Hi-Tech Fan Kiosks and Mobile Tech Developed with Cisco Systems to Debut Race Weekend at NASCAR’s Bristol Motor Speedway Event

New advancements in fan-centric traveling technology, designed to enhance the fan’s enjoyment at live events and entertainment venues, will be tested this week at Bristol Motor Speedway during the IRWIN Tools Night Race NASCAR Weekend.

The “Digital Signage, Mobility & Security” kiosks, devised and operated by the Heads and Tails Company of Southern California, will be showcased during NASCAR’s visit this week to Bristol Motor Speedway, owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI). During the four-day event, track guests stopping by one of the digitally automated and unmanned kiosks will be able to explore a multitude of value-added, venue-enhancing experience features in advance of wider deployment in 2014 at other SMI facilities.

Tony Loiacono, founder and CEO of Heads and Tails, stated the multiple technologies used are powered by Cisco Systems and Meraki along with eco-partners VieDrive, Industry Weapon, and Babelpay. Meraki and Ovideon were utilized to create the kiosks in order to provide an access to new fan and venue centric mobile technologies.  While each unit stands alone, they are interconnected onsite via an easily-managed localized wireless network.”

Like a futuristic mall directory, these traveling kiosks are eight-feet tall and fitted with HD video screens and customized “Bristol Battles” graphics. The units provide an interactive display experience of event news, content, and full interoperability with the mobile phone gateway allowing users to interact through mobile GPS and in-venue Wayfinding.

Kiosk and mobile network-based communications allow for local level delivery of content offers, schedules, track maps, NASCAR standings and current track results, while the Wayfinding feature guides app users to locations around the venue utilizing a sensor based facilities location map.

“This first-of-a-kind traveling DSMS system enhances the fan experience to entertain and inform our guests in remote and convenient locations around our tracks as if wireless broadband access and speeds are as plentiful as air,” said Jerry Caldwell, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Bristol Motor Speedway.

Beyond a static board, the SMI mobile kiosk supports connectivity to a smartphone/tablet app to serve fan interaction throughout venues. While various service needs will be gauged during the test at Bristol Motor Speedway, the fan kiosk is capable of providing GPS guidance to: seating, food, refreshments, restrooms, souvenirs, friend locations, and much more.

Optimum times to see how the units operate and talk with officials from Heads and Tails are August 21 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. and August 22 9 a.m. until 6 p.m at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Heads and Tails PR