SMART CITIES - DIGITAL SIGNAGE INDUSTRY GROWTH POTENTIAL

SMART CITIES ARE ALL ABOUT BETTER CITY MANAGEMENT AND OPTIMIZATION OF RESOURCE CONSUMPTION WITH USE OF INTEGRATED URBAN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY.

It is urban development science merging with ICT and its advancements in big data and IOT devices.

Members of digital signage should be excited as there is nice opportunity for many “narrow casting” public display and intelligent integrated public access kiosk solutions. Smart city markets should become 1,5 trillion dollar industry and as such is anticipated to attract big players. Anything from smart active traffic signage systems capable of reacting to congestions automatically based on numerous sensor readings on one hand, to information kiosks empoweringand connecting citizens, tourists, local businesses and governance.

Well-developed Smart City concept such as Konza City (Kenya) integrates four key city services Infrastructure services (transportation, utilities, public safety, environment), Citizen services (access and participation), City services (city information, planning and development) and Business services (supportive services for local commerce).

Digital signage can help with any of following:

• Business services (e.g. support services – local business info, advertising and promotion, tourism promotion)
• City and citizen services (e.g. city information – basic city info, city programs promotion, education)
• Infrastructure services (e.g. Wi-fi hot spot, emergency warnings, emergency call, camera surveillance, environment status -
  billboards – pollution levels, power consumption)
• Transport (e.g. Passenger information)
• Data analitics (e.g. Sensors - sensors tracking pollution levels, passerby flow)

Public digital signage – outdoor public kiosk happening:
It is clear that cities and towns are getting increasingly interested in public digital signage kiosks and displays. There are many primitive small information kiosk deployments popping around the places and slowly but surely ideas are getting more complex and bold .

However, the best indicator of potential is how well accepted LinkNYC digital signage network is, with mostly positive professional reviews and comments, confirming usability of city information network. The fact that NY city mayor Mr. Bill de Blasio was present at the launch shows importance of this development. Kiosks are equipped with powerful super fast Wi-Fi access points, easing the pain of too often unreliable internet connection in the town. Users can use internet and in case of urgency emergency call button and mobile phone charger are available. Two 55” Super High Bright LCD DOOH advertising panels will provide revenues to cover the investment. In first stage 500 units will be deployed, end number should be around 10.000 somewhere in 2020s. Civic Smartscapes is company responsible for this network, and a company that will try to ride the wave, for which they even employed as their President Mr. Brian Dusho, a familiar DS industry name.

Even though this project is not small by any means, it represents only fraction of what digital signage can do for smart cities and is kind of a global pilot project.

Conclusion - smart city is important DS industry growth potential

Digital signage and smart cities are here to stay, grow and change the way we behave and live our lives. Potential of integrated public digital signs is getting untapped, city info point idea getting accepted and recognized. It is safe to say that in following 10 years, when these two boys will be in their teens, industry will become established. We at Infinitus are excited and look forward to be part of it. What about you!?

would love to hear your input on the matter.