The award-winning Ben Franklin Technology Partners (BTFP) is one of the nation’s longest-running technology-based economic development programs. For more than 25 years, BFTP has provided both early-stage and established companies with funding, business and technical expertise and access to a network of innovative, expert resources. BFTP is positioned throughout the state with regional headquarters in the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and State College.

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania recognizes the extended benefits of digital signage. At its TechVentures facility in Bethlehem, BFTP has installed a network of sixteen 46″ LCD displays throughout the building, with the specific goal of using them to support the center’s role as an incubator community for early-stage technology companies.

Project Summary

The incubator network is an important element in BFTP’s strategy for developing its technology infrastructure.

“Our original business incubator, a one-story building on Lehigh University’s campus, was filled to capacity and we needed to grow,” explained Laura Eppler, BFTP’s director of marketing. “A vacant three-story building across the street on Lehigh’s campus became available, so we renovated and updated it completely and relocated. We didn’t want to lose the camaraderie and sharing of experiences that helped so many firms in the earlier incubator, and we were concerned about that since our new facility is multi-story. We needed a method to encourage a sharing of ideas and synergy among the resident companies in the business incubator. We used digital signage to address that challenge.”

The Solution

BFTP worked with Rise to create a network of digital bulletin boards that are interspersed throughout the facility, including a 2×2 video wall in the front lobby and 12 LCD displays placed in other common areas. All locations were strategically chosen “to facilitate interaction among resident companies, to keep them informed of business news throughout the day, and to provide information to visitors of the facility,” said Ms. Eppler.

Appearances were also important. “The displays present a high-tech image to visitors and resident companies that reflects on the entire facility.” Calling their display network “the best solution to our communication development and brand-building goals,” Ms. Eppler said that digital signage can indeed help to foster community in a large facility. “News travels both electronically and via word-of-mouth. With our displays, we have been able to maintain the synergy that is such an important element in a business incubator.”

The Final Result

As for helping to contribute to their high-tech brand, Ms. Eppler confirmed that the signs at Ben Franklin TechVentures are not only informative, but also impressive. “Both resident companies and visitors have raved about the ingenuity of the solution.” Overall, she said that BFTP is very happy with its sign network at TechVentures.

“Our role is to link companies with experts, universities, funding and other resources to help them prosper through innovation. Communication is key to accomplishing that. The digital displays have helped us facilitate communication and collaboration at Ben Franklin TechVentures.”

Another institution that always includes digital signage in their events are United Nations. At their latest conference, taking place from December 7th to 18th in Copenhagen, Denmark, with the theme that occupies the attention of wide international public – Climate Change – UN chose Bella Center to be the congress center which will host the event.

As every other big event in UN organization, this one is having many simultaneous sessions/panels, on different subjects under the umbrella of the general theme. And these sessions are taking place in different conference rooms at Bella Center.

We can agree or not that this conference will be a significant step for the future of the Earth and mankind, but we can definitely agree that UN know how to give a modern, contemporary look to their events. Thumbs up for the organizer!

This morning, I made a visit to the road traffic licensing department, well known Strassenverkehrsamt, in Winterthur.

Two huge screens, on which were running all kinds of useful information, like parking ticket prices, different taxes and deadlines, were dominating the pretty empty hall. I haven’t seen advertising on them.

Actually, they didn’t help a lot, since they do not say which desk is doing what – so I had to stray a bit to find the proper place. Maybe they can use a tip or two about the content running on those screens…

Yesterday, a new electric car from Nissan has been presented. It is called Leaf and is 100% green. Its maximum speed is 140km/h, and has 160 km range.

OK, but what does it have to do with digital signage? On Leaf’s presentation, which was held in Nissan’s new HQ in Yokohama, Japan, the most impressive thing, next to the car of course, was the big screen right above the car and Nissan’s CEO, Mr. Carlos Ghosn head. This is how it looks like on a normal day:

Of course, visiting of this complex is allowed only in guided tours. So, I do apologize in advance for the quality of some of the pictures – at several points we were literally running after our guide.

At the very entrance – high level of security measures – and big info screen. We had to make pictures (a big smile for web cam) and in an instant we got badges with ID number, which were used for identification during this restricted tour on UNO ground.

Hallo! Welcome to the UNO! The hall with conference rooms in the new building.

Every conference room has info screen with basic info about the conference taking place in it, or the theme that particular board is covering.

This is one of the 8 conference rooms in the complex, with capacity of 800 diplomats (and their assistants of first and second level) who actively contribute in the conference.

The whole building is equipped with huge info screens, so you can hardly get lost, even if you work on that.

General assembly hall – 2000 diplomats can be placed in it during the annual convention. According to the guide, great place for Christmas party, because of its acoustics.

And, for the end, “The Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room”, opened for visitors last month.

Or colloquial Spanish room, since it is a gift to UNO from Spanish government.