From office computer screens, to outdoor digital signage, modern TVs have all sorts of uses and for industry the benefits of using screens instead of traditional methods of production monitoring can save both time and money.

The great advantage of using screens in an industrial or production location is the clear visibility it provides. A decent sized LCD screen (or plasma) can be viewed from a good distant away making them far more practical in industrial and warehouse locations.

Secondly, modern TV screens can provide information instantly, relaying production details as they happen, or displaying content uploaded from the production office, making it a very flexible and dynamic form of information presentation.

And finally, LCD screens are far more aesthetically pleasing and practical. Unlike paper media, they won’t get dirty, torn or end up fading, and can provide a good modern and contemporary image.

Using modern LCD and plasma screens in an industrial or production location can provide many challenges, however. There are many elements and conditions present in industrial locations which can damage a modern screen and prevent it operating.

Dust is a common consideration for such areas. Dust can cause screens to overheat, block filters and even short circuit a screen if enough penetrates into the device. Water too, and other moisture of often used in production facilities, especially food processing locations where it is used to regularly clean surfaces and equipment. And temperatures too can vary in such locations which are often cooler than normal conditions (and in the case of some food production locations actually chilled).

Coping with these challenges is pretty straightforward, as a decent LCD enclosure should not only keep all these harmful elements away from the device, but also maintain a steady temperature inside the enclosure, which will also protect the screen from any accidental impact.

Industrial Displays – Monitoring Production with an LCD Screen is a post from: Armagard

However, the TV screens used in these out of home locations are not the same to the standard consumer grade screens we all use at home, there are some subtle differences.

The screens used in most digital signage displays tend to be commercial grade. Commercial grade screens are very similar in appearance and use to consumer grade devices but are designed to be more rugged, with higher temperature ranges that allow the TV to be left on for prolonged periods, or even constantly.

They are a little bit more expensive, but as commercial grade screens last longer, especially if they are to be left on twenty-four hours, which makes them a better investment for digital out of home advertising (Dooh).

Commercial grade screens, while better for digital signage applications are not designed for outdoor or hostile use, however, and if they are to be placed in locations of wavering temperature, exposed to impacts or for outdoor digital signage, they need to be protected.

Fortunately, commercial grade screens are identical in design to consumer grade, relying on industry standard VESA mounting systems which make them able to be secured to almost any mount or device. LCD enclosures are also VESA compatible so can house any commercial grade or consumer grade device.

LCD enclosures allow commercial grade screens to be used in almost any location by providing a comprehensive form of protection. They can even provide consumer grade screens with an operation environment that will allow their prolonged use, so even consumer grade screens can be used for outdoor digital signage.

Digital Signage, Commercial and Consumer Grade Screens – the Difference is a post from: Armagard

Keeping customers happy can be difficult at the best of times but with outdoor areas things can be more troublesome. Patio heaters and smoking shelters are just two methods bar and pub owners are turning to in a bid to make their customers feel more comfortable and outdoor TVs are another method of encouraging people to stay longer in the evening.

Many people visit the local bar or pub to watch sporting events. Whether it is for some peace and quiet away from the kids, or to relax with friends with a drink and a smoke watching TV at the pub or bar is a popular pastime.

With the smoking ban, many landlords and publicans are therefore looking to outdoor TV systems to entertain their customers outdoors.

Outdoor TVs, however, are highly expensive. In comparison to similar sized screens used indoors you can pay many times the price for an equivalent outdoor TV which can often leave landlords and publicans unsure if such an investment is worth it.

However, there are ways to reduce the costs of installing an outdoor TV, doing away with the need for one of these expensive systems.

LCD TV enclosures are waterproof outdoor cabinets that allow just about any make or model of TV to be taken outdoors.  They provide all the weatherproof protection a screen requires to operate in the open air, protecting from rainfall, ice, snow and sleet – not to mention ensuring the temperature inside the enclosure never falters from the optimum.

Outdoor TV enclosures are also secure as they are mostly manufactured from steel with shatterproof windows and can withstand heavy impacts and be securely bolted to walls and ceilings ensuring they don’t fall prey to vandals and thieves.

But the biggest advantage of using an outdoor LCD TV enclosure is the cost savings. Even when you take into account the price of the LCD enclosure and TV, it will still fall well below the cost of a made-for-outdoor TV.

Outdoor TVs for the Smoking Ban – Outdoor Bar and Pub Entertainment is a post from: Armagard

This digital outdoor signage market is expected to expand too, with outdoor advertising organisations predicting a continuous rise, possibly ending up overtaking the number of new static signs.

Whatever the future holds, outdoor digital signage is here to stay but it has its drawbacks. Cost is a factor in this new industry. Compared to an indoor signage campaign the costs can be quite high.

The highest cost of an outdoor campaign is the protection. A normal screen can’t obviously be taken outside in the rain or other inclement weather – not without it breaking, permanently.

There also needs to be some consideration into the temperature the device has to work in, which can also add to the cost, especially in areas that suffer from both extremes.

And then there is the physical protection to think about. Even if you buy a waterproof TV with a wide temperature operating range, if it is not secured from theft or protected from vandalism, the device will either get stolen or smashed.

While some of these challenges can be overcome with the latest range of outdoor TVs that can operate in wide temperature ranges and are waterproofed (although few have physical protection) they are also highly expensive.

Often costing five times more than a standard commercial device, waterproof outdoor TVs are very expensive; however, there is an alternative.

LCD Enclosures are a cost effective alternative to these expensive TV systems. They house standard devices but provide all the applicable protection that can allow them to operate outdoors.

Waterproofed, LCD enclosures have temperature controls and as well as protecting the LCD (in a tough steel enclosure) they can house the media player or PC that is used to upload the device.

Outdoor Digital Signage and the LCD Enclosure – perfect bedfellows is a post from: Armagard

The internet is a good example, with internet advertising now commonplace but one area where advertisers have really got involved in a big way is the use of modern TV devices such as plasma or LCD screens as digital signage.

From outdoor digital signage along the high streets, to indoor screens erected in shops, retail parks and shopping malls. Digital advertising has become an incredibly fast growing industry.
And as more and more developments and innovations come along, advertisers are keen to take advantage to keep them one step ahead of the competition.

One such technology being trialled in Japan is the use of facial recognition with digital signage. At the moment, developers hope to be able to target different sexes with tailored adverts but the future possibilities are quite incredible:

With such technology it may be possible for advertisers to identify individuals and advertisements could then be targeted depending on past sales or experiences; buy a particular product from a store and advertisers may be able to promote similar or connected items whenever you pass one of their facial recognition screens.

And if this sounds a bit like science fiction you would not be wrong with such technologies having been used in Philip K Dick’s short story Minority Report and the Spielberg film of the same name.
And while, the potential of such technologies certainly has its use for advertisers and consumers alike, it does pose some questions regarding civil liberties.

Suppose you happen to buy a surprise gift for your wife, only to have similar products flashed up on screen when you are shopping together – it would certainly ruin the surprise (And possibly your marriage if the gift wasn’t actually for your wife).

And with the potential of so much data on our shopping habits being stored by commercial organisations – there could be real issues in safeguarding this information – which could be extremely valuable to other commercial organisations, criminals and the state.

Outdoor Digital Signage – The Future is Here is a post from: Armagard

Advertising

Advertising and promotion are one area where outdoor screens can really boost a business. Outdoor digital signage has many advantages over other advertising methods – including indoor digital advertising.

A screen placed outside a retail store or shopping complex will attract an audience unparalleled by other advertising methods for the cost. Other than TV or radio advertising (which is highly expensive) outdoor digital signage will generate audience figures far higher than other similar costed advertising methods.

Outdoor advertising is of course, not new, but while other methods of outdoor advertising such as posters and billboards are around, none are as engaging and eye-catching as outdoor digital signage which not only draws the eye with moving images and transitions but looks modern and contemporary in comparison.

Another advantage in using outdoor screens for advertising is that content can be scheduled to play at certain times a day. Restaurants, for example, and other businesses where trade increases and decreases at different times; this can be really advantageous. Lunchtime promotions can be relayed before lunch while supper time specials can then be shown in the afternoon and evening.

Information

Providing information to customers, staff and visitors is another reason why many businesses turn to outdoor TVs. Providing information such as production schedules may increase efficiency and reduce waste, and with outdoor screens this type of information can be relayed in even the most rugged of environment such as a factory or industrial complex; while even not-for-profit organisations like schools, hospitals and other institutes are constantly needing to provide information.

Outdoor screens are far more flexible than other methods of providing information. Rather than run around to different locations all information can be uploaded centrally so information can be provided in real-time – ideal for emergencies.

How an Outdoor Screen will Benefit your Business is a post from: Armagard

• Advertising
• Marketing
• Brand Awareness
• Information
• Warnings

Outdoor digital signage is everywhere along the high street from bus stops to large floor mounted advertising screens in the middle of the pavement but how do you get started and is outdoor digital signage easy to employ?

Well the answer is – it depends. For outdoor digital signage there are a number of hardware items that are required; primarily a TV and some sort of media playing device but there is also the protection to think of.

Outdoor digital signage has to endure elements and temperatures that an indoor screen doesn’t and this is the primary challenge.

Weather elements

Obviously any outdoor screen has to be waterproof to ensure that the rain doesn’t infiltrate the screen and damage the internal components. But there are other outdoor elements that are equally damaging such as wind blown dust, and these too need to be protected against.

Temperature

Is another problem for outdoor screens; Outdoor temperatures can drop below zero and yet rise above 40 degrees depending on the time of year so both extremes have to be accounted for.

Sunlight

Another challenge with outdoor screens is ensuring the device can be read in direct sunlight. High brightness screens are essential in areas where direct sunlight is a factor.

Protecting a screen from all these elements is the primary challenge of implementing outdoor digital signage; however, shortcuts that can both save money and make implementation easier are available.

LCD Enclosures

LCD enclosures are a cost saving method of implementing outdoor screens without the need for expensive waterproof outdoor TVs. Not only does an outdoor LCD enclosure offer the same all weather protection than an IP65 TV (outdoor TV) but they are only a fraction of the price. Housing any commercial or standard grade TV device and an LCD enclosure will also contain all the additional cooling and heating elements so often required. They are also manufactured from steel; providing rugged and anti-vandal protection too.

Outdoor Digital Signage – Things to realise before you begin is a post from: Armagard

It is estimated within the next 10 years the amount of electronic waste being dumped in countries like this is expected to increase five fold as the exponential rate technology advances causes more and more devices to be discarded as they are replaced for more advanced models.

Digital signage too is contributing to e-waste. Whilst LCD screens and plasmas are not discarded in working condition (unlike computers with over 90% of them thrown away being in perfect working order) but are usually thrown away once the device fails.

However, because of the dramatically falling cost of LCDs and plasma TVs, little effort is ever put into attempting to expand the life of digital signage systems. And even for outdoor digital signage where the devices have to be waterproofed, other consideration into ensuring the device continues to work properly, such as air flow systems, are very rarely thought of.

The consequence is that millions of tonnes of LCD screens and other digital signage systems end’s up on the shores of developing nations causing an environmental hazard.

However, with adequate protection, a modern LCD or plasma screen can last three, four or even five times longer than normal if it is enclosed in an adequate LCD enclosure.

Apart from protecting the LCD or plasma from rain and dust, allowing their use outdoors or in industrial locations, a good quality LCD enclosure will also provide the perfect optimum working condition for a digitals sign. Air flow systems will control temperature, whilst surge protectors ensure the LCD can’t be damaged by spikes or power surges.

In extremely hot environments, even air conditioning can be installed as can heaters in cooler climates. By ensuring the enclosure housing a digital signage system is of the best quality possible and is providing the perfect working conditions for the LCD, then there is no reason why the device shouldn’t be functioning in ten years time.

If all digital signage systems were housed in a good quality LCD or plasma enclosure then the amount of E-waste we are expected to produce over the next few years will be dramatically reduced.

Digital Signage and its Contribution to E-waste is a post from: Armagard

Getting your message across is the key aim of any marketing strategy. Raising awareness of products and brands is vitally important to many businesses and thanks to the advance in flat-screen technologies such as LCD and plasma screens and their plummeting costs – digital advertising has never been easier.

Many digital signage campaigns can be implemented in standard TV systems but there are some elegant and functional digital signage systems that provide an eve ore eye-catching and therefore more successful ways of providing digital advertising.

One such method is the use of the digital signage poster or digital advertising display. These are not only aesthetically more attractive than just placing a flat screen TV on the wall, but they offer an all-in-one digital signage solution as they contain media player hardware already wired to the screen. This enables media content to be uploaded simply and quickly by using a flash drive or USB stick.

Digital advertising displays and digital posters can also be networked together so multiple displays can be synchronised together. Content on a networked system of digital posters or digital advertising displays can also be instantly altered or adapted.

The only downside to these digital posters and displays is that they are mainly for indoor use only. However, for outside purposes, LCD enclosures are a possible cost effective solution that saves you having to invest in an outdoor LCD TV as they allow standard LCD devices to be taken outdoors.

LCD enclosures, digital posters and digital advertising displays provide simple, cost effective, fuss-free methods of digital signage, out of home advertising and interactive marketing.

Digital Signage Posters and Advertising Displays is a post from: Armagard

The new digital signage displays provide and all-in-one solution for delivering digital signage and out of home media content in indoor applications. Complete with built-in media player for content management these attractive and stylish digital displays are a simple cost effective solution for digital signage.

Floor standing digital advertising displays and wall mounted digital posters are a simple and elegant digital signage solution for indoor use and combined with Armagard’s LCD enclosure range for outdoor digital signage, the company now have a complete digital signage range for indoor, outdoor and use in hostile or industrial areas.

With a range of screen sizes from compact 20” to giant 70” digital posters, digital advertising displays and outdoor LCD TV enclosures, http://www.armagard.co.uk have the perfect digital signage solution for almost any application.

Based in the UK and Europe, Armagard also retail their digital signage systems to the US via their website http://www.lcd-enclosure.com at competitive prices in comparison to the existing North American market.

LCD enclosures, digital posters and digital advertising displays are manufactured using Armagard’s proven engineering experience following decades of experience manufacturing protective enclosures for displays, printers touch screens and computers.

Following this new range of digital posters and digital advertising to complement their LCD enclosures, Armagard now have the digital signage solution for almost any environment and location, including:

• Shopping malls

• Food production areas

• Medical facilities

• Schools/colleges

• Waiting rooms

• Patio/grill/deck areas

• Outside restaurants/bars

Press Release: Complete Digital Signage Solutions from one Company is a post from: Armagard