Interactive wayfinding systems grow in importance throughout Europe as other uses of digital signage are discovered and exploited. Three 3D interactive way-finding devices have been installed in the European Hospital George Pompidou (x2), Paris and in La Defense (x1)-an underground station from the heart of the French capital’s most important business district, OOH-tv announces. Both projects have been directed by the French digital media agency- L’île des Médias which has installed other similar devices in commercial centers (Meriadeck and Nicetoile) and other venues from Paris and Europe. L’île des Médias made use of their orientation software: ViaDirect and the touch screens produced by Apia Group, a company manufacturing Point Of Sale equipment.
The underground project is still in the testing phase for the next 6 months during which the engagement level and the necessary technical improvements will be determined in order to decide whether the way-finding devices are a worthwhile investment for the entire Parisian underground network. In case they are, a route- search service relying on the underground search site ratp.fr will be commissioned during the second half of 2011.
These wayfinding systems prove the digital signage’s usefulness not only as a source of public information but also as a training platform. The similar wayfinding system implemented by Queen Elisabeth Hospital Birmingham not only helps at guiding patients and visitors but also at training the staff to cope better with emergency situations (reiterating the digital signage’s crisis management potential). E-Health Insider offers a glimpse into the financial side of this project quoting the price offered by the National Health Service when launching the tender back in 2009 -£300,000- yet the final acquisition and deployment costs remain undisclosed.