Now more than ever it is easier to meet face to face without going place to place.

With multiple display technology finding itself more and more in the board room, businesses large and small are incorporating web and video into conferencing and think tanks.

“Blending two powerful collaboration solutions into one environment” is the name of the game for Cisco TelePresence WebEx application. Cisco TelePresence systems deliver lifelike, high definition images and spatially discrete audio for immersed experiences using advanced visual, audio, with collaboration technologies. WebEx has been a popular application for webinars, corporate meetings, and many online environments in real-time.

“We developed a cost-to-benefit analysis when we first deployed WebEx that showed we were saving $3,500 in cost per trained employee per year—that comes to over 12 million dollars a year we saved.”

Sandra Morris Vice President, Learning & Employee Development GMAC

Video conferencing in general is growing evermore popular even in the consumer market. With services such as Skype, offering a free online software that offers free video calls to other Skype numbers as well as discounted international calls and call forwarding for a small fee, more and more people are connecting with video using simple web cams built into the computer monitor.

For best results using video conferencing use a Dual Monitor setup or better. This way you can continue to make use of at least one of your computers monitor. Multi-tasking on single computer monitors can be daunting and stressful, however with multiple large displays like that pictured above, meeting together with your team from afar is simple and easier than ever before.

Contributed by CDM

With the release of the FUSION Pull-Out Mounts setting up a video wall has never been easier and convenient.

The LSMVU and MSMVU mounts from Chief Manufacturing, the industry leader in projector, monitor and flat panel TV mounting solutions, offer easy installation and maintenance for video wall configurations, saving you time and money.

Pull-Out mounts are ideal for video walls, digital signage, and single-screen recessed applications. The new FUSION Series Pull-Out mounts were conceived from installer feedback, and extend 7 inches (178 mm) for easy cable access and servicing in hard to reach installations. Even the center most screen of a video wall matrix can be easier and safer to access.

Screens are perfectly vertical, even if the wall is not, thanks to the added ability to finely-tune the plumb adjustment. Comprehensive mounting solutions that include a variety of features to make installation and maintenance of digital signage systems a breeze.

Provide post-installation fine-tuning of height and leveling for perfect alignment with ControlZone™ Leveling.  Screens slide together with Centerless™ post-installation lateral shift to speed up installation, and you can slide them apart again to simplify routine maintenance.

With Chief’s exclusive feature ClickConnect™ you get an audible click when the screens safely engage with the mount so you know the installation is secure. Plus you can even add a padlock for even more security.

Save time and money on digital signage projects incorporating multiple displays. Create 2×2 digital displays or larger with multi screen displays. FUSION mounts display capacity ranges from 26-63 inches. Do the math and that could bring forth an impressive display very quick , and typically being put on a high plane, makes the new FUSION Pull-Out Mounts a safe and practical solution for digital media.

Contribution by C.D.M.

For those who are looking to install digital signage networks, remember that “it is imperative that great care be taken by anyone looking to get into this business to ensure that the integrity of the content is impenetrable by outside forces.” said Rex Williams, President of UDN, which installed the New York network of LED displays over 80 of the cities subway entrances.

System security could be inadequate at the network design stage, or be exposed as digital signage systems expand and use multiple media transport providers (ISP – Internet service providers). Of course even the slightest risk is unacceptable. System security must be nearly “bullet proof” as far as hackers go. Those that use automated digital signage networks have to take steps to assure security at the content ingest, play – list management, display monitoring and other vulnerable points are protected from hackers.

Because of the vivid and eye-catching visual effects, digital displays superbly support commerce, public safety and information needs. Having the power to provide information at a point of decision or when information is needed underpins the value of this communications medium for advertisers and public service providers alike.

Print (static) signage locations place a value on retail location space, and revenue measures from stock turns, the margin per square foot show in comparison the “return on space” with digital signage displays provide the highest ROI.  Adding benefits of use such as product promotions, branding, better customer relations, liability containment, and so on. Digital display advertising is the wave of the future today.