfoChannel® Players (16)
Microsoft SQL Server 2000
Custom programmed Visual Basic Application
Custom programmed ScalaScript and VBScript

Hardware

61' NEC Plasma Monitors (16)
Internal and external devices providing IP media delivery, and video input functionality
Equus computers

External Feeds

Headline News and Weather provided by a third-party

Network Infrastructure

LAN based solution with a secure VPN for remote system management and content delivery.

Overview

The digital signage system consists of sixteen 61" High Definition NEC Plasma displays and external speakers installed at various public concourse/lobby locations throughout the convention center. The system supplements static facility directory maps located below or nearby each display.

"The system was designed from the ground-up with maximum flexibility in-mind, allowing the convention center staff to meet the various and changing needs of their clients", says Dean Reverman, New Business Development for Hammond Communications Group. To provide this functionality, Hammond created a custom software application, custom ScalaScript and VBScript programming. The application stores information in a SQL database that the players access on a real-time basis to get the latest data for the system. Since each player was developed to function as an "independent" on the network, each display in the facility can show identical or different content, providing a truly dynamic solution.

The custom high-definition graphical layout of the system consists of the date, time, temperature headline news, Room Schedule information and a media area that displays videos and stills. One of the main features of the system is Room Scheduling, which is displayed prominently on the graphical layout as a roll. Clients, dates and general information are entered into the system along with room schedule data. This data is then automatically shown on the proper displays throughout the facility based on pre-defined groups or "zones", which can be changed at any time through the application. Displays tagged in the application as "entry" displays automatically show general client information that directs visitors to the parts of the facility being used by the client. Once visitors reach that part of the facility, they see the detailed Room Schedule data pertinent to that client only.

The system also provides the convention center the capability of entering text-based messages, which like any other content, can be shown selectively on any or all displays. When enabled, these messages appear over pre-defined backgrounds in the media area with existing convention center videos, and stills, providing a seamless integration into the current script. These messages can also be triggered to display immediately to alert visitors of an emergency situation. Client content and paid advertising can also be implemented into the media area in either video or still format with playback logging of advertisements for verification and billing purposes.

Utilizing internal and external devices in conjunction with the custom application and ScalaScript, each display can switch from its typical player-based "media area" video content to video feeds being distributed through the centers internal Cable TV system. These feeds, ranging from satellite TV signals, to live video of Exhibition Hall events can be displayed in the existing graphical layout, or can be configured in real-time in the application to be displayed full screen.

With the expanded and renovated exterior completed, the Duke Energy Center takes its place in the skyline and welcomes meeting delegates and visitors to Cincinnati USA with its new "icon" - a series of glistening metal panels set at angles along the western facade that gleam alongside Interstate 75, proclaiming C-I-N-C-I-N-N-A-T-I in 50-foot-tall letters.

About Scala, Inc.

Scala, Inc. is the world's leading provider of software for digital signage software used in retail, education, entertainment, government and other industries. The company's cutting-edge multimedia software platform powers thousands of digital signs around the world including the digital signage networks of Tesco, Best Buy, T-Mobile, ShopRite, Virgin MegaStore, Bloomberg, Burger King, Kiwi, Azizia-Panda Supermarket, McKee Foods, Muvico, Santiago Airport, RaboBank and Warner Brothers Movie World. Since InfoChannel is proven, scalable, and easy to manage, it is the platform of choice for many digital display networks ranging in size from one screen to thousands of screens with uses including advertising displays, touch screens, retail TV, LED billboards, lobby signage, digital menu boards, interactive kiosks, and more. Scala, Inc. pioneered the industry of digital signage in 1987, and is today headquartered near Philadelphia, PA with operations in California, the UK, Norway, The Netherlands, China and Japan.

About Hammond Communications Group

Hammond Communications Group is a full-service multimedia communications company specializing in digital signage applications. For digital signage, Hammond provides turnkey solutions with core competencies that focus on content creation, content management and network operations. For multimedia, Hammond provides video/film production, video news releases, DVD presentations, 3D computer animation, virtual tours, Web site development, interactive sales and marketing presentations, computer-based training applications and CD-ROM development.

Golf TV at the Bonalba Golf Course in Alicante Spain

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Spain, July 24, 2006 - The Bonalba Golf Course, with 18 holes, was created as a part of an enterprising Real Estate Project. The Golf Course is located close to the Mediterranean in the Municipality of Mutxamel, in Alicante (Spain).

Each year more than 60,000 golfers visit the course. The golf course implemented this new and powerful communications system based on the Scala InfoChannel® platform, with the central purpose to facilitate the communications with its visitors and gain benefits from the advertising channel.

ASVideo, a Scala® Certified Partner, has been contracted by DIM, Digital Inform Mediterraneo; the investor of the Golf Channel. ASVideo, in a network manager role, provides a turnkey solution, creating content, controlling scheduling, maintaining hardware and software and administering the system for the golf course.

The Bonalba Golf Channel is composed of 42" NEC plasma screens and a projector in the Club House. The screens are placed at the high traffic areas of the Golf facility including the main entrance, the bar, the restaurant and at the Pro Shop.

To maintain the attention of the visitors to the screens, ASVideo developed a script that keeps playing the Golf Canal Plus Satellite Channel.

"The Golf Course visitors will be able to view their favorite sport on the screens", says Javier Menéndez, ASVideo General Manager. "In addition, the screens show advertising, Bonalba Golf Information and news through a RSS feed".

"Special content has been added as linked content to an external data base about the golfer's tee times through a RSS feed."

Bonalba Golf TV is the first Golf Course Digital Signage Channel in Spain. DIM in cooperation with ASVideo will develop another 2 or 3 more Golf Channels in 2006 and in the future a Digital Signage Channel in all of the most important Levante Cost Area Golf Courses.

Ya Mogu Launches Bar Network in Rio de Janeiro

Exton, PA August 4, 2006 -- Scala Inc. (http://www.scala.com), the industry leader in end-to-end digital signage software, announced today a new and innovative visual communication proposition started to operate in the Rio de Janeiro select "botequim" (a "carioca" term for a typical type of bar) segment. Ya Mogu, a Brazilian based digital signage company and a Scala Certified Value Added Reseller, has started a bar network based on international models and technology, but adapted to the local tropical "spices".

The system, based on the Scala InfoChannel® platform, was initially installed at the Conversa Fiada Botequim bar chain. Ya Mogu centrally manages Plasma screens and digital projectors in the six bars of the chain, four of which located in the wealthiest area of Rio de Janeiro (Ipanema, Leblon, Jardim Botânico and Barra da Tijuca) and two other in resorts less than 2 hours drive (Angra dos Reis and Itaipava).

Ya Mogu develops content specifically for the audience profile, which is typically above 30 years of age and in the top economical tier of Rio de Janeiro. Its average monthly reach is of about 60,000 customers. The editorial line is currently composed of:

Bar original content (events, promotions, local messages)
Outside ads (custom made for the screens)
Generic content (animations, sports, art)
News (real-time feed from local JB Online, part of local communication group Jornal do Brasil).
Interactive content (quiz, event photos)
TV programming (Brazilians can't live without their weekly football)
Musical clips: through a partnership with EMI, some of the bars are equipped to receive audio, and musical clips are inserted in the loop. At other times, the system controls ambient sound.
Specific content for employees during non-commercial hours.

"The tenacity and creativeness of Ya Mogu has created a new opportunity for digital signage applications in the Brazilian marketplace", says Viola Roseby, USA South and Latin America Channel Manager for Scala.

"The interest generated from the Conversa Fiada Botequim bar chain from others in the marketplace has provided Ya Mogu with an opportunity to capture significant market share segment and take a leading position in the Brazilian digital signage market", says Yuri Berezovoy, Principal at Ya Mogu.

Several new features are being trialed and undergoing customer acceptance. Similarly, with the immediate success and acceptance by both customers and bar owners, Ya Mogu has been contacted by other major bar chains and is already negotiating it's expansion.

About Scala, Inc.

Scala, Inc. (http://www.scala.com) is the world's leading provider of software for digital signage software used in retail, education, entertainment, government and other industries. The company's cutting-edge multimedia software platform powers thousands of digital signs around the world including the digital signage networks of Tesco, Best Buy, T-Mobile, ShopRite, Virgin MegaStore, Bloomberg, Burger King, Kiwi, Azizia-Panda Supermarket, McKee Foods, Muvico, Santiago Airport, RaboBank and Warner Brothers Movie World. Since InfoChannel is proven, scalable, and easy to manage, it is the platform of choice for many digital display networks ranging in size from one screen to thousands of screens with uses including advertising displays, touch screens, retail TV, LED billboards, lobby signage, digital menu boards, interactive kiosks, and more. Scala, Inc. pioneered the industry of digital signage in 1987, and is toda! y headquartered near Philadelphia, PA with operations in California, the UK, Norway, The Netherlands, China and Japan.

About Ya Mogu

NorgesGruppen Installs Digital Menuboard System Throughout Shell FRESH Network

Oslo, Norway - June 2006 - In January of 2006, Norwegian grocery retailer, NorgesGruppen, launched the first five pilots of their new Shell FRESH concept. The concept behind Shell FRESH is to offer healthy, delicate and enticing fast food, employing a digital menu board that dynamically adjusts for different promotions throughout the day. Each of the 166 Shell FRESH gas stations are fitted with a 4- screen digital menu board located in the FRESH section of the store and driven by two channels of Scala InfoChannel® software. Currently 400 Scala InfoChannel® Players are deployed throughout the Shell FRESH network.

NorgesGruppen is Norway's largest trading enterprise. Its core business is grocery retailing and wholesaling. Through its chains, the group holds 34.8% of the Norwegian grocery market.

The goal of the Shell FRESH network is to improve the communication between the store and its customers by combining brand advertising with in-store customer information to enhance the customer shopping experience. In addition, to ensure a focused message is delivered to its local customers each store will create and manage some local content over its in-store infrastructure, by exploiting the dynamic control over playback of content at each location. A key feature offered by Scala InfoChannel®.

Each FRESH menu board installation consists of 4 NEC LCD screens configured side-by-side to create a single menu board array. Each menu board displays a unique campaign loop consisting of multiple promotions each day during predefined times; morning (breakfast), mid-day (lunch) and evening/night dinner/snack). Promotional content is chosen to fit the time of day as well as regional or store demographics. Campaigns and their individual promotions are consistently measured and changed accordingly. Digital content in all regions and individual locations is updated centrally by the advertising agency, Virtual Garden, who manages the content for all screens nationwide.

NorgesGruppen's FRESH concept represents a new era in culinary offerings at Norwegian gas stations. Traditionally, this segment has represented unhealthy, ready-toeat food. The deli counter in the new Shell FRESH stores however; offer a variety of healthy, fresh and delicate ingredients - no matter what time of the day you come in hungry! When planning the first pilots, NorgesGruppen Convenience wanted this new and FRESH concept to be reflected throughout the entire store. They felt the replacement of traditional printed signage with digital menuboards would be a great contribution to their strategic goal. To date digital menuboard systems has permiated the entire Shell FRESH network.

"It has been a pleasure working with NorgesGruppen on the Shell FRESH project," says Truls Baklid, managing director Scala Nordic. "NorgesGruppen's mission is to modernize and freshen up the appearance of their stores and provide the best possible shopping environment for their customers."

Madrid Polytechnic University Introduces “Campus TV”

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Madrid, March 2006 -- AS Video, a Certified Scala Partner, developed an interactive TV Channel for the Madrid Polytechnic University. The university implemented this new and powerful communications system based on the Scala InfoChannel® platform with the central purpose to facilitate communications with students and faculty alike and change the image of the university.

In the past two years the Principal's Office has detected a decrease of student enrollment at the university. To rectify this downward trend, the university implemented the University TV Channel to inform students and potential students about careers, services, curricula and opportunities at the 22 academic departments of the Madrid Polytechnic University.

AS Video, in a network manager role, provides a turnkey solution, creating content, controlling scheduling, maintaining hardware and software and administering the system for the university. AS Video collaborates with the University Magazine to produce news and covered events and publishes it to the TV Channel.

"We tried to join two ideas with Campus TV", says Javier Menendez AS Video Sales Director. "The first goal is to promote the University by showing related information about events, news, and releases happening at the Campus. Secondly we tried to make the information as interactive as possible by using an IST Infrared frame for the plasma touch screen. In a single touch of the screen a student can be informed about the University Departments, careers, services etc."

The Campus TV is hosted in AS Video's headquarters. Using an ADSL TCP/IP network connected to the university network, the configuration allows for remote maintenance and control of the InfoChannel® platform.

AS Video integrated custom video clips on all script pages as an animated background with an overlay of text, graphics and images. Other special features include an integrated slide show using Macromedia Flash® content and RSS integration for Weather and News.

"AS Video created and composed audio for the main script with the goal to provide a continuous audio output to attract student's attention. The hope is that students will become more involved in campus life with the implementation of the Campus TV", says Javier Menendez.

The University Campus TV began with two 42" NEC plasma screens in the Principal's Office and will continue with the deployment throughout the 22 academic departments of the university within the year.

About AS Video

Established in 1989 as the reference in Spanish Medical Audiovisual content producer, AS Video evolved into an Interactive Multimedia Digital Signage Company in 2002.

About Scala Inc.

Scala Inc. pioneered the industry of digital signage in 1987, and is today headquartered near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with operations in California, the UK, The Netherlands and Japan. As flat panel and networking technologies catch up with Scala's vision, Scala finds itself with over a 15-year head start, helping it to win some of the largest digital signage engagements and most respectable partners in the industry. Companies that are implementing their digital signage equipment on the Scala InfoChannel 3 platform include Tesco, Best Buy, T-Mobile, ShopRite, Virgin MegaStore, Bloomberg Kiwi, Azizia- Panda Supermarket, McKee Foods, Burger King, Muvico, Warner Brothers Movie World, RaboBank, Nedbank, Santiago Airport, Dubai Airport. A network of over 250 Value Added Resellers across the globe offer Scala InfoChannel® solutions, and constitute our sales and support force that extends to every continent but Antarctica.

Monopoly Media Deploys Scala InfoChannel® in Its First Bank Project for BRD-Société Générale Group

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Bucharest, February 2006-- BRDSociété Générale Group is the leading privately held bank in Romania. BRD boasts more than 1.4 million clients, approximately 900,000 cardholders, holding 33% of the credit card market and approximately 20% of the loan market in Romania.

The BRD-Groupe Société Générale enjoys two unique advantages in the Romanian banking landscape: it's an establishment with a solid foundation, deeply anchored in the economy and the global community through its 203 branches throughout Romania; and being part of the Société Générale Group, BRD has access to the latest innovative services, products and the most efficient management tools.

To better serve their client's and prospect's expectations, the BRD- Société Générale Group declared attention to detail is the single most important consideration when servicing their customers. To facilitate their highly focused customer service program, BRD-Groupe Société Générale modernized their information network with the objective to reinforce the effectiveness and quality of their commercial offering.

To improve the bank's business and community stature, Monopoly Media, a certified Scala Partner in Bucharest, Romania created "BRD TV", a sophisticated digital TV network using Scala InfoChannel®.

"Imagine queuing up to deposit cash at your local bank and meanwhile watching consumer ads, news bulletins, entertainment programs or even video-clips of your favorite band", says Gabriel Faflei, Managing Director for Monopoly Media. "In Romania this is a reality thanks to Monopoly Media, an innovative advertising company specialized in custom digital signage solutions."

BRD TV broadcasts banking ads and updates. The content can be changed for individual sites either centrally or locally, in real-time, and consists of:

Daily news updates, produced by a local TV channel in a special retail format
A weekly program created by Monopoly TV, featuring financial news
Club BRD, providing information on the bank's services and products Entertainment

The system was first prototyped in five BRD branches in Bucharest. This new marketing tool immediately had a positive impact. 75% of the bank's customers watched BRD TV and 88.2% indicated having a pleasant banking experience. They also mentioned receiving useful information about the bank's products and services.

"The bank's management was so impressed after seeing their client's enthusiasm and improvement in their banking experience", says Gabriel Faflei, "that BRD decided to expand the BRD TV system to another 95 branches across the country."

Most BRD branches have one 42" plasma screen and two 17" LCD screens. The screens are placed in areas with longer waiting times - such as the cashiers' desks, where the average waiting time is 15 minutes. The screens provide the bank's clients with an 80:20 mix of advertising and local programming.

Scala's InfoChannel® suite enables a stable and reliable platform that is extensible for the bank's business purposes. InfoChannel's extensibility allows for integration of in-house data management systems to interact with the BRD TV system. Screens run 24/7 with content distribution and scheduling managed through Scala's InfoChannel® Network Manager.

Currently, each bank location manages their local content but efforts are underway to distribute content through satellite communications or the Internet to each bank location. This new strategy will provide for central management and scheduling of branded content over the network and facilitate realtime changes.

About Monopoly Media. Monopoly Media is one of the largest advertising agencies in Romania, with clients throughout the country. Monopoly Media develops In- Store Advertising systems for large commercial centers. Their advertising strategy is build around the concept of broadcasting audio/visual commercials, using digital displays, to areas of high retail traffic. To date, Monopoly Media manages systems in the following locations:

Advertising at shelf areas in Billa, Cora, Carrefour and Metro networks
Advertising at the cashiers in Carrefour, Billa, Cora, Sensi blu networks
Advertising in large commercial galleries/food courts in Carrefour, Cora networks, Plaza Mall and City Mall.

Monopoly Media continues to be the innovative force in Romania behind digital broadcasting networks for retail applications.

Presently Monopoly Media is deploying BAR TV: a network installed in 100 bars and pubs in Bucharest. Also, Monopoly runs a pilot network for McDonald's Romania.

Media Contact Monopoly Media:
Gabriel Faflei
General Manager
Tel.: +40 31 104 1488
www.monopoly.ro
gabriel.faflei@monopoly.ro

About Scala Inc. Scala Inc. pioneered the industry of digital signage in 1987, and is today headquartered near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with operations in California, the UK, The Netherlands and Japan. As flat panel and networking technologies catch up with Scala's vision, Scala finds itself with over a 18-year head start, helping it to win some of the largest digital signage engagements and most respectable partners in the industry. Companies that are implementing their digital signage equipment on the Scala InfoChannel® platform include Tesco, Best Buy, TMobile, ShopRite, Virgin MegaStore, Bloomberg, Kiwi, Azizia- Panda Supermarket, McKee Foods, Burger King, Muvico, Warner Brothers Movie World, RaboBank, Nedbank, Santiago Airport, Dubai Airport. A network of over 250 Value Added Resellers across the globe offer Scala InfoChannel®

solutions, and constitute our sales and support force that extends to every continent but Antarctica.

Media Contact Scala
Monique Severins
Sales & Marketing
+31 45 546 6690
www.scala.com
monique.severins@scala.nl

Using Digital Display Networks to Fight Crime in Cumbria Constabulary

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Cumbria, UK -- Managed Information Technologies Ltd. (MIT), a division of the Beaver Group and a certiﬁed Scala reseller, have supplied and installed a Scala InfoChannel® 3 digital network at nine police stations in the West Force area of Cumbria Constabulary. The "Telebrieﬁng" system is used by the Force Intelligence Section to provide real-time information on wanted persons and other critical crime-based information to ofﬁcers each day.

To date, MIT has installed nine players in nine separate, primarily rural police stations. The system is managed from the Forced Intelligence Center, located in Workington, Cumbria, where two InfoChannel® Designer 3 stations are used to create and manage daily brieﬁng content. News, criminal alerts, new department processes, laws and acts of parliament are compiled into the brieﬁng content and distributed over the "Telebrieﬁng" system. To effectively distribute the content to the police stations across Cumbria, InfoChannel® Enterprise Edition Network Manager, running on a dedicated web server and connected to a WAN infrastructure in the Force Headquarters in Penrith, Cumbria, is employed. Scala's Network Manager ensures the correct brieﬁng information is sent to the correct police station in time to inform the police as they deploy to their communities. The system is used to brief ofﬁcers each time they are in the brieﬁng room. Running on a PC and displayed on a 17" LCD panel, the system cycles through the daily criminal activity. The system also provides ofﬁcers critical information about new department processes, laws and acts of parliament, etc.

To further extend the effectiveness of the system, senior ofﬁcers, including the Chief Superintendent, post textﬁles to the network and provide important information to ofﬁcers in the ﬁeld via the system. This function employs Scala's Textﬁle EX functionality and provides senior ofﬁcers direct access to the system at any time of the day. The scripting function allows quick cycling between the various critical text messages. As the InfoChannel ® Network Manager detects the text messages they are distributed to all stations ensuring the latest information is always displayed.

During the implementation process it was learned that ofﬁcers don't always have the time to look at the Internet for brieﬁng information, so the Scala "Telebrieﬁng" system is employed to ensure very important information is available prior to their deployment to the community. It's quick and direct information, with supporting images, gives ofﬁcers all the critical information they require in an accessible medium.

The users of this system are the ofﬁcers on duty and community support ofﬁcers at all nine police stations; however, the beneﬁciaries of the system are the Cumbria communities. Providing real-time criminal information to ofﬁcers in the ﬁeld provides the basis for safer communities.

Pioneering Premium Information Delivery to Customers

Ethias is Belgium's second largest provider of insurance products. Initially focused on the provision of insurance policies to the government sector and its employees, the company expanded its operations in 2000 to insure private individuals and companies. The business comprises four distinct insurance associations: Ethias Fire; Ethias Common Law; Ethias Work Accidents and Ethias Life.

As a mutual insurer, Ethias does not answer to shareholders and invests to protect and reward its customers, a commitment that has established a strong reputation for governance and ethical operations. In 2003 67,931 million was returned in rebates and dividends to corporations and individuals.

Technical innovation

Ethias is also renowned for being a company that applies new technology to drive sales and improve customer care. Its Web operation generated 150 million in 2003 and received Inside Internet's 'E- Commerce 2003' award for its quality and ease of use. In keeping with its drive to enhance its operations through technology, Ethias recently installed a network of 15 Pioneer screens in the foyers of its busiest offices to display dynamic media that is created and distributed by Ethias' IT team. The media package reinforces brand awareness and creates sales leads by playing extended excerpts from major movies intermixed with promotional material that reflects the company's marketing themes delivered by TV, radio, on-line and the press.

The screens are controlled using Scala software and can be managed and updated from a single PC over its IT network while any content creation software can be used to generate the broadcast material. Patrick Vanderstraeten, Ethias' e-Commerce executive comments, "We've created a high quality yet low maintenance custom animation system combining Pioneer's plasma displays - that we found to be the clearest, brightest and most reliable screens available - and Scala's broadcast software. The installation is having a very positive impact on our business. Sales managers report that it's generating a high level of leads while a recent survey revealed that 90 percent of customers welcomed the entertainment. Concerns were only raised if the foyers were too busy and people could not properly view the screens!"

Display selection

A key consideration for Ethias was the technical capabilities of the plasma displays. The displays would be switched on for at least nine hours a day while the layout of each foyer creates different operating conditions. Some displays are situated where this a good deal of bright, natural light while others are sited in areas of low and artificial light.

Patrick Vanderstraeten comments, 'As part of our due diligence we reviewed a number of displays from leading manufacturers and consulted with our installation partner Media Innovative Communications Technology, (Media-ICT Belgium). Within the installation sector, Pioneer's displays are widely regarded as the highest quality; a perception that was strengthened for me when I visited a major car show in Belgium and found that at least 60 percent of the exhibitors were using Pioneer screens.'"

The high clarity, brightness and contrast levels of Pioneer's displays particularly impressed Ethias. These factors ultimately led to its selection of Pioneer's PDP-43MXE1 displays as Patrick Vanderstraeten explains, ''We tested the screens from a range of distances and found that on Pioneer's displays text and video remained crisp even at very close distances. The screens also include an automatic brightness control to adjust to ambient light conditions. This is an important feature - as we manage displays remotely we cannot physically maintain the screens. Along with complete digital signalling that delivers a sharp image the screens deliver exceptional performance in the variety of conditions found in our foyers. It's this flexibility that convinced us Pioneer is the optimum brand for our installation.'"

Content creation, distribution and display management

To provide remote network management Ethias, in conjunction with Media-ICT Belgium, reviewed several systems before selecting Scala's InfoChannel 3. An end-to-end media production tool it comprises three components. Designer enables the production of professional corporate content using any software and video codecs, including Div-X, MPEG 2, Flash and Photoshop. This is distributed using InfoChannel Network Manager from a single desktop and played back using InfoChannel Player.

Jean-Marie Defraine, managing director of Media-ICT Belgium comments, ''We built small PCs with Pentium 4 processors and 40GB hard drives that are connected to the rear of the plasma displays. The PCs are compact and easily hidden behind the screens which are mounted on sleek stainless steel stands. As well as content distribution the screens are controlled through the IT network. They can be automatically switched on and off and the system immediately notifies the network manager if any display encounters technical problems. This ensures that the entire installation can be managed by a single PC from Ethias' head office.'"

The content is updated by the IT team unless complex animation is required when this is produced by Ethias' design agency. Text is kept to a minimum with animation and video used to capture and retain customers' attention. The corporate information is integrated between 20 minute slots of a high-profile feature film that's edited to provide an insight into the entire movie. The film is updated once a month while the themed corporate data refreshed on a quarterly basis.

Minor content alterations are required on a weekly basis and often daily basis to reflect a new marketing campaign, product or promotion. An important aspect of the Scala solution is that incremental changes can be uploaded without having to refresh all of the content. With individual offices also often requiring amendments to reflect local events or regional promotions, this flexibility reduces bottlenecks on Ethias' network. To further reduce network congestion, updates can also be scheduled to occur automatically overnight.

Reliable, scaleable

Customer impact and return on investment are the primary measurement tools applied by Ethias. The installation has surpassed expectations on both counts as Patrick Vanderstraeten comments, ''The Pioneer displays are extremely high quality but they are also very reliable. In an installation like ours, where we cannot physically monitor the displays, this is a great asset. In addition, the clarity of the displays helps to engage our customers and we find that the dynamic mix of media and company promotion connects customers with our brand and product messages much more effectively than content.

''The feedback from customers indicates that they appreciate the astute use of company and feature- film content that offers a truly entertaining package. We are delighted by the system which is delivering corporate messages direct to our customers and helping to generate sales as customers often ask about products they've seen on-screen. We expect to expand the installation significantly over the next year to build on its success.'"

Mark Grotefeld
Pioneer Europe N.V
mark_grotefeld@mmd.pioneer.be
www.pioneer-eur.be

Terry Weerasinghe
Pioneer Europe N.V
terry_weerasinghe@mmd.pioneer.be
www.pioneer-eur.be

Jean-marie Defraine
Media-ICT Belgium
defraine.jm@mediaict-belgium.be
www.mediaict-belgium.be

Patrick Vanderstraeten
Ethias
patrick.vanderstraeten@ethias.be
www.ethias.be

Rabobank Attracting New Clientele with Modern Datacasting Network

Utrecht, The Netherlands -- Rabobank's roots lie in the agricultural past of The Netherlands. What began at the end of the nineteenth century as a collection of small rural banks has grown into an extensive financial group.

Today, Rabobank is composed of approximately 1363 independently operated local banks throughout The Netherlands providing financial services and products to the Dutch retail and business markets.

In its Dutch home market, Rabobank Group has 1.3 million members, 9 million business and private customers and is the market leader in virtually every area of financial services.

An organization known for innovation and exceptional service, Rabobank decided it needed a modern solution for attracting new customers to its local banks.

In 2001 Rabobank began to seriously investigate the local and worldwide markets for an innovative solution that would allow Rabobank to reach its customers and attract new business. The goal was to find a partner that could provide the best solution but still maintain the credibility and profitability of the bank's business.

The Hulskamp Group BV, a Scala certified reseller, proposed a digital signage network with plasma screens located in the bank and next to the bank's ATM machines. Each plasma screen would display short focused ads about the bank's varied products and services while customers waited to use the ATM machines. The network would be managed from a central control location over an ASDL infrastructure. To ensure success, the proposed solution required the best software to design, schedule and manage ad content over an infrastructure that connected all of Rabobank's local banks.

"We didn't want to be a testing site for yet another new and unproven software solution, and thankfully we were introduced to the creative and innovative people at Hulskamp", said Wim van den Dungen - Directoraat Communicatie.

"Once we were introduced to the power and reliability of Scala, the decision to go with the Scala InfoChannel® 3 platform was easy. We were happy to report that we have not been disappointed - everything that was sold to us in this solution was exactly what was delivered - and Scala's content authoring tool offered the added advantage of radically reducing our content product costs".

In 2002, the project started with 25 local banks each outfitted with plasma screens in the bank and at each ATM machine. In 2005, Rabobank boasts over 200 local banks using the Rabobank Digital Signage System. Each screen displays high-impact short messages and ads focused at the local customer market.

Because each local bank is independently managed, standards had to be developed to ensure the corporate message, position and image was maintained. However, local banks also needed to develop unique content to deliver to their area of the country. To accomplish these requirements new capabilities were added to accommodate the local needs of the banks. Templates were developed by Rabobank corporate, in collaboration with Hulskamp that reflected the image and mission of the bank. Text fonts, logos and images were standardized and methods were developed to allow local bank managers to contribute to their in-house digital signage network.

Over the period of the project the installation rate grew from 20 screens in 2002 to 390 in 2005. Rabobank estimates that in 2006 the network will grow to over 600 screens installed in local banks located throughout the country. To measure their growth, plausible metrics were needed for a ROI justification; Rabobank began measuring the number of users, how many ad-contacts per year, and the maximum effective message length. Users grew from 28,000 to 43,000 over just a few months. Rabobank measured 200,000 ad-contacts per year. The maximum effective ad length was 10 seconds reaching a minimum of 70% of the viewers. The results showed that Rabobank was measuring 17,500,000 ad-contacts per year.

To quantify their metrics, Rabobank calculated the cost of the network equaled 2.4 cents/ad-contact, based on an initial investment of € 5000 per screen.

Rabobank cites the advantages of the network as informative, modern, and innovative. With screens running 24/7 in all local banks the ad-contacts attained far out-measured their traditional television ad campaigns. As the system grows, Rabobank will use their network to communicate with both customers and employees using the same network infrastructure. Sharing the same infrastructure for training and customer facing brand re-enforcement provides a better ROI as different startup costs can be spread across budgets of multiple cost centers.

Wim van den Dungen concludes, "The benefit of a digital signage network is that it adds a unique dimension to our in-house merchandising systems. Our posters and brochures are literally brought to life. We are now able to measure the impact of our network on our clients far more efficiently than any traditional media."

Now that the concept is proven to be stable and reliable, Rabobank has broad plans to expand the network and further explore its opportunities and potentials.

‘World’s best shopping center’ installs Scala InfoChannel

Istanbul, Turkey - Scala's Turkish reseller NextGenerationMedia (NGM A.S.) has developed and installed a full media solution in one of Turkey's major shopping malls, Akmerkez.

Open every day between 10:00 - 22:00h, Akmerkez has an average of 50,000 daily visitors, adding up to a whopping 18 million shoppers yearly. 3,500 offices and 2,500 store employees provide a significant additional shopping potential.

Akmerkez was recognized as "Europe's best shopping center' in 1995 and 'World's best shopping center' in 1996, becoming the first shopping center to possess these two awards.

The NGM Network incorporates 47 Panasonic 50" plasma screens installed in various strategic locations within the mall, including corridors, escalators, exits and cafes.

The network displays 5-minute broadcast loops consisting of informational pages and advertisements. Info pages present general news, weather reports, sport news, "today in history" and stock exchange details. Advertisement areas within the broadcast are 6-second modular blocks that can be joined together for longer advertisements.

The network behaves as a living organism which gathers news from a local TV Station web site and advertisements from NGM headquarters. With the help of Scala, the system is managed and maintained remotely through internet. This feature gives total control for instant announcement and advertisement changes.

Using this brand new media solution, Akmerkez can also announce every kind event held within the mall. NGM has prepared template pages for Akmerkez in order to speed up the announcement procedure.

Testimonials

"We were seeing the examples of digital billboards in many foreign countries before and we were pleased to evaluate the first project in Turkey . Since Shopping Malls are the places which automotive companies can reach their customers easily, we didn't hesitate to show our advertisements on Akmerkez digital billboards. We strongly believe that the digital billboards are the right kind of media for targeting our customers. "

Suheyla Koseler - Mazda Turkey Planning Manager

"The digital billboard advertisements which we have shown in Akmerkez, has provided significant feedbacks for us. After receiving the positive feedbacks from our Akmerkez shop we were pleased to see that we have chosen the right kind of media solution. We would like to thank to NGM for providing an alternative media solution to us."

Bahriye Bayrakli - Siemens Turkey Marketing Manager

About Scala Computer Television BV

Founded in 1987, Scala pioneered the cable TV industry with software and services to allow users to create localized channels inexpensively. Today, Scala has grown to lead the corporate communications, retail dynamic signage, and interactive kiosk industries as well. With an unrivaled software suite to handle authoring, networking, monitoring, and logged playback, Scala has been the choice of tens of thousands of customers worldwide. Built on reliable and flexible network architecture, Scala software can support nearly any existing infrastructure from dial-up to LAN to Wi-Fi to satellite and terrestrial-based multicast networks. Scala's powerful and efficient store-and-forward design allows the control of unique content on a single cable headend or thousands of remote displays or kiosks from a single desktop PC without the constraints of streaming video.

Press Contact:
Scala Computer Television BV
European Headquarters, The Netherlands
Contact by Email
Tel: +31 45 546 6690

Installation Contact:
NGM A.S.
info@ngm.com.tr
Tel: + 90 (212) 233 77 82

BAE SYSTEMS Deploys Scala for Total Plant Digital Signage

BAE Systems Platform Solutions' Fort Wayne, Indiana facility manufactures, services, and supports high-quality, high-reliability electronic aircraft engine and aerospace controls and cables for more than 300 customers in over 100 countries around the world. The plant is a world-class operation, winner of Industry Week magazine's "Best Plants in America" award in the year 2000 and the only five-time winner of the Indiana State Quality Award. "The Fort Wayne facility is truly unique in the breadth of innovation we employ to continuously improve productivity and quality," said Royce Binion, BAE Systems' operations program manager in Fort Wayne.

But the company faced an internal challenge. "As part of our annual performance assessment, we realized we needed to do a better job of getting real-time manufacturing and quality performance data out to our manufacturing floor, while at the same time disseminating corporate information to our production associates," Binion said. "These were two similar challenges that begged for a single solution." A call to Scala Software Solutions gave Binion the solution he needed to initiate the program.

Digital AV Division/Johnson Group, Inc, the Scala VAR in Indiana, was called in to evaluate the application and advise BAE Systems on an efficient solution. With the help of Tom Johnson of Digital AV, Binion and his team undertook the major project of developing a real-time digital signage network throughout BAE Systems' 250,000-square-foot plant. It included several centrally located design computers pushing a network of digital signs strategically located throughout the plant. Monitor locations included each manufacturing product team line for employee communication, and the main lobby for customer communication.

Through the use of "narrow casting," specific content is sent and displayed to each shop floor product team containing a monthly scorecard display, electronic ANDON signals, key customer performance metrics, and a "video of the week" that ties BAE Systems' products to end-user applications. Real-time weather and weather emergency updates also are displayed for employees. "We've coined this new communication medium, 'The inSight Channel,' to signify its internal plant-wide communications application," said Binion.

In addition to the narrow-casting content, the standard scripts can be overridden so that the digital displays serve as a communication medium for impromptu aisle meetings with employees. This allows the product team leader to discuss current issues and to conduct employee training via digital video -- right on the manufacturing floor. "Applying these displays in this manner is more practical and efficient than using a conference room," said Binion.

In the development products area, the displays are used in conjunction with a Web camera for "virtual" design reviews with the company's other U.S. engineering sites to review product designs and to provide feedback regarding producibility in real-time.

Scala training at Digital AV's offices helped the BAE Systems team with new programming concepts, including Web scraping and Web media capture, for the signage system. "We were able to bring in all sorts of streaming and static media of the end application of our products, allowing us to 'put a face' on the products we build," Binion said. "Scala software coupled with Digital AV's support has provided us with a truly world-class communication system for our employees."

Johnson sums it up: "This application is like many of the new industrial digital signage applications coming up. Big investments in quality control and manufacturing initiatives make the digital signage integration the icing on the muffin." Sounds good to us.

Theme park in Madrid shows off Scala's true Interactive Digital Signage power.

ASVideo Introduces New Approach to Interactive Digital Signage for Warner Bros. Movieworld Theme Park in Madrid. (opens a new window)

Madrid, Spain, 12 June 2004 -- Warner Bros. Movieworld, the worldwide-known Theme Park chain adopts the power of interactive digital signage to deliver a first of its kind In-Location Interactive Channel in Madrid.

To answer the needs of Warner Bros. Movieworld Theme Park to provide quality information to its visitors, six 42-inches tactile plasma screens, encased in custom designed protection stands and strategically placed in every themed zone of the park were commissioned from and installed by Scala specialist ASVideo. At any time, and with a finger press, they instantly deliver information about Rides Queue Times, Restaurants Availability, Shows Timetables, Shopping Items and Interactive Advertising, as well as directions for any and every item inside the park.

Thanks to the data integration abilities of Infochannel 3, a custom data input program was developed to enable the park staff to enter locally relevant information that is instantly displayed on all the players. The content draws on Scala's state of the art multimedia power, enabling a simple and clear yet effective design. Only Scala could deliver to the customers a very fast access to dynamic information in a cartoony Hollywood style so easily.

Thanks to this new Digital Signage network, visitors flux in the Theme Park has been dramatically regulated allowing customers to decide what and where to see from distant places: This means less queues along the rides which means a higher satisfaction rate for the visitors and higher profits for the park operator.

A typical journey in the park would be like this... So you've just finished your ride in Wild Wild West Coaster and want to know where to go next: Ok. One simple touch into the advertising loop of the Old West Terminal and there you are: only 5 minutes queue in Acme Tours, in front of 25 minutes queue in The Riddler's Revenge. So let's head to Cartoon Village (We'll see when we're done if there's less people in SuperHeroes World). By the way: We have to go left. Once we are near, we'll ask the Cartoon Village terminal for more directions.

But you're hungry then. (Wow, that was a mile!) Let's see. We'd like a hamburger. Ok. Porky Pig's Diner is half-empty and right in front of us. Besides, we can use this opportunity to have a look at The Lethal Weapon Show Timetable so that we won't miss it.

Distributed along 5 theme worlds (Hollywood Boulevard, Cartoon Village, Old West, SuperHeroes World, Movieworld Studios) one can ask for any item you might want to look for inside the park and receive detailed directions.

The content itself was totally developed by ASVideo using the invaluable Scala Infochannel tool, proving again to be the only capable and versatile tool needed to deliver the very high quality standards required for this system. But that is not the end of the story. ASVideo also designed, built and customized the stand for each displays to fit its external appearance according to the zone they were installed into while making sure they resist changing weather conditions and a stampede of visitors.

More than 1,000 touches on each plasma screen in an average day, sustained over a daily 12-hours continuous operation schedule show the robustness of the platform, also allowing for the complete automation of the scheduled power switching of the whole system on a daily basis.

As far as billing is concern, the simple but efficient logging facility offered by Scala makes it possible to efficiently control with a playback proof what information was shown and when its was accessed. Ad insertion happens while the consumer is using any of the various services provided through the plasma display, therefore capturing her attention and producing a powerful impact, reinforcing the message of advertisements shown during the idle loop.

ASVideo monitors, operates and controls the IC3 network from its offices, in Madrid. Editing and designing is done on demand and delivered smoothly thanks to the smart and efficient Infochannel Network architecture. Thanks to the remote administration capabilities of InfoChannel, for the Movieworld people and their customers, everything is just as transparent as it should be.

About ASVideo

Established in 1989 as the reference in Spanish Medical Audiovisual content producer, evolved into an Interactive Multimedia Digital Signage Company in 2002. For more information, contact:

ASVideo
C/ Batalla de Belchite 5, 4º
28045 Madrid (Spain)
Tel/Fax:+34915598757 | asvideo@asvideo.net | www.asvideo.net

About Scala Inc.

Founded in 1987, Scala pioneered the cable TV industry with software and services to allow users to create localized channels inexpensively. Today, Scala has grown to lead the corporate communications, retail dynamic signage, and interactive kiosk industries as well. With an unrivaled software suite to handle authoring, networking, monitoring, and logged playback, Scala has been the choice of tens of thousands of customers worldwide. Built on a reliable and flexible network architecture, Scala software can support nearly any existing infrastructure from dial-up to LAN to Wi-Fi to satellite and terrestrial-based multicast networks. Scala's powerful and efficient store-and-forward design allows the control of unique content on a single cable head end or thousands of remote interactive displays from a single desktop PC freeing the networks from the constraints of unflexible solutions based on streaming video.

T-Mobile Croatia Deploys InfoChannel 3 for Digital Signage and Interactive Communication Applications.

T-Mobile Croatia is the leading GSM operator in Croatia with 98 percent national coverage. T- Mobile is a subsidiary of T-Hrvatski Telekom.

As a company continually introducing new technologies, T-Mobile recognizes all the adventages of Scala InfoChannel and has installed it in it's subsidiaries throughout the country including: Croatia; Zagreb, Split, Rijeka and Osijek.

By this action, T-Mobile seeks to improve communications with their present and future customers by giving them all the information about new products/services at the right time and at the right place.

Simple, quick and effective communication through digital signage and easy-to-use dynamic communication through interactive keyboards are the two main effects of Scala InfoChannel project. Interactive communication is available 24/7 to all people who want to be informed about new products/services or any other information regarding T-Mobile.

T-Mobile in collaboration with their advertising agency and POS Marketing, Scala's Croatian reseller, creates the T-mobile content, including every brand of mobile phones offered by T-Mobile (Nokia, Siemens, Samsung, etc).

InfoChannel Designer 3 is used for creating the content by combining text, graphics, video and sound and it is published into the InfoChannel Network distributing content to 12 InfoChannel Players in T-Mobile subsidiaries. Content is distributed through ADSL and viewed on 22 - 42" Fujitsu Plasma Screens at 6 T-Mobile subsidiaries in Croatia.

Each Player is placed in one subsidiary and displays special offers of mobile phones or new T-Mobile services.

In addition to digital signage in 6 subsidiaries in the network, interactive communication, with stratgeically placed keyboards, is implemented in two major subsidiaries and is used to interface with customers 24/7.

About Scala Computer Television BV

Founded in 1987, Scala pioneered the cable TV industry with software and services to allow users to create localized channels inexpensively. Today, Scala has grown to lead the corporate communications, retail dynamic digital signage, and interactive kiosk industries as well. With an unrivalled software suite to handle authoring, networking, monitoring, and logged playback, Scala has been the choice of tens of thousands of customers worldwide. Built on reliable and flexible network architecture, Scala software can support nearly any existing infrastructure from dial-up to LAN to Wi-Fi to satellite and terrestrial-based multicast networks. Scala's powerful and efficient store-and-forward design allows the control of unique content on a single cable line or thousands of remote displays or kiosks from a single desktop PC without the constraints of streaming video.

Press Contact: Scala Computer Television BV
European Headquarters The Netherlands
Contact by Tel: +31 45 546 6690
Contact by Email: alain.bodenstedt@scala.nl

Installation Contact: PO Marketing d.o.o.
Attn. Krešimir Švigir
Contact by Tel.: +385 1 3666 597
Contact by Email: kresimir.svigir@posmarketing.hr

“NEC Karuizawa 72 Golf Tournament” showcases NEC's exclusive “Player Location Information System”

NEC leverages Scala's InfoChannel to deliver up-to-date positioning information to the gallery of the annually held NEC Karuizawa 72 Golf Tournament

On August,3rd 2004, NEC announced in Karuizawa (Japan) that it developed a new solution for the distributed display of players' location information using GPS receivers to be used for event organizations such as golf tournaments. The system smoothly integrates totally automatically and in real-time the location of the players on the green as reported by their GPS modules with the live video feed from the television network in charge of the event. The dynamic multimedia content is then presented on large screens and PCs installed throughout the tournament site. NEC, through this solution demonstrates the potential of broadband communications with a demanding example of how to harness it best.

NEC deployed the service for the first time at the "NEC Karuizawa 72" Golf Tournament held between the 13th and 15th August, in cooperation of Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA).

The system successfully used for this occasion benefited from the experience of NEC in building total solutions starting from the layout of fiber optics necessary for high-speed communications on a terrain as large as a golf green to the integration between the GPS hardware and the Scala InfoChannel network.

NEC integrated all of the components of its Univerge solution to provide a seamless experience to the Golf Tournament Gallery:

From the NEC Small Position Information Terminal "NESPITIII" attached to players caddy bags, the location of players is retrieved in real-time, using either the GPS(Global Positioning System ) or the Location Information System developed by NEC Software Chubu (Headquartered in Aichi Nisshin, Japan - President, Yoshinori Ejiri).
The location and score information, managed from the convention management center, is distributed along with live video of the players on the green to large screens and PCs throughout the convention site in real-time, using NEC Broadband Display Solution built on top of the US-based Scala's award-winning "InfoChannel 3" Digital Signage software suite.
The information is then continuously updated and displayed in real-time on two giant 100 inches screens, four 42-inches Plasma screens, as well as 30 NEC VersaPro business notebook computers installed in various places such as the Gallery Plaza, the Club House, the Press Room etc.
Having temporarily laid out optical fiber throughout the "NEC Karuizawa 72" site, and in order to use it at its maximum capacity, NEC selected the NEC Multi-layer switch "UNIVERGE IP 8800" and wireless LAN system "UNIVERGE WL Series" , providing the foundation for broadband networking needed for an efficient information distribution.

For the Golf Tournament organization committee, the system brings many benefits: A new integrated information system that can be entirely managed from a central location, increased efficiency in the management of the golf tournament convention as well as new content services to accompany the expansion of its digital broadband network.

NEC, based on the result of this experiment, is planning to propose this solution to various industries in Japan, such as event organization companies, advertising agencies or the broadcasting industry. Furthermore, NEC plans to continue strengthening the capabilities of its display terminals by providing further integration of its system with mobile terminals such as cellular phones and Personal Digital Assistants.

About NEC

NEC Corporation is one of the world's leading providers of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions dedicated to meeting the specialised needs of its diverse and global base of customers. Ranked as one of the world's top patent-producing companies, NEC delivers tailored solutions in the key fields of computer, networking and electronic devices, by integrating its technical strengths in IT and Networks and by providing advanced semiconductor solutions through NEC Electronics Corporation. The NEC Group employs more than 140,000 people worldwide and had net sales of approximately $47 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2004. For additional information, please visit the NEC home page at: www.nec.com

About Scala

Founded in 1987, Scala pioneered the cable TV industry with software and services to allow users to create localized channels inexpensively. Today, Scala has grown to lead the corporate communications, retail dynamic signage, and interactive kiosk industries as well. With an unrivaled software suite to handle authoring, networking, monitoring, and logged playback, Scala has been the choice of tens of thousands of customers worldwide. Built on a reliable and flexible network architecture, Scala software can support nearly any existing infrastructure from dial-up to LAN to Wi-Fi to satellite and terrestrial-based multicast networks. Scala's powerful and efficient store-and-forward design allows the control of unique content for such applications as indoor and outdoor out-of-home advertising networks, in-store TV for retail, corporate communications networks, cable TV access/advertising channels, hotel information networks, cruise ship and casino entertainment networks, employee training, etc. Scala has operations in the USA, Europe and Japan supporting a large international installed base. For more information, see: www.scala.com

Supermarket Chain in Saudi Arabia Launches a Thousand-screen In-store TV Network

Spotmedia Introduces New Approach to Retail Advertising And Communications With The Initiation of Digital Signage For Azizia-Panda Supermarkets in Saudi Arabia. (Opens new window)

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 8 July 2004 -- Azizia-Panda, an established