Digital Signage Solutions

As technology grows along with the public expectation of its presence, businesses are turning to digital signage as a solution to their information distribution needs. Even though you see them everywhere, you still may not know their name. From the digital menu boards at Mcdonald's to the big screens at Times Square are all examples of digital signage. They display information in an interesting way while being efficient and attractive. But what does this even mean, and how can I utilize one for myself?

What is digital signage?

Digital signage as the process of dynamically broadcasting digital AV content to multiple screens in various locations in order to distribute information, such as news, wayfinding information, alerts, emergency messages, or commercial content. In more simple terms, digital signage uses technology to distribute information rather than single-use materials like billboards or posters. This technology is incredibly versatile and easy to use for all sorts of needs.

One of the great aspects of a smart digital signage system is that they are easy to update with the newest pieces of information. That is why airport’s digital signage is used to display information on arriving and departing flights. It is much simpler to type a gate change into the system and have it show up on all the signs in the airport, rather than run around and change it by hand hoping you didn’t miss one.Digital display boards are useful for much more than just airports, as many businesses use them too. They allow for remote control and flexibility when information changes. It has been shown that digital signage gets more engagement than stagnant signs as people are more drawn to the bright lights and moving colors.

So what are some digital signage solutions?

Just like any other product, there are several options for digital signage or digital display boards. There are three different kinds of digital signage solutions, digital signage servers, digital signage software, and digital signage hardware. Now, these can be a mouthful, but we will break them down, so they are a little easier to understand.

To simplify it, digital signage servers are the brain of the whole display system. All the screens are connected to a central source that dictates which screens say what. This option is often remote and allows for instant updates that can automatically be applied to the screens.

Digital signage software is similar to the servers but works well with local input data outside of the control room. It is ideal when there is a need to have extended control of the way content is displayed on screens, making it a bit more complex than the first option.

The digital signage hardware uses an AV transmitter and receiver units to extend and switch audio, video, and USB signals between multiple sources. This kind of setup allows for information from different sources to be shared interconnected on all screens. It allows for more communication between the signs versus only being displayed through a single source.