Digital Signage Hardware: What is Digital Signage Hardware?
A digital signage player is the device that stores and plays back media to one or multiple connected displays. Players typically come in one of three forms; dedicated hardware appliances, proprietary cards, or software based systems.
We believe this offers our clients the most flexibility in content playback, ability to integrate with external systems and the advantages of open standards for servicing and replacing hardware.
In a digital signage network – such as individual flat screen displays lining the walkways of an airport terminal or the perimeter of a casino – keep in mind that you can have one player controlling as many screens as you have; each of those screens has its own receiver unit and each screen must be playing the same content at the same time as the other screens being controlled by the same player. One player can control say, 10 display screens via 10 receivers. And the content being displayed is identical. If you want half of those screens however, to play different material – then you need a different player for each varying program/media broadcast. But as long as you want your presentation to be replicated on multiple screens at once – the sky’s the limit. You can use as many monitors as you’d like. It doesn’t matter to your Smart-AVI digital signage player whether it’s controlling one screen or 1,000; it functions the same way when it comes to programming the software and compiling your play list.
How does it work?
- Create Media Files.
The first thing you need to do is create your media files. With the power of digital signage software, you can use any of your existing graphic software like Photoshop, Flash and PowerPoint. You can also use any video format. You can even use web pages. - Import your file.
Importing files to SignagePro is easy. Simply browse for files on your computer and import it into the signage software. You can import as many files as you like. - Create a Schedule.
Once you've imported your media files, select which files you would like to use for your presentation. This is where you set length, the order in which to display the files and the time and date. You can set the schedule to play hours, days, weeks or months in advance. You can make schedules as simple or as complex as you like.
What else should I know?
A “play list” on your digital signage player isn’t really much of a different concept than creating one on your iPod or within iTunes. The only difference really between creating a music play list and a digital signage play list is that you generally wouldn’t want to “shuffle” your media files within your digital signage presentation – that would make a mess of your message!
Using the digital signage software, you simply tell your player which files you want played, which order you want them played in and how often they will play. Beyond that, you also use the software to determine how your presentation will be seen across your network or on your video wall. And again, the ease of this operation is greatly determined by the brand of digital signage player you go with and what its software allows for in programming your material.
Applications
ELEVATORS
The perfect "captive audience", people riding in elevators respond very well to digital signage in place, whether it be a restaurant menu, show schedule or general information.
RETAIL KIOSKS
Retail locations within shopping centers are no longer contained within four walls of leased space. Now, boutique kiosks, carts or booths line the walkways of every mall. These locations sell everything from sunglasses to teeth whitening services, and they need to grab the attention of people as they walk by.
AUTOS/TAXIS
With the ability to change content or rotate images now in place, taxis can provide advertisement space for local companies, resort ads, or any other advertising.
PLANES
Whether passengers are on a short commuter flight or a lengthy international trip, airline operators are finding digital signage technologies to be exactly what they respond to. Airlines can advertise in-fight services, menus, drink selections, or even interactive maps of where their current GPS position is at any given time.
TRAINS
As more commuters take to the rails these days, digital signage is the perfect means to convey route information, host advertising for local companies/businesses and communicate with riders about various fares, passes and schedule changes in real-time.