Pratt Institute + Planar Systems

Planar has partnered with New York’s Pratt Institute for their summer workshop, Form and Technology, which allows students to explore Planar products such as the Clarity Matrix, Planar LookThru and PlanarMosaic.  Planar’s VP of Technology, Ben Clifton welcomed students the first day and gave insight to Planar technologies and innovations. The workshop will encourage young designers to play a more dynamic role as a designer and embrace content creation & curation as a deeper way to connect with products and audiences.

The Pratt Institute workshop runs May 15^th – June 14^th.

To view photos and information about the first part of the workshop and read weekly updates visit: http://formandtechnology.posterous.com/.

Runco LS-1 Projector featured on The Street

TheStreet.com recently revealed their list of the top ten business sales tech tools to have in your sales arsenal to close that deal and the Runco Lightstyle™ LS-1 projector was #1 on that list.  Click here to view the "10 Coolest Tech Gadgets to Seal the Deal".

Runco LS-1

Planar Mosaic wins rAVe Publications Most Innovative New Digital Signage Hardware Product Award

Planar® Mosaic™ won the 'Most Innovative New Digital Signage Hardware Product' award for DSE 2012 from rAVe Publications. The first of many accolades for this now award-winning product line! See the full list of 2012 Digital Signage CHAMPS.

Cool Things Happening at Planar: ClearTouch and LookThru Transparent Displays

By Cris Derr

It’s been awhile since my last post, so I would like to give you a quick update on a couple of cool products we showed at the recent Digital Signage Expo. First if you haven’t heard, we launched the 32" ClearTouch™ interactive display. The ClearTouch series of displays are beautifully designed and feature a seamless glass front with the best touch experience on the market. You can see a video here of one of our software partners showcasing this big beautiful touch screen. Then there is Planar’s giant interactive Clarity Matrix™ wall that Intel showed at both NRF and DSE. This wall is a fabulous example of how a touch enabled video wall can create a crowd gathering and informative experience.

Okay, so not exactly a touch topic but very cool nonetheless is Planar’s new LookThru™ transparent LCDs solutions. Our new LookThru transparent displays were big attractions at shows like NRF, Global Shop, and Digital Signage Expo. More than just a LCD panel, these ready-to-go transparent LCD solutions will blow you away with their bright colors, contrast, clarity and the coolest part: they are transparent. Where there was once just glass can now be interactive transparent LCDs. These transparent solutions can be used in retail display boxes, retail refrigerators, museum displays, corporate lobby displays, vending machines and much more. Seeing is believing with these displays so check out the videos below and yes that is a fully functioning refrigerator in the first video. Since the LookThru glass is also a fully functional LCD display your product can be seen in a truly eye-catching and informative way. It is no wonder that Planar was called out as the “most eye catching booth” at DSE.

So let your product be seen and check out Planar’s LookThru transparent LCD solutions today.

Grab a cold Coke. Here is a functioning retail
refrigerator with Planar's LookThru transparent LCD.



Actual shoes and phone in a
Planar LookThru Retail Display Box

-Cris

Great Technology Enables Great Ideas

By Cris Derr

Technology is cool sometimes even jaw dropping like the transparent LCD display presented by Planar at CETW this past week in New York. While people crowded around our transparent display in awe, it was the buzz around the solutions that could be built with such technology that was really inspiring. Great technology enables great ideas. At Planar another technology that enables great ideas is ERO™ for our Clarity™ Matrix LCD Video Wall.

ERO does much more than deliver amazing display quality by improving image contrast; it also enables interactive touch solutions on a grand scale. ERO does this in two ways: first it protects the LCD screen allowing for touch input without damaging the LCD, and second it enables a large planar surface that is needed to implement touch solutions across a video wall. The results are amazing creations of interactive touch signage that are larger than life. With Planar’s ERO technology, video wall signage can be created that impacts and engages the viewer in a way traditional signage can’t match. Examples of such cool creations include the Interactive Tiger Wall at the University of Missouri and the new Nike Town Bowerman Wall in Portland Oregon.

With over 25 years of experience building state of the art displays, Planar continues to innovate and introduce touch technology that creates real value for our customers. If you would like to know more about Planar’s touch displays drop me a line, and feel free to join me on LinkedIn.

- Cris

The Art and Soul of Digital Signage

At Planar, we are interested in different ways of utilising Digital Signage to engage, inform and even dazzle the public. Recently we've come across an example from the UK on Remembrance Sunday for broadcasting the day's service to large audience and PRN in the US using their channel throughout national retail store locations to keep the fans of football up-to-date with NFL Networks football highlights when shopping.

And pictured here, the beautiful lobby of Hotel de Luxe in Portland, Oregon, where signage meets art and films! An installation where Planar proudly provides the hardware to create this unique environment.

 

Digital signage truly is more than just advertising! It's about informing, engaging, dazzling, entertaining, creating art & design... What's the most out of the box DS installation you've ever seen? We would be glad to see what you've come across on your travels. The more unique and customised solution you can come up with, the better: please include a link to pictures online in your comment.

For more ideas on what to look for, visit Planar's dedicated Digital Signage website on www.planardigitalsignage.com.

The latest in 3D: the Planar 3D Matrix goes live!

It's what the 3D Roundabout caught already at the prototype stage earlier this year, but now it is launched and being installed as well! First installlation can be seen the University of Illinois Chicago's Electronic Visualization Laboratory (EVL) in a class room setting. The Cyber-Commons 3D is a class room facility featuring six wide by three high Matrix 3D video wall, made from our 46" Matrix displays, which allows 2D and 3D visualization and collaboration. You can read more about the installation from EVL's own website.

The new 3D Matrix will be at show this week at the SuperComputing 2011 at Louisiana State University, where Planar can be found exhibiting at booth number 2836.

What is the 3D Matrix then, why is it so special? What would you say about an ultra-thin, flicker-free 3D stereoscopic display meant for large format professional installations? Omega Sales Inc. comments: "How cool is that?"

The Clarity 3D Matrix product expands Planar's expertise in 3D to professional, passive-glass approach for stereo viewing with 46" size displays for building a video wall the size you need. Installation depth is only 3.6"/93mm with integrated mounting system and off-board electronics and power supplies to create an alternative for projection based 3D visualization.

Keep your eyes open for new installations! Or why not contact our sales teams to stay ahead of your competition and be one of the first to get your 3D video wall installed!

Don't Forget Your Employees

By Cris Derr

Here's my "Deliver WOW!" moment of the day from IQmetrix Wireless Summit in Miami: Knowledgeable, motivated employees are as important to increasing sales as engaged customers. OK, you're probably thinking "The Miami heat has finally gotten to Cris' Pacific Northwest brain." Possibly. But it's easy to focus on the customer-centric benefits of interactive retail experiences created by iQmetrix XQ software and Planar System stylish touch displays.

What has become far clearer to me during my time here at the summit is the importance of employee training as you build more engaging retail spaces. CEOs and other retail leaders at the summit have shared stories about how the iQmetrix/Planar solution can be used to dramatically improve training of new and existing employees. After exploring the very intuitive touch interface, it became obvious to them that:

• Employees become smarter about the features and benefits of the product they are selling.
• Since the tool is integral to the selling process, employees are also learning about the selling process itself.

What a homerun: a solution that delivers WOW!, increases sales and productivity and trains employees. I'd love to hear your thoughts about the importance of using technology like the iQmetrix/Planar solution to train and engage employees in the products that are selling.

Also, please drop me a line if you have any questions about how to use Planar monitors to create great touch solutions such as the one with iQmetrix – or simply visit us at Planartouch.com.

Join me on linkedin.