INTERACTIVE SOLUTIONS FOR NYSCATE 2016

The NYS Association for Computers and Technologies in Education conference is an annual event taking place in Rochester, NY. Based off the name alone, it’s quite obvious that the organization is eager to learn about emerging technologies and how they can be applied in an education setting.

Empire Digital Signs was introduced to NYSCATE in 2015. We got our feet wet with some 2D wayfinders placed throughout the Rochester Riverside Convention center to direct guests to their desired booths. We also demoed intelligent digital signage software that could detect age, sex and mood of a person for optimal targeted marketing.

While impressive, we are always looking for ways to out-do ourselves. This is very true for the NYSCATE team as well. Each year their event attracts more attendees, more speakers and more vendors. So with that in mind, we met in 2016 with the intention of using our knowledge in interactive systems to take this event to the next level. By incorporating their theme (superheroes) right into the interactive systems, we also hoped to increase branding and integrate the systems even deeper into the overall “feel” of the event.


3D WAYFINDERS

We upgraded from the 2D to 3D wayfinders for not only the NYSCATE show, but the Mini Maker Faire held the day before. The difference? The map alone is attention grabbing. While the 2D wayfinder draws in a crowd who understand its use, the 3D map encourages use by anyone- even if they weren’t lost. We also made sure to incorporate the theme on these devices (which was the fun part for our designers). Not only were guests able to direct themselves to their desired locations, but they were also able to view premiere sponsors (and map directly to their booths) and scroll through the fun NYSCATE superheroes, who all had their own background stories.

Overall, the 3D wayfinders were a huge success and used as the ultimate information hub by guests and even vendors looking to find their way around during set up!


NYSCATE HOTLINES

Speaking of set up…

Anyone who has been a vendor at a large trade show knows no matter how prepared you may be, there are always reasons to need assistance during set up. Quickly. However, venue hosts are always running around too, accommodating everyone else! Well, with the help of a technology that EDS had previously developed as well as the trade show expertise of NYSCATE, we came up with the “NYSCATE hotlines.” Interactive kiosks were be placed in the Riverside Convention Center, as well as the three surrounding hotels (The Hyatt Regency, The Rochester Radisson and the Hilton Garden Inn). These hotlines were meant to catch vendors on their way out the skyway to set up. They could ask the NYSCATE staff any questions they had about setting up before even walking into the building- talk about convenience!

The hotlines also remained active for the entire show. Attendees and vendors were able to reach NYSCATE staff about schedules and activities during the actual show.


 VIDEO FEEDBACK KIOSKNYSCATE 2016

The final system EDS designed for NYSCATE 2016 is a high-tech spin on the traditional photo booth. Photo booths are a huge hit at any trade show. They add a little extra fun while also providing guests with something to take home to remember the event by. They can also provide show organizers with follow-up material post-show. NYSCATE was looking to take their photo booth to the next level- so we were also contracted for a video booth in the form of an interactive kiosk. Our video booth prompted users to record themselves for 20 seconds discussing their experience at the show. The videos would then be automatically compressed and ready for download on any computer!

They also wanted to the interactive kiosk to be self-sustaining in the sense that they did not want to have to have someone there in order to explain how to use it and what questions they should answer. Our solution was a printed foam board overlay for the kiosk that would give suggestions as to what their videos should contain. Of course that was branded as well.


Want to see these solutions in action? See the video below!

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