The Study Session was jointly organized by the 3D Stereoscopic Brain Training WG (working group) and the Technical Section at the SGI Hall in the Yebisu Garden Place Tower on August 28, 2009.
The theme was "Future of the digital signage business which is now attracting attention".
"Digital signage" which intends to create eye-catching effects by using electronic devices such as display equipment has been generalized. Now some more strategies are required not just to attract the attention of consumers but to induce them to purchase specific products. Considering such a situation, we introduced various approaches around the digital signage business including an example where new digital technologies are utilized for achieving richer image expressions and a pursuit for a higher appealing power by using 3D expressions in this study session. Simultaneously, equipment from Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. was exhibited.
In addition, reports on activities of the 3D Stereoscopic Brain Training WG were made.
There were 25 members at the study session for a total of 47 people attending.

<Lecture Outline>
The target of the digital signage industry is to expand the market up to around the 1 trillion yen level in 2015; many players are entering the market and making various trials to achieve that. In what directions will digital signage proceed in the situation where the advertising industry is flagging? In this lecture, explanations on how to approach the next generation of digital signage were made by outlining the current situation of the digital signage market and by clarifying the latest trends.

<Lecture Outline>
In recent years, digital signage has been widely disseminated. However, no means to analyze its actual effect was offered up to now. An automated estimation system on gender and age group "FieldAnalyst" developed by NEC Soft Ltd. can estimate the gender and age group of the persons in camera images which enable understanding of the number of viewers of the signage and the information on these viewer groups. In this lecture, focusing on the technical aspects of FieldAnalyst, its application to digital signage was introduced.

<Lecture Outline>
Digital signage with flexible layouts and settings such as hanging from ceilings or on walls was presented. Such flexibility could never be achieved before and it was realized by using an ultra-thin LCD display with "6.4 mm of thinness and 5.7 kg of lightness" with a Victor Company of Japan's original LCD display and an edge-light shape LED backlight system.

* Exhibit: "Ultra-thin LCD display"

<Lecture Outline>
Nihon Unisys, Ltd. has been working on digital signage systems focusing on 3D contents. The company offers total services including distribution management and production of contents, measurement of effects, development of enclosures and linkage with systems for sales promotion. During the experiment at Central Japan International Airport, the superb eye-catching power of 3D displays was illustrated.