| Touch screen wayfinding systems provide visitors easy access to information and allow churches flexible updating. |
| by: Richard Halstead |
When
visitors come to your church they might not feel comfortable asking
questions, but more than likely their visit will leave them with a lot
of questions. Signage in church has long been a necessity for
wayfinding. Recent advances in technology offers leaders the
flexibility of updated information with an interactive feature that
welcomes congregants and visitors.Outtouch Ministries and TTSS Interactive Products (OT/TTSS) have partnered to provide a touch screen system that provides two-way communication. The screens can be mounted where people can access it when they enter your church and visitors and members alike will be presented with messages, graphics and videos and have the ability to explore a map of the church facilities using touch screen technology.
For example, guests might want to know where the location of the nursery or Sunday school class is located or to find what events are being held and where. Drop down menus can help visitors narrow their search and provide directions to any and all locations on campus or within the building. Touch screen signs are multimedia bulletin boards
and
newsletters, with the ability to display attractive graphics and
banners that can promote upcoming events and/or ministries. Directional support
Video messages can also be displayed. Imagine being able to provide interested visitors a brief history of the church, your statement of faith and giving opportunities, along with information on how to join. These wayfinding systems can be designed to allow specific directional support from all system locations to any interior or exterior location.
First Baptist Church of Glenarden, Glenarden, MD, has four 19-inch interactive information and wayfinding systems that have search categories and all are tied to interior wayfinding throughout the church.
Directional routes can be displayed by blinking path arrows on map while text directions offer additional assistance for those who prefer written directions. Print functionality is included on the OT/TTSS systems allowing maps to be printed right from the systems location.
The
real advantage of these touch screen systems is the ease and simplicity
of managing all system data. The systems can be managed remotely from
any existing facility computer. As people, departments, or other
areas move throughout a church, a simple click on that item and then on
the new location and all of the maps, text directions and other
relevant wayfinding information can be instantly changed to reflect the
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Additionally as new messages or ministry information is posted, they can also be easily added right from the desktop editing station. The ease of system management insures that members and visitors are always presented with the most accurate and up to date information and directional support.
Richard Halstead is vice president of Shared Church Services and president of Outtouch Ministries, Memphis, TN. [sharedchurchservices.com] [outtouch.org]
Photos courtesy of OT/TTSS.