In the modern media and advertising environments, digital signage is necessarily prevalent and poised to become more so throughout the years ahead. While once deemed cost-prohibitive to such an extent as to render third-party vendors an essential “middleman” in the establishing and operating of one’s digital signage, technological advances in video hardware have effectively negated that very need in many instances. Specifically, there are a number of ways as to how video walls can help with digital signage.
Firstly, however, one must understand what is meant by the terms “digital signage” and “video walls” in order that they might then understand how video walls can help with digital signage. In the case of the former, digital signage, we are referring to the display or projection of imagery via technological interfaces designed for that very purpose.
These interfaces allow for imagery or text (either scrolling or static) to occupy the frame of a given displaying medium in a highly configurable and often interactive capacity. Because such technological interfaces traditionally required cumbersome and exclusive hardware, digital signage has historically not been managed in-house by business owners and corporate entities. Video wall technology, however, promises to upend that aspect of the historical record.
Video walls are seamless integrations of multiple display and/or projection interfaces which collectively render images, presentations, or real time footage with interconnected synchronization. Because neither the hardware nor the software involved in the construction of a quality video wall is particularly cost-prohibitive, their presence in corporate and residential settings is increasingly commonplace. Furthermore, as video wall technology is remarkably agile and prone to customization, there remains little question as to just how video walls can help with digital signage.
As is the nature of their base design, video walls translate digital imagery and content into consumer-facing displays by way of interconnectivity between various pieces of hardware.
The Importance of Video Walls
1. At center are the video wall processor of one sort or another and a rendering engine. These are essentially the collective hub via which content housed in smaller hardware (laptop, console, tower, et cetera) is channeled and ultimately rendered on whatever display mechanism or collection of display mechanisms have been set up for signage purposes. Though these do not stand in place of a LAN, the processor and rendering engine are nevertheless integral to streamlined communication from one mechanism to the next.
2. The content must be sourced and housed externally with most video wall display signage arrangements. For instance, one might aim to exhibit signage (stored as a file on computer desktop) via a series of LCD monitors, but have no way of communicating from one to the next. Provided the imagery file exists in some accessible format via computer/console, the processing mechanism should be able to translate the content therein while channeling it to…
3. …the display canvas. Of particular importance to this arrangement is the visual interface with which observers will engage once the digital signage is conveyed and made visible to a viewing public. Bear in mind, provided the parameters have been correctly established, there are virtually no restrictions as to how or in what sort of configuration the images need be displayed. Any collection of projection or display monitors will be suitable for the channeling of one’s selected images and/or content.
4. Control panels are necessary ingredients in this technological recipe, as even the most sophisticated of digital signage interfaces require some sort of command and control board with which to realize desired actions. Not much more advanced than a typical television remote and arguably far more intuitive than most, video wall control panels are sold in either wireless or wired models and allow for comprehensive management of one’s digital signage and every other video wall aspect.
5. Content is the final piece of required to effectively employ digital signage via video wall display. Fortunately, content parameters are not hamstrung by the hardware limitations characteristic of yesteryear’s signage interfaces. Whether looking to exhibit interactive material with which potential customers might engage, or simply interested in running a ¼ -mile of scrolling text, the video wall will adapt as needed.
Signage is no longer at the mercy of narrowly engineered display mechanisms. Instead, video walls have opened up the proverbial flood gates, ensuring as creative a showcasing of one’s message, content, brand, or interactivity as they are capable of conceptualizing.
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