Digital Dialogue: Q&A with Oliver Ferrier – Interactive Technology and the Power to Engage
Interactive Technology and the Power to EngageIt doesn’t matter what line of business you’re in, being able to engage with your audience is crucial. Today more than ever, companies are looking for more ways to interact with their customers. We know that, and you know that, so we found a product that’s designed to interact with an audience.
SSM had an opportunity to connect with Oliver Ferrier, chief experience officer of Vislogix, to talk with us about one of their interactive technologies, the Holo-iTouch.
Q: With customer engagement being a top priority in the digital signage industry, how does the interactive Holo-iTouch achieve this?
A: Holo-iTouch is a very unique product in that it is the world’s first all-in-one mobile transparent interactive touchscreen. What that means is it comes complete with everything you need for plug-and-play operation, and it can easily be used for mobile presentations, tradeshow booths, event enhancement and more. One of the really neat features of the system is that users can dynamically manipulate and interact with any mouse-driven content such as websites, PowerPoint and flash merely by using their finger on a holographic screen.
Q: Can you explain how the interactive technology works?A: Holo-iTouch uses an embedded transparent touch foil that senses a person’s touch through up to 1-inch thick glass. Our transparent holographic rear projection screen displays the projected content running from the PC. Picture a 50-inch holographic mousepad where the image is displayed and ready to be interacted with.
Q: Do users need a specific projector? If not, what types of projectors work with the technology, and what are the minimum specs?
A: Holo-iTouch ships with a 3000 Lumen DLP projector standard but, depending on the type of environment, it can be upgraded to a 4500 lumen projector as well. Additionally, the Holo-iTouch comes with an additional opaque inlay projection screen that easily can be added to the holographic screen to combat ambient light. This ensures that your presentation will be a success regardless of what lighting challenges you may be facing.
Q: Is the interactive foil proprietary for the Vislogix technology, or can you use any foil?
A: The interactive foil is not proprietary to Vislogix, but it is manufactured to spec for the Holo-iTouch. IR or optical tracking camera multi-touch bezel options are available for custom orders as well.
Q: How has the technology been deployed in the market, and for what types of use?A: Holo-iTouch has been used in a variety of applications, ranging from event enhancements, such as the NFL Experience, to countless tradeshow booths around the country, since we offer rental services as well. Most notably, however, it has been used by a variety of companies as a demo/presentation tool due to its dynamic delivery of content, coupled with its ease of transport and setup.
Q: What results or ROI are companies that utilize the technology experiencing?
A: It varies based on usage, but our average tradeshow rental testimonials report an increase in booth traffic upward of 200 percent. When you factor that increase into active participation with the ability to cleverly promote your brand, products or service features, it definitely helps to set yourself apart and leave a lasting, memorable impression on your audience. In our own experience at events and with specialty projects, the system has always drawn a crowd and generated a significant buzz. People are simply amazed at being able to intuitively touch a piece of glass while commanding and accessing content they are interested in with the use of one or two fingers.
Q: What other areas of use do you see the technology being used for in the future?A: I believe that we are only in the beginning stages of transforming that old, mundane era of static and tiresome digital signage in the marketplace, which was primarily push/pull oriented with poorly quantifiable metrics. The future lies in captivating and engaging your audience while offering them the ability to forage for the content and information they want, when they want it. By integrating additional solutions such as our SMS-based content conveyance technology and audience measurement, we can now truly track and communicate directly with your audience from walls, floors, windows and a variety of other custom surfaces. I ultimately envision a world where all of these surfaces will become viable portals for interactive media and communication.
Q: Will the “average” client be able to create content without the help a thirdy party? What formats are compatible?
A: Yes, depending on the product. Our Holo-iTouch and EZ Touch Window, for example, will allow clients to run any website, flash, PowerPoint or other mouse-driven application with effortless ease. Respondr will allow a variety of customizations and imported files as well, but it really depends on how dynamic and specific the end project needs to be. We further offer full interactive content creation services ranging from holographic content, way finders, interactive games and branded showpieces, to full scale building projection and 3-D mapping.
Oliver Ferrier is the chief experience officer at Vislogix Inc. and MobileLink Media LLC. He can be reached at oliver.ferrier@vislogix.com
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