How Directional Speakers Can Transform Digital Signage & Kiosk Experiences

We’ve all felt frustrated while using a touchscreen kiosk or self-service screen in a public place. It’s hard to follow instructions when background noise makes it difficult to hear anything clearly. Even worse, you might hear someone else’s screen blasting in your direction.  

Directional speakers fix this issue by delivering sound that is focused and clear, so only the person in front of the kiosk hears it. This applies to wayfinding displays, ticket machines, self-checkout stations, and travel information screens. Directional audio improves both privacy and clarity.  

In busy places like shopping centres, airports, museums, and hospitals, this targeted sound makes using kiosks faster and less frustrating.  

Directional speakers on interactive kiosks would:  

• Ensure audio prompts or instructions are only heard by the current user  
• Protect user privacy, especially for payment or health information  
• Avoid adding to the general noise in crowded environments  

Our MA4 Dakota Audio speakers are perfect for this purpose. They keep kiosks helpful and user-friendly without becoming another source of noise.  

Touchscreen kiosks and digital signage are common, but they aren’t always designed with everyone in mind. For blind or partially sighted users, these interfaces can be confusing or unusable without clear audio instructions.  

By using directional speakers with screen readers or audio navigation tools, kiosks can become fully accessible. They provide private voice guidance without spreading instructions throughout a public area.  

For vision-impaired users, this means:  

• Accessing navigation or service instructions independently  
• Receiving clear, understandable information in busy or echo-prone locations  
• Navigating airports, campuses, libraries, and hospitals with more confidence  

This small change makes a significant difference, helping organizations meet accessibility standards like the Equality Act 2010 and WCAG guidelines for digital services.

Our X2 speaker is ideal for this use, delivering sound that feels nearly whispered to the user, ensuring discretion without needing headphones.  

Another key application is making digital signage more interactive and memorable. Whether it’s a retail promotion, product display, museum exhibit, or event calendar, directional speakers allow these messages to reach only those who stop to look.  

Ideal locations include:  

• Storefront or window displays  
• Trade show stands and demo booths  
• Hotel lobbies and conference centres  
• Transport hubs and public concourses  

Instead of a silent screen or loud PA system, imagine:  

“Discover our latest collection inside—20% off this week only.”  

Or:  

“Tap here for live arrivals and platform updates.”  

Benefits:  

• Captures attention without creating unwanted noise  
• Increases dwell time and message retention  
• Allows for location- or time-sensitive promotions  

Our SB-24 SonicBeams are perfect for directional messaging at public-facing displays. They deliver clear sound to those who want it and silence to those who do not.