Mobile digital signage – the new technology

Mobile digital signage is a progressive media, which is catching on quickly, as advertisers are always looking for new and innovative ways to utilize any available space on which to promote a service or product.

Mobile digital signage options.

There are many options for displaying mobile digital signage, such as a person walking through a shopping mall wearing a digital signage vest – powered by a battery, which requires re-charging every few hours, but when combined with a much needed break, is a convenient way of covering a wide area which can potentially attract thousands of people to view the product or service.

A stage up from this, whilst continuing to be mobile digital signage, is to use a bicycle.  This form of transport can cover greater distances, continually promoting and advertising a single article of merchandise, or alternatively any number of products/merchandise or services on software which can be looped to incorporate all the sponsored advertisers in a consecutive order. Again the mobile digital signage battery requires recharging.

Mounting mobile digital signage.

Another way to mount the mobile digital signage is to install a digital poster, digital menu board or similar display screen onto a moving vehicle, such as a lorry, truck or bus.  This really is a novel form of mobile digital signage as it is an unknown quantity, due to its infancy within the industry.  However its potential to reach customers is huge – vehicles are mobile every day and night and if the advertising campaign is structured correctly, then millions of prospective customers will be targeted, which is the aim of every advertising agency.  Certain laws and conditions of use must be considered, as it can be distracting and therefore dangerous to other road users and pedestrians, but these issues can be overcome and increase productivity of the mobile digital signage.

Taking into consideration the journey of particular vehicles, some may be more appropriate than others, for example mobile digital signage is more suitable on a bus which travels through towns and cities, whilst lorries and truck transportation is networked across country, via the highways and advertising to passengers in passing cars and other heavy duty means of transports. There is no need to stop for re-charging these batteries, as it is continually being recharged via the engine.

As with all of these means of mobile digital signage, updating the content is reasonably easy, either by way of a wireless network – using 3G or similar provider, or alternatively inserting a memory stick into the media player located within the unit.

This subject of mobile digital signage is a fast growing and innovative form of modern advertising and will be increasing significantly over the next few years.

LCD Enclosure Global Limited manufacture a range of outdoor LCD enclosures that are used in mobile digital signage.

Anti vandal TV enclosure for protection.

Whilst young people are locked up due to breaking the law, their human rights still need to be considered, even if some of these ‘rights’ seem excessive, this article is not being written in defense of these youths, nor is it condoning their actions, but merely highlighting a suitable television protection enclosure for an LCD or plasma screen, which is allowed in such establishments for news and entertainment purposes.  The welfare of the remanded adolescences is also very important, as they may be mentally unbalanced and be intent on self harm, using a piece of smashed glass to injure themselves, or use the electrical wiring to form a ligature, from which to hang, so the logical and safe solution is to securely enclosure the whole kit within a protective anti vandal TV enclosure, which is also known as a Non-loop enclosure.

Use of anti vandal TV enclosure.

The locks for these anti vandal TV enclosures are especially designed to hold the screen and media player securely in situ, whilst giving the maximum viewing opportunity.  They are certainly more secure than the traditional Cam locks, other manufacturers or suppliers offer.  The viewing window, which is set within the frame of the door of the Non-loop enclosure in front of the plasma or LCD television screen, is made from a high quality polycarbonate sheet, which is virtually unbreakable and is shatterproof, therefore limiting the dangers of self harm, or accidental harm, to a minimum.

Alternatives to anti vandal TV enclosure solution.

When the cost of replacing a television screen is taken into consideration, enclosing it within an anti vandal TV enclosure may add an initial cost, but in the financial long run, it is value for money – how many television screens does a detention center go through in a year?  The specially designed shape of the Non-loop enclosure eliminates the dangers of prisoners harming themselves, as the sloping side will not hold any material with which to form a ligature.  There are no gaps between the wall and the television protection for material to be held.  As the television protection is totally enclosed, air is forced through the unit for cooling, so the audio has to be supplied via speakers placed flush within the walls or ceiling.

To limit the possible damaged to the hardware and expensive screens, it is wise and economical to install the screen within a housing unit especially designed to withstand accidental or deliberate damage, this is why an anti vandal TV enclosure is ideal for protecting TVs in hazardous areas.

LCD Enclosure Global Limited manufacture a range of protective LCD enclosures as well as producing anti vandal TV enclosure solutions.

Digital signage hardware interacting with buyers

Gone is the age when advertising agencies could make a consumer buy a product, now using digital signage hardware consumers are being lightly influenced in what to buy.

Digital signage hardware will interact with consumers.

One thing we have discovered in the past few months supplying our digital poster and digital menu board solutions, is that interaction with consumers is essential to build loyalty, informing the consumer of all the facts before they make a decision on purchasing the product.

One such solution is an interactive digital poster that has a segmented screen, displaying 9 various images of products, but the most important part of the advertising solution is not limited to the screen, as there is a bar code reader built into the unit and when a supported product is scanned to display the price a video is displayed for the supported product. When consumers interact with the digital poster they are gaining information regarding the product and once they feel comfortable with the product and the information they have obtained they will or will not make buying decision.

Digital signage costs

These interactive, digital signage solutions are not that more expensive than regular digital signage hardware. Solutions are available from sizes 26” to 55” and vary in price from $999 to $3,999. However the return on investment could be extremely fast, due to the interaction between merchant and consumer, as consumers realize how efficient it is to get the information they need when they need it, as there is nothing more frustrating than asking for addition information or specific questions and then not getting the answer to your specific question or information request.

Installing digital signage

Installation is a breeze, if you have ever hung a mirror these interactive digital screens are identical, the only difference is they have a mains lead so need to be installed near a wall outlet to power the unit.

Digital signage software.

The software used for this solution is embedded into the media player allowing most content to be displayed on the screen. The format for the content is to keep the relevant products and information in one folder, with multiple folders, so when a consumer touches an image of a Ford saloon car it then takes them to the options such as heated seats, heated windscreens etc.

LCD Enclosure Global Ltd manufacture a range of digital signage enclosures that are used to protect digital signage hardware.

Digital menu boards the affordable way

Digital menu boards are used throughout the USA to comply with new legislation for labeling menus, but there is an affordable way to promote the menu whilst informing customers of the calorific content of the meal.

Digital menu boards how to create a cost effective solution

There are several ways in which to provide a digital menu board solution, this ranges from buying a dedicated all in one solution that is the ultimate in digital menu boards. The second option is to purchase a regular television that you would use at home and providing it has a connection that can be connected to a computer you are ready to go.

The computer can be any small form factor PC, or even a more cost effective home PC, providing the computer can be connected to the television, the computer can be located in the back office and all is needed is to run a lead from the computer to the display.

Mounting digital menu boards on the wall

Digital menu boards can be mounted using the VESA pattern on the rear of the TV in landscape mode, this is probably the most common orientation used in the restaurant environment. Using a domestic television limits the orientation, as it can only be used in the landscape position.

Software for digital menu boards

This appears as “ a black art” to most restaurateurs, however software is needed to make the digital signage system work and this is what makes the attention grabbing content.

Digital signage software for the restaurant does not have to break the bank, there is one product on the market that costs around $99 and all you do is once the software is loaded onto the computer, you just add the images of the goods you are promoting as well as a good description of the food with the dietary information and input the price then the digital menu boards are ready to run.

To update the content on the digital menu boards, you would have to just go to the computer and add the content and the system is updated.

Standalone digital menu boards

These have a built in media player at the rear of the screen with basic software, however to update the content, an employee has to create the new content and load it on to either a flash drive or a memory card then swapping the old content with the new.

LCD Enclosure Global Limited is a major manufacturer of digital signage enclosures as well as providing various digital menu boards.

Outdoor digital signage types

There are numerous outdoor digital signage solutions that include signage screens in LCD enclosures to outdoor digital signage video walls.

Budget entry outdoor digital signage

Anyone trialling an outdoor digital signage tend to go down this route, as it is far more cost effective with the same results as the high end solutions available. The basic outdoor digital signage incorporates using an indoor commercial grade screen that is then mounted into an outdoor LCD enclosure, these LCD enclosures are made from steel so protect the hardware from hooligans and theft as well as the weather, which is essential.

Outdoor digital signage enclosures are also fitted with heating and cooling systems as standard, as it would be pointless in supplying a solution that the customer has to buy additional heating or other components to make the solution to work.

LCD enclosures are available in sizes from 19” to 65” and will accommodate any commercial grade screen in the previous sizes along with a media player.

Intermediate outdoor digital signage

The intermediary priced outdoor digital signage solution comprises of an outdoor digital signage kiosk that is a complete all in one solution. Outdoor digital signage kiosks tend to be updated using an internet connection and can be deployed in many locations over many sites, as these are bolted to the floor and include the screen and media player as well as the kiosk also having s thermal management system to maintain the hardware in the best condition possible.

Screen sizes tend to range from 32” up to 80” with the media players coming in choices of either wireless or wired connection with a hard drive capacity of 250GB.

High end outdoor digital signage solution

The high end digital signage solution is an LED video wall, these are high visible screens made up of LED diodes and both images and video can be displayed to large groups of people, these are perfect for sports events and musical events in outdoor theaters. Used in sporting stadiums, these LED video walls are used to point people to the food concessions during half time and intervals.

LCD Enclosure Global Limited manufacture outdoor LCD enclosures for the outdoor digital signage industry.

Digital Signage Used On Remembrance Sunday.

Large outdoor digital signage solutions have been used yesterday in the UK, to broadcast the Remembrance Day Service live in London to spectators who where too far back to see the service clearly.

Mobile digital signage screens.

The solutions can be mounted on high hydraulic rams on the back of trucks, the screens are huge! The company behind these screens is adi.tv who offer the worlds largest mobile LED screens.

Remembrance Sunday.

Image from adi.tv

Remembrance Sunday is the nearest Sunday to the 11th day of the 11th month that the UK remembers all the fallen soldiers from world war 1 to current conflicts. To show appreciation the public buy “poppies” to support the British Legion. At 11am a two minute silence was observed and it was amazing to see Trafalgar Square (London) in complete silence.

Other digital signage solutions.

Some companies who’s staff was working on Sunday, gave them the opportunity to watch the ceremony on a TV, some train stations used LCD and plasma screens to show the ceremony, but these needed protecting from potential abuse or accidental damage, so LCD enclosures were used, these protect the hardware from unauthorized access as well as accidental damage. The LCD enclosure range are made from thick steel and locked by high security locks.

Digital posters used to promote the sale of poppies.

In the build up to Remembrance Sunday, the British Legion used digital posters to promote the event and boost their profile. These were on a rental basis and through a digital poster reseller who supported the cause.

Digital Signage know no end.

Digital signage is used not only for advertising but for informing the public regarding a service as well as broadcasting video to people who cannot get to the venue, another recent occasion was when Prince William married Kate Middleton, massed of people swamped London and a lot of people ended up in Hyde park, there organizers has 3 large screens so that almost anyone in Hyde park could see the wedding.

So, not only for advertising digital signage is here and being deployed in more unusual locations.

LCD Enclosure Global Limited provide a range of LCD enclosures to protect digital signage hardware.

LCD enclosure used to protect LCD, plasma and LED screens.

Many facilities are protecting plasma screens with an LCD Enclosure from LCD Enclosure Global Ltd, who specialise in anti-vandal and anti-loop enclosures designed for maximum protection of the screen whilst safe guarding the vulnerable clients of a health institute.

After purchasing a plasma screen or television set, the last thing you’ll want to do is replace it just a couple of days, or if you’re lucky a couple of weeks later, due to malicious or accidental damage, if it is located in a public area, like a shopping mall, railway station or soccer stadium, where fans may get carried away in the excitement of the game or frustrated at a referees decision, or the delay of a train and cause deliberate damage, rendering the screen useless and at huge expense to the advertisers.  So while adding an LCD enclosure as part of the package may add an initial expense to the overall cost, but by calculating the cost of several replacement screens, lost advertising revenue, inconvenience and  maintenance costs it makes economic sense to add a secure steel box.  This not only shelters the hardware from the weather or other moisture conditions, but also allows a clear viewing window, particularly if an anti reflective polycarbonate sheet is fitted.

LCD enclosure used in medical centers.

An LCD enclosure is also suitable for mental health facilities, where patients may be in an ‘at risk’ state and the prospect of self harm is of significant importance.  With the specific design of the anti-loop/ligature LCD enclosure limiting the chances of hanging or using some sort of ligature to end their life, protects from such consequences.   This is also relevant for prisons or detention centers, where a detainee has access to a television set or similar media player, but is at risk of self harm or is a threat to damaging the hardware. By enclosing the television plasma screen in an LCD enclosure by no means spoils the view or entertainment aspect, but prolongs the life span of the plasma screen, and allows the viewer to enjoy the programs without disruption by vandalism being caused.

LCD Enclosure Global Limited manufacture a range of non loop LCD enclosures as well as their standard anti vandal LCD enclosure range.