Sophisticated new display system succeeds for SEC Inc.

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It's the kind of high-tech gadget that makes you stop and stare. Then again, that's what you're supposed to do when you see the "Mirage!"|ret||ret||tab|

Sonshine Electronics & Computers Inc. of Springfield about a year ago began selling and servicing a digital presentation signage system they named the Mirage! |ret||ret||tab|

The Mirage! merges the latest computer, software and Internet technologies for the purpose of creating a variety of eyecatching, customizable messages which then can be piped directly to an array of large, high-resolution, flat-panel gas plasma monitors. |ret||ret||tab|

"We take an organization's important information and create an exhilarating audio-visual experience," said Will Pollock, vice president of sales. "That audience may be a shopper on the mall, a group of students, customers or clients, or a company's board of directors."|ret||ret||tab|

The Mirage! is the latest high-tech product and service to be offered by SEC. The company, in business for more than 19 years, was first incorporated in Tulsa, Okla. It has been selling, servicing and networking computer systems in and around Springfield for the past 12 years and also has a satellite office in St. Louis. |ret||ret||tab|

According to Pollock, sales of the Mirage! system now account for 15 percent of the company's business. He predicts that figure will increase in the near future as more people become familiar with the technology. "It's hard to de-scribe everything this system is capable of doing," he said. "It's really something you have to see and experience first-hand. The color and definition you get on a plasma monitor is striking. That, combined with motion and audio, makes this type of signage a very effective communications tool. It's definitely something people stop and look at twice."|ret||ret||tab|

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Showroom|ret||ret||tab|

To help customers get a feel for what the Mirage! can do, SEC has set up a mini-showroom in its reception area. According to Pollock, most companies place one plasma monitor in their reception area and a second monitor in the company's boardroom. Both monitors are connected to a computer server that contains a wide variety of computer-generated files filled with customized messages and information about the company and its products. These files may contain complex computer-generated mo-tion files or simple graphics files, such as a slideshow presentation produced with Microsoft PowerPoint. |ret||ret||tab|

Multimedia files, such as computer-generated audio files and full-motion video files, also can be piped onto the monitor, along with information from the Internet. All of these files are managed and organized with a software program called Omnivex. Omnivex can run and manage up to eight different plasma monitors at once, with each monitor running several presentations at once. One section of the screen, for example, could display a stockmarket ticker piped in directly from the Internet, while another could be showing a full-motion video-file message from the company's president. A third section might display a graphics file showing the company's earnings, while a fourth section could contain a file describing one of the company's more popular products. |ret||ret||tab|

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Updating|ret||ret||tab|

As part of its service, SEC gives clients the option of managing and updating the content that runs on the monitor or having SEC manage and update the material remotely via the Internet. Unlike printed brochures and other collateral material, information on the monitor can be updated instantly by modifying a computer file or loading a new file to run in its place. |ret||ret||tab|

According to Pollock, most clients not only have SEC manage and update their material, but also allow the company to produce the material they display. |ret||ret||tab|

"One of the nice things about digital signage is that's it's instantly updateable," said Pollock. "Content can be scheduled for presentation at certain times of the day, which allows an organization to match their message to their audience."|ret||ret||tab|

Many of SEC's customers place a monitor in their company's boardroom. This monitor can be hooked up to a laptop computer to make presentations. |ret||ret||tab|

In addition, some companies use a Smart Board, which fits over the screen of the plasma monitor. The Smart Board is touch-sensitive and has interactive capabilities. For example, a person making a presentation can use a special electronic pen to write notes on the Smart Board. These notes are then converted into text by the computer. |ret||ret||tab|

Most of SEC's clients purchase the Mirage! system as a package, Pollock said. This package typically includes two 50-inch, high-definition, flat-screen plasma monitors manufactured by NEC, two smaller flat-screen displays, a computer server, content management services and three years of service and support. |ret||ret||tab|

Most customers who buy Mirage! systems are located outside Springfield, Pollock said. They include several Northwestern Mutual Financial Network agencies. Realtors and other high-profile businesses. |ret||ret||tab|

"Most of our customers come to us by word-of-mouth," Pollock said. "They've seen the Mirage! system somewhere, and they want one for their company." He added, "Right now, this product is so new our customer potential is unlimited."[[In-content Ad]]