Industry Weapon | CommandCenterHD

Hey! You! Get Off of my Cloud.*

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:25:00 +0000

Really? The Cloud. Is that what we’re calling it this year? What happened to the ‘Cyberspace’ or ‘Web 2.0’ or ‘Portals’ or simply ‘The Web?’ Can we just pick a phrase and stick with it? I have an idea. Let’s call it inter-networked computing and be done with it. Oh wait, that’s what the internet is.

Marketing geniuses have been pushing public, private, and hybrid clouds as solutions for your technological needs. Here’s the thing. The Cloud isn’t real. It’s a buzzword. It’s a fancy name that the industry has latched onto to describe something that’s been around for years.

What they don’t want you to know is that you already have a cloud. That collection of servers in your data center that hosts all of your applications and services? Congratulations. You have a private cloud. The web page that serves as the first contact for your new and existing customers? Hybrid cloud.

Public cloud? Now that’s the tricky one. Is it in your data center? No? Ok. Well, are more companies using the same service as you without affecting you? Yes? Are you using a service as a regular part of your core business without having to worry about all the different costs associated with maintaining it? Now we’re talking about a real public cloud. Sound familiar? It should. Three or four years ago, we would have referred to this as ‘outsourcing.’

Consider the same buzzword factor when you hear someone refer to the ‘as a service’ model. Software as a service. Infrastructure as a service. Service as a service. Stop, please stop. Enough with the buzzwords. You’ve outsourced a portion of your business. Maybe you don’t have the infrastructure staff or knowledge to host it yourself. Whatever the cause, you made a choice to enter a relationship with an organization that isn’t part of your company.

Industry Weapon provides a ‘Public Cloud’ solution. No wait, it’s software as a service, maybe even infrastructure as a service. It’s the same thing. Your content, your schedule, your people making the decisions. Our servers, our software, our expertise. Our partnership with you. It doesn’t matter what the buzzword of the week is in the end it’s still the same thing. It’s us providing you with a solution for your business needs.

*Acknowledgement of lyrics to the Rolling Stones

Matt Crognale, system architect

matt [dot] crognale [at] industryweapon [dot] com

IMPACT

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:37:00 +0000

If one wanted to be precise yet have a tendency and proclivity for phrasing in a manner that could only be described as verbose, the possibility of eschewing obfuscation would seem like nothing but an impossibility rather than the aforementioned possibility of actually being a possibility. There are countless ways to discuss and debate the nature of content impact. There could be stories, allegories, poems, novellas, plays and sonnets that all boil down to one fact most experts agree.

Alternatively...

Digital media is about communication. Communication is successful with simplicity. Less is more, so keep your content simple to get the impact your audience deserves.

Ryan Barlow, Director of Sales
ryan [at] industryweapon.com

It's time to 86 "1984"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:01:00 +0000

“Today, we celebrate the first glorious anniversary of the Information Purification Directives. We have created, for the first time in all history, a garden of pure ideology — where each worker may bloom, secure from the pests purveying contradictory truths. Our Unification of Thoughts is more powerful a weapon than any fleet or army on earth. We are one people, with one will, one resolve, one cause. Our enemies shall talk themselves to death, and we will bury them with their own confusion. We shall prevail!”

Most of you will remember the iconic TV commercial that opens with a dystopian, industrial-like setting - a line of people marching in unison through a long tunnel, every move and step being monitored by telescreens. A female runner, carrying a large brass-headed hammer, is being chased by the ‘Thought Police’ as she races to the big screen. A Big Brother-like figure is giving a speech. She hurls the hammer at the screen and shatters it. Metaphor after metaphor.

The commercial concludes with a portentous voiceover: “On January 24th, Apple Computer will introduce Macintosh. And you'll see why 1984 won't be like "1984."

For almost three decades, this has been hailed as the “Greatest TV Commercial of all Time.” Whether you agree or not, the message is simple. Break free from the bonds of uniformity.

For the past few weeks, we have been highlighting tips and tricks for improving your digital signage. Today we’re taking a different approach. We’re talking to the folks who create and present these digital presentations. Remember, those are people walking past in front of your signage, not sheep. Our blog posts have been written by various staff members who not only love what they do, but are experienced enough to know what works, and what doesn’t.

Your material may be as dry as desert sand, but it’s up to YOU to make sure your presentation is not draconian. Keep it interesting. Engage your audience. Ask them questions, get their opinion.

What Big Brother failed to mention in the first paragraph is that WE have the weapon that is ‘more powerful than any fleet or army on earth’. We call it innovation. Passion. And we make it work for your digital content.

The poor guy did have one thing right though. We shall prevail, but only if we keep our audience engaged. Keep that digital presentation interesting. Make it unique. Promote individual thought and opinion in your presentations and you shall prevail. Play it safe and you will bore them to death. Long live the power of creative thought.

Ethan Jameson, Marcom Writer

ethan.jameson [at] industryweapon.com

Keep the Stuff out of my Stuffing

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:48:00 +0000

On the last Thursday of November, families across America sit down together to enjoy one of our most time-honored traditions – the Thanksgiving dinner. If you ask someone to close their eyes and picture this meal, most would paint exactly the same picture.

A large roasted turkey, some rich turkey gravy, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. This would all be considered the norm, so we expect to find all of these things on our plates. Though, it is possible that none is more respected and revered than the penultimate of carbo-stuffed side dishes, aptly named, the stuffing.

The recipe is quite simple:

One stock of celery

One loaf of white bread

One yellow onion

Pinch of Salt

Pinch of Pepper

Last year, however, things went a little awry when my mother decided to make some creative additions to her traditional stuffing recipe. These items included:

12oz bag of dried-cranberries

1lb sweet Italian sausage

1 cup chopped walnuts

3 medium apples (chopped)

So how was this new dish received? Ultimately, we were faced with a mountain of left-over stuffing at the end of the meal. This was not because the stuffing was not any good (it was, in fact, quite tasty). The reason it was not filling plates and bellies was because it did not accomplish what people had built their expectations around. What they wanted was stuffing. What they got was stuffing with stuff.

This same philosophy applies when creating media for a target audience. Sure, it may look flashy and pretty, but above all, you want to keep your end goal in mind. The best media will accomplish this end in the simplest means possible. Yeah, that flash animation with the wipes and digital dissolves looks cool by itself, but when it’s used on an endpoint targeted at providing quick information in a simple format, it becomes too much. Kinda like stuffing with nuts and berries. And it just ends up becoming overlooked and leftover.

The way I see it, creativity is not good when it doesn't meet the expectations built around the end product. I agree that it can be delicious or aesthetically appealing, but when you mess with something that people have built their expectations around, all too often the result is counterproductive to your end-goal which was making people happy in the first place.

Pumpkin pie cheesecake? Forget about it! The Pilgrims didn’t eat cheesecake, they ate pie! Green peas gravy? You kiss your mother with that mouth?! All these things may be delicious on any other day of the year, but on Thanksgiving, stick with what works.

Here at Industry Weapon, we keep this in mind when we create anything for our customers. We stick with what works, and we create it in a way that quickly and effectively accomplishes the goal. In short, we keep the stuff out of your stuffing. And in turn, we give people something to be thankful for.

Wishing you and yours a happy Thanksgiving. Eat up.

Paul Fennel, Technical Support Engineer
paul [at] industryweapon.com

It's the final countdown to free digital content

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 22:28:00 +0000

The original may have been released in 1986, but The Final Countdown has been revisited and we’ve turned it into a great new visual intro for your digital slide presentation. It’s Free Content Fridays, and we’re giving away FIVE color variations of the 5-4-3-2-1 countdown in one easy download.

We only did the visual because we’re guessing you’re already singing the song in your head. You are, aren’t you?

So whether your corporate color is grey, green or blue, you’ll find a digital countdown slide version to work with your businesses’ brand guidelines. Adding one of these countdown videos to your digital presentation will help keep viewers watching and interested in your digital media presentation for longer.

Free Content Fridays gives us the opportunity to show our thanks to those clients (and potential clients, Twitter followers and Facebook friend) who have put their faith and trust in us. And what better time to say thanks with Thanksgiving just around the corner.

Click here to download your free content now (14MB zip file).

If you missed the last free content download of the “Welcome” digital slides, click here.

PS: Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Marist College Wins Our Extreme Content Makeover Contest, Prize Worth $9,600.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:03:00 +0000

Poughkeepsie, N.Y., is home to Industry Weapon client, Marist College – the same college that recently won our first-ever Extreme Content Makeover contest with a VIP content package prize including 80 hours of digital media strategy, creation, scheduling and deployment from our digital media experts.

The cherished prize is valued at $9,600.

Marist College plans to use the prize to get some help with using flash and videos. We’re going to give them so much more.

As industry experts in the field of content development and deployment, we’ll be tapping into our very own CommandCenterHD platform not only be providing the images, backgrounds, motion graphics and videos Marist College is looking for, but also the necessary strategy, project management and experience to ensure the project’s success.

We plan to hold a similar Extreme Content Makeover contest every quarter. The only prerequisite for entering? Entrants must be current Industry Weapon customers.

Read the full news release here.

Getting Eyeballs Glued to your Digital Signage

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:37:00 +0000

It’s generally accepted that the flea has an attention span of just one second. The goldfish comes in a close second with an attention span of only three seconds.

Sadly, the attention span of the average adult is not too far behind. It ranges from just 8 seconds to a more focused attention span of up to 20 minutes. And typically, the average person will spend just 1 minute looking at a digital sign.

If we still have your attention we’d like to let you know that it’s not all doom and gloom though. We like to think, when it comes to producing and showing slides, we have a few ideas to keep your audience happily engaged for much longer.

The whole purpose of digital signage is to relay the message or information you want to get across. With this short time frame you need to get right to the point. What better way to do this than with video?!

Just like magpies are attracted to shiny objects, people are naturally attracted to motion, and it is a proven fact that video increases the ‘stay rate’ by 30 percent and stay time by 200 percent. It all makes sense. So why aren’t more people incorporating video in their signage? Oh they will once they’ve read (and watched) this post.

Video will draw eyeballs to not only the video itself, but also to the accompanying image and text elements of your signage. So now you know how important it is to incorporate video into your signage, but how do you do it?

Well, Russ Curry – a blog contributor for dailydooh.com – recently had an engaging experience in Ireland with roving eyeballs. How is it possible that a reproduction of a painting of Arthur Guinness (yes, THAT Arthur Guinness) could possibly wink, offer a cigar from his inside pocket, try to light it from an off-painting candle, and then put the cigar away? Through the magic of digital signage, of course.

Read the rest of Curry’s eyebrow-raising adventure here, but only once you’re done reading our post. You’ll see how attention-grabbing video can be.

Now when it comes to including video, you want to start with the best quality video possible.

High Definition (or Hi-Def, or just plain HD) is now basically considered standard and anything less is considered not good quality. When you are getting videos from your motion graphics team (if you have one), ask them to make sure the videos are HD. If you want to get really technical, ask them for MPEG-4 H.264 videos. Yeah, I know this sounds super technical, but in layman’s terms these videos are the best for file size and quality.

You also want to let your team know what resolution to produce. Find out the output resolution of the screens you will be using for your signage. 1920 pixels wide x 1080 pixels high is considered best, but 1366 pixels wide x 768 pixels high is a commonly used resolution. If you have a mix of content, go with the 1920 pixels wide x 1080 pixels high option. The resolution will scale on the smaller screens.

You also want to decide on the 'correct' length videos. While there is no real “right” or “wrong” length, 10-15 seconds is best practice with static graphics. However, videos can get more info across using quick bursts of information. Even if the video runs longer than the 10-15 span window, you can keep the viewer engaged by utilizing messaging that makes them want to see what is coming next.

Once you have your videos, you need to determine how you want them to be used. You have a number of options here. You can do full screen, partial screen, with text, with images, or a combination of everything. This is entirely up to you. We recommend using a variety of each throughout your campaigns.

When adding text, keep a couple things in mind. Avoid using a lot of text for each frame or scene in your video. And, when previewing the content, make sure you can read through it before the transition. A good practice would be to read the text aloud. You can read more about typography in your signage in our previous blog post, FourEasy Rules for Using Typography in Digital Signs.

Using photography in your videos can also be very effective. Adding a slight tween (“tweening” is a technique where an animation program generates extra frames between the key frames that the user has created) of motion to the image as it is displayed on the screen makes it feel more “video-like” and less like a boring, stationary photograph. We have talked about images in a previous blog post as well. You can read more about that here.

If you keep these things in mind when creating your signage, it will grab and keep your viewers’ attention faster and for longer, and ultimately help get your message across.

Now that we’ve kept your attention for this long, I’d like to thank you for reading and hope you come back next week to read our next post in this series. And you can find out more about Industry Weapon here.

Brian Kleijnjans, Business Analyst
Brian [at] industryweapon.com

It’s Free Content Friday!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:06:00 +0000

Turns out our free Halloween download content was so popular, we've decided to add a few more today. Download the package of five Welcome slide videos here (12MB file).

These awesome digital signage videos to work with your CommandCenterHD PowerPoint app.

If you didn't have a chance to download our free Halloween content and still want it, you can find it here.

Enjoy the content and make sure you check back next Friday for more free content. We also post the info on our twitter account so follow us @industryweapon to stay up to date with what’s going on.

Until next Friday.

Industry Weapon Preparing to Launch It's New Video Jukebox

noreply@blogger.com (David Wible) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Four Tips to use Images Correctly on your Slides

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:25:00 +0000

Even if you have no design experience, you probably know that using images properly in your artwork is super important in overall look of your design. Here are four easy tips and tricks to help your slides look picture perfect!

This is maybe the easiest part of putting your slides together.

Tip #1 – Size Counts. Check the Image Size.

Yes, the size of your image is very important when it comes to digital signage. Stretched out, or pixelated images will make your design look cheap. Make sure your images are the right size. If you’re unsure, ask us. We promise our clients unmatched levels of customer service and tech support. And a promise we make is a promise we keep.

To make sure your content displays properly on screen, you need to create your images or slides in the correct size dimensions. Most screens run at either 1366x768px or 1920x1080px; the pixel amount depends on the height and the width of the screen and whether you want the screen to display in portrait (vertical) or landscape (horizontal) orientation.

Here’s an example:

So next time you’re thinking about using an 800x600px image full screen on a 1366x768px display, remember this tip, and think again!

Tip #2 – TIFF, JPG, PNG, GIF, EPS - Know the difference between image formats.

This is where things can get very technical, very quickly. But we’re going to keep it basic. Every image format can be grouped into either “lossy” or “lossless”. A lossy image is compressed to create a smaller file size, but deletes certain data it deems unimportant. Saving a lossy image in a very low quality can create major artifacts. JPEG is the most popular lossy format.

As far as lossless goes, you probably guessed it; it does not get compressed and therefore keeps all its data. A lossless image is definitely the best type of image that can be uploaded to your screens. It can handle transparency, and add some great design elements to your slides. PNG, GIF AND TIFF are the most popular lossless formats.

There are definite advantages to both categories of image. JPEG and GIF images are almost always tiny file sizes, best for sites with many images, ultimately reducing load times. On the other hand, PNG images are perfectly clear and are ideal for situations where quality is key. Personally, I swear by PNG, especially on slides. Even if you have many slides in a campaign, the difference in file size from a JPEG to a PNG is not going to bog down your slideshow.

Tip #3 – Try to contain your laughter (AND your images).

Simply put, containing an image basically means putting the image inside of a “container” (or frame) so that it adds another dimension to the image, instead of just sitting static on the page.

Here’s an example:

When you contain an image like this, it becomes more engaging to the viewer and seems to jump right off the page (or slide, as the case may be).

The technique for containing an image in Photoshop is actually quite easy. Simply draw a rounded rectangle behind the image and add a drop shadow with a distance of zero. Tada! You can play around with these effects until you find one that you like. Don’t try create some crazy dark drop shadow where you set the distance to something like 20 pixels. The image will start looking plain cheesy at that point. Trust me!

If you only have PowerPoint, you might want to explore some design options here.

Containing your images can turn your presentation from flat and boring to fine and scoring!

Tip #4 – Less is More. Don’t clutter your slides with images.

No one likes clutter. That rule is definitely not thrown out when it comes to graphic designers. Fact is, when executed properly, it’s usually meticulously planned and very well structured. The best designed work is also usually the most successful. See the correlation? Take a little extra time to plan your design, and you’ll see you’re more likely to reap the benefits.

When placing images, always remember to use the grid system. The grid system can also get a little complicated, so here I’m just going to stick to the bare bones.

Necessary rows and columns usually relates to the number of images and the amount of text you plan to use. If you stick by this rule, you are guaranteed to at least have a well setup slide.

Always line up elements within the same row or column of a grid. Here’s an example:

As you can see, the images line up with the text beside it. And above or below it. This is the proper way to use the grid system. There are more complex grids, but basic knowledge of the grid system is all you need to start making a lasting positive impression.

In conclusion, using images is not that difficult. All it takes is a little attention to detail, knowing the proper size and formats, utilizing the grid system, and a little patience. You can always add a little flair by containing your images as well.

If you found yourself saying, “But I already knew that,” while reading this post, don’t fret. There will be more advanced stuff in the next few posts. I hope this basic “tips and tricks” post proved useful and interesting.

So until next time, this is Mike Legacy, signing off.

Mike.Legacy(at)industryweapon.com

Design & HTML Intern

Four Easy Rules for Using Typography in Digital Signs

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:45:00 +0000

This may seem like common sense, but as they say, sometimes common sense isn’t so common. Your decision on which typeface (or font) to use in your digital signage could impact just how your digital signage ends up looking. That said, here are four basic rules to remember when deciding on a typeface for your sign:

1. K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple, Stupid!

Twitter’s got the right idea. Make it fit in 140 characters. No exceptions. That way, you don’t bog down the person reading your sign with info they don’t need (or even want). Make them want to read it. Let them enjoy reading it. So yes, keep it simple.

Want someone NOT to look at your screen? Fill it with a wall of text. But, if you absolutely, positively can’t trim down your message, consider spreading the content over 2 or 3 slides or creating a video.

2. Use a clear hierarchy

Hierarchy worked in ancient Rome, and it still works now. Make sure when writing your text that your content utilizes some type of hierarchy. For example, preface text with a headline or graphic that indicates what the viewers is about to read.

Make important text larger, make it bold or italicize it. Use colors more effectively. It’s a simple concept, however, we often forget that the viewer’s understanding of the content is not the same as ours.

Put yourself in the viewer’s shoes: separate yourself from the content we’ve written or read a dozen times and structure it in a way that makes sense to them. Help guide the viewer’s eyes from one place to another. Typography usage is a good way to control where your viewers are looking; never, ever underestimate how powerful that can be.

3. It’s all in the colors

The colors you choose for your type can both help or hurt your content. For example, If the background color of a slide on your sign is black, don’t use a dark grey. Or if your background is green, using a shade of green that is too close to the background is going to make your content difficult to read.

Always choose a contrasting typeface for your copy to reduce eye strain and raise visibility.

Examples of color contrast:

1. Black text on a white background is always a safe option

2. Light blue headers, with white text on a black background will get you nice contrast

3. Dark red text on a light gray background with dark gray text copy is easy on the eyes

Notice how the color of the text on the left is such a great contrast to the color of the background? An easy rule to remember is if you have a dark background, always use a light color for your copy, and vice versa.

Quite often our customers are tied to specific colors to follow their brand guidelines. Using the same colors can also work to your advantage when designing content. If a viewer is looking at your content for an extended time and you have established a good hierarchy in your type, they will quickly familiarize themselves with your color scheme. Using an unfamiliar color, will immediately draw their attention to that text. Use this to give important messaging that extra oomph. (Make sure to clear your use of color with your marketing person).

4. Choose your typeface carefully

As I stated above, a lot of clients have specific typefaces associated with their brand that limit the use of an outside typeface. But when you decide to follow the path less traveled, there are a few things to keep in mind:

A san serif typeface (one which doesn’t have the little projections or tails on the letters) is typically the best types of fonts to use on your digital signs. This is because the screen applies a basic blur to text once applied and so the serifs (or projections, or tails, or whatever you want to call them) end up looking distorted.

Typefaces to absolutely avoid:

Comic Sans

Papyrus
Gaudy display fonts

It’s not that we personally dislike these typefaces. It’s just that Comic Sans and Papyrus have been grossly overused by the public and have a poor image associated to them. Regardless of the message of your content, both typefaces could do more harm than good to your message. Don’t believe me? Here is a great example of what I mean:

Remember when Dan Gilbert, the majority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, wrote an open letter to the fans expressing his distaste for LeBron James’ defecting to the Miami Heat? Well, the news story that broke was not about the actual content in the letter, but that he had written the entire thing in Comic Sans. He was ridiculed by the media and it even became a trending topic.

Besides Comic Sans and Papyrus, you should avoid use gaudy display fonts, such as a Halloween font or a Christmas font for all of your copy. Using it for your headers is totally fine and might even improve the look of your signs. However, these fonts were not designed to be used for a paragraph of text. Not only will it be hard to read, but it will look bad on your signs.

So, there you have it: four simple rules to remember when styling your type on your signs.

Make sure you subscribe to our blog - we will be posting helpful hints and tips every week to help you build better-looking content for your digital media. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave a comment, email us, or pick up the phone to hear a friendly voice. Our number is 1-877-344-8450. Until next week.

Clark Price, Marketing & Design Specialist
Industry Weapon, Inc.
clark[at]industryweapon.com

Bonus Halloween Content!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:13:00 +0000

Our VIP Content Team had so much fun creating the last batch of Halloween content that they decided to create a few more backgrounds for everyone to use! Download the new graphics here (10MB file). Includes some Digital Signage backgrounds as well as backgrounds to use with your CommandCenterHD Powerpoint app.

While you're here, if you didn't have a chance to grab the original batch of backgrounds and videos, visit our previous blog post here to start your download.

We hope that you enjoy the content and be sure to send us some pictures of it running on your digital signs - we'd love to see it on your displays.

ENJOY!

Example Background:

Industry Weapon launches CommandCenterHD Lite!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:42:00 +0000

Industry Weapon is pleased to announce the unveiling of CommandCenterHD Lite, the most cost-effective platform for your digital signage! You wont find an easier platform for the creation, management, or publishing of your digital media.

With CommandCenterHD Lite's export-based playback for Cisco Digital Media Players, there is no need to reconfigure your network or make firewall exceptions. Simply connect your Digital Media Player to a display, drop the export file onto your Cisco DMM or Cisco Digital Media Player and you are up and running.

Features Include:

Simple user interface
Works seamlessly with Cisco DMM
Low cost entry into digital signage
No network requirements
Upgrade to our full version at any time

To learn more about CommandCenterHD Lite, visit www.cchdlite.com or call 877-344-8450.

Creating a Better Guest Experience with Digital Media

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:10:00 +0000

From the very second guests enter your property, they are expecting to be entertained and treated like a VIP. Casinos spend a lot of time, energy and money trying to provide this type of experience but often fall flat when it comes to truly engaging the customer on a personal level. It’s time to turn things up a notch! In this article we’ll discuss some basic strategies that can be implemented quickly that will have a positive impact on your guests’ experience.

Lines, Lines and More Lines...

Let’s face it, no one likes waiting in line and while improvements are always being made to speed up the process of checking guests in, making tables games more available or opening seating at their favorite restaurant - the fact is guests are still standing in a line with nothing to do. So, what do they turn to for entertainment? Their mobile phones. Why not utilize digital signage within your facility to encourage them to interact with your brand via their mobile phone?

You can reduce the perception of wait time by making line waiting an entertaining experience. One solution, provide your guests with mobile phone based games that allow them to interact with each other or play individually. These games should be tailored to not only be fun, but also provide you with an opportunity to educate your guest about the services and amenities that you provide. You could even include a QR code that, when scanned, puts the promotion in the guests’ pocket.

Connecting the Sleeping Rooms...

Just because the guest is in his or her room does not mean that they need to be disconnected from everything that is going on within your property. Use IP Phones to showcase amenities, services, gaming floor activities, events and promotions. Example: If there’s an opening at the spa, publish it to the IP Phone and let the guest use the touch screen interface to book their time. Is a slot machine going off? Tell the guests to get down to the floor so that they can play too. Or how about a special discount at their favorite restaurant - encourage them to make the reservation.

Everyone is a V.I.P...

To truly engage your guests on a personal level, you will need to install interactive digital signs in high traffic areas. When coupled with an NFC or RFID device and your loyalty program, the digital signs transform into an incredibly powerful marketing and guest retention tool.

Loyalty card members will tap their rewards card on the NFC device positioned next to the display to begin their personalized experience. Based on their level of membership, whether they are a new guest or a repeat guest, and their gaming, dining and recreational habits, the digital signs will automatically display offers and suggestions custom tailored to their preferences. Drop a QR code onto the offer and provide an even deeper discount for “preferred” guests.

The Bottom Line...

With a little planning and some solid execution, you too can have a major impact on your guests’ experience resulting in increased wallet share and repeat visits.

In the next article we’ll take a deeper dive into more complex strategies on how you can build highly defined content based on foot traffic, viewership and interaction analytics.

Clark Price is the Design & Marketing Specialist at Industry Weapon, Inc.

Industry Weapon’s CommandCenterHD digital media platform empowers gaming facilities to easily publish digital media to multiple devices, create highly personalized guest experiences and collect critical guest information for marketing and redemption purposes all while maintaining minimal impact on your existing resources and staff.

CommandCenterHD 6.2 is Now Available!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0000

We are pleased to announce that the latest version of CommandCenterHD is now available. Version 6.2 includes new functionality, improved speed and added stability.

New Apps and Features:

QR2WAP - now with analytics, see how your WAP sites are performing, track visits, and much more (details below). Sign up today at www.qr2wap.com.
IP Phone Customization - set content preferences for every IP Phone in your network, allows your staff to customize their phone’s content to their liking including image playback, RSS, and custom messaging for color and b&w Cisco IP Phones. Visit www.goipphonehd.com
IP Phone Simple Set up - one URL for all phone types, cuts set up time in half!
Exchange Integration - use this app to connect your CommandCenterHD account to your Exchange server to populate meetings, events and directory information automatically. Available in the CommandCenterHD Marketplace! Starting at $250! Call 877-344-8450 or write us to order.
RemoteHD Access from your desktop, laptop or mobile device - simply type a lower case i in front of your CommandCenterHD account url and enter your CommandCenterHD username and password to log in. RemoteHD provides you with a number of tools to help manage and troubleshoot your digital signage network.

Speed and Stability Improvements:

Improved time to publish content to digital devices once saved and scheduled in CommandCenterHD.
Significantly decreased load times when adding new slides to the system.
Email notifications for ApproveIT app users.
RS232 controls for managing your displays.
Improved font handling when using our PowerPoint app.
Sign up for our FREE weekly training sessions right from your CommandCenterHD login page.
Auto-PIN creation when setting up your account.
Simplified user interface on configuration screens.
Added ability to use underscores in naming conventions (example: employee_announcement).
Improved user interface for assigning devices (DMPs, IP Phones, etc).
System Diagnostics now includes the CCRS Zone and CCRS MAC on the System Diagnostics dashboard.

QR2WAP - Now with analytics!
Our QR2WAP platform now includes analytics to provide you with important information regarding your mobile campaigns including visitor frequency, return visits, operating system preferences, browsers used and much more.

No other QR Code or WAP platform on the market provides you with this level of ease-of-use or detailed analytics to create and manage effective mobile marketing campaigns.

Sign up for QR2WAP today! Visit the site www.qr2wap.com or give us a ring at 877-344-8450!

Extreme Content Makeover!
Do your templates, powerpoints, videos or motion graphics need a facelift? Enter our Extreme Content Makeover contest for a chance to win 80 hours of our VIP Content Strategy and Creation services for FREE - that’s a $9,600 value!

The lucky winner will work closely with our VIP team to outline their content goals and our talented team of designers and motion graphics artists will go to work!

Click here to register today!

*This contest is open to existing subscribers of CommandCenterHD only

50% Off Products and Services!
To celebrate this release we are running a special - purchase any Industry Weapon product or service during the month of October and receive 50% off an Industry Weapon product or service of equal or lesser value! Questions - give us a ring (877-344-8450) or drop us a line.

For more information, click here.

New Training Videos
We heard you loud and clear and have added (or modified) a number of new training videos to our support center. Log into your CommandCenterHD account and click on the “Support” tab to start browsing the videos including:

Adding Images
Adding Flash
Adding Video
Using ChannelsHD
Replacing Images
Adding Remote Images
Using Background Images
and more...

If you have a request for particular video, drop us a line and we’ll add it to our feature request list!

TransportHD - Desktop File Uploads
Our TransportHD app allows you to upload your files to CommandCenterHD from your desktop and features drag and drop functionality, folder uploads and keyword tagging to help streamline your workflow.

Visit TransportHD on our web site to watch the video and download the app!

Happy Halloween from Industry Weapon!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:07:00 +0000

Halloween is upon us!
All of us at Industry Weapon would like to wish our loyal customers a Happy Halloween! As a free gift, we are offering some great holiday videos & templates for your digital signs!

Each video was created for High Definition 1080p output and is perfect for showing off your digital signs. Included with the videos are custom templates for you to get creative with - promote Halloween parties, contests, trick-or-treat safety messaging and much more. Download the videos (35mb file)

FREE PPT Templates!
Also, as a special thanks to all of our PPT to Campaign app customers we've created two Autumn-themed templates. One is our standard PPT template while the other features cutouts for weather, date, time and QR Codes. Check out the previews below then download the files (2mb file)!

Industry Weapon and AVI-SPL at VCI-Group Conference October 10-12!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:45:00 +0000

AVI-SPL invited us to help power the digital signs and mobile experience at their VCI-Group Conference booth this week. If you're at the conference, be sure to stop by booth #11379 and check out the Industry Weapon platform along with a demo of our new mobile application, QR2WAP.

Industry Weapon announces three hires. New positions available!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 21:44:00 +0000

Industry Weapon is pleased to announce three additions to our team!

Brian Turner, Software Engineer

Brian recently graduated from Slippery Rock University where he obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and is the latest addition to our rapidly expanding engineering team. He specializes in deploying custom integrations, APIs, and middleware projects for our customers and partners. "Brian's experience, attention to detail and knowledge of a variety programs and applications make him a perfect fit for complex projects such as application integrations," said William Chufo, Industry Weapon's CIO.

Mark Razon, Graphic Design and Motion Graphics

Mark is the newest hire to our VIP content strategy and creation team and will be working with our customers to design and deliver custom content for their digital signage, IP Phone and mobile device marketing and communications campaigns. His blend of energy, passion for design and style make him a perfect fit for this role.

"Our VIP customers expect nothing but the best from our content strategy and creation teams and we are very critical of the hires we put into place to assume these roles. Mark is a highly talented designer with the drive and confidence to match and will help to round out our VIP team very nicely," said Craig Hanna, Industry Weapon's COO.

Mike Legacy, Graphic Design and HTML Intern

Mike is currently attending The Art Institute of Pittsburgh where he is pursuing a Bachelors of Science. He joins Industry Weapon's Marketing team where he will be responsible for assisting in the design, development and maintenance of our web-based platforms including our product micro-sites, resource portals and support centers. "Mike's unique approach to design as well as his passion for new web technologies aligns perfectly with our desire to continually provide our customers and partners with the best experience when browsing our web sites or using our products," said David Wible, Industry Weapon's CEO.

To read about additional open positions at Industry Weapon, visit the Careers page of our web site. We will be posting more next week!

Industry Weapon launches new iPhone app!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:51:00 +0000

Download our QR code scanner from the iTunes app store for free! It works seamlessly with our QR2WAP and FluidTags platforms and allows users to scan codes located on digital signs, printed materials and the web!

Features include:

Simple user interface for easy QR code scanning
One touch to launch mobile sites tied to QR codes
History menu saves your last 100 scans for easy access
Email links from QR scans to yourself or friends

Download it today:

To learn more about our QR2WAP application, visit www.qr2wap.com

Industry Weapon will be attending the Global Gaming Expo next week in Las Vegas!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:45:00 +0000

Industry Weapon will be attending the Global Gaming Expo next week in Las Vegas at the Sands Expo & Convention Center. Be sure to stop by Cisco booth #4660 October 4th - October 6th to learn more about Industry Weapon's latest offerings for the gaming industry including digital signage, mobile devices, QR codes and IP Telephony. We'll be unveiling some new technologies that you'll definitely want to check out, so don't miss out.

Hope to see you there!

For more information visit www.globalgamingexpo.com

Please join us in welcoming Nikki Moreno to our team!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:18:00 +0000

Industry Weapon would like to welcome the newest addition to our team, Nikki Moreno. Nikki will be assuming the role of Sales Executive and will be working on the promotion of Industry Weapon's mobile enablement products. Previously employed by AT&T and Sprint, Nikki has held various sales positions as well as having extensive experience in market expansion. "The addition of Nikki to our team couldn't have come at a better time" said, Ryan Barlow, Director of Sales for Industry Weapon." As we continue to expand our product lines, hiring experienced and highly motivated experts is critical to effectively representing our brand," he continued.

To subscribe to Industry Weapon's QR2WAP platform, visit www.qr2wap.com or call 877-344-8450 to learn more.

Going to G2E? We'll be there! Visit us at Cisco's booth, #4660

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:20:00 +0000

If you'll be attending G2E this year be sure to stop by Cisco booth #4660 October 4th - October 6th to learn more about Industry Weapon's latest offerings for the gaming industry including digital signage, mobile devices, QR codes and IP Telephony. We'll be unveiling some new technologies that you'll definitely want to check out, so don't miss out.

Hope to see you there!

For more information visit www.globalgamingexpo.com

Industry Weapon Announces New Hire!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:10:00 +0000

We would like to welcome Client Retention Specialist, Amanda Fults to the team.

Industry Weapon is pleased to announce the latest addition to our rapidly growing team, Client Retention Specialist, Amanda Fults! Amanda graduated from Slippery Rock University with a Bachelors Degree in Business Management and comes to Industry Weapon from Maxim Staffing Solutions where she held the title of Program Manager.

Amanda will be responsible for ensuring that our customers have a great experience with our products and services, as well as keeping them informed of our latest developments, applications and product offerings. "Amanda's friendly, yet tenacious, approach to customer services make her a perfect fit for our team and more importantly, our customers can count on her to get the results they demand," said Craig Hanna, Industry Weapon's Chief Operating Officer.

To celebrate Amanda's arrival, we are offering all existing customers 15% off of VIP services and apps. Just call our office at 877-344-8450 or write Amanda directly to get your discount.

The Industry Weapon Team

CommandCenterHD Version 6.1 is here!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:50:00 +0000

We are pleased to announce that the latest version of CommandCenterHD! Version 6.1 provides you with access to new apps, new features and improved performance including:

1. Cisco IP Phone Support - use CommandCenterHD to publish content on your IP Phones (visit the site)

2. QR2WAP App - generate QR Codes and WAP sites within CommandCenterHD (visit the site)

3. Photoshop File Conversion - upload PSD files and they will automatically convert to PNGs.

4. Powerpoint App - purchase this app to convert your PPT presentations for use in CommandCenterHD (watch the video)

5. ControlIT App - schedule your displays to turn on / off based on usage

6. ApproveIT App - increase team communication and have greater control around the content being published

7. FindIT App - interactive kiosk w/ localized content for ease of use and fast presentations

8. Improved Cisco DMP 4310 performance and playback

9. One-click connection to Industry Weapon's support team and knowledge base

10. More detailed system diagnostics

11. Firefox 4.0 + support
If you have not accepted the upgrade yet, you can schedule your upgrade by calling 877-344-8450or by emailing support@industryweapon.com.

Not sure what version of CommandCenterHD you are running? Log into CommandCenterHD, scroll down and on the right hand side of your dashboard you will see your version number. If it's less than 6.1, we highly recommend an upgrade.

We hope that you enjoy the latest version of CommandCenterHD and look forward to your feedback!

Thank you,
The Industry Weapon Team

Industry Weapon announces new automated QR code and WAP site generation system!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:44:00 +0000

Industry Weapon's latest app is called QR2WAP and it allows CommandCenterHD subscribers to quickly create and publish QR codes and WAP sites for their marketing initiatives. QR Codes are great for marketing product, providing directions, building social communities, promoting coupons and specials, menus, events, brochures, & marketing materials.

Once created, drop the QR codes on your digital signs, printed materials or elsewhere and encourage your target audience to scan the code to receive highly targeted messaging on their mobile devices.

To learn more about this exciting new app, visit www.qr2wap.com or call us at 877-344-8450.

Check out the QR2WAP sizzle reel: http://vimeo.com/2733297