FAQs
What components make up digital signage?
What type of content can be displayed?
What is the difference between digital signage and MPEG players or DVDS?
How does digital signage work?
What type of screen installation can be applied?
What kind of display is used for digital signage?
Can content be delivered over wireless networks?
Can digital signage be equipped to play sound?
Are digital displays touch screen capable?
How can touch screens be used to gather information?
How can I lessen the up-front cost of digital signage?
What environmental benefit does digital signage offer over printed marketing?
Where can I get more information?
What is digital signage?
There are many interpretations as to what digital signage really is. A simplistic description, however, would be a system that puts messaging on a screen. The form of screen, message and system vary depending on the application.
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.
Transportation related - screens appear in trains, airplanes, taxis and at airports. The primary function may be to inform or entertain, and advertising frequently appears.
Business to business - the target audience is not the general public, but employees of a business.
Room signage - screens outside conference rooms display information about the next meeting, who has booked that meeting or availability. Signage also may act as a direction finder, pointing a visitor to the correct location.
Retail - used to deliver advertising to consumers.
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.
What components make up digital signage?
The display. The aesthetics of flat panel displays has meant that digital signage systems have become much more popular than when the installation of bulky CRT-based screens or video walls was required. The first generation of flat panel displays were plasma-based, but these have recently been overtaken in popularity by LCD-based screens. Plasma screens tend to scar or “burn” when the same image is displayed for a period of time. Plasma displays are still popular for consumer televisions where the image is sufficiently active to avoid any scarring. Projectors also may be used in signage applications, with back projection particularly suitable for large-format indoor situations. Front projection is more suitable for dimly lit areas.
The resolution. An important parameter associated with a display is the resolution. The higher the resolution, the greater the detail the display will resolve. Some systems allow the display screen to be installed in portrait mode as well as landscape mode. When choosing a display for a signage application, the size will be defined by the typical distance from the viewer and, to some extent, architectural considerations.
The media player. The player usually connects directly to the display. Depending on the sophistication of the player, it will perform a number of important functions. Primarily, it will take care of playing out the media at the correct time and in the right format, as defined by the built-in scheduler.
The scheduler. Software, usually loaded on the player, takes care of establishing playlists and schedules. For example, a user may decide to arrange the screen to show a single page of information for the first two hours of the working day, then split the screen into two zones, one with video from a live TV feed, the other with the original information page. All this may be done in the scheduler. It is important that the scheduler is easy to use and has a good graphical interface. Usually, schedulers are based on the concept of a timeline. This means that the user can set up playlists based on specific times or arrange playlists to loop for certain periods.
Media distribution. The system should be able to intelligently distribute media to the required media players. Each player usually has a hard drive containing all the media that should be displayed from that player. If the media is constantly being updated and changed, it makes sense to manage the media so that the hard drive doesn’t fill up with copies of outdated content. This is the job of the media manager software.
The network. A single media player with one or two screens doesn’t have to be on a network at all, and can operate in isolation from any other system. However, the real benefit of a signage system is exploited when links with other systems and players are established in order to deliver a coordinated message.
What type of content can be displayed?
Video. Characteristic: Moving images, but excluding animation.
Standards: MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV, QuickTime, AVI, Real,
DVB
Still images. Characteristic: Pictures, photographs, diagrams, maps, plans
Standards: JPEG, TIFF, BMP, PNG, GIF
Ticker. Characteristic: Smoothly scrolling text usually associated with news feeds
Standards: RSS, XML
Audio. Characteristic: Mono or stereo audio
Standards: WMA, MPEG audio, MP3
HTML. Characteristic: Web pages
Standards: http, https, JavaScript
Animation. Characteristic: Animations often seen on websites, cartoon-like
appearance
Standards: Flash, SWF
What is the difference between digital signage and MPEG players or DVDs?
An MPEG player or TV can be plugged into a DVD player, but what you will see is the same content repeating over and over. With digital signage, the content is renewed and can stay fresh.
Digital signage will help in saving production cost versus creating MPEGs or DVDs. With MPEGs and DVDs, new content will need to be created every time a change is made, creating additional work and cost. With digital signage, only an individual element will need to be changed, not the entire piece of content.
Distribution costs can be reduced. DVDs are a physical media so they will need to be shipped every time there is an update. With digital signage, there isn't a need to ship DVDs to each venue, which eliminates costs.
DVDs are susceptible to damage if not handled properly. Once installed a digital signage player will not need to be handled. Updates and changes are pushed to the player through the network.
MPEG files use large amounts of bandwidth and can run up the cost, as well as space availability on the network. When it comes to bandwidth, digital signage sends only the pieces which had been updated, saving bandwidth and the cost for your network.
Digital signage provides the Right Time at the Right Place. Right Time at the Right Place is one of the key words of digital signage maximizing the value of the information. MPEG players or DVDs will not be able to realize this as it could with digital signage with scheduling and advanced play back features.
Distributing DVDs will have a risk that those will not be played, staff members can forget to change them, or could simply forget to power on.
A digital signage player has no moving parts unlike it’s counterpart, the DVD player. No moving parts means no abrasive wear and a longer life span.
How does digital signage work?
Basically, there are four simple steps. First, it is necessary to create content. Second, schedule the content so that it is played back at the suitable time and place. Next, it is distributed to the server/client. When that is done, the final step is to playback.
The term “Content is King” applies, given its importance in achieving communications goals and “relevance”. Relevance is “content,” presented in the “context” of the place, time and viewer, being applied to achieve measurable results. Content may be King, Context the Emperor and Measurement the Queen (and it is she who must be obeyed), but “Relevance” is the ultimate authority.
What type of screen installation can be applied?
Screen installation or presentation can be as important as the content being displayed. A screen should suit the environment it is being viewed in. Screen presentation is very versatile and can be custom fitted to each application.
Commercial grade wall mounts are a simple solution, showing only the screen. Alternatively a screen may be displayed in a custom “picture frame” to mimic a piece of artwork hanging on a wall.
Stand alone kiosks are becoming very popular. Kiosks are also very customizable. The design may be ultra- modern mimicking a giant iPhone or computer. Similar designs may be created in metal or powder coated. This presentation may be used in a setting like a technology store, mall or airport. They may be more organic, made from stone, tile or wood, more suited to an organic food store or a yoga studio.
Digital displays may be built into a wall, the wall finished in stone or tile. A glass surround with back lighting will act as an elegant and high end display presentation.
It is important to integrate digital signage into the store with the customer in mind, says Scott Carter, senior vice president of sales and marketing for In-Store Touchmedia, a provider of a patented modular system that integrates interactive digital messaging with product merchandising. Digital signage also has to be a good fit for the retailer.
“Digital signage should be engaging to both the customer and the retailer,” Carter said. “Anytime I see a system that is integrated into the retail fixtures, rather than just bolted on as an afterthought, I know they have a good chance at success.”
What kind of display is used for digital signage?
Commercially rated LCDs (Liquid Crystal Display), PDPs (Plasma Display Panel), and projectors are the most common displays used for digital signage. Screen selection will depend on the venue in which you install the displays.
Can content be delivered over wireless networks?
J Cubed Digital’s sister company, Core Network Solutions Inc., is a computer network service delivery company specializing in network switching, network security, and wireless network system designs. J Cubed utilizes this relationship in many ways including the option of installing wireless networks for our digital displays.
Can digital signage be equipped to play sound?
It may be appropriate in some cases to incorporate sound with the message you are conveying. Though not always necessary sound is one element you could use to effectively catch your audience’s attention. Back ground music, narration or sound effects can be simply added to your content using personalized software. Should the display be playing news or sports sounds may also be appealing.
Are digital displays touch screen capable?
Through the implementation of the proper software and display a touchscreen can be an invaluable tool. Touch screen kiosks can be used in places such as malls, museums, amusement parks, or even stations. They can be used as a digital map, to collect survey information of simply to physically engage it’s user. Not only are they used to assist consumers but are a valuable means of data collection for the business owner.
How can Touchscreens be used to gather information?
Touchscreens can be used as a profoundly accurate data capture system. Whether for marketing purposes, product development or feedback on customer services, successful organizations not only capture data but effectively analyze the outcomes and implement improvements. Touchscreens can be used to record keystrokes recording the trends of users as they navigate through your presentation. Retail touch screen kiosks assist shop staff in obtaining qualified leads. Exhibition or event, touch screen kiosks collect mass data of qualified leads which can be followed up later. Kiosks can be used for market research purposes gather information directly from the source, your staff, customers and colleagues.
Software and hardware are available that can track the eye movements of users to record what images are attracting attention and for how long they hold that attention.
How can I lessen the up-front cost of digital signage?
Many business owners use co-op or marketing dollars from their suppliers to share the cost associated with digital signage. In some cases companies have even been known to make money using co-op dollars. Your suppliers are as interested in introducing their products to your customers as you are.
What is a video wall?
A video wall consists of multiple displays tiled together contiguously or overlapped in order to form one large screen. Usually displays will have a very small bezel (the frame or rim of the display) making the bezel virtually invisible when viewing content. As technology advances screen bezels are getting smaller and smaller. Displays can be stacked vertically, installed side to side or horizontally or in a tile application. Multiple screen sizes can be used being installed both portrait and landscape style creating a genuinely unique and personalized presentation platform. Screen orientation can be mixed and matched installing screens in a “random” pattern. Innovative software is used to make images flow smoothly and uninterrupted between screens acting as one display. Reasons for using a video wall instead of a single large screen can include the ability to customize tile layouts, greater screen area per unit cost, and greater pixel density per unit cost, due to the economics of manufacturing single screens which are unusual in shape, size, or resolution… and when properly applied video walls are Captivating.
What environmental benefit does digital signage offer over printed marketing?
Digital signage has become a highly affective means of customer engagement while not only being cost effective but reducing the carbon footprint of a company. Using this marketing medium offers many advantages over static printed signage and traditional print marketing campaigns. Exceptional design, marketing skills and resources associated with large corporate budgets are required to attract potential customers with traditional static signage. Conversely with digital signage screens, arguably better results can be achieved by using simple striking communicative designs. Rather than continually creating and printing a number of fixed image posters, one digital display can have fixed or moving content that can be changed either directly or through the network. This cuts down the environmental impact directly through elimination of printed signage and indirectly as it is not associated with the travel required updating said static signage.
Where can I get more information?
Please see our Contact Us link on the main page to engage our knowledgeable sales team.
