Maybe you've come across a television screen mounted in the gas pump with some brief news clips tucked in between commercials about discount drinks or the latest gas treatment that will increase your fuel economy. Perhaps you have been the the mall and noticed that the fab clothing retailer has replaced the mannequins in the windows for large plasma displays highlighting the latest sale. This is just two examples of digital signage, and in 2007 it was reported to be a billion dollar business. Retail, Hospitality, Healthcare, Banking, and Education are all markets that this industry is targeting.
Marketers were once focused on print media as the primary avenue to entice customers to shop their brands, but now there are multiple avenues available to promote, persuade, and engage customers. Digital signage is one such avenue that continues to gain traction. This is evident by the displays that have cropped up at the gas pump, the check counter at the local grocery store, and the front door of meeting spaces. Offering both information and advertisements, these active (and in some cases interactive) signs have become common place.
From a technology standpoint, installing digital signs is the easy part. What most people find difficult is keeping the content fresh and up-to-date. Taking cues from the web media, individuals who have employed digital signs will testify that to ensure you continue to draw attention to these signs you have to keep the content current. If a person believes the information is out of date, they will immediate start to ignore the signs. To this end, content providers have sprung up offering networks and streams with news crawls, commercials, and other type fillers in order to lessen the burden of finding compelling content to fill the 42 inch or greater visual real estate.
While these providers do offer up to the minute elements, the question I submit is whether they detract from the message of the digital sign owner. Does a display detailing the schedule of a facility really need to occupy a display with CNN headlines scrolling at the bottom? Even in your fancier hotel chains, the local weather forecast is still printed each morning and placed in a clear sleeve in the elevators. The information is current and the overhead is small (assuming the hotel doesn't have thirty plus elevators). Sure a digital sign would work in this case, and offer more viewable options than the forecast. If gas pump digital signs weren't around, then we wouldn't have those humorous segments on the Tonight Show featuring the gas pump digital signs at the Burbank Costco.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Bunko
This evening my wife hosted her Bunko group at our house. As occurs each time my bride hosts Bunko, I exit stage left with the kids in tow to give her full reign for her gathering. However, for the last couple of weeks the entire family has been in Bunko preparation mode.
My lovely bride decided she wanted to have Bunko outside since it's been so nice the last couple of weeks. Mind you, today we knocked at the door of the century mark, but none the less she was convicted to have the group outside for their event. So the family focused on sprucing up the yard. We trimmed bushes, evacuated weeds from the flower beds, laid mulch in various flower beds, edged the lawn, even sprayed some bug repellent over the whole yard. I broke out the clear Christmas lights to created a lighted canopy around a section of the yard to create some ambiance.
My wife and our son made various treats today for the party, and we cleaned the house from head to toe. My middle child questioned all the activity last night when she was instructed to pick up her room. Her rational was that if the party was outdoors, why then did she have to clean her room. Mother's rebuttal was that those destined for the bathroom would have the chance of observing the child's room. Needless to say our middle child was not too happy with this line of thinking, as she complied with the request.
It strikes me as neat how the family pulls together for each other. Although myself and our three little ones did not get the fully enjoy the preparations, we still provided assistance and input. The kids assisted in planting flowers, and ensuring everything was properly arranged. I did my part in mowing the lawn, hanging lights, and even spraying the yard last night at 10pm. All our efforts were afford so that mom could have a successful party. As the last guest left and the last card table was broken down, the smile on my bride's face was payment for all the energies the family had expended. Her pride shown not merely in the visual affects she had so carefully crafted, but I believe it was also in the manner in which the family came together for her benefit.
My lovely bride decided she wanted to have Bunko outside since it's been so nice the last couple of weeks. Mind you, today we knocked at the door of the century mark, but none the less she was convicted to have the group outside for their event. So the family focused on sprucing up the yard. We trimmed bushes, evacuated weeds from the flower beds, laid mulch in various flower beds, edged the lawn, even sprayed some bug repellent over the whole yard. I broke out the clear Christmas lights to created a lighted canopy around a section of the yard to create some ambiance.
My wife and our son made various treats today for the party, and we cleaned the house from head to toe. My middle child questioned all the activity last night when she was instructed to pick up her room. Her rational was that if the party was outdoors, why then did she have to clean her room. Mother's rebuttal was that those destined for the bathroom would have the chance of observing the child's room. Needless to say our middle child was not too happy with this line of thinking, as she complied with the request.
It strikes me as neat how the family pulls together for each other. Although myself and our three little ones did not get the fully enjoy the preparations, we still provided assistance and input. The kids assisted in planting flowers, and ensuring everything was properly arranged. I did my part in mowing the lawn, hanging lights, and even spraying the yard last night at 10pm. All our efforts were afford so that mom could have a successful party. As the last guest left and the last card table was broken down, the smile on my bride's face was payment for all the energies the family had expended. Her pride shown not merely in the visual affects she had so carefully crafted, but I believe it was also in the manner in which the family came together for her benefit.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Establishing Traditions - Camping
Three years ago, my wife and I decided we should take our kids camping. Now I wasn't raised a camper. As I recall my childhood, we only went camping once. I was in cub scouts and the troop I was in had an overnight family camping trip. So the family packed some stuff into our Mercury Monarch, and headed out. The first obstacle we faced was a road that dipped through a stream with about 6 inches of water covering the road. My dad was a bit nervous about this water crossing, although a boy scout who was directing folks into the pasture assured us if we got a running start we could make it across. The second obstacle was that we didn't have a tent. So my mom improvised with a quilt that she hung one side in the doors of the car and staked the other side up with a couple of branches we found. The final obstacle was that the pasture we were camping in had been plowed the season before so, it was bumpy night sleep. Honestly after that adventure, I think my parents swore off camping.
As not to deprive my own children of these childhood memories, my wife and I decided to take the kids camping. We chose the Friday the kids got out of school (late May) and headed out to the nearest state park. Since we were a bite nervous about the trip, we borrowed a pop-up camper from some friends and invited my brother to come with. My brother is a mamologist and had spent many a night under the stars as he trapped small furry animals to study.
So the first year we just spent one night. The nearby state park is actually neat. It has a small pond stocked with sun fish that bite on almost anything, a swimming pool, and plenty of space for kids to walk and ride bikes. In fact on that first visit, a videographer from the State Department of Parks and Wildlife was visiting to shoot video of the park and actually miced up my oldest while we fished. The video actually aired on a short segment carried by television stations state wide.
The second year we tried two new things. First we tried tent camping, thanks to my brother who picked us up a 4 person tent. Second we tried a two night stay. This visit was the first weekend of June, and was great thanks to the pool being opened. Again the kids caught fish, they rode their bikes, and we even ran into our friends with the pop-up who were also there for the weekend.
Well this year marks our third planned visit. We are going to try to coordinate our visit with the friends with the pop-up, and we are going to bring my youngest along as well. Initially we thought about just a one night stay for the youngest, but as chance would have it, my folks will be in Spain that weekend. So the baby boy will be jumping in with both feet for the two night stay.
Honestly, I'm actually looking forward to it. It's become a good tradition to kick off the summer vacation period. We grill out over an open fire, we have a Sunday morning praise time, we fish so that everyone gets to catch a fish. It's a good way to spend the weekend before it gets too hot and before we start the mad dash of summer trips.
As not to deprive my own children of these childhood memories, my wife and I decided to take the kids camping. We chose the Friday the kids got out of school (late May) and headed out to the nearest state park. Since we were a bite nervous about the trip, we borrowed a pop-up camper from some friends and invited my brother to come with. My brother is a mamologist and had spent many a night under the stars as he trapped small furry animals to study.
So the first year we just spent one night. The nearby state park is actually neat. It has a small pond stocked with sun fish that bite on almost anything, a swimming pool, and plenty of space for kids to walk and ride bikes. In fact on that first visit, a videographer from the State Department of Parks and Wildlife was visiting to shoot video of the park and actually miced up my oldest while we fished. The video actually aired on a short segment carried by television stations state wide.
The second year we tried two new things. First we tried tent camping, thanks to my brother who picked us up a 4 person tent. Second we tried a two night stay. This visit was the first weekend of June, and was great thanks to the pool being opened. Again the kids caught fish, they rode their bikes, and we even ran into our friends with the pop-up who were also there for the weekend.
Well this year marks our third planned visit. We are going to try to coordinate our visit with the friends with the pop-up, and we are going to bring my youngest along as well. Initially we thought about just a one night stay for the youngest, but as chance would have it, my folks will be in Spain that weekend. So the baby boy will be jumping in with both feet for the two night stay.
Honestly, I'm actually looking forward to it. It's become a good tradition to kick off the summer vacation period. We grill out over an open fire, we have a Sunday morning praise time, we fish so that everyone gets to catch a fish. It's a good way to spend the weekend before it gets too hot and before we start the mad dash of summer trips.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
How the Kids are Growing
Over the last couple of days I've been thinking about the future. Specifically about the future when my kids are grown or almost grown. In the last couple of months I've had a couple of colleagues who have dealt with significant events in their kids lives. One lost his son at the age of 37, after he'd abused his body with drug abuse. Another has seen his teenage girl challenge the boundaries the family has used to raise their children. Finally today, my dad's best friend from high school stopped over for lunch and spent time sharing with mom and dad the plight of their own children.
These events have prompted me to think about my own children, the way my wife and I are raising them, and what we want for them as they proceed into life. I've been a firm believer that parents can do their best, but God's given each person free will to make their own decisions. At some point a parent has to rely on the grace of God to cover what parent's have missed. And when the children make poor decisions, our job is to love them and offer forgiveness.
Several weeks I heard a church class on raising girls. The presenters, a former business man and his wife, talked about how they used a "master plan" for their children. The plan was designed with increasing levels or responsibilities, so that when they were 17 years old they would be making their own decisions. Until that point the parents would ensure that they've progressively equipped their children so that they were ready to make those decisions. As a survey my own children, the oldest one almost ten, I'm nervous thinking that I haven't been equipping my children to be ready to make their own decisions. Obviously each parent does it differently, but I guess the realization is that our time with the children is fleeting. Once they are born, the clock is ticking. With each day, month, and year our influence is lessing. Honestly it's a bit overwhelming.
I'm prayer is that in twenty to twenty-five years, as I sit with old friends sharing pictures and stories, that I'll be proud and glowing about my children and maybe my grandchildren. Twenty years seems like a life time away, but I'm sure it will get here sooner than I think.
These events have prompted me to think about my own children, the way my wife and I are raising them, and what we want for them as they proceed into life. I've been a firm believer that parents can do their best, but God's given each person free will to make their own decisions. At some point a parent has to rely on the grace of God to cover what parent's have missed. And when the children make poor decisions, our job is to love them and offer forgiveness.
Several weeks I heard a church class on raising girls. The presenters, a former business man and his wife, talked about how they used a "master plan" for their children. The plan was designed with increasing levels or responsibilities, so that when they were 17 years old they would be making their own decisions. Until that point the parents would ensure that they've progressively equipped their children so that they were ready to make those decisions. As a survey my own children, the oldest one almost ten, I'm nervous thinking that I haven't been equipping my children to be ready to make their own decisions. Obviously each parent does it differently, but I guess the realization is that our time with the children is fleeting. Once they are born, the clock is ticking. With each day, month, and year our influence is lessing. Honestly it's a bit overwhelming.
I'm prayer is that in twenty to twenty-five years, as I sit with old friends sharing pictures and stories, that I'll be proud and glowing about my children and maybe my grandchildren. Twenty years seems like a life time away, but I'm sure it will get here sooner than I think.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Checking the Schedule for a Night Home
I can remember, when my first child was a baby, that my wife and I rarely left the house. Maybe part of that was the simple fact we were new parents and were entirely confident in running around town with a little baby. During that time, we could watch a whole session of television shows as they originally aired.
Now our schedules are packed with evening activities, and it's a rare occurrence when we find ourselves at home, together, for an evening. For example, this week I've not spent a single night at home. Monday night I had a business dinner. Tuesday night the girls had gymnastics. Wednesday night I was driving back home from a business trip to Dallas, where upon arriving I headed straight to church. Thursday night I had a monthly poker game with some buddies. Saturday night we are schedule to have a family dinner to celebrate my brother's birthday. Sunday night we have our monthly Shepherding group. As of right now, it appears that Friday night will be my only night home for the week.
It's pretty amazing to me the contrast between now and when we were young and inexperienced parents. It's also pretty striking how jammed packed our lives have become. I shudder to think how what our schedules will look like once my children start middle school.
Now our schedules are packed with evening activities, and it's a rare occurrence when we find ourselves at home, together, for an evening. For example, this week I've not spent a single night at home. Monday night I had a business dinner. Tuesday night the girls had gymnastics. Wednesday night I was driving back home from a business trip to Dallas, where upon arriving I headed straight to church. Thursday night I had a monthly poker game with some buddies. Saturday night we are schedule to have a family dinner to celebrate my brother's birthday. Sunday night we have our monthly Shepherding group. As of right now, it appears that Friday night will be my only night home for the week.
It's pretty amazing to me the contrast between now and when we were young and inexperienced parents. It's also pretty striking how jammed packed our lives have become. I shudder to think how what our schedules will look like once my children start middle school.
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