Think of Casio and you probably (in pro AV) think of greener projectors. The general public, well, they might think first of timepieces, cameras or even musical instruments.
Yet the convergence between Casio and digital signage comes from a road less traveled: Casio owns a pocket of technology in EPOS (and hence commercial interest in selling to retailers).
At CES, Casio announced plans to "revolutionize" storefront advertising by launching a new digital signage business. Driving this new business is Casio Signage, a custom-designed screen where DLP helps them project a customized character to match the particular retail operation. A butcher pops up for a butcher store, a chef for a restaurant, a sandwich for a fast food store…ok, you get the idea.
Add content and voice and you have what looks to be a countertop digital signage that is unique—very different than most signage displays.
While it hints of Japanese culture (if you know Japan, you could just see this working like a charm in their 7-11s, in stores in Akihabra or Shinagawa), Casio Signage is compact and requires no installation work so it is easy to place nearly anywhere. Easy sells well in digital signage and let’s not underestimate the commercial power of Casio at retail. If you own the cash register (the “EPOS”), you own the attention of those who pay the bills.
Casio Signage also offers multilingual support or multifunctional options creating a fully customizable system with content they think is most relevant for the customer base. Uses a Laser-LED Hybrid Light Source.
"Casio is excited to venture into this new business opportunity," said Shigenori Itoh, chairman and CEO of Casio America told press at CES. "Casio Signage offers a unique way to make audiences feel welcome and deliver content in a more personal manner than simple words or images. This technology is only limited by the number of applications that designers can imagine using it."