PointOfView extends E-Government vision

Ten Planning and Registry Office reception areas are being given a 21st century makeover after the installation of a new digital signage network powered by Dynamax Technologies content management solution, PointOfView NG.

The network, installed by media network Quality Vision, enables Local Authorities to display information on screens, informing waiting customers about subjects as various as Civil Partnerships, ceremonies, new housing to road-works projects. Quality Vision provides the screens to Local Authorities for free and then pays for the network by selling advertising space to local businesses.

Since this was a new venture for Quality Vision, they decided to pilot the project using PointOfView NG Lite, the entry level version of the PointOfView NG content management system.

Quality Vision chose Dynamax to supply the content and network management solution for two reasons. Firstly, PointOfView NG is user-friendly, making it easy for Local Authorities to update the information on the screens. Secondly, the company recognised the importance of scalability for their network and needed the software's functionality to expand in line with their network.

The more sophisticated Enterprise version of PointOfView NG offers further capabilities, including the ability to identify and book spaces on the schedule and then automatically calculate rates as well as automatic playlist generation.

Quality Vision's general manager, Tony Smith, comments: "Local Authorities across the UK are rapidly waking up to the benefits of using digital signage in waiting rooms. With their captive audience in place, it is an ideal opportunity to make the general public aware of new services and important information. Add to this the fact that the screens pay for themselves and it becomes a compelling proposition."

Since its first installation for Derby City Council in early 2005, Quality Vision has seen the network grow rapidly and expects the quantity of screens it supplies to Local Authority waiting rooms to double by the end of this year.

Tony attributes a significant amount of this success to the edge that PointOfView NG gives Quality Vision over its competitors. He explains: "Most other digital signage networks in this area consist of screens powered by DVD players. With content on disc, however, updating advertising and public information content can be a slow and cumbersome process.

"PointOfView NG is a server based solution, where campaigns can be created, amended and changed centrally before being sent to individual players via an internet connection, the updating process is far quicker.

"Consequently it gives Local Authorities the opportunity to change content as often as they like, and us the chance to run a more efficient and profitable media network."

Dynamax Director of Sales, Paul Ronson, comments on the project: "Quality Vision is an excellent example of what we see as the future for small to medium scale networks. These networks, which will use digital signage as a means of forging a middle path between public information and news provision and advertising, represent an ideal way of reaching an increasingly mobile and information-hungry population.

"We look forward to helping Quality Vision's network grow well into the future."