Technology update


ISE roundup:digital signage innovations Continued from P8


add a sophisticated touch to their interior décor. Available in both standing and hanging versions, the In-Glass Wallpa- per OLED solution allows busi- nesses the freedom to utilize signage in their space as effec- tively as possible.


LG also introduced its 65 and


each consist of three models, ranging in size from 40 to 55 inches. Described as elegant and slimline, both new series of displays allow for an unob- trusive


integration. They are


suitable for installations in re- tail, leisure and museum envi- ronments, for corporate signage


angles driven by hardware cali- bratable 12 bit Look Up Tables (LUT) enable viewers to benefit from consistently accurate ren- dering of images.


The P and V Series large for- mat displays are described as easy to install and operate. Using


the free multi-display


Panasonic’s TH-55 AF1 features the Android and HTML5 based OpenPort PLATFORM. This System on a Chip (SoC) solution allows third-party software to be installed without any specific development.


form combines Sharp’s hard- ware, an SoC environment for Android and a choice of pro- prietary or third-party software players for retail or corporate signage. Sharp announces that it has partnered with software companies CityMeo, Grassfish, Videro, and easyscreen. Sharp


showed three new


display ranges with a range of connectivity options: Sharp dis- plays offer a powerful embed- ded SoC, capable of support- ing 4K content, plus Sharp’s Digital Signage Software; or an integrated USB Media Player with Sharp Content Distributor software; or a Mini OPS (Open Pluggable Specification) ex- pansion slot to flexibly expand the range of user applications. Developed


with Intel, Mini


55-inch OLED Video Wall solu- tion and a split-screen capable 86-inch Ultra Stretch digital solution, offering ultra-wide 58:9 signage with minimal bezels capable of displaying up to four simultaneous imag- es. The 86-inch Ultra Stretch solution utilizes LG SuperSign media editor software for im- ages and video content. LG’s largest 88-inch Ultra Stretch digital signage display han- dles 32:9 aspect ratio images and are split-screen capable to provide an even more immer- sive experience. Equivalent to two 49-inch panels connected side-by-side, this display can render fine details and is a good signage solution for kiosk displays, financial institutions and dining establishments. One other technology making its debut at ISE 2017 incorpo- rated LED diodes in a transpar- ent film which can be installed over windows. The film will be incorporated into more digital signage solutions set to roll out later this year.


Back-end enhancements


NEC Display Solutions used ISE 2017 to debut its P and V Series, a range of professional MultiSync large format displays for digital signage and presen- tation applications. The new displays support the NEC Open Modular intelligence (OMi) platform, enabling the creation of tailor-made solutions for signage. Scalable computing options include the Raspberry Pi compute modules or Open Pluggable Specification (OPS). Slot-in PCs can be seamlessly embedded into the displays to create a fully integrated solu- tion.


The P and V Series line-ups


solutions, passenger informa- tion, quick service restaurants and all other public spaces. Thanks to the brightness of both the P and V Series dis- plays,


businesses can share


messages that will be well re- ceived with superb readability even in bright light environ- ments. The V Series features a display brightness of 500 cd/ m², providing clarity and legi- bility under common ambient light conditions. The higher 700 cd/m² brightness level of the P Series, guarantees cap- tivating readability in appli- cations where ambient light is high. Both Series use an anti-glare surface to reduce re- flections effectively. Tobias Augustin, Senior Prod- uct Manager Large Format Dis- plays at NEC Display Solutions Europe commented: "Many industries today are looking for ways to enhance their dig- ital signage solutions and use more advanced applications. The P and V Series’ modular expansion feature gives them a head start in achieving that. Future ready, the displays give companies the flexibility to up- grade the power of the displays at any time by seamlessly in- tegrating one of NEC’s options for OPS Slot-in PCs, Raspberry Pi compute modules or signal interfaces for content feed and computing." The MultiSync P and V Se- ries also delivers enhanced imaging performance via its SpectraView Engine. This is a colour stabilisation solution which for flagship P Series al- lows full control of brightness, colour, gamma and uniformity for precise and natural reliable images. Additionally, the com- bination of high end colour per- formance with extreme viewing


management software NaViSet Administrator 2, companies can manage all connected dis- play devices from a centralised location. Suitable for 24/7 mission critical applications, the meticulous selection of in- dustrial-grade components and careful design of the P and V Series is said to ensure contin- uous operation in demanding usage scenarios.


New players


Digital signage is such a dy- namic sector right now that it almost inevitably attracts a number of new, or least newly invigorated, players. Sharp, for example, launched its Sharp Open Architecture Platform for digital


signage, which offers


end users easy ways to down- load, store and play content directly from a Sharp display. The Platform is a combination of new hardware and software from Sharp and partnerships with third-party signage soft- ware providers. Sid Stanley, Sharp’s Gener- al Manager, Visual Solutions said: “The launch of this new Sharp System-On-Chip (SoC) platform and our significant investment


in refreshing our


digital signage range are clear indications that we now aiming to increase our attractiveness to our channel and the market. We now have full range cover- age, and the right combination of great quality hardware, soft- ware, solutions, and partners to challenge the status quo.” Sharp offers its own free sig- nage software, Sharp Digital Signage Software as default on its new displays and has also opened its SoC platform for Android to


software vendors. Sharp Open Architecture Plat- ViewSonic’s new CDM series displays will come embedded with Enplug’s digital signage application.


The PN-Y and PN-R displays can be installed face up or face down, a feature which is unique to Sharp for some sizes, and also for both portrait and landscape applications. They feature all standard signal in- puts, and will be available in various brightness categories and sizes, ranging from 32” to 70”.


Surprisingly, Panasonic chose ISE to debut a “cost-effective and self-contained solution, for high-impact digital sig- nage”. A System on a Chip solution, the OpenPort PLAT- FORM display series is de- signed for commercial signage applications.


Described as


“simple, reliable, and expand- able”, the AF1 Series features an Android and HTML5-based


OPS is a modern, smaller for- mat of OPS. Three types of Mini OPS modules were intro- duced at ISE (PC, Wireless, and HDBaseT) to give users more display and interactivi- ty options. The compact Mini OPS modules are described as easy to install, use and main- tain, and the future-proof high- speed connectors support the transmission of 4K content. The next generation PN-R range of high-brightness dis- plays for 24/7 use now includes a Mini OPS extension slot for easier display integration into a wider range of user applica- tions. The updated PN-Y range of ‘plug and play’ displays fea- tures an embedded USB media player with automatic default to USB player in the case of signal interruption. This means that the screen should never go blank. The PN-Q is a new range of large size, affordable dis- plays ideal for meeting rooms or retail signage applications, with sizes from 60” to 90”.


ViewSonic


ViewSonic enhanced its digi- tal signage credentials at ISE 2017 with the announcement of a collaboration with Enplug. The partnership will launch with Enplug software running on ViewSonic’s new smart signage displays. ViewSonic believes that is the first time a display manufacturer has preloaded an industry-leading software into its displays, cre- ating the first truly plug-and- play digital signage solution. Rather than relying on an ex- ternal connection for display computing, ViewSonic’s new CDM series of smart signage displays are its first to fea- ture an embedded computer. ViewSonic’s new CDM series displays will come embedded with Enplug’s digital signage application,


enabling View-


Sonic users to turn their dig- ital displays into intelligent two-way communications plat- forms.


Enplug’s content manage- ment system is cloud-based, which allows users to man- age an infinite number of dis- plays from anywhere in the world. Users have the ability to pick and choose the auto- mated content they want to use from the software’s App Store, including popular social applications such as Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. View- Sonic’s customers will now be able to utilise Enplug’s easy- to-use software to improve the way they communicate using their digital displays.


Panasonic


And, finally, we turn to perhaps the potential sleeping giant of digital


signage, Panasonic.


open source platform and is equipped with a 1GHz quad- core processor, 1 GB of RAM, and 8 GB of internal storage. The AF1 Series is Google cer- tified, which allows software companies to


create special-


ised apps for digital signage and other applications. Verified apps can be installed remotely from the Panasonic app server or added locally using a USB or micro SD Cards. An example is Wondersign, which supports Panasonic's Android-based OpenPort Plat- form available in the AF1 se- ries of professional digital sig- nage displays. The slim-bezel AF1 Series is offered in 42-, 49- and 55-inch sizes and is engineered without fans for reliable 24/7 operation in both landscape and portrait orienta- tion. A robust edge-lit 500 cd/ m2 IPS panel assures excellent off-axis visibility.


The screen-embedded media player solution eliminates the need for an external device by integrating the software di- rectly into the display. Once connected to the Internet via a wired or Wi-Fi connection, the Wondersign media player app can be installed directly from the display's main menu. After pairing it with the Wondersign platform, the display is ready to play the user’s digital signage content.


P12 AV News April 2017


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