Scope of works: Project and Operations Management, Software development (Visual Basic, Flash CS3, LAMP)

Baby TV is a information service aimed at parents-to-be in hospital antenatal waiting rooms nationwide.  Baby TV aims to help parents-to-be make informed decisions for the health, welfare, safety and happiness of both themselves and their future baby.

My involvement in the Baby TV interactive kiosk project included:-

• Producing an innovative and informative user experience.
• Developing an interactive kiosk application.
• Maintain and support the interactive kiosks on a daily basis.

I developed a custom web browser in Visual Basic which served a locally hosted web site designed using LAMP.  The web browser has an automatic return to homepage feature which returned the web browser to the homepage when the interactive kiosk was idle.  Additional features also include collating page visits and competition entries which are stored locally in a mySQL database and backup text files.

Competition entries, usage statistics and the “email me this page” feature information were stored locally on the media player.  Once a day the information was uploaded to a central database and server, ready for daily reporting and usage monitoring.

Health monitoring information, including a screen shot, connectivity and media player operation statistics, were also uploaded on a daily basis to the central server.  This helped the administrative staff to monitor the network efficiently and responsively.

The new Baby TV interactive kiosks will initially roll out to four hospitals and a shopping centre.

Scope of works: Software development (Scala, Visual Basic, VBScript and After Effects)

So, the World Cup is almost upon us. An event that only occurs every four years making it unique in the world of sports.  The patience, the build-up, the long qualification process always makes it seem so far away, yet here we are on the threshold of the event in South Africa in 2010!

While reviewing screen content on the Surgery Media Systems digital signage network, the decision was make to add a new World Cup 2010 content item.

I liaised with the syndicated news feed supplier and arranged a free service upgrade which included the World Cup 2010 news feed.  I also updated an existing piece of content created in Adobe After Effects, adding an appropriate background image, then modifying the back end digital signage software and scripts to incorporate the new World Cup news feed.

Displayed on a large 42″ LCD screen, this content item makes up an existing content loop of approximately 15 content items.  Three separate latest World Cup 2010 news stories are shown within the same content item with an aesthetically pleasing fade between each story.

World Cup 2010 news

Scope of works: Project management, training and development

The Priory Surgery, an NHS general practice situated in the heart of High Wycombe, is the location of a digital signage installation I have recently project managed.  This installation of the patient infoPoint system from Surgery Media Systems Ltd was installed in March 2010 and comprises of a 40″ LCD screen and two smaller 32″ LCD screens installed throughout a large c1900s three story converted Victorian house.

I sourced and tested all hardware essential for the installation, including screens, media player, wall mounted brackets and screen output splitting and extending equipment.

Working in conjunction with the practice, I prepared and tailored the screen content ensuring all content was suitable for a NHS general practice.

Before and after shots of a waiting room at The Priory Surgery (click to enlarge)

I decided to install one media player for this installation  based on the following reasons;  reduced licence fee, hardware and installation costs, on-going maintenance and daily monitoring.

DVI over CAT5 network cabling was used to extend and split the single digital graphics output from the media player to 3 separate LCD screens installed throughout the practice.

Before and after shots of a waiting room at The Priory Surgery (click to enlarge)

I was present on the day of installation to make sure the client was completely happy and to help with the installation where appropriate.

I carried out a comprehensive training session on the patient infoPoint system.  Training was given to the general practice staff members, including the practice manager and principle doctor.

Before and after shots of a waiting room at The Priory Surgery

The different components to the patient infoPoint system from Surgery Media Systems Ltd can be viewed by clicking here, or visit the Surgery Media Systems article under Digital Signage.

Dentistry.co.uk have featured the Surgery Media Systems marketing video in its entirety on their web site.

You can view the article and watch the video here.

Surgery Media Systems is the medical digital signage network I project managed and continue to develop.

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

Cabvision is an interactive digital signage network installed in over 1000 taxi cabs across the inner and outer London areas.  The content, delivered remotely over the DAB and GPRS networks, featured are pre-recorded commercials and television shows, latest sport and news headlines, information services and a music channel where the passenger can select a track to listen to while on their journey.

During my two year permanent contract with Liquid Digital Ltd, I was responsible for developing an online administration website using LAMP, known as the Cabvision DBMS, which served the following purposes, and more:-

• Managing the fleet of 1000 plus taxi cabs, which includes cab driver details, content files playback reporting, software and content update status.
• Live reporting of content playback, duration of journeys, content and digital signage application downloads and upload statistics, DAB and GPRS status (screen shot below).
• Hardware stock control – where the stock was distributed throughout the Cabvision taxi network, including spares and repair information.
• A status screen which gave the health of the network (screen shot below).
• Managing of promotions and seasonal advertising
• Ensuring delivery of content and critial digital signage playback software files.
• Reviewing the latest news and sports XML feeds.
• Automated monthly payment receipts, emailed as PDFs directly to the taxi cab owners.

I was involved in developing state of the art software which delivered content files and automated software update packages over the GPRS and DAB technologies directly to the PC based Windows XP Embedded media player situated inside the taxi cabs.

My on-going responsibilities were monitoring the digital signage network on a daily basis, managing the monthly hard drive swapouts across all 1000 plus taxi cabs and maintaining the web servers which hosted the online administration website and the Cabvision corporate website.

I managed the bi-monthly hard drive swap outs directly with Cabvision at their headquarters in East London.

Cabvision screen

Scope of works: Project management, software development and web technologies.

The Surgery Media Systems Ltd (SMS) digital signage network consists of an interactive touchscreen kiosk , an infotainment 40″ LCD screen , an online administrative web portal and a public facing health information portal called www.myinfopoint.co.uk .  Collectively, the digital signage network is called the patient infoPoint system.

Waterside Dental, Canary Wharf

The wall mounted screen displays content customised by the practice, including instant messaging, quizzes, real time feeds via the internet and customisable slides.  The interactive kiosk contains information videos, detailed information about the practice and gives patients the opportunity to register their details with the practice and fill out a survey created by the practice.

infoManager - The Survey Manager (click to enlarge)

I developed a web-based survey manager where the practice could create and edit their own surveys, publish to their interactive kiosks and report on each survey’s results using the web-based administrative portal.

The infoManager - web based administrative portal

The administrative web portal manages ever aspect of the system.  From the web portal, the practice has direct control on content creation, content updates, survey reporting and patient registration details from the interactive kiosk and the ability to send target emails to their patients.

The public health portal - www.myinfopoint.co.uk

SMS was setup in 2008, and I was asked to join the company as project manager and developer.  My first task was to interview and short list a team of developers and designers.  Based on documentation of what the patient infoPoint system would initially become work began on developing the brand new SMS digital signage network.

I project managed the SMS digital signage network from beginning to end.  I also got heavily involved in software development, specifically the content playback and backend solution, internal and external web sites and database programming.

After 8 months of development, design work, testing and plenty of late nights, a final version of the patient infoPoint system was completed ready for launch at the BDA Dental Show, ExCel Centre in the heart of London’s Royal Docks.  It was positively received and headway made to market the SMS digital signage network to interested dental practices throughout the UK.

Screen and interactive kiosk components

The SMS digital signage network sold well and installations began.  12 months after development started, the patient infoPoint system was installed into at leats 10 dental practices.

Once the SMS digital signage network was operational, I developed a site monitoring and fault logging system using PHP and mySQL.  This reported on the  network’s health status and was checked regularly by the SMS support staff.  When an issue arose, a fault was entered into the fault logging system where I monitored progress and ensured faults were resolved.

During my time at SMS my responsibilities have included the following:-

• Ensuring key project targets were met and on time.
• Preparing, testing and setting up equipment for exhibitions and demos.
• Technical and operations point of contact.
• Continued web site development of the various SMS websites and web portals.
• Interviewing and hiring new members of staff, appraisals, staff holiday and absenteeism.
• Holding regular staff and operations meetings.
• Liaising with clients, suppliers, Directors, shareholders and business partners.
• Technical documentation writing and monthly company technical and operational reports for board meetings.
• Organising and presenting project demos to prospective new clients and dealers.
• Software and hardware testing and repairing.
• Project managing site installations.

In Jan 2009, as the Project Management concentration ended my role changed to Operations Manager.

New responsibilities also included:-

• Sourcing new screen content and arranging usage permission with the various government agencies.
• Ensuring the digital signage network is healthy.
• Ensuring all sites were operational and repairing faults or failures.
• Bug fixes and improvements in the digital signage software and SMS websites as they arise.
• Liaising with suppliers, sourcing improved hardware and reducing the price of the existing digital signage solution.
• Programming new and updating content using Scala Designer.
• Management of the technical, sales and content staff and departments.
• Holding training days.

The infoManager - Survey results

Here is the official Surgery Media Systems Ltd marketing brochure.

Client Testimonials

“We find the patient infoPoint system a valuable asset as it keeps our patients informed on what we have to offer as well as the news and things of interest showing on the screen has helped nervous patients and children to keep occupied while waiting to go in to the surgery for treatment.  Thank you very much for a fantastic aid to the surgery.”
Sue McVey, Broadfield Dental Care

“We certainly found it very useful in improving the efficiency in the service we provide to our patients.  Using the reports we can see patients feedback on the service we provide.  We have a system where our patients can freely give us feedback without feeling pressured to do so as they willingly want to use the infoTouch.”
Dr. Binamin, Widney Dental Care

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