Digital Signage
Digital Signage is a phrase devised to describe the use of a display device driven by a Media player to present a variety of information, entertainment or advertising (collectively called ‘Media’) to an audience who are in a position to view such a display – normally for a relatively short period of time. A simplistic description, however, would be a system that puts messaging on a screen; the form of screen, message and system can vary depending on the application.
The Media Player is generally updated with new media via digital file transfer – either manually using portable memory modules or via a computer network such as the internet or the network owner’s Intranet.
Display Devices can be:
- A large format Plasma or LCD screen.
- A Projector
- A computer-like device with varying media rendering and storage capability.
Today, systems allow for a screen to be devided into zones, each of which can display specific media types. Each zone can be given an independent playlist, so that specific images or other content appear at pre-defined times and in a pre-defined order. Furthermore, the overall scheme may change at certain times of the day. This flexibilty allows a user to customise the diplay as much or as little as required for a given application. For example, a screen may show a live TV news feed next to a still image showing a weather map. Another part of the same screen may be configured to display information about a scheduled fire drill.
To illustrate the variety of Digital Signage applications, here are some examples:
Large outdoor displays – often seen at major sporting events, these screens can relay live action or provide replays of events. Branding or advertising appears regularly interspersed with the sporting content. Also seen at large public gatherings such as music festivals or in locations such as Piccadilly Circus in London or the Ginza in Tokyo.
Transport-related – screens appear in trams, trains, aeroplanes, taxis and at airports. The primary function may be to inform or entertain, and advertising frequently appears. News and weather feeds are particularly useful to the traveller.
Business to business – here the target audience is not the general public, but employees of a business. Staff-facing screens can inform about call statistics in a call centre, sales targets in a business or provide relevant news information on the trading floor of a bank.
Room signage – screens outside conference rooms inform of the next meeting, who has booked the meeting or availability. Signage may also act as a direction-finder, pointing the visitor to a correct location.
Retail – an increasing number of systems are being used to deliver advertising to consumers. The content ranges from highly informational, for example listing features of the latest mobile phone; to aspirational, for example pictures of a car rally shown at a performance car dealership. The retail sector is often seen as having the largest potential for digital signage as there is much discussion about the benefits to retailers as a result of signage development.
Informational – screens located in reception areas or places where people congregate in order to inform visitors about facilities, or to create a branding for the location. Examples are in sports centres or schools and colleges. Ease of use is important in this scenario so that operators can easily update messages, which may change on an hourly basis or even more frequently.
This list is by no means exhaustive, as there are many other applications of Digital Signage and our Systems Consultants are always on hand to discuss any specific requirements you may have which do not fall into the above categories.
Cabling CAT5/6 & screen Installation
We can fully wire with CAT5/6 cabling to ensure a seamless installation of all equipment. Please contact us to arrange a consultation and quotation for installation.
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