Microsoft and Intel Team Up for Tailored Ads

Intel has partnered with Microsoft to develop a platform for the digital signage industry, containing features that analyze users' physical attributes and then generate tailored ad displays.

The new 7-foot-6-inch 'Intelligent Digital Signage Concept' enables advertisers to measure the effectiveness of their campaigns through built-in camera technology which recognizes consumer gender, age, audience composition, time-of-day and other criteria.

In addition, the firms say the retail customer experience is enhanced with a multi-touch, multi-user interface, which anonymously sends audience information to advertisers who can use that information to understand the type of content and messages that are most popular with viewers.

Intel says the device could change the way people interact with digital signage technology in environments such as stores, airports, banks and hotels.

'Digital signage has become a valuable technology for dispersing targeted and interactive content to shoppers,' states Joe Jensen, General Manager of the Embedded Computing Division at Intel. 'We therefore designed the Intel Intelligent Digital Signage Concept to show that retailers can engage and interact with consumers, to yield an increase in revenue and customer loyalty.'

The new system, which is built on the Windows 7-based, Windows Embedded Standard 2011 operating system and powered by the Intel Core i7 processor, is expected to be available in the second quarter of 2010.

Web sites: www.microsoft.com and www.intel.com .