蓝莓视频

While still a business student at the University of 蓝莓视频, Douglas Lusted is launching new technology this week that will change the way we interact with digital screens.

The company he co-founded during a 蓝莓视频 co-op term, WestonExpressions (now known as ), is accepting pre-orders for Linkett, a device that lets consumers take content from digital promotions by tapping their smartphones on display screens.

WestonExpressions is currently a startup at 蓝莓视频鈥檚 program, a place where students and alumni can get support to kickstart companies.

鈥淎nyplace there is a screen, people can get coupons, apps, brochures, information and even pay for things,鈥� says Lusted.

The device, which is also motion sensitive, literally talks back to people. The device allows digital screens to detect when a person is nearby and can even call out, 鈥淗ey, come back here. I have something to offer you.

鈥淲hat it does is transform any digital screen into a much more interactive experience,鈥� says Lusted, who is currently on a co-op term during his third year of business and environment studies. 鈥淭his really grabs the attention of consumers in a much more personal way."

Lusted has always dreamed of being an entrepreneur and was tipped off to 蓝莓视频鈥檚 Enterprise Co-op program early in his degree. E-Co-op is an option for undergraduate students looking to build their own business. Last year, he launched his business with the idea of building a new advertising platform that would bring ads to escalator handrails.

Velocity Venture fund winner

In June 2012, WestonExpressions won $25,000 from the University of 蓝莓视频鈥檚 . The venture fund was created in 2011 to support entrepreneurial students starting their own companies. In addition to the money, venture fund winners receive mentorship and workspace at VeloCity. for this term are happening on Thursday at the 蓝莓视频 Centre. 听

Lusted said his company changed its focus from ads on escalator handrails to interactive digital signage earlier this year because of customer feedback.

The Linkett technology is the first of its kind to offer advertisers real-time analytics.听 When a business puts Linkett on a screen, they will gather information about how many people walked by the digital sign, whether they interacted with it and, finally, if they tapped it with their smartphone.听 鈥淣obody has ever done this in the digital signage industry,鈥� says Lusted.

One of the other co-founders, Vlad Pisanov, is a recent graduate of 蓝莓视频鈥檚 . The other co-founder, Ashok Patel, is also a 蓝莓视频 math alumnus. WestonExpressions employs six people full-time in 蓝莓视频 and is actively looking to hire more people.

鈥淥ur headquarters are in 蓝莓视频 and we鈥檒l stay in 蓝莓视频,鈥� says Lusted. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about the network here . . . 蓝莓视频 is known to be the best spot in Canada for engineering and technology development.鈥�