Scope of work: Programming and Software development

Most digital signage networks utilise some kind of XML feed containing anything from latest news to weather.  But how do you get this information onto your digital signage?

XML is a data delivery language that stands for “Extensible Markup Language” and allows users to define their own elements for sharing structured data.

Sports news feed as it appears on the infoScreen

Below is a single markup and content item extracted from a typical XML feed.  In this case, it is used to produce the newsfeed item in the above screen shot taken from the infoScreen, which forms part of the patient infoPoint system I developed for Surgery Media Systems.


<Heading>
Inter 2-1 Chelsea
</Heading>

XML feed parsed into a database - click to enlarge

Now that the XML newsfeed markup and content items are contained in an industry standard database, the information can be directly accessed by digital signage software, third party applications and web sites with the help of standard database access object code.

It is then possible to develop additional functionality. In this case a news story item approval procedure using a basic web site, as below:-

News approval web site - click to enlarge

The same information can also be used to populate stories and headlines on a web site, as below:-

The public health portal - click to enlarge

Like anything, once the basics have been mastered, the possibilities are endless!

On the ground floor of the City Hall’s Visitor Centre a London Photomat is installed.

The 16m x 10m London Photomat is a birds-eye view of London created by joining hundreds of individual photographs taken with a 90 megapixel camera from a light aircraft flying at an altitude of 6000 feet above London.  Visitors to City Hall are invited to step onto the map and find familiar locations, or pick out some of London’s most famous landmarks.

I was responsible for on-site and remote maintenance of the PC tablets used for the exhibit.  The tablets are Windows XP based with state of the art ultra wideband radio tracking systems attached.  This tracking technology enabled the software to display content based on the exact location of the person standing on the London Photomat.

Resources

http://www.liquiddigital.tv/portfolio/gla.asp

http://www.london.gov.uk/gla/photomat.jsp

Scope of works: Technical

Each year Macmillan Cancer Support asks 15 celebrities to tell them what they would like to find in their ‘dream Christmas stocking’. They then hold an auction where guests get the chance to bid on these exclusive stockings. Among the line-up of celebrities are Rob Lowe, Emma Thompson, Lily Cole, Philip Treacy, Kelly Hoppen, Dita von Teese and Sir Philip Green.  The 2009 spectacular Burlesque-themed ticket only event was conducted by Andrew McVinish of Christies and co-presented by Neil Fox and Sinitta.

On the event day, I was responsible for cabling eight LCD screens in the main event hall, ensuring the appropriate content was playing on each screen whilst adhering to health and safety guidelines.

Scope of works: Software development and project management

During a contract with MEI Events, I worked on a project with English Heritage.

Dover Castle was wrapped in a series of dramatic projections that stunned English Heritage’s guests and the media alike. On one of the massive 35 metre walls of the Great Tower Digi-Da-Vinci was premierred.

Digi-Da-Vinci turns any structure into a giant blank canvas on which anyone, using a combination of digital paintbrushes and stamps, can quickly create the most fantastic technicolour images.

Illuminating Dover Castle

The Digi-Da-Vinci software is a painting package incorporating mathematic equations to produce stunning and simplistic visual effects.  The visual effects range from simple printing, “painting by numbers” graphic revealing, stamps, dripping paint, spray can and so on.  I part developed the Digi-Da-Vinci software package with MEI Events using Processing, in particular I developed the dripping paint and stamp tool algorithms.   A shot of the Digi-Da-Vinci software in action can be seen in the image above on the left, and in the Sky News video snippet below.

Dover Castle walls illuminated

On the event day, I was also involved in cabling and installing City Light projectors and associated cabling throughout Dover Castle.

The event featured on the following publications (click each one to visit their page):-

Sky News BBC Sea Change Dover The Metro

Scope of works: Digital signage, web technologies, software development, maintenance

During my four year permanent contract at MEI Digital Ltd, I worked on the WHSmith Travel and Retail digital signage network.  The network consisted of over 200 LCD and plasma screens, rack mounted media players, web browsers, interactive playtables for kids, exterior digital signposts, live train timetables and in-store dump-bin screens.

The network spanned over 60 stores in all major airports and railways stations throughout the UK, including Selfridges and AXA, and all major USA airports. It is worth mentioning that WHSmith is the longest running digital signage network in the world and continues to expand to this day.

Back in 2002, WHSmith was my first experience in digital signage.  I used my previous IT experience and knowledge to undertake all tasks that came with my role and, with this, my potential was soon noticed where I was asked to take on further responsibilities.  Being a small company, it meant everyone, including me, got involved in all aspects of the business, which at the ripe age of 24 was excellent experience and steered me well on my way into the digital signage marketplace and multi-talented evolutionary IT and management skills.

On a daily basis, I supported the entire digital signage network.  The level of support I was involved with ranged from hardware swap out to project managing a brand new site installation.

While at MEI Digital Ltd, I feel my main achievements included:-

• Development of playback, delivery, monitoring and reporting software for the WHSmith digital signage network.
• Development of corporate and Intranet web sites.
• Project management and installation of in-store digital signage networks.  This included anything up to 8 screens in one store, media players, backup power supplies, sound systems, queueing system integration, live train timetable integration etc.
• General internal IT support.  I was the main point of call for anyone with a computer issue or technical query.
• Involvement in new project brain storming sessions.
• Software development that included the playback reporting of all screen content throughout the network. This was utilised by the digital signage management team within WHSmith and the third party advertising agencies.
• I developed automated watchdog software that monitored abnormal system activity on the media players and automatically rebooted the system when a fatal error occured or restarted the content playback software where appropriate.

In-store digital signage media player installation

Stansted interactive kids play table

WHSmith Book.co interactive web browser

Heathrow dump bin promotions

Victoria Station re-fit in 2007

WHSmith Stansted Airport

Scope of works: Project management

I occasionally work as a technical consultant and project manager with an outdoor events company called MEI Events. A recent project where I was one of the project managers involving Andy Murray and Pat Cash on the roof of the O2, London.

The roof of O2 has one of the best and most exclusive views of London. As part of the ATP’s campaign to publicise the 2009 ATP World Finals, MEI Events produced and managed a photo-shoot with Andy Murray on the roof of the O2, which we branded with the ATP logo in the centre of a huge target.

On the actual stunt day, I worked with the key people involved and organised the walkie talkies to ensure communication was possible between  everyone, which included the helicopter pilot, cameramen, Andy Murray, Pat Cash and the project organisers.

With the window of filming from the helicopter very limited, and in the knowledge we only had time for one take, this had to work first time or not at all!  The pressure was on!  As you can see from the YouTube clip below, the result was stunning!

ATP Finals at the O2 with Andy Murray

Scope of works: Digital signage, software development and on-going maintenance

Since its opening in June 1998, Watson’s Wine Cellar is now the largest specialist wine retailer in Central Hong Kong.

The digital signage solution comprises of an interactive touch screen and a 42 inch LCD screen at the point of purchase.

I was responsible for designing, creating, populating and deploying the Microsoft SQL database which contained detailed wine information available in-store. The interactive software allowed the customer to obtain further information on a wine by scanning the wine bottle’s barcode with the barcode scanner, browsing the wine categories or manually entering the code from the wine bottle.

I also developed a playlist generator, using Visual Basic 6, which created a content playlist for the screen dependant on a store’s specific wine promotion which included latest offers, promotion-led content and up-to-the-minute information.  The client was able to create their own custom playlist based on these factors and publish to the screen for immediate playback of the new content loop in store.

On an on-going basis, I was responsible for maintaining the network remotely from the UK.  I liaised with the Hong Kong division on any problems I could not resolve remotely.

Watsons Wine Cellar - Touchscreen and LCD