SMART and Carnival Cruise Lines win Digital Retailer of the Year Award
Actalyst interactive digital signage takes Best in Class Creative Content: Hospitality at 2006 Digital Retailing Expo
L-R: Natasha Marusyk, Campaign Specialist with SMART Technologies Inc. with Tony Manthe, Project Manager Video Service for Carnival Cruise Lines in front of the award-winning Actalyst interactive digital signage after receiving the DRE Award for Best in Class Creative Content: Hospitality.
CALGARY, Alberta --- May 18, 2006 --- SMART Technologies Inc. announces that SMART and Carnival Cruise Lines have won the 2006 Digital Retailer of the Year Award for Best in Class Creative Content: Hospitality. SMART’s Actalyst™ interactive digital signage is aboard several Carnival Cruise Lines vessels, including Carnival Miracle, Carnival Valor and Carnival Liberty. Acting as a virtual concierge, interactive bulletin board and wayfinder, the touch-enabled digital signage screen is used by guests to access information about deck plans, onboard events, meal times, shipboard staff, shore tours and port-of-call information. On average, there are four high-tech kiosks per vessel, and each vessel can accommodate between 2,124 and 2,974 guests. The award ceremony took place last night at the 2006 Digital Retailing Expo, the forum for digital signage and digital retailing solutions, at the Donald E. Stevens Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois.
The 2006 Digital Retailing Expo awards were adjudicated by a team of editors from VM+SD (Visual Merchandising and Store Design) magazine. VM+SD is the leading magazine for retail designers and store display professionals, and has been serving the retail industry since 1922. The Digital Retailing Expo Best in Class Award adds to the growing list of awards for Actalyst interactive digital signage, including the Editors’ Choice Award from Buildings Magazine awarded only six months ago.
“The capability of interactive shipboard signage has increased dramatically over the past several years,” says Tony Manthe, video services project manager, Carnival Cruise Lines. “While technological advancements have increased, the basis for shipboard signage remains the same – user-friendly creative content combined with effective hardware solutions. The incorporation of Carnival’s interactive content with SMART’s Actalyst system has proven to be a highly effective means of keeping our guests abreast of all sorts of information related to their cruise. And with the introduction of larger and more technologically advanced vessels, we expect to see more use of interactive technology in the years to come.”
“Carnival Cruise Lines uses Actalyst interactive digital signage to create an easily accessed, reliable and user-friendly resource for a diverse shipboard population,” says Nancy Knowlton, SMART’s president and co-CEO. “It’s a winning combination for cruisers who want up-to-the-minute information at any time of the day or night in multimedia formats.”
About Actalyst interactive digital signage
Actalyst interactive digital signage consists of a touch-enabled transparent overlay that attaches easily and securely to the front of most large-screen, flat-panel displays. The overlay makes flat-panel displays interactive, so users simply touch the display surface to access and control any multimedia content, computer application, website, CD or DVD. Actalyst interactive digital signage is ideal for interactive information stations in retail stores, office buildings, real-estate developments, museums, hotels and shopping malls. Designed with proprietary technology developed at SMART, the product is protected by several issued patents. SMART offers interactive digital signage for over 17 popular brands of flat-panel displays. Sizes range from 32" to 65" (81 to 165 cm) diagonally. SMART supports most digital displays, including those from NEC, Samsung, LG, Panasonic and Toshiba, with others to follow. For a complete list of displays supported, visit www.smarttech.com/actalyst/panels.
About Carnival
Carnival Cruise Lines is the largest and most popular cruise line in the world with 21 Fun Ships operating voyages of 3 to 16 days in length to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Europe and the Greek Isles.
The line currently has three new ships on order – the 110,000-ton Carnival Freedom, scheduled for delivery in February 2007, the 112,000-ton Carnival Splendor, slated to enter service in the fall of 2008, and the yet unnamed 130,000-ton Super Liner, the largest Fun Ship ever constructed, set to debut in the fall of 2009.
About Digital Retailing Expo
Digital Retailing Expo is the largest most comprehensive conference and expo dedicated to digital signage, screen-based in-store media networks and digital retailing solutions. The event has two important elements, including an exhibition hall with over 100 manufacturers and suppliers represented, and comprehensive conference sessions. The exhibit hall features leading companies that showcase the latest in hardware, software, and other services and solutions in the digital retailing industry. For more information, visit www.digitalretailingexpo.com.
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For more information, contact
Public Relations
SMART Technologies Inc.
1207 – 11 Avenue SW, Suite 300
Calgary, AB T3C 0M5
CANADA
Phone +1.403.802.3337
Fax +1.403.228.2500
pr@smarttech.com
www.smarttech.com
Please note that SMART is written in all capital letters.