APPLETON, WI (May 2007) - Deaf and hard of hearing students at the Wisconsin School for the Deaf (WSD) will soon be served by a visual information system (VIS), similar in scope to the familiar intercom system known to hearing students throughout the country. Until now, routine information has been shared over the school's LAN system, and fire or tornado emergencies via warning lights. There is currently no means to warn staff of other emergencies, such as lock-down situations, except to send runners. AutoComm's installation and networking of nearly 150 electronic signs throughout the WSD campus will dramatically improve communication between faculty and students.

"In reality, the Visual Information System is more than an intercom," says Alex Slappey, director of the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. "It will display time of day, allowing clocks to be synchronized across campus. That's something we don't have now and it causes problems. It can be programmed to display outside temperature, a nice feature for the dormitory. We'll be able to send messages to individual rooms, groups (middle school, elementary, etc.), and campus wide. We'll have a secure warning and emergency information system which allows the deaf to be on an even footing with their hearing peers. We're very excited about this system and think that we're limited only by our imagination."

The VIS installation will be completed by mid-summer, with testing to commence soon after. It will be fully operational by the start of school in September 2007.

Launched in 1998, AutoComm focuses on providing digital signage solutions to education, retail, industrial and corporate communication markets utilizing LED, LCD and Plasma technology. Based in Appleton, WI, the company's extensive client roster includes Princeton University, Dartmouth, University of Nebraska and more. For additional AutoComm information log onto www.autocomm-inc.com or dial 800.724.4896 today!