Michael Chang, president at Fantasia Coffee and Tea in Cupertino, Calif., started using the Cisco Digital Signage system last week at the chain's Milpitas, Calif., store to display still pictures of his company's products for customers waiting at the checkout counter.

"Today, it is pictures; later, we could put on video and maybe provide information about the health benefits of tea," Chang said. "We kind of entertain people while they are in line."

The digital video format allows Fantasia Coffee and Tea to more quickly change information presented to customers than was possible using printed signs, Chang said. The company uses a Wi-Fi router in the store to relay data to the digital sign, he said. Advertising and Beyond

Eventually, Chang said, the company hopes to send video data from a central location to digital video systems in each of its five stores. He also hopes to sell advertising space on the displays to help pay for the technology.

Thomas Wyatt, general manager of digital management at Cisco, said companies can also use the signs for employee training tasks.