Best use of interactive technologyAs part of the effort to launch the A&E series The Beast, Horizon Media worked with JC Decaux to plan a campaign during the peak holiday shopping season in downtown Chicago. Utilizing four high profile agency-targeted transit shelter locations, the signage employed the first-ever audio and touchscreen effort in the city. These interactive units allowed the Chicago audience to select one of four videos that highlighted the stars and captured the intensity of the show in a captive and relevant environment.

Best use of interactive technologyThough many still think of outdoor displays as static vinyl and poster board, Inwindow Outdoor raised the bar by featuring cutting-edge digital technologies to generate buzz around the release of animated feature film, Coraline. inWindow in affiliation with Wieden + Kennedy created "Storescapes" in fourteen locations across seven major U.S. markets using audio, video, holograms, gesture and augmented reality. Displays in NYC, Miami, Chicago and Washington D.C. incorporated augmented reality technology superimposing images on pedestrians; onlookers saw their reflections with a virtual image of buttons, covering their real eyes, in …

Most Innovative Research/Metrics/Planning SystemHistorically, pedestrian volumes for digital out-of-home signage were expensive and laborious to measure, with only scarce and sporadic data available. Adapting network modeling techniques currently used in the urban design and planning fields to outdoor digital signage, Peoplecount created a cost-effective, accurate model to predict the missing pedestrian audience as a component of the Traffic Audit Bureau's new Eyes On Ratings.

Most Innovative Research/Metrics/Planning SystemNielsen's Pocketpiece measurement is based on a patent pending hybrid methodology that makes use of transactional information, standard traffic data and intercept studies. The combination of this different data results in monthly reporting of traffic data augmented with periodic in-person intercepts to capture demographics, dwell time and qualitative data like advertising recall and involvement. This methodology allows networks to keep their research timely and reflective of seasonality and evolving marketplaces, as well as providing greater accountability.

Most Innovative Research/Metrics/Planning SystemAs part of the effort to launch A&E's Andromeda Strain mini-series, Horizon partnered with Pearl Media to execute a street-level billboard in a previously vacant storefront, but with a technological edge. An element of measurability was added, when a small camera was placed within the window. The camera used recognition-intelligence software to make it possible to report key data, such as how many pedestrians passed by, how many engaged with the billboard (and for how long), and whether they were male or female. 

Best Point-of-Sale CampaignDigital signage was placed on underground subway platforms in the Toronto TTC system and pushed real time, graphically-illustrated weather conditions - via RSS -  directly to the panel to illustrate the smart functionality and full-featured graphic interface of the HTC Diamond. Secondary signage educating consumers on the phone's features was placed in malls and retail locations with a push to the point of purchase.

Best Point-of-Sale CampaignMoxie was tasked with creating in-store digital signage elements to educate customers in-store when Verizon Wireless launched the Storm, the world's first touch screen BlackBerry. Within the Verizon Wireless retail stores there are multiple flat screen panels and Moxie brought varying content strategies to each of these placements. 

Best Point-of-Sale CampaignIn 2008, Verizon's retail experience program was rolled out to over 3,000 stores nationwide, a venture that provides a tool for customers who want information and demonstrations on how to use products and services, and serves as an education, training and sales tool for staff. Unlike most in-store displays, Verizon's 6,000-plus screens nationwide can be updated from a central hub in real time with new features and the latest information, and can also provide content relevant to specific locations, including coverage area maps and pricing information.

Best Campaign: NationalPart witty silence-your-cell-phone announcement, part branding ad, part Hollywood spoof, the "Happy the Hedgehog" in-theatre spot gained notice for its wry content and effective messaging ("It takes many calls to make a movie and only one to ruin it").

Best Campaign: NationalArnold created whimsical interactive aquariums in vacant storefronts in Baltimore, Dallas, D.C., Houston, NYC and LA using computer vision technology, flash animation, vocal recognition and computer gaming software to reinforce the sense of fun associated with Carnival Cruises. Pedestrians interacted with the virtual aquariums via gestures as well as cell phones.