Are touch screen office directories new? Bruce Willis disagrees

At the opening of the 1988 hit movie Die Hard, a weary Bruce Willis walks up to the counter of a modern skyscraper, where a touch-screen office directory sits. “Nice toy,” he tells the guard, using his finger to navigate the controls and type in his wife’s name. At that point in the movie, his marriage was deadlocked, though ultimately McClane (Bruce’s character) would save him by rescuing the hostages and sending in a group of villains.

More relevant to the building’s directory signage, the touch screen seen in the film had a clear purpose: to demonstrate that the building was innovative and to show that its owner was a mover and shaker, one worth targeting. kidnappers and terrorists. looking for a big score.

In the movie, the touch screen is a small screen, about 15 inches in size. It had a relatively mundane interface, one that wouldn’t win any awards in today’s web 2.0 world. Also, in 1988, there was no internet, and it’s not an outreach to suggest that the upgrade process was no easier than with a standard backlit directory, complete with nametags and duct tape.

Perhaps that’s why the touchscreen directory featured in Die Hard didn’t exactly revolutionize office lobbies. In fact, it wasn’t until a few years ago that touch screen directories took their next big leap.

First, LCD technology is now affordable, allowing businesses to upgrade to screen sizes from 32 to 65 inches and beyond. Also, as we all know well, LCD screens allow for incredible HD resolution content, far surpassing the limitations of 1980s technology.

The rise of the Internet also makes updates easier, allowing building managers to make changes to tenants and their people via the web instantly. The development of advanced creative tools generate stunning visual graphics and engaging interactive bells and whistles. All of which brings the touchscreen building directory back into the modern age.

Since the original Die Hard, Bruce Willis has starred in three sequels (Die Hard 2, Die Hard: With a Vengeance, Live Free or Die Hard). Who knows, if there is a fifth, you might want to ask the screenwriter to add a truly modern building directory to demonstrate the style and grit of the movie’s characters.