Commercial Integrator April 2021 - 20

Digital Signage & Video Walls

table products especially, which would
normally be out for concert tours and other
mass gathering events, " he says.
Those portable products were being
used for pop-up testing locations, food
donation drives, and as the summer progressed and cases began to level, drive-in
movie theater, concert, and even stand-up
comedy events.
" It was definitely an interesting year, "
says Mascatello. " The good news, and the
benefit of digital signage, is that you can
make the system do whatever is needed,
pretty much at the drop of a hat. "
That is what is most important in the
coming years when it comes to digital

signage and video walls. They're capable
of so much more than they've traditionally
been used for.

The Future of Digital Signage and
Video Walls
" A lot of businesses took this time to rethink
their strategies and communication plans
and put things like digital signage and the
next generation of communication on their
budgets and agendas, " says Dudis.
Looking ahead at how digital signage
and video wall implementations will
change cannot be done with a singular,
holistic view. Different markets will utilize
digital signage in different ways, as different

Mad Systems
Now is the time for innovation, and Mad Systems is the ideal partner to bring any
audiovisual system into the 21st century. A long-standing industry leader in creative
solutions, Mad has expanded beyond traditional audiovisual offerings with additional solutions geared toward the needs of modern audiences.
Mad Systems' patented recognition solutions (facial, license plate recognition,
etc.) enable personalization of media, interactives, experiences, and targeted
advertising without wristbands, RFID or other interfaces. Another patented system,
LookingGlass Concierge, is a wayfinding solution for guests that uses facial recognition to guide visitors between attractions, unite them with other guests, and track
their merchandise, photos and more.
These patented solutions work in tandem with any traditional audiovisual system,
but function optimally when paired with Mad's QuickSilver® family of unique and
game-changing AV++™ solutions.
QuickSilver® reduces infrastructure and increases system longevity to reduce both
immediate costs, and future maintenance budgets. This affordable, flexible and
comprehensive solution is based on non-proprietary, long-term supported IT-type
hardware.
The QuickSilver® system is designed to allow for personalized media delivery, and
advanced ADA support.
In response to COVID-19 closures, Mad Systems also developed a range of touchless solutions. These options have been tried and tested for existing clients, and
within the Mad Systems showroom.
Mad Systems offers touchless technology for not only new solutions, but also as an
option for converting existing systems.
Mad Systems is an award-winning audiovisual/interactive consultancy, design,
and integration company specializing in exhibits for museums, visitor centers, briefing centers and theme parks.
Mad uses creative technology to develop long-lasting and easy-to-maintain
systems and implements the latest technology with non-proprietary equipment
whenever possible.
Deliver an AV solution that exceeds your audience's expectations, without exceeding your budget.

Commercial Integrator

CM2104 pp16-36 Digital Signage DD.indd 20

APRIL 2021

markets were affected by the pandemic in
different ways.
In order to understand how digital
signage systems will evolve in the coming
years we must drill down into the common
spaces in which that evolution will occur.

The Office
The oncoming hybrid office, new normal,
insert-your-buzz-phrase-here has been
discussed ad nauseum for the past several
months as organizations begin to reopen
and plan for the future.
When Salesforce announced " work from
anywhere, " a strategy that will allow all
employees to choose to work fully remote,
flex/hybrid, or office-based indefinitely,
that discussion only grew louder.
Many are wondering if this move to the
hybrid office will be as widespread as the
zeitgeist would lead us all to believe. It
seems many believe that a fair amount of
corporate organizations will be employing
some sort of hybrid approach and are forecasting for less employees in the office day
to day even after COVID.
" We have about seven Fortune 500
companies that we work with very regularly, " says Grace. " Throughout this whole
pandemic we've had meetings about the
buildings being planned and designed for
next year and the year after. We've noticed
a big difference between those guys... and
smaller clients. "
Smaller clients are happy to have people
work from home and downgrade office
space and the cost of renting as a result.
Larger organizations have a system that
works and don't want to throw a wrench
into it.
There are elements of the home work
environment that are unknown. These larger companies have been around for many
years, have seen unprecedented times before, and don't wish to change their entire
business model.
" There are advantages and disadvantages of working from home. The disadvantages and the end result from them are unknown. So they're more cautious. They're
planning more strategically, " says Grace.
" We have a couple of big building
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Commercial Integrator April 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Integrator April 2021