But it can be a daunting task. There is much to think about and while this isn’t an exhaustive list, it is enough:

And while there are many professional outdoor digital signage specialists out there to give advice and guidance it can still be a difficult task – forcing most people to either abandon the plans or get a third party to take over the outdoor digital signage camapiagn.

But there is an easier method:

With outdoor digital signage there is only three things that need to be decided:

* The location of the screen

* How the content is to be uploaded

* The type of screen required – often dependent on light levels in the location

All the rest of the problems can be dealt with by an outdoor LCD enclosure. An LCD enclosure can take the headache out of placing the screen outdoors because it will not only protect it from the weather but will also:

* Contain the climatic systems to ensure optimum temperature

* Will be resistant to accidental and deliberate damage by impact thanks to steel LCD enclosure

* Screen will be prevented from shattering – diminishing any health and safety issues

* Will be able to house any media player or compact PC used for content delivery.

Outdoor Digital Signage – It can be made easy! is a post from: Armagard

However, there are many mistakes commonly made by people who generate their own content; and as content is king – it could be limiting the effectiveness of the entire campaign.

Viewing time

One of the most important aspects of generating content for digital advertising is to remember that people don’t view digital signage the same way as they watch television. While TV adverts can comprise of storylines and teasers – this approach won’t work with digital signage.

If your screen is well placed the most you can expect is a couple of seconds of people’s time. So any content has to account for this. Important information should be continually on the screen and images should change regularly to ensure you can attract as many eye’s to the screen as possible.

Orientation and Screen Size

The size of important text information should be at least two inches – no matter what the size of screen. Remember content will shrink on a small screen so ensure that it is generated at a large enough scale – the same is true of portrait orientation.

Outdoor Digital Signage

Many colours, images and styles of generating content don’t works as well in outdoor locations. For outdoor digital signage content needs to be, if anything, even simpler and bolder than for indoor systems – remembering also that whatever time a viewer will spend looking at a screen indoors you can half that with outdoor digital signage.

Testing is crucial

Testing is vital to ensure you are achieving your goals with your content. Whether it is outdoor digital signage or an indoor system you should always test the content to ensure it is being effective.

Digital Signage Content – Do’s and Don’ts is a post from: Armagard

But a simple and cost effective digital signage campaign can be achieved by taking advantage of many of the latest innovations in digital signage.

LCD Enclosures

LCD enclosures are digital signage cabinets that house standard TV devices. What makes them advantageous is that they are a can-do solution for almost any environment. Even in outdoor locations these digital signage enclosures will house and protect enclosed devices preventing rain and weather elements from damaging the device as well as ensuring the enclosed TV is running at the optimum operating temperature.

Even in indoor locations LCD enclosures will pay for themselves as they will ensure the screen is running in the perfect environment and will consequently lengthen the life of the LCD or plasma screen.

Content Generation Software

One of the largest overheads some installers of digital signage find that they face is the continuing cost of getting content created. Whilst ad agencies and specialist digital signage content providers can supply professional content – at a price – many people are now producing their own digital signage content.

There are many content generation software utilities available and even standard programs on most computers such as those used to create presentations, are ideal for creating digital signage content. And you don’t have to have a degree in computing or design to create effective content. By keeping it simple and using bold images and text combined with plenty of colour, a simple but effective campaign can be achieved.

Digital Signage on a Shoestring is a post from: Armagard

By using flat screen TV devices, moving images can be used to replace the tired static messages used in conventional signage and its not just in indoor locations where digital advertising is creating a more modern and dynamic feel to marketing.

Outdoor digital signage is even more effective than conventional digital advertising because the audience numbers involved are a lot higher than for indoor digital advertising. And with modern waterproof LCD enclosures that house conventional LCD or plasma TVs, embarking on an outdoor digital signage or advertising campaign is not as difficult as you would imagine.

A standard TV, an LCD enclosure and a media playing device connected to the screen to deliver content are all that is required to initiate an outdoor digital signage system.

The LCD enclosure will act as not only a weatherproof barrier protecting the outdoor digital screen from the elements but also will act as protection against any impact or unwanted attention from vandals and thieves.

This simple approach to outdoor digital signage is ideal for those looking to embark on the outdoor digital advertising route but who have concerns about the initial outlay, costs involved or a re worried about leaving valuable electronics attached to an outside wall.

As the outdoor LCD enclosure houses a standard LCD screen there is no large substantial outlay and even for indoor areas, as the LCD enclosure also maintains the ideal condition for a digital display device, especially if there is adequate air flow within the enclosure, the digital screen should last a lot longer than would normally be the case.

LCD Enclosures – A Fresh Approach to Outdoor Digital Advertising is a post from: Armagard

No other advertising stream can offer this and as long as there is no rental payment for the location for the signage the advertising message can be relayed to a large passing audience.

Outdoor digital signage is an even better method of advertising as the number of people that can see the message is a lot higher than any indoor system.

Outdoor systems do need to be protected from the weather elements though and this is when the outdoor LCD enclosure is used to ensure that the LCD or plasma system is protected from rain, wind-blown debris and excessive temperatures that can arise in both the winter and summer months.

There are other methods for installing digital outdoor signage too. Digital signage kiosks are often used as information points but they can also be used for digital advertising purposes.

Indoor and outdoor digital signage kiosks can implement touch screen technology to cater for interactive solutions such as maps or restaurant menu boards, they are also versatile in the size of LCD TV they can accommodate from small digital signage kiosks to systems with 70”+ screens fitted.

Both LCD enclosures and digital signage kiosks offer protection from the elements and are quite often built to existing standards such as the European IP rating or the NEMA standard as devised by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association in the US.

Types of Outdoor Digital Signage Systems is a post from: Armagard

We are all aware about the dangers of failing to protect our data. With so much of our day-to-day activities conducted online the information on our computer hard drives could be worth a fortune to a crook or ID fraudster.

From online passwords to our entire bank account details can be stored on our computer hard drives and while we take pains to ensure our data is protected when we go online. However, despite all the precautions we may take to ensure our usernames and passwords are safe, very few of us take pains to protect hard drives themselves.

And yet, information that is recorded on a hard drive can be there permanently. Even computers that have long since stopped working can have the data off their hard drives retrieved.

And yet, despite this, very few people opt to protect their hard drives from theft and even business machines with highly valuable and sensitive data are left vulnerable.

There are solutions available that can protect servers and computer systems from theft. Most come in the form of a computer safe or server safe that allows the computer or server to be locked away whilst still being useable.

There are other precautions that can be taken too to ensure that data is not left vulnerable:

* Conduct regular property and equipment audits, record missing items.

* Allocate responsibility for equipment to individuals.

* Establish measures to control use and movement of equipment.

* Mark your equipment – Brand the exterior shell of equipment and mark exterior and interior where safe and possible with postal codes.

* Consider the use of passive electronic marking devices.

* Record details of equipment serial numbers/identification marks. Details need to be readily available in the event of theft.

* Anchor equipment to solid furniture, floors or nearby walls using appropriate means.

* User intruder alarm equipment to monitor building or room entry.

* Use product alarms to monitor movement of individual computer equipment.

* Consider tagging equipment using electrical article surveillance methods.

* Store computer equipment within secure rooms/cabinets when buildings or departments are unoccupied.

* Use CCTV and audio recording equipment to monitor buildings and areas where computers are in use.

* Introduce appropriate access control for the building and for serving areas where computers are used.

* Ensure mobile and laptop computers are properly secured when used away from the office.

* Review existing security precautions, regularly.

* If you need more advice then contact your local Crime Prevention Officer who will be pleased to help.

Information provided by London’s Metropolitan Police

Protecting Hard Drives and Preventing Data Theft is a post from: Armagard