SEGD_Design - (Page 47) Left: The Interpret Green Foundation created prototype kiosks, a website, and cell phone tours for the 600-mile Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route. An “information commons” approach would have provided visitors with free digital guides that can be accessed on multiple platforms. (Images: Courtesy Interpret Green Foundation) Below: For the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center campus, fd2s Inc. designed 27 touchscreen kiosks that provide patients and visitors with appointment confirmations and walking directions to any destination on the campus. Printouts use the same wayfinding logic and nomenclature as the sign system and have a full campus map pre-printed on the back side. (Enclosure fabrication: GraphTec. Photo: David Omer) Opposite: GPS-enabled devices like BarZ Adventure’s GPS Ranger provide multimedia tour guides through zoos, tourist destinations, and other outdoor environments. Features can include venue maps, user location tracking, directions, and interpretive information. These units are often offered on a rental basis and incorporate third-party advertising. The good, the bad, and the costly Although the system is generating increased interest in digital wayfinding, there are some roadblocks to progress. One is cost. “A lot of people want to know if digital wayfinding will be more affordable, but we haven’t been able to make that case yet,” says Leslie Wolke, associate principal at fd2s (Austin), which used a custom, proprietary software to design a comprehensive wayfinding system for the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Medical Center. Many clients still think of digital signage as a promotional or advertising vehicle rather than an information vehicle, she adds. And because digital wayfinding is not a revenue generator, it’s also difficult to gauge the return on investment. “You’re not selling a product, so the ROI is based on how big the smile is when visitors leave,” Meszaros says of the Smithsonian’s new system. But the advantages are obvious. Rather than displaying one layer of information, a digital wayfinding component can display multiple layers with almost limitless flexibility in how and when it can be displayed. It can also be updated easily and remotely. “We can make Flash changes to the signs onsite without remaking the sign,” says Bill Combs, Launch’s director of business development. And once the system goes live, updateable information and interactive components can be added without racking up huge costs and without adding hardware. 44 segdDESIGN
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