Gail Chiasson, North American Editor
“It’s not about the technology, it’s what you do with it,” says Mike Tippets, vice-president, media solutions group, Hughes Network Systems.
What Hughes has been doing is launching Hughes Breakroom TV, giving companies a new way to message, train and entertain their employees.
“Employees are a massive focus for us,” says Tippets. “#dse2015 is Breakroom TV’s major debut.
“The main screen can entertain employees while giving messages to them on the side, or the entire screen can be taken over and used as a training tool for one or a group of employees together,” he says. “It’s starting to be used in the retail and sectors, but Breakroom TV is geared for all types of companies.”
Hughes products are currently heavily focused on the US market, but the company has been attracting some interest from Europe where it is now doing a couple of small pilots.
Tippets also says that grocery stores are trying to compete by offering customers experiences such as sit down areas where they can relax with a coffee or lunch. To that sector, Tippets is also offering digital menu boards that can be easily changed.
“Actually, we’re targeting grocery stores, general retail and C-stores with our menu boards that offer great flexibility,” says Tippets.
We asked Tippets about the use of sound with different types of screens.
“If audio is important, then I recommend that customers go with TVs. They are cheaper and work fine for Breakroom TV. However, for menu boards, I’d definitely recommend monitors.”
For menu boards, Hughes, which is owned by EchoStar, uses Scala content management software. It uses its own software for Breakroom TV.
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