Directly Access Segments From the Home Page

If you recall our previous post on the redesigned Home Page, we discussed a few changes that make it easier to access your Segments. The “At a Glance” section has been expanded, and a new “Player Status” table has been added to show the currently playing Segment. Both sections provide links that take you directly to the Segment detail page where you can begin editing the respective Segment.

Create New Segments in Fewer Clicks

The new features in FireSign 4.1 also simplify the process of creating new Segments. When creating a new Segment, FireSign will filter the extensive list of possible screen resolutions to only those compatible with the FireSign Application editor you have chosen. This handy features saves you time and takes the guesswork out of remembering any application-specific resolution requirements. The final step in creating a new Segment is to click the “Add” button. This button is now programmed to immediately launch the application editor using the settings you have just entered.

Streamline the Workflow Process

Many of our customers are already utilizing the existing workflow features in FireSign. The workflow setting allows them to assign user permissions for creating, modifying and approving Segments or Schedules. In a workflow scenario, a completed Segment must be reviewed and approved by a designate user before that Segment can be displayed on-screen. As you can imagine, this feature is useful for collaborating with multiple content creators, while maintaining a final review process.

Once a Segment is completed, FireSign has the ability to generate an email notification to a user with approval authority. As part of the FireSign 4.1 upgrades, these emails are now formatted in HTML and include a direct link to approve the relevant Segment. Once inside FireSign, Segment approvers will also find a new section at the top of the Segments Screen. This section lists all the Segments that need approval within the current project. In addition, any user may quickly scan the list of Segments to find “Approved” Segments in green and “Pending Approval” Segments in red.

Another small but useful enhancement appears at the bottom of the Segments Screen. We have re-arranged and grouped the action buttons by function. On the left, “New” and “Import” are grouped together for working with new Segments. The buttons in the middle are used to manage existing Segments. And finally, the “Delete” action button has been moved to the end. This arrangement and spacing is designed to help reduce those mistaken clicks that we all commit from time to time.

As you can see, we have put a lot of time and thought into understanding how our customers create and manage their digital signage and touchscreen content within FireSign. We look forward to learning how customers utilize the new enhancements coming to FireSign. Stay tuned for an announcement regarding the official FireSign 4.1 release date.

This week, we’ll take a look at the updated Media Screen in FireSign 4.1. Once again, our designers and programmers have looked for ways to make this page more streamlined and intuitive.

The most noticeable change on the Media Screen is the addition of a media tag cloud. This element is a visual representation of the descriptive tags you have applied to your image, audio and video assets. The media tags are sized based on the number of assets associated with each tag. Now you can easily see your most commonly used tags and quickly filter your media library by clicking on any tag in the cloud.

We have also improved the preview options for your individual media assets. A new magnifying glass icon appears next to the name of each item in your media list. Clicking this icon opens the media item in a new browser window.

On the media item detail page, we have also corrected the quick preview window to display a perfectly proportioned thumbnail of the media asset.

As with all the updates in FireSign 4.1, the Media Screen enhancements are designed to make it easier and more efficient to manage the content on your digital signage and touchscreen kiosks. Check back next week as we explore the improvements for creating and managing your FireSign playback Segments. If you have any questions as we get closer to the release date, feel free to contact our support team.

When you access your FireSign 4.1 Hosted account via the new Login Screen, your browser will display the administrative portal for remotely managing your digital signage and touchscreen applications. The first thing FireSign customers will notice is that the center of the page is now dedicated to an expanded view of Media Items, Segments and Schedules.

Media thumbnails are now properly proportioned, and Segments are identified by the FireSign Application being used. For the first time, Schedules also get a thumbnail preview. Within each Schedule thumbnail, a red line denotes the current time. These thumbnails are a handy way to confirm that you have content scheduled throughout the day.

The Home Screen also has a new Player Status table that identifies all the Players associated with your current FireSign project. This table lists the status of each Player along with the playback Schedule assigned to that Player. Players that are running as normal appear in green, and any Players that have been taken offline appear in red. In addition, there is a field that identifies which content Segment is currently playing on screen. This table makes it quick and easy to confirm that your system is performing exactly as you planned—without visiting each screen location. From this table, you may click the Player, Schedule or Segment name to immediately jump into editing the settings for each of these items.

All in all, the FireSign 4.1 Home Screen brings you more comprehensive information and helps you manage your digital signage system in fewer clicks. Stay tuned for the official release date, and check back next week for a sneak peek at the updated Media Screen. Until then, feel free to direct any questions to our support team.

In FireSign 4.1, the Login Screen is redesigned with links and information that connect you to important FireSign announcements and support resources.

Each time you access your FireSign account, the box to the right of the login form will provide you with the latest news and announcements from the team at FireSign. In the example below, you can see a reminder about our weekly maintenance schedule.

Across the bottom of the Login Screen, we are adding useful links to our support resources. The first link will take you directly to our reference documentation. There you will find detailed explanations of FireSign’s specific features and applications. The next link points you to our library of training videos. Our training site contains more than 50 videos that walk you through every aspect of creating and scheduling content on your FireSign digital signage network. The third and final link opens the FireSign support web page. On this page, you will find documentation on known issues and an option for submitting a support ticket.

Next week, we’ll log into FireSign 4.1 to explore the all-new Home Screen. If you have questions along the way, feel free to reach out to our support team.

If you are attending the ALA conference, be sure to swing by booth 3623 for more information on how the FireSign Event Connector Application can help your library increase patron awareness and participation. While you are there, you will also want to ask us about our recent work for our friends at the Vanderbilt Central Library.

We look forward to seeing you in New Orleans!

New features are now available in the following FireSign Touchscreen Applications:

• FireSign Interactive Guide
• FireSign Jukebox
• FireSign Gallery
• FireSign Image Browser
• FireSign Event Finder

Updated features include:

• An attract loop builder for creating your own looping animations from images in the media library.
• The ability to change the order of items in a list.
• An option for accessible navigation that makes your interactives available to visitors with limited reach.
• Improved functionality for the location description in FireSign Event Finder.
• Enhanced layering that makes it easier to edit, select and delete items in FireSign Interactive Guide.

For an overview of these new features, please download the following PDF:
FireSign Application Updates – March 30 2011 (375kb)

Photo by Infrogmation of New Orleans

With the school year well under way, we’ve been reliving our high school memories and contemplating the age-old quest to be one of the popular kids. Here are six lessons from the in-crowd that can help the rest of us create more effective digital signage. Get started now, and you just might have a shot at those coveted king and queen nominations next spring.

1.  Keep your social calendar full. Let’s get this party started! It’s no coincidence that schedule information is the most common content shared on FireSign digital signage. That’s why we’re making it easy to enter your events directly into FireSign with upcoming applications like FireSign Bulletin Board, or we can help you connect to your existing event management software (such as WhippleHill, Evanced and more). Keep your calendar up-to-date and make sure folks know what’s on the horizon.

2.  See and be seen. Build your entourage by telling visitors about all the places where they can find you. Invite visitors and patrons to sign up for your email newsletter, join your fan page on Facebook, connect with you on LinkedIn, or follow you on Twitter. The key is to integrate your digital signage with your other communication channels.

3.  Share the love (and the spotlight). The most popular kids (err, brands) know that it’s not all about them. So introduce visitors and patrons to your biggest fans. (Incidentally, FireSign is the perfect place to feature your most valuable customers, donors or sponsors.) Your fans will appreciate the recognition, and you’ll build a stronger network by connecting people in your shared community.

4.  Offer a shoulder to lean on. Reassure your visitors and patrons that you’ll be there when they need you. Direct visitors to seek personal attention by guiding them to service counters and reference desks. Using FireSign digital signage to facilitate a personal conversation is a sure-fire way to get you nominated as  “most likely to succeed.”

5.  Lighten up and be yourself. Who doesn’t want to be the big man on campus? Naturally you want to craft effective, professional messages that reflect your organization’s brand standards. But don’t shy away from revealing a little about yourself and your staff. Share stories about your organization’s culture and personality. Remember, if you can find a way to make their time more enjoyable or entertaining, your visitors will be more likely to keep hanging out with you.

6.  Dress to impress. Hey, you’ve earned that Varsity jacket, so wear it with pride. Of course, you’ll want to maintain your brand standards, but you’ll look the part if you stay on top of the current color and design trends. Oh and those templates and generic stock art, they won’t help improve your street cred. That’s so 1990 anyway.

Well, class, there’s the bell. Don’t forget your homework assignment—create digital signage communications that rock! Next time we meet we’ll tackle how to apply a few e-learning tricks to your touchscreen content.