case study - digital signage | janus...

Case StudyCharlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau/The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc.

The CACVB wanted an outdoor touch screen kiosk that would increase traffic flow to the area businesses.

Due to its exclusivity and location, the landmark had difficulty effectively promoting the local businesses

that accommodate the needs of their visitors. A key requirement of the project was to eliminate the need

for duplicate data entry by designing an interface with the CACVB’s website content management program,

simpleview. Additional desired features included tracking of user demographics, area mapping, and

multimedia playback, all housed in an ADA compliant enclosure designed to match the environment of the

Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center.

Goal of the Project

877.JANUS.11 (877.526.8711) | www.janusdisplays.comJANUS Displays is a product of Morrow Technologies Corporation. 1

The creation and development of a custom kiosk for

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc. at Monticello,

by JANUS Displays

The Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors

Bureau (CACVB) is an organization highly dedicated to

providing increased awareness of the Charlottesville

area, in an effort to attract new visitors to the region.

Home to Thomas Jefferson, our nation’s third president,

Charlottesville is known for its historical roots.

Jefferson’s estate, Monticello, is a frequently visited

landmark requiring continuous preservation and

enthusiastic professionals to educate the public on the

events that shaped his life. The Thomas Jefferson Visitor

Center was developed to enlighten guests on Jefferson’s

lifestyle and ideas, while also showcasing the incredible

estate where history was made, Monticello.

Monticello holds the distinction of being the only

American home listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

About CACVB/The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc.

Project


To meet the primary project objective, JANUS developed a custom interface that automatically detects

and processes changes to the CACVB website’s dynamic data. The system allows visitors to easily

explore information about dining options, shopping facilities, area events, nearby attractions, overnight

accommodations and transportation options. Visitors can scroll through the category listings or use

an onscreen keyboard to search for a specific facility. They also have the option of reading a complete

description of each listing, and using the

JANUS Bing™ Mapping Interface viewing

driving directions from the Thomas

Jefferson Visitor Center, to the destination.

The CACVB also wanted to utilize the

kiosk to capture geographic data, to learn

more about those who visit the Center.

The kiosk was designed to ask users two

survey questions, and have them answer

using an on-screen number pad.

•Whatisyourzipcode?

•Howmanypeopleareinyourparty?

The survey appears whenever a new user

interacts with the display after a period of inactivity. Ensuring the survey doesn’t deter users from enjoying

the technology, an opt out button for those wishing to use the system anonymously was included. The data

is instantly stored in a Google Docs™ account and can be accessed by CACVB personnel from any location.

The kiosk features a multimedia window that can display images or video. JANUS enabled the kiosk to play

a movie trailer promoting a video about Thomas Jefferson, viewable at Monticello. The window can display

movie or image files and is easy to update. The selected background images showcase the beautiful nature

scenes throughout the area, and the overall user interface was designed to match CACVB brand standards.

Solution - Content

877.JANUS.11 (877.526.8711) | www.janusdisplays.com2JANUS Displays is a product of Morrow Technologies Corporation.


The intensity of the content running on the display and amount of information stored on the media player

required the use of the JANUS Displays JMC105 Media Player. Ensuring the new system did not require

significant bandwidth usage was of utmost importance to the Monticello staff. This concern was satisfied

by storing the content directly on the media player rather than playing from a continuous data stream.

Because the kiosk would be located outside in a climate that experiences extreme weather conditions

during the summer and winter months, JANUS selected SunbriteTV’s 32” All Weather Interactive LCD

Touch Screen. Built with an anti-reflective screen, the all-weather, encased display protects the internal

components from harsh weather conditions, dirt particles, insects or scratches.

The aesthetic look of the kiosk was just as important

to the CACVB as the system’s functionality. To ensure

the interactive technology matched its surroundings

at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, JANUS craftsmen

built a custom-made pedestal, from cedar, to match

the Center’s rustic look and feel. An all-weather

canvas cover was designed to protect the millwork in

the harshest of conditions.

Since its installation, the JANUS Displays custom kiosk has received rave reviews. The Thomas Jefferson

Visitors Center achieved its goals by successfully capturing demographics, showcasing multimedia, and

preventing the duplication of data entry, while still managing to keep visitor excitement levels high.

Capturing two simple demographics – the user’s zip code and the number of people in the party – may

seem miniscule, but it has provided the Center with a better understanding of who visits the historical

landmark. This new insight will significantly increase the effectiveness of their marketing efforts.

Solution - Hardware

877.JANUS.11 (877.526.8711) | www.janusdisplays.comJANUS Displays is a product of Morrow Technologies Corporation.

Result

3


Showcasing multiple images and videos of Monticello and the surrounding area to visitors enables the

CACVB to further promote local areas of interest, and encourages targeted advertising opportunities to local

businesses. Providing advertisers with an opportunity to promote their businesses using the Center’s custom

kiosk provides the CACVB with a revenue-generating system that is guaranteed to continually produce.

By successfully transferring the data from the simpleview database to the Monticello kiosk, the daunting

task of having to input data into the new system was bypassed. This process freed up valuable employee

time and allowed the kiosk to automatically update, which will continually provide visitors with access to

Charlottesville’s most current information.

Additionally, the kiosk continues to generate positive feedback. Not only has the CACVB and

Monticello staff received numerous positive remarks about the kiosk, the Board and its affiliates are

equally satisfied with the finished product. The overwhelming response has resulted in the CACVB’s

plan to implement this technology in other areas throughout the city.

Result

877.JANUS.11 (877.526.8711) | www.janusdisplays.comJANUS Displays is a product of Morrow Technologies Corporation.

With 25+ years of experience in the industry,

JANUS Displays provides clients with

innovative digital signage solutions that far

exceed industry standards. The privately

owned company maintains a client base

of 2,500 worldwide, serving a multitude of

industries. The JANUS One System, One Call

philosophy provides clients with complete

turnkey digital signage systems, making them

the premier provider of indoor and outdoor

digital signage networks.

About JANUS Displays

4

“Bringing this first-ever informational touch

screen kiosk to Monticello was no small feat…

the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and

Visitors Bureau is very pleased with how the kiosk

has operated in an extremely cold environment,

and it seems to have met a very definite need

for the visitor at Monticello, home of our third

president, Thomas Jefferson, and a UNESCO World

Heritage Site. Our overall satisfaction level with

the completed project is quite high, and I applaud

JANUS for a job well done.”

- Kurt Burkhart, Executive Director, CACVB

Comments

case study - digital signage | janus...

Documents