In the science fiction thriller Minority Report, Tom Cruise’ character interacts with a computer via a three-dimensional touch screen interface. Accenture, a global technology and corporate consulting agency, has brought a similar technology to life and installed it at Terminal 3 of Chicago’s O’Hare airport.
The high-definition, interactive screen, which is 10 feet wide and 7 feet tall, is aimed primarily at business travelers and allows users to access information such as stock quotes, news, lifestyle tips, and sports updates. It is operated by touch and can be accessed by two people at one time.
“Accenture has already partnered with CNN Pipeline and the Weather Channel,” said Dale Herigstad, executive creative director at Schematic, the company that developed the technology for Accenture.
Accenture hopes this new technology could evolve into a network of interactive, wall-sized screens. The Accenture Interactive Network could one day link multiple screens at airports, shopping malls and other locations. And, because they are so large, the person interacting is not the only one who will view the content, as passersby will also be able to see what is going on on the screen.
“It’s going in two directions,” Herigstad said, “completely private, where you’re doing your own thing, but public as well.”
“The immersive experience fosters collaboration by allowing multiple users to simultaneously manipulate content, a feature lacking in other commercially-available, wall-sized screens,” Accenture published in a press release.
“Video is wallpaper,” said Herigstad, who consulted on Minority Report, “screens are getting better and cheaper.”
“Accenture has been a pioneer in airport billboard advertising and we view the Interactive Network as another example of our ability to use innovation to cut through the clutter,” said Teresa Poggenpohl, Executive Director, Global Advertising & Brand Management, Accenture. “It entertains travelers, while
simultaneously delivering our advertising featuring Tiger Woods. In the future, users might be able to request a brochure or white paper, or even order a product or service.”
The O’Hare screen was unveiled in May and Accenture plans to install another interactive screen at New York’s JFK airport, as well.
For more information, visit www.accenture.com/xd/xd.asp?it=enweb&xd=newsroom%5Cepresskit%5Cinteractive_network%5Cinteractive_network.xml.
