The 2011 DSE conference and expo ended Thursday evening in Las Vegas, but not without reps from Worship Facilities and Church Production magazines roaming the floor and striking up conversations with the manufacturers that help supply houses of worship with compelling visual imagery.
At Panasonic we saw a rear projection system that can sit just 1 meter behind the screen (or custom Plexiglas cut-out, as Panasonic previewed it) -- a system we could envision having application in children's ministry spaces, in particular. Another technology that caught our eye on the show floor -- stackable 5,000-lumen projectors that can be combined to deliver 15,000 lumens at a price point so reasonable as to be unheard of before.
At the LG booth Thursday morning, we test drove a turnkey Elite digital signage solution whereby small and medium businesses (as well as churches) can rent a system for $149 per month for three years, or buy the system outright for $4,500. Both scenarios included the digital signage monitor, system, support, and easy-to-use drop-and-drag type software. Total time to put together a screen's worth of engaging content? Five minutes, maybe.
Here's something we learned from talking to the digital signage experts, as well as in listening to The Inspiration Network and executives from Northern Quest Resort and Casino -- two companies that shared the story of their recent digital signage installations. Both reported the importance of planning early on -- just as churches try to do with architectural and A/V/L design -- to ensure a better, more affordable end product to meet their industry needs. Inspiration Network included its digital signage component into an existing building, while Northern Quest intentionally designed its facilities with digital signage as a key component of the design.
Do you have a digital signage installation or application story to share with other church leaders readers? If so, email us at editorial@worshipfacilities.com for Worship Facilities Magazine or editorial@churchproduction.com for Church Production Magazine. We'll look for ways to share your story with our readers.
