FEATURE: DIGITAL SIGNAGE
BrightSign solid-state players supplied by UK distributor Pixels are powering videowalls in premium Samsung concessions in Currys electrical retail outlets in the UK
[KEY POINTS]
Every digital signage installation has a unique set of requirements. Key criteria are cost, reliability and functionality
The most common platforms are industrial PC components with Windows and bespoke hardware with the Linux operating system
In any installation total cost of ownership, including installation and maintenance, is more relevant than initial capital cost
Choices, choices
Cost, content and reliability are just some of the factors to consider when installing a digital signage system. Steve Montgomery looks at the many options
DIGITAL SIGNAGE covers a wide variety of display applications ranging from single screens in doctors’ waiting rooms to massive nationwide retail advertising systems – each with its own unique set of requirements and constraints.
Suppliers of digital signage equipment have built up a correspondingly wide range of solutions in the hope of providing an exact match to each and every possible installation. System integrators and end users are now faced with a bewildering choice of hardware, software and manufacturer claims about how best to configure, deploy and operate a potential system. This choice is made harder almost daily as new devices, technologies and software solutions become available, including some recent introductions based on players using the Android operating system. The key criteria for a user when choosing a digital
28 October 2013
signage system are cost – or more specifically total cost of ownership; functionality, which includes ease of use and capability to display desired types of content; and reliability – longevity of operation and ability to operate with no maintenance. The priority assigned to each of these factors will vary depending on the type of installation: a single screen in the reception area of a corporate HQ will be run and managed in a completely different way from a national retail advertising network.
STRONG BASE
The most common base platforms for signage systems comprise Windows or Linux operating systems running on PC-based or dedicated media player hardware. In any system it is essential that the underlying hardware and software is tuned and configured for the application and can support the chosen digital signage
‘We find that
large, corporate companies
prefer Windows for security reasons’
Andrew Emmett, Anders+Kern
application software. Several suppliers opt for the PC route; either on their own-designed hardware
solutions or those provided by generic manufacturers. “Off-the-shelf devices are often used. Many customers want to install signage software on their own PCs and some manufacturers don’t even offer the option of having a manufacturer- supplied player. However these are office machines that are not robust enough for continuous operation, which is why we offer dedicated built-for-task players,” says David Oades, MD of Sedao. “Windows combined with selected, commonly available PC hardware components offer flexibility, rapid integration and economy – provided it’s all configured correctly. It’s not just the operating system that has to be configured: the BIOS [basic input/output system] needs to have the right functions and the signage software itself must have levels of built-in recovery and restart. On-screen error messages
that need user intervention are not acceptable but are all too often observed when incorrectly configured systems are used. For reliability, industrial-grade hardware must be selected and thoroughly tested to create a dedicated player, even though remote player monitoring is a common feature of today’s systems. It’s a complex task to configure the hardware and software to run 24/7, which is why dedicated players carry a price premium. Maintenance and long-term availability are also issues as PC hardware rapidly evolves, generating additional costs that are generally borne by the manufacturer.” A further advantage of
Windows is its familiarity to users. Andrew Emmett, product manager for digital signage at Anders+Kern, says: “We find that large, corporate companies prefer Windows for security reasons and the level of support they can provide to
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Application software can be purchased outright or supplied as a service (SaaS)
The Cloud is effective in maintaining application software as well as economic content delivery
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