3D technology is just about everywhere. Attendees at the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas saw the unveiling of several 3D TVs and analysts expect 3D Blu-ray players to hit the market any day now. In fact, by 2020 analysts expect 25 percent of TVs in the U.S. will be 3D. And of course we have seen 3D movies grow in popularity year after year; Twentieth Century FOX’s new 3D movie “Avatar” is contributing to renewed interest in IMAX theaters and is on track to become the highest grossing movie of all time. However, many experts expect 3D technology to soon transcend the standard mediums to alter other technological avenues. This made us wonder, what about digital signage?

 Industry experts aren’t sure which medium will be the next to make the leap into 3D technology—some have suggested laptops, mobile devices and even eye glasses—but as the digital signage industry continues to search for ideas that engage consumers and drive sales, 3D technology seems to fit. The advertising industry has already begun to use 3D, including companies like Best Buy and ABC, with promising results. And digital signage continues to experiment with the newest technology, from holographic displays to augmented reality, in hopes of increasing ROI. So, it might be likely that the one of the next great 3D achievements won’t be on a movie or TV screen, but something much larger.

Lately, there has been some very interesting digital installations popping up across the globe.  As the digital out-of-home sector continues to expand we hope even more incredible displays will begin construction. The other day here at A2aMEDIA we were discussing which world location would make the best venue for a new digital display. Our discussion resulted in some great ideas like the Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia, the world’s tallest buildings until 2004, Niagara Falls, and even an out of this world site like the International Space Station. (Unfortunately the moon was already part of an advertising campaign for Rolling Rock back in 2008.) But we just couldn’t pass up on one location in particular—the Burj Hotel in Dubai, which opened this week on January 4^th. Reaching a half mile into the sky, the Burj is the world’s tallest skyscraper with 160 stories. And while wrapping the Burj building in Mediamesh might take some time, it would mean some serious space for advertisers and a grand sight to see for the passerby. Despite the grandeur of this theoretical project, there would still be a lot to consider in terms of content and interactivity to ensure the project’s success.  Still we’re excited to see what the future of digital display holds—it’s bound to be on a grand scale.