How Robotic Digital Signage Could Tackle COVID-19

Posted on: June 8, 2020

Robotic Digital SignageThe COVID-19 pandemic has had an immeasurably devastating impact on practically every aspect of the human experience, from forcing us to limit our social interactions in an effort to minimize the spread of coronavirus and protect the most vulnerable members of our population to forever changing business landscapes across a wide range of industries.

While many essential businesses have been allowed and even encouraged to remain open throughout this unprecedented global health crisis, certain innovations such as robotic digital signage interfaces and displays have been more instrumental than ever.

Contrary to popular public opinion, the point of robotic digital signage isn’t to take away jobs from honest and hardworking people—quite the contrary actually. The point is to make their jobs easier and give them the peace of mind they need to continue working in public sectors amidst this massive global health crisis by eliminating the fear of contracting the virus.

Features of Robotic Digital Signage and Interface

If you’re wondering how robotic digital signage and interfaces can make public-facing jobs safer for retail store associates and grocery store workers, there are a number of advanced features that contribute to this.

Tech companies have been hard at work since the onset of the pandemic to help businesses jumpstart their operations as quickly and safely as possible. Modern robotic digital signage interfaces are equipped with advanced analytical features that can track the number of visitors to your establishment, perform temperature scans of each visitor, and gather other data such as age, gender, and even their emotional dispositions.

Other important features include automatic hand sanitizer dispensers to limit physical touch and further reduce the risk of viral transmission from one person to another.

Primary Functions of Robotic Digital Signage Systems

As a business owner experiencing unexpected and unprecedented economic challenges right now, you’re most likely focused on finding and applying advanced measures of keeping your customers and employees safe. These include thorough cleaning methods in addition to encouraging customers to make use of automation technology available in your establishment.

Retail establishments and grocery stores are increasingly encouraging customers to utilize their self-checkout kiosks. To limit the risk of transmission, these establishments have taken the following measures:

  • Asking customers to maintain a six-foot distance from one another
  • Providing floor markers for customers to stand on while waiting in line
  • Providing arrows in aisles indicating the direction customers should walk in
  • Closing middle kiosks to leave adequate space between customers
  • Thoroughly disinfecting kiosks after each customer use

Ultimately, the primary function of robotic digital signage systems is to use advanced automation technology to streamline transactions through easy-to-use interfaces as safely as possible.

What Are the Benefits of Using Robotic Digital Signage Systems?

As you’ve probably already guessed, there are a lot of benefits of integrating robotic digital signage systems into your business model, especially in these uncertain times. Many people may feel more comfortable engaging in as little physical human contact as possible, particularly when it comes to buying groceries, household items, and clothing.

Traditional retail establishments force people to place their items on a conveyer belt used by a number of other people before them. Additionally, their items are then touched by a cashier who’s had contact with a number of other customers and their items as well. This creates a large breeding ground for potential viral transmission.

While some level of risk will always be present in public-facing business environments, robotic digital signage such as self-checkout kiosks can considerably reduce that risk as long as the machines are carefully cleaned after each use and employees are provided with the proper PPE.

Benefits of digital display interfaces include:

  • Streamlining customer transactions with minimal physical contact
  • Encouraging customers to stay six feet apart at all times
  • Mandating that businesses work harder to ensure clean premises at all times
  • Allowing frontline staff to focus on other more important tasks aside from cashing customers out
  • Creating a clean, safe working and shopping environment for your employees and customers

How Do Robotic Signage Systems Help Limit COVID-19 Spread?

Technological advancements are ongoing. As new information is continuously discovered regarding COVID-19, its various mutations, and how it spreads, robotic signage technology will continue to evolve as needed.

Currently, the best way to deal with the situation in public-facing environments is to ensure that all government guidelines are adhered to as closely as possible.

This includes closely monitoring the health and well-being of your employees and customers. Robotic signage systems allow employees to limit direct interactions with customers without completely eradicating that personal touch customers expect.

At the end of the day, customers still want to feel like they’re getting a certain level of value and service from your business without having to do all of the work themselves. A common criticism customers have regarding self-checkout kiosks is that they feel like they’re taking a job away from a cashier. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

After all, these kiosks still require regular monitoring to uphold loss prevention, technological troubleshooting, and proving customer assistance when needed. Additionally, the use of these kiosks allows you to cross train more employees to work in other departments and therefore further streamline other backend operations of your business.

Audience Analytics in Robotic Digital Signage

Perhaps one of the most important features of robotic digital signage for your business in the current economic and health climate is the fact that it can help you determine whether it’s safe for certain customers and employees to enter and use your establishment.

A quick temperature analysis will help determine whether it’s safe for certain people to come into your business and alert you to any potential issues. This is a non-invasive but necessary tool that can help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Nauticomp Inc. is one of the world’s most renowned and leading designers and manufacturers of state-of-the-art digital displays. We specialize in providing custom-designed digital signage systems and displays across a wide array of business sectors including restaurant and hospitality, medical facilities, gaming and entertainment, Marine Corps, and the military. To learn more about our products or to place an order, please contact us today!

How to Utilize Self-Service Kiosks and Digital Signage Efficiently

Posted on: May 27, 2020

Self-Service Kiosks and Digital Signage EfficientlyWith the introduction of self-service kiosks, audiences everywhere—whether it’s at a restaurant, shopping mall, office building, or hospital—have been benefiting from this cutting-edge new technology and the interactivity it provides users.

Interactive digital signage is effective, easy to use, and can increase a business’s ROI over time by allowing businesses to display information quicker and more cost-effectively to audiences.

As a business owner, how can you use self-service kiosks and digital signage to your advantage? How can properly executed display interfaces improve your ROI? Keep reading for the answers.

Improve Accessibility

Digital signage should be designed with accessibility in mind. Not only should the self-service kiosk be ADA-complaint (Americans with Disabilities Act) and user friendly, but it should also take into consideration the fact that not all customers speak the same language.

By providing multi-language support, you can make the display interface accessible to a wider audience and interact with customers from all over the world.

Also keep in mind that customers prefer straightforward designs. If your user interface (UI) is cluttered or difficult to read, it might discourage customers and affect your sales. Customers don’t want to browse several pages just to find the product or service they are looking for.

The same applies for digital signage that cycles through too quickly or too slowly. Customers read and retain information at different paces, so make sure to cycle through information at a steady pace, otherwise your customers might get frustrated and go elsewhere.

One of the biggest benefits of digital signage is that not only is the display interface accessible, but self-service kiosks also provide a myriad of components that help protect the privacy of clients by controlling how data is collected and how personal information is stored.

More Advertising Opportunities

As a business owner, you know how important adverting is for improving brand awareness and customer loyalty. The goal is to attractive your audience’s attention and keep them engaged in your signage.

One of the best ways to do that is to use digital signage and interactive kiosks to display your brand messaging. You could purchase ad space on self-service kiosks and display your ad—whether it be through video, text, audio, or photos—while users wait for their information to displayed.

For instance, if you operate a store within a shopping mall, this is the prime opportunity to advertise your business to potential customers on mall directories. Another example is for fast food restaurants to display ads for their new menu offerings on their digital menu boards. As customers wait their turn to place their order, you could influence their decision by advertising to customers who are already spending money at your establishment. Meanwhile a clinic might allow a wellness brand to advertise new products through digital signage in the waiting room or lobby.

The benefit of digital display interfaces is that the ads can easily be interchanged to display more information, unlike static advertisements that can only display one ad at a time.

Expand Wayfinding

One of the most effective uses for self-service interactive kiosks is for wayfinding. Digital signage can be used to help guide users in a variety of buildings, such as shopping malls, office buildings, and hospitals.

Businesses can use digital wayfinding solutions to improve their customer services and overall customer experience.

Digital wayfinding solutions have shown to be more effective than static maps or directories, which can be confusing, by allowing users to get personalize directions and assume the user’s perspective to better guide them to their destination.

Digital display interfaces can also integrate multiple data feeds to provide users with more than one option. Kiosks can display information such as bus routes, departure times, and travel times, so users can weigh their options and choose the solution that best meets their needs.

Improve the Customer Experience

A recent survey found that 70% of customers expect a personalized experience when using digital kiosks. The good news is that digital signage allows for plenty of opportunities to customize the user experience and help businesses understand their users better.

Businesses can use cloud-based content management systems (CMS) to provide localized messaging (e.g. weather, news, gender-specific resources, and age-related content) to improve the customer experience and provide targeted messaging.

In-store digital signage can also be used to gather customer opinions. Businesses can then use this feedback to develop content geared to their target audience and improve the customer’s experience in-store.

Deliver Information Conveniently

Unlike static signage, digital signage allows businesses to display information quickly and conveniently. Messaging can be switched up or modified on a whim, which means brands can change their signage to suit current trends and demand.

Take for instance the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people are looking for answers and information about the best ways to stop the spread and how to navigate public spaces safely. Medical offices can use digital signage to display valuable information about the virus, including fact sheets, terminology, and general health practices.

Other establishments could use their display interfaces to present information about their social distancing rules in place, such as the number of patrons allowed to enter the establishment and the safety measures in place to protect staff, customers, and the general public.

Since this information could change weekly, using digital signage to deliver information is an efficient way to keep people up to date.

Order Entry and Payment

Lastly, digital display interfaces help to sort out administrative tasks quickly and efficiently. They can be used for data entry and payment and they stretch hours of operation.

When implemented, self-service kiosks streamline operations and reduce the amount of time that is wasted taking orders and imputing information. By eliminating the middle person and having the customer input their own information, it reduces operational costs and benefits a business’s bottom line.

Some organizations that are already benefiting from self-service digital displays are fast-food restaurants, hospitals, medical offices, and grocery stores.

Nauticomp Inc. is one of the leading experts in designing, manufacturing, and distributing high-end commercial and industrial digital signage displays on an international level and across a wide range of industries. Regardless of the type of industry you work in, we can provide the right display interface to suit your needs. Contact us today to learn more about our products and how we can help you enhance your business operations.

Everything You Need to Know about the Different Display Interfaces

Posted on: April 28, 2020

 

Digital Display InterfaceThere are many digital display options available today. Whether you require a display for your military operations or for your commercial building, it’s important to find the device that meets your unique performance requirements.

When looking for the right digital display, many people tend to focus on the size, screen brightness, and resolution; however, those are just a few factors you need to keep in mind.

One feature that is paramount to how your display will function is its interface. The display interface controls how your digital display exchanges information with peripheral devices, such as memory devices, workstations, and special equipment.

Here’s what you need to know about the different display interfaces and how you can find the right digital display technology for your needs.

Digital Display Technology

What exactly is a digital display and how does it work?

Essentially, all digital displays are made up of many rows and columns of pixels that are driven by a controller that transmits information to each pixel. This information controls the brightness and colour needed to make up the image on the screen.

Depending on the device, some pixels are light-emitting diodes (such as in LEDs), while others act as a shutter that let in light from a backlight.

The image information is stored in the memory array and the information is transmitted to the display through the display interface.

It is the job of the display interface to essentially communicate all information between various components (e.g. the memory array and the screen) and peripheral objects (e.g. a tablet and a memory storage device).

While all display interfaces function similarly, how they communicate information varies greatly from one interface to another.

Types of Display Interfaces

There are various display interfaces to choose from. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of popular display interfaces available on the market.

Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI)

Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) is a synchronous serial communication interface, meaning it allows for data to be sent and received in both directions, on the same line. It’s best used for short distances for small, low-resolution displays such as small LCDs.

Other popular devices that utilize SPI include memory chips, data storage devices, sensors, microprocessors, and printers.

SPI allows the serial exchange of data between two devices by using a master, which controls various devices. Since each device has its own slave connection, the master can interface with multiple devices independently. Because of this, SPI requires numerous pins between devices since each slave attached to the master system needs an additional chip select I/O pin on the master.

One of the biggest benefits of this interface is that there is no protocol overhead, meaning the transmission can run at very high speeds—faster than I2C and other display interfaces. It is also rather easy to set up, has bandwidth capabilities of up to 10mb/second, simpler wiring compared to parallel interfaces, and longer cables.

Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C)

Inter-Integrated Circuit, also known as I-squared (I2), uses a multi-master, multi-save, singe-ended serial computer bus system to connect to small, low-speed devices like micro-controllers, A/D and D/A converters, I/O interfaces, and other simple PC peripherals.

I2C has a bandwidth capability of up to 400 KB/second or 1 MB/second and allows for easy communication between components on the same circuit board.

Much like SPI, I2C only works for short distances, uses a synchronous serial port, and works well with smaller LCDs; however, it can also support up to 1008 slaves, has four pins, and only needs two wires, unlike SPI or other digital displays.

Some of the main benefits of I2C are that it consumes a low amount of energy and is resistant to noise. It can also handle usage in a broad range of temperatures and is easy to use/troubleshoot.

RGB (Red Green Blue)

RGB is used to interface with medium to large colour displays by sending 8 bits of data for each colour (Red, Green, and Blue). It can drive much larger displays at video frame rates of 60Hz and up.

RGB display interfaces have bandwidth capabilities of up to 1.2 GB/second. They also have a high performance and a low cost overall.

That said, RBG requires numerous pins (up to 29 pins for 8 bits of colour) and expensive connectors. There is also the possibility of the RBG causing electrical noise since it consists of fast edges on multiple wires, which could be a problem for systems that include wireless modules.

Low-Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS)

A popular choice for large LCDs and peripherals that need high bandwidth, Low-Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) is used for displaying high-resolution graphics, high-speed videos, and video camera data transfers because of its fast data transmission and low voltage.

It has a bandwidth of up to 3.125 GB/second and it can operate with low power, yet still provide high speeds.

LVDS transmits little interference, which makes it great for systems that include wireless transmitters and require little noise disruptions. It works for larger displays that must operate in harsh environments and, due to its low heat dissipation, it has a longer battery life compared to other display interfaces.

The technology is commonly used for LCD TVs, industrial cameras, notebooks and tablets, printers, cellphones, and communication systems. It is also used often for commercial and military digital displays, as well aerospace applications.

Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI)

Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) is a rather new technology that has gained popularity in recent years among mobile and wearable technology developers. Used primarily for cellphone displays, there are several versions of MIPI and it can be adapted to fit the needs of various industries such as PCs and other consumer applications.

MIPI provides a streamlined upgrade path from I2C and has a bandwidth of 6 GB/second.

Although it has a complex protocol and driver software, it also has both high-speed and low-speed power modes and can read back data from the display at lower rates.

Which Is the Best Display Technology for You?

Choosing the best display interface for your needs depends heavily on the type of application and the environment you plan to use it in.

There is no one-size-fits-all “best” digital display on the market. Each has it’s own advantages and disadvantages. When choosing the right interface for your business needs, consider the following factors:

  • How much data do you need?
  • How many colours do you need to display?
  • What is your budget?
  • How will it connect to your current electronics system?

Nauticomp Inc. is one of the leading experts in designing and manufacturing digital display technology that’s specifically designed to engage more customers on an industrywide basis. Retail, restaurant, gaming, Marine Corps, and military operations have all benefited from our high-end products. Contact us today to learn more!