Now it seems that technology is creating a buzz and the notice board is being replaced by digital signage, many organisations who have a manufacturing facility are deciding to remove the old notice board and put up LCD displays, these are then networked on the same data network the computers run off. The content is added by the marketing department and it can quickly be changed, for example if a visiting dignitary sends someone because they are sick, within 30 seconds the greeting on the welcome sign is changed to the new name and it shows he company is on the ball.

This is fine in public areas, however when a customer visits and you wish to show them round your facility, this is an ideal opportunity in enforcing your product brand immediately on your guest, as soon as they see the large screens in manufacturing areas they will certainly be impressed, it also shows that the company invests in new technology, such as digital signage and is ahead of the game.

But there is one problem even commercial screens are not designed to be used in areas were damaging air borne particles are, most manufacturers have some form of corrosive effect, from coolants to carbon particles if these get into the rear of the display it is only a matter of time until the screen fails.

The solution – is to put the screen in a ruggedized LCD enclosure, these provide IP65 protection, so they can even be washed down with high pressure water jets, perfect for any food processing company. These can either be cooled or heated to provide the perfect environment. The LCD enclosure are fitted with a sophisticated cooling system that also incorporated a filtration element, that filters all tiny air borne particles out, so the air entering the unit is clean, cool air.

Then the screen inside the protective case can be mounted to gantries or ceiling mounting using a heavy duty mount.

LCD Enclosure Global – anything else is a compromise.
“Manufactured in the UK – Supported in the USA & Australia”

From electronic billboards through to LCD motion graphics, each term has a need and demand, over the next few articles we will look at different terms and hope to dispel the myths, use the wrong term and your project could be dead in the water, with wasted time, energy and money getting it right is essential.

Electronic billboards – these range in size and we see massive screens at the side of high traffic areas, such as roads to the airport. There are around 450,000 billboards as of 1991 in the United States, with an estimated 15,000 added every year.

Billboard potential issues – concerns have been raised for people who are driving and the billboards catch their eye and an accident happens, so much so laws have been passed for the place of billboards and in four States of America they have been banned since 1968, they include Vermont, Alaska, Maine and Hawaii.  However in the UK, billboards come under the control of the local planning department, anyone displaying adverts in this manner without the correct planning documents is liable for fines of up to £2,500 per location.  All five major outdoor advertising companies in the UK have all been fined for breaching these planning regulations.

Human Billboards – we have all seen the teenage on the street corner holding a piece of 2” x 1” that is nailed to piece of cardboard with “computer fair this way” and an arrow pointing in one direction.  Now there is a modern switch utilising digital signage and these will certainly get noticed.

LCD Enclosure Global – anything else is a compromise.

“Manufactured in the UK – Supported in the USA & Australia”

Advertisement agencies are considering suitable locations to place automated ad-planning campaigns outside of the captive ‘home’ market, where their audience is targeted whilst watching their TV shows, during the intervals. The trend has migrated towards moving images on external/outside display areas, such as the sides of buildings.

Hundreds of digital formats have the capability of reaching consumers outside of the home. It is a matter of opinion and debate, whether to include mobile or cinema advertising under this umbrella of out-of home advertising. Which ever side of the fence – it is universally acknowledged that advertising networks can be tremendously effective.

Digital, out-of-home advertising can produce a favourable result in engaging and informing customers.

Options for locating digital screens include convenience stores and fuel pumps, where advertising is an effective way of selling a product, or directing the consumer to a particular retail store, where a product is on special offer. Clever advertising content catch the attention of the shopper, but it’s the moving images that motivate the client to seek out the service or product.

Real-time updates are very important and so can quickly and effectively be changed with very little disturbance. This is particularly relevant to banks, where by law, rate changes and the disclaimer copy have to be legally accurate, so technology allows the network to update and comply with changes in real-time, leaving no situation for inaccuracies or errors.

LCD Enclosures Global – anything else is a compromise.

Taking adverts from static to moving images moves the concept to a whole new level. Whilst a great deal of progress has been achieved, even more can be expected in the coming years. We will be seeing a significant change to out city landscapes as digital advertising becomes a natural part of the scene. Video walls will screen numerous messages and advertisements, changing the way we think about buying products or services. Imagine huge outer walls of buildings, with digital signage – broadcasting to a targeted audience. It could be the evolution of the decoration for the exterior of the building. Korea has already successfully implemented this idea on certain streets in Seoul.

There are other functions that a ‘digital-city’ can provide, apart from the obvious advertising. These may include displaying works of art and emergency information or messages for the whole community. It is a very effective way to reach people very quickly, particularly if time is of the essence. (Maybe a child is missing or a natural disaster is imminent).

Increased diversification will in, the future, include more interactivity. Touch screens will be accessible, allowing individuals to see and retrieve the messages they particularly want. Blue tooth and text messaging will encourage customers to communicate with the display, for example accessing a code for a discount at a restaurant or retail store.

There are endless possibilities with this increased flexibility. Previously advertisers of a static billboard would be committed to their campaign for a specific amount of time, even if the promotion was not working. However, with the dawn of digital advertising, companies will be able to use accumulated statistics to alter or adjust marketing campaigns to formulate a targeted advert, which can still be easily changed or adjusted, as often as necessary.

This broadens the principle affecting perception of outdoor digital signage as it continues to mature.

LCD Enclosure Global – anything else is a compromise.

Video walls can be as little as 2 x 42” screens, or at big as a building, but the question at lot of us ask, is “how do they do it?”

Well the LED screens come in a pre-defined size anything up to 1 metre square and they fit into a frame, these frames can be fitted to walls, buses, trucks and even vans!

As you can see from the image, the frame is in position and the screens with their sectional protective cases are slotted into the frame to create a bank of what looks like one enormous screen. The reality is that it is made up of 1 metre square sections and should a screen develop a fault (normally they don’t unless they have been damaged – and covered with a 2 year warranty) they can easily be accessed for maintenance or repairs.

The benefits of an LED billboard is just immeasurable against LCD or plasma technology, as LED is the way forward.

LCD Enclosure Global – anything else is a compromise
“Manufactured in the UK – supported in the USA & Australia”

In this age of global warming, the weather from day to day is not guaranteed to be the same, throughout he world there has been freak weather from huge snow falls in Washington D.C. to high flood waters in Portugal, destroying everything in its way.

We will look at three areas that are key problem areas for people when they deploy a TV outdoors and they are;

1. Weather
2. Theft
3. Vandalism

Weather.
With the changing weather, a standard TV screen will not stand up to the snow, sleet or rain, you know what happens if you accidentally spill coffee on the screen – it damages the circuits inside the television set resulting in the screen failing.

Then there is the extreme where bright sunlight can damage the LCD crystals and thus again causing the screen to fail.

One thing is for sure, you would not take you home computer and put it outdoors and leave it there – would you? Because the moment it rains – the damage is done.

The solution would be ideally to put it in a sealed unit that has its own micro climate, so no matter what is happening outside of the case, the electronics are kept at their ideal temperature inside the case.

Theft.
Well most of us have experienced this from time to time, if you haven’t, just imagine you have a $1000 TV set in your backyard, what is stopping someone accessing your backyard in the early hours of the morning and stealing the television?

We read on a regular basis that in a recession as we are, burglaries increase as this is classed as an easy crime to feed the family-sad but true.

Vandalism.
It could be accidental or deliberate, but it does happen, if your children are playing ball in the backyard and Johnny does go wide, the ball hits the screen and the screen needs replacing or at least repaired.

On the other hand if you have had a dispute with a neighbour, what is stopping them from using a catapult to fire stones at the screen? This also goes on and it is down to society.

What is to be done?
Well if you can afford to buy an outdoor weatherproof television set, buy it as this will offer the protection from the weather and vandalism, however it will not protect against theft.

The other option is to purchase an outdoor LCD enclosure, these offer an environment that the temperature is regulated and can be either cooled or heated depending on what the external weather is. Some units come with a front viewing screen that is vandal proof and provides anti glare so the screen can be seen perfectly as well as protecting the screen from the damaging UV rays. They also bolt to the wall, so theft is a little difficult as thieves just want to smash and run.

Or alternatively, you could leave the TV in your backyard unprotected and if the children don’t damage it, or the weather, you may be really lucky and not have it stolen, however I for one would not risk it – would you?

LCD Enclosures Global – anything else is a compromise.
“Manufactured in the UK – Supported in the USA & Australia”

Outdoor digital signage has come a long way in such a short time, and now some pub chains are looking to cash in using similar technology on the World Cup, there are two ways, one is to offer customers the chance to watch the game on large screens (and ever being the optimist) in good sunny weather.

So what are the options?

1. Put a large screen outdoors and provide “meal deals”, keeping the customers fed and watered during their stay, this will keep them at the bar or pub for much longer and consume more food and drinks.
2. Do the above and sell advertising slots to local businesses that are shown during half time, this in itself could pay for the outdoor screen and the other hardware.

Things to consider.

Rain, wind, snow and hopefully sunshine.
The weather is a main concern especially in the UK, as sunny weather is never guaranteed. So an outdoor LCD enclosure is required to protect the standard screen from the weather, these offer a weatherproof solution from all the elements and provide a safe environment for the screen to be in, ensuring the screen and internal hardware are kept at the right temperature preventing any problems with the screen failing.

The viewing screen is manufactured from a special anti glare material and offers UV protection for the LCD crystals, so even the strongest sunshine will not damage the screen.

Protection when things turn nasty.
Well when you mix high emissions and alcohol you will always have a situation were a volatile situation could be present. Saying this you should consider protecting the screen from frustrated fans if things don’t go their way, for example someone throwing a pint glass at an LCD screen that is not protected will certainly smash the screen, resulting in costly repairs and lost revenue.

Protection from theft.
This is probably the last consideration and should offer a solution that totally covers the LCD screen. The ideal unit needs to restrict access to the screen, from all sides. However we all know if a thief is in an unlit area and undisturbed they will succeed, all we can do is throw obstacles in their way.

LCD Enclosure Global have developed an outdoor LCD enclosure that offers weather protection and an LCD armourcase that is constructed from heavy gauge steel and comes complete with a steel roller shutter that is locked by high security locks, restricting unauthorised access to the screen.

LCD Enclosure Global – anything else is a compromise.
“Manufactured in the UK-Supported in the USA & Australia”

These video wall are created by using a rear support frame, this frame comes in sections and provides a way to store the LED or LCD panels that are inserted into them.

The frame is manufactured from galvanized steel, making the solution ideal for outdoor applications. The screens that fit into the frame are 1 metre square and are also in a weatherproof and vandal proof case, once in the frame and connected to a power source the software that controls each individual screen is tiled using the software that comes with the screen – this is rather cost effective as no further controllers are needed reducing the cost by some 25% on previous solutions.

This solution ensures that it can be re-configured and even dismantled and taken to a different venue, perfect for stage signage or even to future proof the outdoor digital signage solution should a business decide to have this on their exterior wall.

A typical installation for a 40 metre wide x 10 metre high solution can take as little as 2 days, configuring the hardware should only take a matter of hours.

The only limitation with this type of video wall is how deep your pockets are, but if you want advice on a more cost effective method call (Europe) +44 (0)844 3578687 or USA toll free 888-460-3573.

LCD Enclosures Global – anything else is a compromise.
“Manufactured in the UK – Supported in USA & Australia”

Keeping errors to a minimum is critical so that the display can produce its premium marketing effect to the passing public and making a return on the investment. Any problems of servicing can easily be overcome. An access panel should be planned during design to be located at a suitable point on the LCD monitor enclosure to ensure smooth servicing and easy access to the media player, for changing the advertisement content. Also slide-out technology, like the digital controllers, power supplies and interface boards all drastically reduce the down time and service/repair costs, enabling the unit to be back up and running within minutes.

The main contributors and factors in the display failure, like dust, moisture and heat can easily be eliminated by installing relevant sensors and this testing can even be done remotely, which is another important part of the benefits of outdoor digital signage.

LCD Enclosures Global – anything else is a compromise.
“Manufactured in the UK – Supproted in the USA & Australia”.

Air conditioning is a suitable way of combating this overheating issue, though installing a small cooling unit (opposite effect to a heater) inside the outdoor LCD enclosure, will provide adequate protection against overheating and lessening the damage to the screen from the sun’s glare and heat.

As condensation may also build up inside the outdoor TV cabinet, it is worth contemplating a combined cooling/heating unit (known as a closed-loop system). If a sealed LCD monitor enclosure for digital signage were placed outdoors and the overnight weather was cold and damp, then the build up of condensation from the morning sun could cause untold damage to the display unit, as damp will enter the electrics and destroy the screen and possibly blow the power supply.

Using a closed-loop system eliminates the need for external air being brought into the enclosure, thus minimising the possibility of bringing in external elements, like dust, dirt and moisture, all of which would damage the signage. This system features a regulator which operates at a specifically set temperature, so as the temperature dips; the system kicks in to reach its optimum operating temperature.

LCD Enclosure Global – anything else is a compromise.
“Manufactured in the UK – Supported in the USA & Australia”.