Wayfinding solutions are the next generation of digital signage. The vision is to leverage digital and interactive technology to engage visitors, clients, and your employees to create a more contemporary solution.

The foundation of the wayfinding system is a database of points of interest (POI) or waypoints (WP). These points most likely include specific office locations, departments, connected and non-connected buildings, meeting rooms, and other POIs such as the cafeteria, restrooms, etc. POIs or WPs may change as facilities expand, so it is important that you have the capability of easily editing your wayfinding solution.

Wayfinding is an interactive form of digital signage that enhances the experience for visitors, clients, and employees. Using a simple touch screen kiosk, users can find their exact location and step-by-step directions to where they want to go. When facilities place wayfinding kiosks in POIs in addition to the lobby, users can easily go from one location to the next without hassle.

In addition to providing directional information, wayfinding solutions can be configured to display a variety of additional information, including upcoming events, today’s events, weather, departmental information, office hours and more. This is an ideal location to list any marketing information you desire as well.

Various Styles of Wayfinding Solutions

The flexible architecture of BlueWater’s wayfinding solution supports a number of customizable visitor experiences. Every aspect of these experiences are scripted and designed to promote the culture and growth of your facility.

Fixed Station Interactive Kiosks – can be placed in high traffic areas and allow visitors to interact with the system using an optional integrated printer to make copies of maps or other documents.

Fixed kiosks can be housed in a traditional kiosk fixture for indoor use during hours of operation. As an alternative, information can be displayed on window surfaces of your facility, converting it into an interactive surface for users to interact with the system from outside the building by touching the glass. This unique and creative solution can provide critical information outside of business hours.

Step-by-Step Directions – similar to popular online mapping solutions, wayfinding step-by-step directions provide your visitors, clients, and employees the quickest route to their destination.

Path Drawing – intuitive back-end functionality provides a visual, directional path from point A to point B.

Dynamic Wayfinding – links daily schedules and events with an animated icon, providing step-by-step or path drawing routes to get your visitor where they need to go. Information can be easily updated daily, if desired.

Static Mapping – digital maps are an eye-catching addition to any digital sign and are proven to attract the attention of your users over traditional printed signage. They are also conveniently updated, without the expense associated with printed maps.

3D Mapping – provides a uniquely realistic and eye-catching representation of your facility to better familiarize visitors, clients, and employees of your facility.

Southfield, Michigan – May 7, 2013 – BlueWater Technologies, a national provider of Meeting & Event Technology, Digital Media Solutions, Audio Visual Integration, and Custom Fixtures and Displays, showcases new event technology this week at the Event Marketing Summit 2013 located at The Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, May 6 – 8th.

Since its inception in 1985, BlueWater has been a national leader in custom live event technology for auto shows, large scale meetings and events, exhibits and tradeshows, and some of the largest sporting events in the world. BlueWater’s seasoned technical support teams collaborate with clients and execute their vision using state-of-the-art HD audio visual equipment.

“The BlueWater team continuously looks for new ways to enhance our live event services,” said BlueWater Technologies’ Chief Executive Officer Tom Battaglia. “Looking at the market and listening to our clients, we refined our experiential marketing technology to offer sophisticated lead generation solutions. Our digital media team designs and develops activations to engage audiences and more importantly provide our clients with custom detailed analytics showing general exposure, number of leads, length of an attendee visit, and more to help calculate an ROI for an event.”

At BlueWater’s booth #303, attendees have the opportunity to engage with many types of lead generation activations and collaborate with the team on new ideas for their events. Experiential marketing solutions can drive positive business results and turn prospects into customers, making this a powerful ROI tool for marketers.

Don’t miss the 2nd Annual After Party co-hosted by BlueWater and Event Creative and supported by The Event Marketing Summit! Register today!

What: After Party, co-hosted by BlueWater Technologies and Event Creative

When: Tuesday, May 7th, at 8:00pm

Where: 219 North Paulina Street, Chicago, IL 60612

Transportation: Complimentary trolley service from The Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers to Event Creative begins at 8:00pm

Why: Join us for drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and desserts while networking with the biggest players in experiential marketing and check out the latest in event design technology!

See BlueWater’s video to learn more about its live event technology solutions and services.

Southfield, Michigan – March 26, 2013 – BlueWater Technologies, a national provider of Audio Visual Integration, Meeting & Event Technology, Digital Media Solutions, and Custom Fixtures and Displays, announces its Client Resolution Center, the consolidation of its NOC and service centers to offer clients additional resources and support. The Client Resolution Center team provides 24/7 multi-level support options to resolve issues for clients on customized maintenance plans, managed service plans, or for clients who require service and support on an as-needed basis.

Prior to launching the Client Resolution Center, support services were broken down by technology discipline. If you needed help with a projector or control system, an AV specialist responded to the issue. If it was a networking concern, an IT technician was there to troubleshoot. If you needed content updated on your digital signage or there was an internet connectivity crisis during an event, there was yet a different department. This consolidation, along with in depth cross-training and new cross-discipline personnel ensure the technician answering the phone is qualified to understand any issue and begin working on it immediately.

“In today’s world, projectors have Ethernet ports and computers dial video conferencing systems, making the consolidation of our divisional services a natural next step,” said BlueWater’s Chief Executive Officer Tom Battaglia. “Cross-training the team means our clients receive support from highly trained and qualified technicians who can resolve issues of any type quickly.”

The Client Resolution Center will exceed the level of service and support its clients expect. Service plans have always been prevalent in the AV integration industry to protect the clients’ long-term investments, and BlueWater has seen an increase for additional support services from its clients investing in meeting and event technology and digital media services. Meeting and event planners utilize more technology at their events than ever before, from interactive engagements to more advanced, custom LED and video displays.

Audio visual technology continues to advance, and BlueWater’s team of seasoned designers, engineers, and technicians work closely with the manufacturers to ensure they have a thorough understanding of all new equipment.

“It’s imperative our clients receive the service and solutions they expect with the highest of uptime, regardless of the complexity of the project,” states Battaglia. “I am excited about the collaboration and dedication I see in the team supporting our Client Resolution Center.”

BlueWater Provides an Infastructure to Support Today’s Digital Education

Western Michigan University’s state-of-the-art Sangren Hall is one of Western Michigan University’s largest-capacity and most highly scheduled academic buildings. In 2012, the WMU Board of Trustees chose to equip the Hall with the latest in audio visual technology to provide its students with all of the benefits and amenities of a digital facility.

To outfit the Sangren Hall for the digitally native student, WMU enlisted the expertise of AV consultants at The Sextant Group to design a system using the same technology already implemented throughout the campus, built on a digital backbone. To facilitate the installation of these systems, WMU turned to Michigan-based BlueWater Technologies, a leading AV integrator since 1985, to ensure the project was completed professionally, on schedule, and within budget. The result of the project included audio visual elements for 84 rooms, with a total of 32 different systems,
to meet the custom requirements necessary to make this a technologically advanced facility.

WMU’s classroom technology support consultant’s goal was to have the classrooms ready for the first day of classes, “The BlueWater team was focused on customer needs and made the classrooms a priority. The project manager made sure WMU was included on any discussions concerning changes and were involved with all aspects of the process.”

Classrooms throughout the hall were outfitted with turnkey audio visual systems, engineered to easily adapt as advances in technology evolve. At the heart of these systems is the Crestron DMPS-300, which is the first largescale installation of this device within WMU. These audio, video and control signal distribution systems accommodate both analog and digital content for both HDCP encrypted sources as well as non-HDCP sources, ensuring flexibility with content distribution well into the future.

Common elements found within the classrooms include ceiling mounted projection, distributed audio for speech and program reinforcement, and system control housed atop the instructor’s station. The instructor’s station serves as the control center for each room, housing the required components, including:

• Touch panel control system
• Wired and wireless microphones
• Blu-ray devices
• Digital document cameras
• Analog and digital auxiliary inputs
• Laptop connections
• And, an IP intercom device for voice communication to the help desk for questions regarding the system and its operation

Additionally, each room is equipped with an IR wireless hearing system transmitter for the hearing impaired and to comply with ADA listening assist regulations.

“The 29 Sangren classrooms are mirrored in over 200 classrooms across the WMU campuses. It was important the new Sangren classrooms fit into the current design standards as well as reflect the improvements from analog to digital,” said WMU’s classroom technology support consultant. “It was important the faculty felt comfortable with the new equipment and system changes, and they were able to see genuine improvements.”

BlueWater worked with the WMU team to accomplish their goals. There were several site visits to review existing systems, meetings to discuss options, and a plethora of emails and telephone calls to verify important details. WMU was invited to review a prototype system and to make suggested changes before all of the systems were assembled. The end result was no surprises. More importantly,
the faculty began teaching with little to no difficulty. The transition from other classrooms to the new Sangren classrooms was effortless.”

Additional presentation and collaboration systems found throughout Sangren Hall include those installed within the auditoriums, tiered classrooms, media classrooms, observation rooms, labs, and faculty conference rooms. Some rooms offer minor upgrades to the classroom systems, such as the tiered rooms, to accommodate instruction enhanced by dual image displays of projected images, allowing independent sources on each screen if required by the instructor.

Other rooms, such as the media classrooms, provide a unique collaboration experience for students. At the end of each “U” shape seating configuration, AV carts equipped with whiteboards and an Epson interactive projector provide students the ability to plug in a laptop and annotate on whatever is being displayed. Taking this a step further, the instructor is able to take whatever a student group is displaying and distribute it to the rest of the carts or to the main screen for group discussion.

Additional elements found throughout the facility include HD PTZ cameras for capturing the lectures and presentations or video conferencing, digital signage for controlled notifications and providing permitted CATV channels, digital room scheduling for use with the conference and group study rooms, portable HD video conferencing systems, and audio conferencing devices. All of this technology integrates together to provide a cohesive presentation solution, demonstrating how WMU caters to the digitally native student.

Southfield, Michigan – February 13, 2013 – BlueWater Technologies, a national provider of Audio Visual Integration, Meeting & Event Technology, Digital Media Solutions, and Custom Fixtures and Displays, announces its expansion into the Indianapolis, Indiana business district to support its current and growing clientele.

“Indianapolis is one of the fastest growing cities in the country and BlueWater has a vested interest in being a part of this city’s growth,” said BlueWater’s Chief Executive Officer Tom Battaglia. “Some of our largest clients are in the area, such as Beck’s Hybrids and Buffalo Wild Wings, and it is good business for us to open a new location in Indianapolis.”

Custom AV solutions are in high demand for business owners wanting to utilize technology to make working environments more efficient and collaborative. With nearly 30 years of experience as audio visual integrators, BlueWater is offering Indiana businesses its expertise in engineering and installing state-of-the-art conference room presentation automation, video conferencing, control and automation, and digital signage. BlueWater’s seasoned engineers, system designers, and installation teams develop solutions to fully support an organization’s communication needs and maximize its productivity.

In addition to providing corporate AV technology, BlueWater is also known for its meeting & event technology, digital media solutions, and custom fixtures and displays for many Fortune 500 companies. BlueWater’s unique business diversity results in one of the most unique workforces in the industry.

“The BlueWater team consists of some of the best talent in the country, which reflects in the quality of our work and the strong relationships with our clients,” said Battaglia. “When BlueWater began recruiting for the Indianapolis office, we wanted local professionals with the industry expertise, knowledge, and technical aptitude to deliver the first class service BlueWater is known for providing its clients.”

BlueWater’s Indianapolis team has more than 40 years combined experience in AV and meeting and event technology. New team members include Senior Account Executive Mark Fox, Senior Account Executive Reggie Lyons, and Operations Manager Travis Combs. BlueWater’s reputation with its vendors and clients, and its unique business diversity was alluring to all three new team members.

“BlueWater has the internal resources to take on large and complex projects and see them through to successful completion,” said Combs. “Throughout my career I’ve seen technology projects fail, or not reach the full potential, because the company was unable to provide the necessary resources. This will not happen with BlueWater, as the company is known for meeting and exceeding client expectations and I’m proud to be a member of this team.”

BlueWater is committed to the Indiana market and will continue to hire local talent to support its continued expansion.

Southfield, Michigan – September 25, 2012 – BlueWater Technologies, a national provider of Meeting & Event Technology, Digital Media Solutions, Audio Visual Integration, and Custom Fixtures and Displays, to highlight new technology at its annual 2012 Tech Expo at The Fillmore Detroit on Wednesday, September 26, 2012.

BlueWater Technologies’ Annual Tech Expo is where professionals go each year to see the latest technology for events, experiential marketing, permanent installations, retail environments and more. This is an exciting year at the 2012 Tech Expo with new technology from BlueWater Technologies, Infocus, Barco, MultiTouch, Biamp Systems, AMX, and many other vendors.

Attendees will have access to BlueWater’s newly released VISION, one of the largest HD digital multicam systems in the U.S. Designed by industry veterans and engineered to maintain a minimal footprint with major results, VISION provides the clarity and quality you expect from network television HD cameras. Technicians have the control, flexibility and reliability required to execute flawless events when using VISION.

There will also be hands-on experiential marketing technology, developed by BlueWater, including:

• Interactive gaming apps and technology solutions ideal for live events, tradeshows, mobile tours, and other opportunities where you can engage customers and drive new business.
• Social media feed featuring Twitter and SMS postings, demonstrating how you can use one or more social media outlets to display and measure who is talking about your company, whether it’s clients or employees.
• Digital signage technology powered by Scala is placed throughout the venue. Onsite, BlueWater will manage the content with updates and make in-sync announcements to multiple signage screens.
• Digital Reservation System is an ideal for restaurants ready to embrace technology, such as using SMS to alert patrons when their table is ready.
• Technology for banking and other customer-centric businesses including instant calls to action, access to personalized messages, and a digital signage solution designed to generate personalized messaging based on demographics.

“The technology we are displaying this year is ideal for marketers, IT professionals, event planners, operations and facilities managers, producers and other professionals involved in driving new business or managing communications,” says BlueWater Technologies’ Director of Marketing John Rose. “We have 30 vendors who engage attendees and demonstrate the new technology available today as well as what is coming ahead. It’s a opportunity for BlueWater to showcase what we can do and the technologies that make it happen.”

Pre-register for BlueWater Technologies’ 2012 Tech Expo today or register onsite.
What: BlueWater Technologies’ Annual 2012 Tech Expo
When: Wednesday, September 26, 2012, 10:00a.m. – 7:00p.m. eastern time
Where: The Fillmore Detroit with complimentary valet
Why: Learn about new and upcoming technology, solutions and services from industry leaders.
Participate in our educational sessions on digital signage, digital media, mobile marketing, and conference room technology.

See Detroit sensation Jill Jack perform during our reception from 4:30 – 7:00p.m.
Register today to see how BlueWater puts on a live event at The Fillmore Detroit on September 26th, with special guests Jill Jack and the Detroit Circus Performers. There will be food and beverages, educational sessions, and networking throughout the day. Visit the 2012 Tech Expo website to learn more.

NEW YORK and MICHIGAN, September 12, 2012 -- Inc. magazine ranked BlueWater Technologies No. 2638 on its sixth annual Inc. 500|5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy—America’s independent entrepreneurs. Unified Payments tops this year’s list. BlueWater Technologies joins Yelp, yogurt maker Chobani, Giftcards.com, KIND and famed hat maker Tilly’s, among other prominent brands featured on this year’s list.

BlueWater is a national provider of custom Meeting & Event Technology, Digital Media solutions, Audio Visual Integration, and Custom Fixtures and Displays. BlueWater works with some of the largest brands in the U.S. and worldwide, including five of the top automakers, some of the largest financial and banking institutions, as well as major cellular phone providers who use our technology to drive new business and launch their latest products. Driven by technology, BlueWater clients look to the company to provide custom solutions that help set them apart, including the latest in LED, digital signage, experiential marketing, or conference room technology.

“It is exciting to see BlueWater’s growth at 90% over the past three years and our ranking of No. 39 in the Detroit market,” said BlueWater Technologies’ CEO Tom Battaglia. “Our continued growth is a direct result of our dedicated team who goes above and beyond for each customer. The BlueWater team works seamlessly together to make every project a success which in turn secures repeat and referral business. BlueWater is continuing to grow and we’re excited about what’s to come.”

In a stagnant economic environment, median growth rate of 2012 Inc. 500|5000 companies remains an impressive 97-percent. The companies on this year’s list report having created over 400,000 jobs in the past three years, and aggregate revenue among the honorees reached $299 billion.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can play casino online be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/5000.

“Now, more than ever, we depend on Inc. 500/5000 companies to spur innovation, provide jobs, and drive the economy forward. Growth companies, not large corporations, are where the action is,” says Inc. Editor Eric Schurenberg.

Methodology
The 2012 Inc. 500|5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2008 to 2011. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2008. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2011. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2008 is $100,000; the minimum for 2011 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.’s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at www.inc.com/500.

About Inc.
Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures, Inc. is the only major brand dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, with the aim to deliver real solutions for today’s innovative company builders. Total monthly audience reach for the brand has grown significantly from 2,000,000 in 2010 to over 6,000,000 today. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

Southfield, Michigan – August 29, 2012 – BlueWater Technologies, a national provider of Meeting & Event Technology, Digital Media Solutions, Audio Visual Integration, and Custom Fixtures and Displays, announces its annual 2012 Tech Expo at The Fillmore Detroit on Wednesday, September 26, 2012. Tech Expo is where professionals go each year to discover the latest in event technology and marketing, interactive displays, AV integration solutions, and experiential marketing ideas to engage employees and consumers.

BlueWater’s 2012 Tech Expo will have more hands-on experiences, live event shows throughout the day and educational sessions. All of which is designed to expand attendees’ creativity in the world of audio visual, live event & meeting technology, and experiential marketing solutions. There will be nearly 40 of the industry’s top audio visual manufacturers and technology providers exhibiting this year and BlueWater will demonstrate new ideas on how to utilize these solutions.

“It’s exciting to see how many of our customers attend Tech Expo year after year, as well as the number new attendees we attract,” said BlueWater Technologies’ Director of Marketing John Rose. “Our goal is to inspire new ideas, whether it is for an event, a training facility, or the latest in experiential marketing – our attendees have the opportunity to engage with BlueWater professionals, peers, and industry experts throughout the day.”

What: BlueWater Technologies’ Annual 2012 Tech Expo
When: Wednesday, September 26, 2012, 10:00a.m. – 7:00p.m. eastern time
Where: The Fillmore Detroit with complimentary valet
Why: Learn about new and upcoming technology, solutions and services from industry leaders.
Participate in our educational sessions on digital signage, digital media, mobile marketing, and conference room technology.

See Detroit sensation Jill Jack perform during our reception from 4:30 – 7:00p.m.

Register today to see how BlueWater puts on a live event at The Fillmore Detroit on September 26th, with special guests Jill Jack and the Detroit Circus Performers. There will be food and beverages, educational sessions, and networking throughout the day. Visit the 2012 Tech Expo website to learn more.

Media Contact: Melissa Diemert

About Us » All Press Releases

BlueWater Provides High-Definition Upgrades to the Drive-in Theatre

The Henry Ford recently opened Driving America, a new exhibition centered around its unparalleled collection of historically significant vehicles, with a remarkable mix of authentic artifacts, digital media, interactive play, and personal accounts focusing on the enormous influence the automobile has on American culture—from the automotive innovations changing our lives to the everyday choices we make. A cornerstone of this new experience is a new 100-seat theater experience complete with a new signature film that examines how the automobile has truly transformed our world and highlights the choices that lie ahead. The Henry Ford selected BlueWater Technologies’ Audio Visual Integration team to provide the technology required to help tell the tale of transportation.

A new Christie 3-Chip DLP projector, which is ceiling mounted toward the back of the theater and projects onto a fixed-frame projection screen, adequately sized for the 100-person seating capacity of the theater. The projector primarily displays high-definition video feed from an Alcorn McBride video player; laptop connections installed at the front and back of the theater ensure adequate connectivity when needed. The Alcorn McBride hardware supports a countdown timer indicating start time of the next show. This countdown is displayed on a clock, wall mounted by BlueWater, above the entrance to the theater.

Audio for the theater is supported by a couple Bose Line Arrays installed at the front of house, to each side of the projection screen and powered by Crown Audio amplifiers. This setup also includes ceiling mounted sub-woofers to provide a full range of sound. A wireless combination system containing a handheld transmitter and a bodypack transmitter with a headset style microphone was selected for spoken voice. As backup, BlueWater installed XLR connections for hardwired microphones near the laptop connections.

BlueWater also provided a Williams Sound hearing assistance system to benefit the hearing impaired visitors to the museum. Closed captioning may be required at times for the display.

To control the theater A/V, BlueWater installed an AMX control system. The AMX system provides control over system on/off, source selection, volume control, closed captioning on/off and control of the AMX lighting system, all from a touchscreen display located at a central command point. BlueWater worked closely with The Henry Ford technical staff to develop the touch panel pages for a custom look and feel.

About The Henry Ford
The Henry Ford, in Dearborn, Michigan, is the world’s premier history destination and a National Historic Landmark that celebrates American history and innovation. Its mission is to provide unique educational experiences based on authentic objects, stories and lives from America’s traditions of ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation. Its purpose is to inspire people to learn from these traditions to help shape a better future. Five distinct attractions at The Henry Ford captivate more than 1.5 million visitors annually: Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, The Ford Rouge Factory Tour, The Benson Ford Research Center and The Henry Ford IMAX Theatre. The Henry Ford is also home to Henry Ford Academy, a public charter high school which educates nearly 500 students a year on the institution’s campus and was founded in partnership with The Henry Ford, Ford Motor Company and Wayne County Public Schools. For more information please visit their website, www.thehenryford.org.

Southfield, Michigan – July 10, 2012 –BlueWater Technologies, a national provider of Meeting & Event Technology, Digital Media Solutions, Audio Visual Integration, and Custom Fixtures and Displays, announces its partnership with Digital Draw, the first online community for bank marketing professionals.

“Sponsoring Digital Draw is an opportunity for BlueWater to engage with marketers in the financial community,” said BlueWater Technologies’ Director of Marketing John Rose. “Digital signage solutions and interactive displays are a large share of our business, and we’ve had tremendous success within the financial sector, making this an ideal union.”

Digital Draw offers bank marketing professionals an educational source where they can get the latest news and information on how to implement digital signage to communicate and increase revenue. Information is posted by industry experts and other marketing professionals within the industry through message boards, blogs, webinars, articles, live text chats, technology, and more.

BlueWater participates in the solution center within the Digital Draw community, providing marketers with information on the latest technology in digital signage solutions. Although digital signage is not new to financial institutions, the technology continues to change. BlueWater has implemented digital signage for some of the largest banking institutions in the U.S. Using the Intel® Audience Impression Metrics (AIM) suite, BlueWater can implement digital signage solutions that generate personalized messaging and allow banking institutions to take
customer engagement to a new level to drive positive business results.

“Today’s digital signage helps marketers generate ROI on their initiatives, which is a significant turning point in this technology,” said Rose. “BlueWater is excited to be a part of this community within the financial sector.”

Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries.

Media Contact: Melissa Diemert

About Us » All Press Releases