Digital Signage And Its Hidden Components.

When considering a digital signage project users normally focus on screen size and software packages, for the integrator however there is an important component that the user rarely considers, the distribution technology and platform.

This infrastructure transmits the digital video and audio from the server to the appropriate displays and is a key contributor to actual digital signage performance.

In addition, as the connecting components for all displays, the distribution technology can be a significant part of the project budget. That is why choosing the right distribution channel is vital to ensuring a successful digital signage installation.

The three options open for dynamic signage distribution are:

Data networks
Fibre optic cable
CAT5 cable

Each platform has its benefits and drawbacks as outlined below.

Data Network Platform.
A data network platform uses computer network infrastructure in order to transmit content in the form of compressed multi-media files (such as MPEG), from the management centre to the central server and from there to the computer connected to the display device. The display end computer decompresses the files, then displays them on the displays.

Benefit – This is a god cost effective method, providing there is an existing infrastructure and it can cope with the demand.

Drawback – requires a Central Processing Unit for each display used, as well as needing a sound, reliable infrastructure that is already in place.

Fibre Optic Cable Platform.
Fibre is a transmission medium favoured for applications that need high band width, long distances and complete immunity form electrical interference. Making it ideal for dynamic signs, which requires high resolution and transmission over long distances. Unlike network platforms fibre optic cable does not require CPU’s or special software at the display end. All that is required is a transmitter and receiver unit for each display.

Fibre options come in two forms: either single mode or multimode fibre. Single mode fibre provides a higher transmission rate and up to 5o times the distance than multimode, but it costs more. In general, the difference between the different types of fibre should be the result of a simple cost benefit evaluation: the distance and level of resolution or performance required versus the acceptable investment in distribution technology.

Benefit – Fibre optic provides network independent performance without downtime or transmission lags. It can transfer media over 40Kg and more.

Drawback - However fibre optic is a point-to-point technology, in other words a pure fibre optic cable solution will not allow multiple displays to receive output from a single video source. This is an issue when installing in malls and airports.

For outdoor installations, a good quality LCD enclosure and plasma enclosure are equipped with fibre and Cat5 cable access.

Digital Signage

Outdoor digital signage is one of the fastest changing businesses in the world, as it revolves around technology and as we all know technology does change over night.

This is why when outdoor digital signage is used, it has to have some sort of protection from the elements and also offer some futureprofing for upgrades of equipment. It is no good if the solution is right for now but will not accommodate future equipment. Dicover the benefits and drawbacks of digital signage.

The post has been brought to you by LCD Enclosures Global - Europe's leading manufacturer of LCD enclosures - anything else is a compromise.

Digital Signage & The Travel Industry.

Understanding digital signage is one thing, but integrating digital signage into the travel industry is a real winner.

You see the more people who travel (and there are a lot...) they are entertained whilst they wait for their planes, trains etc with digital signage, this in turn gives a perceived reduced waiting time also known as wait warping.

This makes them more recptive to advertisers marketing messages due to their relaxed mood, ready for their holiday.

This post was brought to you by LCD Enclosures Global - anything else is a compromise.

Is it the Death of LCD and Plasma TV’s used in Digital Signage?

Well it’s not time to through them in the skip, however a new technology called OLED displays could push LCD and plasma televisions into the background, making them redundant before they should be.

OLED stands for Organic Light Emitted Diode screens, this is not a new technology as it has been around for a number of years, when Sony launched an 11” display last year for $2,500 the industry thought they had gone insane, not now…

OLED’s have a larger colour range compared with LCD displays, as well as being thinner and using less energy than a plasma display.

With the recession hitting so hard, the retail rollout has been held back, the three main players in this field have got products ready to roll; Sony, Samsung & LG.

Samsung have a 14 inch and 31 inch display production ready, LG confirmed they have a 15 inch display ready for shipping in December 09.

Apple are also working with the idea of putting OLEDS into their range of iPod Touch media players by the end of 2009.

One of the reasons OLED’s should become more popular is that they are built with fewer parts than it’s LCD counterparts, making them less expensive to manufacture. With a typical LCD display taking 100 steps to manufacture a similar OLED only takes 86 steps.

Flexible OLEDs will be a product of the future, allowing the displays to be bend or folded and still work, flexible OLEDs will be easier to integrate into any range of LCD enclosures or HDTV case.