The market exploded some ten years ago with digital signage
and there was a clamor for innovation to be pursued both in software and
hardware, the likes of Four Winds Interactive, Working Solutions, Scala were
all feverishly working on launching their DS platforms to present to the global
retailing markets.
The hardware sector saw the development of large style pylon
enclosures being launched from companies like Friendly Way, Rosendahl ConceptKiosk, Protouch and KT Group. The real
challenge for hardware manufacturers was to develop a completely hermetically
sealed terminal that could be used in harsh outdoor conditions and especially
challenging when it is plus 30 Celsius outside.
KT Group working with US based design corporation Shweikart
developed its own unique designs in form of model Essence, these were robust
curved enclosures with ability to stand both internally inside and with
optional weather pack be suited for outdoors as well. The enclosures were designed for large
monitors not 42 inches but 55 or 65 inch panels as big was bold and beautiful
then.
The outdoor version was manufactured in a thick steel plate
and had outdoor powder coat textured paint finish for a robust shell, inside the unit boasted its own air-conditioning
and heating system that was automatically thermostatically controlled so that
enclosure could operate in both climate below zero Celsius as well as plus
thirty Celsius.
Several options could be combined if required such as WIFI, RFID
and Bluetooth all popular for several marketing purposes and the large monitor
panels were fitted with special developed projective capacitive touch
panels.
These units can be found both in North America, Europe and
in Middle East and many of them are now well into their 7th and eighth
year and still running without critical failures. Digital Signage has slowly declined since
its heyday but there is still a tremendous interest in all sectors of
commercial private business markets for interactivity and advertising.
