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The market for digital signage is skyrocketing. More and more companies are offering a large array of products, each claiming to be the best solution for your needs. The truth is there is no one size fits all digital signage solution. Each project has its own unique specifications and it is important to choose the right equipment and technology for the right job. It has become quite a daunting task for customers to evaluate and select the right system for your project, but looking more closely at the choice you have will help you make the right decision. There are three main categories of solutions: - Media Players
- PC Software Based Systems
- Dynamic Digital Signage Appliances
The system you choose will depend on a number of factors, like size, budget and scope of development, but most importantly on your content requirements. What is your content? Is it dynamic or static? Will it include digital video, live video, or both? How about JPEG images, web pages or PowerPoint files? The type of content you have will determine the type of system you need. Media Players
Media players generally include playback devices that plug into displays. These devices store media files on a memory card, hard disk, or other types of onboard storage mediums. The playback devices can be standalone or connected to a network. You can control the device through a built-in interface or a central management system that reaches the device via a network or the Internet. A networked system allows you content to be dispersed geographically and can be updated several times a day. The standalone system is extremely reliable and cost-effective, and content can be updated manually be inserting a new storage medium. Some traditional features of the media player system include: - Solid-state, fan-less playback devices
- Long-term reliability
- Onboard storage mediums
- Central management through a network or the Internet
- Generate run-logs for proof of advertising and compliance
- Standalone and networked versatility
PC Software Based Systems
This class of systems was made to accommodate users’ needs to play more dynamic content based on proprietary file formats and network interactions. Proprietary software is used to create content or templates, which is then sent out to “player” units connected to each display. Major changes in content must be made in the authoring software, which is licensed on a “per seat” basis and can be very expensive. A network manager software component handles the task of organizing and distributing content to a network of player units. PC based systems can provide a powerful platform for the delivery and playback of complex content, however, it can expensive to maintain and their physical size and hardware reliability can become an issue. Consider using this type of system only if you’re planning a large network rollout with dynamic content, and be prepared to devote substantial resource to implement and integrate all the components of the system for deployment. Dynamic Digital Signage Appliances
This new class of digital signage systems is offering simpler, less expensive ways of putting messages into digital signs without sacrificing effectiveness or versatility. This type of digital signage is less complicated to set up, but no less sophisticated. New dynamic messaging appliances can be used for a wide variety of updatable, customizable messages that offer an innovative solution to large-screen digital messaging challenges. Content can be managed by using a web browser that provides an interface directly into a single-box system for composing, editing and scheduling multimedia content. The software is designed so that personnel without any technical experience can easily manipulate the messages. All the components you need for dynamic messaging is housed in a single box, preconfigured and ready to deploy. There’s no software to install, no separate authoring and distribution components to install, and generally no need to hire outside parties to help build and deploy these systems. With the digital signage industry growing as fast as it is, with a staggering array of products and approaches, you need to consider your options carefully before committing to anything. Each company will claim to have the best solution for your needs. Do the research yourself and don’t assume any one company has the answer.
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