{"id":4069,"date":"2013-07-28T08:30:14","date_gmt":"2013-07-28T12:30:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/?p=4069"},"modified":"2013-07-28T08:30:14","modified_gmt":"2013-07-28T12:30:14","slug":"wayfindings-new-direction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wayfindings-new-direction\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Signage: Wayfinding\u2019s new direction"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo<\/a>
Photo courtesy King Architectural Products<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Peter Saunders
\n <\/b>While digital signage has now reached a broad variety of markets and applications, wayfinding represents one of the specific fields where the technology offers the most significant opportunities for changes and advancements. This is because the act of navigating a built environment is, by its very nature, dynamic.<\/p>\n

\u201cTraditional wayfinding has used static signage, which must serve all needs with one image,\u201d says Jeff Collard, president of Omnivex, which develops digital signage software in Concord, Ont. \u201cDigital signage, on the other hand, can better enable someone to choose their own path.\u201d<\/p>\n

Changing times
\n <\/b>As the notion of wayfinding has evolved over the years, professionals in fields like signmaking and environmental graphic design (EGD) have studied various systems and their results. Their efforts have yielded a better understanding of a visitor\u2019s needs upon entering a space for the first time, as well as when revisiting that space after changes have taken place.<\/p>\n

\u201cTraditional wayfinding offered simple, predetermined messages,\u201d says Doug Bannister, Omnivex\u2019s CEO and director of software development. \u201cThe information was general and it was hard to distribute updates. Some of these signs were later converted to digital signs, but were still not very flexible.\u201d<\/p>\n

The issue of flexibility is important because many facilities with wayfinding sign systems need frequent updates.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen things change and events get moved, such as a seminar in a conference centre, you want your signs updated automatically,\u201d says Collard. \u201cThat\u2019s more cost-effective than changing them out by hand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Part of the challenge is first recognizing what digital signage can achieve that static signage cannot. Bannister and Collard point to examples like the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), which shares a campus with Durham College in Oshawa, Ont.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen UOIT deployed their digital signage network, they wanted to provide wayfinding, but also student information and event listings,\u201d Bannister explains. \u201cThey realized they could divide the screen layout into different areas for different departments to manage.\u201d<\/p>\n

To meet the needs of some 8,000 students in two buildings, UOIT turned to \u2018smart content\u2019 for its digital signage network, allowing the on-screen layout to react to both preset rules and changing conditions. Thus, the signs display not only updated news and weather forecasts, but also live event updates and\u2014by tying into the campus\u2019 security system\u2014emergency announcements. Even upcoming classes, after all, may not always be held in the same locations as in the past, so the signs can be updated to reflect this.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach screen in the network can deliver a unique message, with content that is contextual and relevant to the viewer,\u201d says Bannister. \u201cYou just need a system in place to send that information to each screen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Content plus context
\n <\/b>An increasing number of facility managers are putting such systems in place, using advanced software to ensure their digital signage is truly dynamic.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost digital signage software has been presentation-oriented, but this trend is more about bringing in relevant information from different sources,\u201d says Collard.<\/p>\n

The Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC), for example, ties its digital signage network into its reservations system, so changes trigger on-screen updates, while the Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC) ties its screen content in with its emergency notification system. In some malls, airports and train stations, directory signs are automatically updated when new shops open or old ones close.<\/p>\n

In addition to connecting with existing sources of information, some facility managers go further by installing location-specific sensors to help enhance their systems\u2019 wayfinding functionality.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC) has connected its digital signage network to its emergency notification system.<\/span> Photo courtesy King Architectural Products<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThere are a lot of factors that can come into play, like escalators that change direction at different times of day or emergency routes that come into effect if there\u2019s a fire,\u201d says Collard. \u201cDatabases and back-office servers can send this information to the screens\u2019 media player personal computer (PCs). This way, you can suggest different routes, such as one that doesn\u2019t go outside because it\u2019s raining or doesn\u2019t go through a dark parking garage at night. Context is added to the content.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can classify locations in a database and then define rules for the content,\u201d says Bannister. \u201cThen the system can map through or around various \u2018dynamic status points\u2019 to optimize traffic flow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adding interactivity
\n <\/b>Another factor that has helped digital signage achieve new advances in wayfinding is interactivity. Just as individual screens can display customized content, based on the context of their location, so too can visitors now access content customized to their individual needs, such as special route recommendations for disabled people.<\/p>\n

\u201cInteractivity may involve cameras, radio-frequency identification (RFID), gestures, touch, card readers or bar codes on employee badges,\u201d says Collard. \u201cIn a baseball stadium, for example, you could have fans scan their tickets to find their seat on an on-screen map. Or you can even let people send maps to their mobile phones, so they have their wayfinding information on the go.\u201d<\/p>\n

With files from Omnivex. For more information, visit www.omnivex.com<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While digital signage has now reached a broad variety of markets and applications, wayfinding represents one of the specific fields where the technology offers the most significant opportunities for changes and advancements. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4070,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[58,33,65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","category-wayfinding","category-trends","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDigital Signage: Wayfinding\u2019s new direction - Sign Media Canada<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wayfindings-new-direction\/\" \/>\n<link rel=\"next\" href=\"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wayfindings-new-direction\/2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Digital Signage: Wayfinding\u2019s new direction - Sign Media Canada\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"While digital signage has now reached a broad variety of markets and applications, wayfinding represents one of the specific fields where the technology offers the most significant opportunities for changes and advancements.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wayfindings-new-direction\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sign Media Canada\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2013-07-28T12:30:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"all\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"all\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.signmedia.ca\\\/wayfindings-new-direction\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.signmedia.ca\\\/wayfindings-new-direction\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"all\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.signmedia.ca\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0eaf6c32fa84e6d6fba2a612b174fb0f\"},\"headline\":\"Digital Signage: Wayfinding\u2019s new direction\",\"datePublished\":\"2013-07-28T12:30:14+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.signmedia.ca\\\/wayfindings-new-direction\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":867,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.signmedia.ca\\\/wayfindings-new-direction\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"\",\"articleSection\":[\"Features\",\"Wayfinding\",\"Trends\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.signmedia.ca\\\/wayfindings-new-direction\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.signmedia.ca\\\/wayfindings-new-direction\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.signmedia.ca\\\/wayfindings-new-direction\\\/\",\"name\":\"Digital Signage: Wayfinding\u2019s new direction - Sign Media Canada\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.signmedia.ca\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.signmedia.ca\\\/wayfindings-new-direction\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.signmedia.ca\\\/wayfindings-new-direction\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"\",\"datePublished\":\"2013-07-28T12:30:14+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.signmedia.ca\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0eaf6c32fa84e6d6fba2a612b174fb0f\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.signmedia.ca\\\/wayfindings-new-direction\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.signmedia.ca\\\/wayfindings-new-direction\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"\",\"contentUrl\":\"\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.signmedia.ca\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.signmedia.ca\\\/\",\"name\":\"Sign Media Canada\",\"description\":\"Where Image and Innovation Converge\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.signmedia.ca\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.signmedia.ca\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0eaf6c32fa84e6d6fba2a612b174fb0f\",\"name\":\"all\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/609a071f3abbd05989f45642c45cb0f684dde38191e6120f45ac3267a21faccd?s=96&d=blank&r=pg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/609a071f3abbd05989f45642c45cb0f684dde38191e6120f45ac3267a21faccd?s=96&d=blank&r=pg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/609a071f3abbd05989f45642c45cb0f684dde38191e6120f45ac3267a21faccd?s=96&d=blank&r=pg\",\"caption\":\"all\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.signmedia.ca\\\/author\\\/all\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Digital Signage: Wayfinding\u2019s new direction - Sign Media Canada","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wayfindings-new-direction\/","next":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wayfindings-new-direction\/2\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Digital Signage: Wayfinding\u2019s new direction - Sign Media Canada","og_description":"While digital signage has now reached a broad variety of markets and applications, wayfinding represents one of the specific fields where the technology offers the most significant opportunities for changes and advancements.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wayfindings-new-direction\/","og_site_name":"Sign Media Canada","article_published_time":"2013-07-28T12:30:14+00:00","author":"all","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"all","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wayfindings-new-direction\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wayfindings-new-direction\/"},"author":{"name":"all","@id":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/#\/schema\/person\/0eaf6c32fa84e6d6fba2a612b174fb0f"},"headline":"Digital Signage: Wayfinding\u2019s new direction","datePublished":"2013-07-28T12:30:14+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wayfindings-new-direction\/"},"wordCount":867,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wayfindings-new-direction\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"","articleSection":["Features","Wayfinding","Trends"],"inLanguage":"en-CA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wayfindings-new-direction\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wayfindings-new-direction\/","url":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wayfindings-new-direction\/","name":"Digital Signage: Wayfinding\u2019s new direction - Sign Media Canada","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wayfindings-new-direction\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wayfindings-new-direction\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"","datePublished":"2013-07-28T12:30:14+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/#\/schema\/person\/0eaf6c32fa84e6d6fba2a612b174fb0f"},"inLanguage":"en-CA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wayfindings-new-direction\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wayfindings-new-direction\/#primaryimage","url":"","contentUrl":""},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/","name":"Sign Media Canada","description":"Where Image and Innovation Converge","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-CA"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/#\/schema\/person\/0eaf6c32fa84e6d6fba2a612b174fb0f","name":"all","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/609a071f3abbd05989f45642c45cb0f684dde38191e6120f45ac3267a21faccd?s=96&d=blank&r=pg","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/609a071f3abbd05989f45642c45cb0f684dde38191e6120f45ac3267a21faccd?s=96&d=blank&r=pg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/609a071f3abbd05989f45642c45cb0f684dde38191e6120f45ac3267a21faccd?s=96&d=blank&r=pg","caption":"all"},"url":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/author\/all\/"}]}},"views":7621,"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wp-json-v2\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4069","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wp-json-v2\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wp-json-v2\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wp-json-v2\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wp-json-v2\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4069"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wp-json-v2\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4069\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wp-json-v2\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4069"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wp-json-v2\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4069"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.signmedia.ca\/wp-json-v2\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}