Not only can these “TV-like” displays successfully capture the attention of this young and growing audience but they can also provide useful information to the campus. Digital menu boards can display the specials of the day while displays located in athletic facilities can promote the big sporting event. Students can be quickly alerted when there is an emergency or when urgent news needs to be broadcasted.

In the current digital landscape it is unrealistic to assume that this generation and college students alike will respond to a hard-copy promotion. The days when clubs and athletic teams distribute flyers around campus are slowly coming to a close.

I could probably list about fifty common usage mistakes, but I had to give the single biggest one.  When I broke down all the types of mistakes it looks something like this:

Location (bad location or wrong type of playlist used)

Content Type (PowerPoint overused, etc.)

Creative (lousy creative production value)

Real Estate (overuse of display space, too busy)

Neglect (stale or static content)

And many, many more.  However, if you woke me up at three in the morning and asked for the one that I see the most and that impacts the effectiveness of the sign and its function, I’d have to say it was Font size.  That’s right, the simple size of the text on the display.

Often the managers are trying to get too much info on the screen and not considering the area and viewing distance of the display.  One of the biggest culprits is the PDF.  Many versions of Digital Signage Software can display a PDF as a media type.  The problem comes when managers just take a formatted for print PDF and plop in into their playlist.  Too much info and too small text makes a tuff read and can completely defeat the purpose of the display.

The solution is to set some graphic standard for the various display and their locations.  If creative staff understands that nothing smaller than a certain size font will work for display “A”, then the sign will become more usable immediately.

The text size standards should be established taking into consideration the maximum viewing distance and traffic patterns of the display’s location.  Use your own eyes and test it!

Your properties are settings that are applied to each content item, each region that is playing your content, or even the entire template that makes up your sign. It even can go as far as settings on the hardware playing the signage itself. When you know what properties are applied to each item you will have a better understanding of how to further the design, functionality, or even help yourself troubleshoot potential issues.

In your exploration though the world of digital signage make it a point to take notice and get to know the properties for the items that you are working with. You may even find things you never knew were possible. Don’t be afraid to make lists of what you find and pass them along to team members. Exploration and personal documentation just might just be your fastest way to applause. A collaborative effort with other great minds will only further progress on a stunning digital signage network.

So many companies and organizations spend a lot of time a treasure standing up a premium website and then they walk away with no plan in place for revisions or even an occasional review.  I have seen major corporations that have relocated to a brand new building and never bothered to change the picture or address on their website.

Digital Signage often suffers a similar neglect.  Yes an RSS news feed will keep something current running, but managers should plan a regular review and create a visual difference on the sign so that users will note that content has changed and is updated.  With today’s Digital Signage software it is easy to change backgrounds, templates and layouts.  You can even setup a schedule for these changes and let them happen automatically.

The other trap you want to avoid is letting the Digital Sign get dragged into the organizations “branding” standards. While this is something that sounds good on paper, the problem is that most managers in charge of the branding and image do not have a good understanding of the flexibility of digital signage and they tend to treat it as a digital poster.  They apply the branding standards and then you end up with a static, bland bulletin board.

Sometimes a meeting with a digital signage expert can help all the staff involved get up to speed and realize the full potential of the tools at their disposal.

Content is the key to the success of a DOOH network. It alone is tasked with meeting the objectives of the system. For example, a retail venue might design their content to engage viewers while promoting brands sold by the store. A university may create content that informs students, staff, and visitors regarding on-campus events. Health care facilities might develop content that educates patients and their families about conditions and therapies.

Content creation can be handled in-house, or outsourced to a third-party. Third parties might include ad agencies that develop custom clips, and content aggregators that pipe video streams across the internet. The type of content created – advertisements, educational segments, informational clips – are dictated by the goals of your network.

#4 – Installation And Support

Installation is typically handled by a contractor. The various hardware and software, as well as the connectivity of the system, must be carefully managed to ensure each piece works seamlessly with the others. The screens, mounts, and stands must be installed professionally to avoid instability. Sufficient electricity must be available to power the individual pieces. If outlets are not located near the hardware, the installation team may need to install them and reroute the venue’s wiring.

After the digital signage network has been installed, ongoing support and maintenance are necessary. Many sellers offer a support agreement with their systems. When problems surface, whether related to the screens, media players, or scheduling software, support personnel can be called to resolve them.

#5 – Environment Design

This area is related to installation, but is normally handled by a different contractor or team. It involves the placement of the screens, including their locations, height, and tilt in relation to the ground. Lighting is also considered, taking into account light available inside the venue and light filtering in through doors and windows. The people who address environment design may also work with the venue owner to plan for screens that may be added to the network in the future.

Although digital signage seems simple, it relies on a seamless integration of several technologies and disciplines. Most of them can be outsourced to third-party vendors in order to streamline your network’s installation and ongoing operation.

Follow the link below for the first and second essentials.

http://www.connectedsign.com/digiknow/5-essentials-to-building-an-effective-digital-signage-system/

In this article, we’ll provide a top-down view of the components that drive a digital signage system. Even if you plan to outsource certain elements, such as content creation, knowing how the technologies and disciplines dovetail will help you to take fuller advantage of your network.

#1 – Screens, Mounts, And Other Pieces

Hardware represents one of the largest expenses of a DOOH system. The digital displays, wall and ceiling mounts, and media players, can make up half or more of your entire investment. The cost can be mitigated by renting or leasing the hardware rather than purchasing it outright.

Among the various elements of a digital signage network, this is the most straightforward. There are dozens of manufacturers, which broadens your options and pushes prices down. Indeed, the price of DOOH hardware has consistently declined each year over the past decade.

#2 – Software Applications

This area of digital signage is confusing to a lot of people, largely due to the breadth of options available. There are several applications you’ll need for your DOOH network. Each is created by hundreds of vendors offering numerous features. First, you’ll need the player application that sends feeds to particular screens. This app is loaded onto the media players mentioned earlier.

Second, you’ll need software to schedule your content loops and clips. This application will allow you to change feeds on-the-fly or in advance, and ensure everything plays in the order intended.

Third, a server application will house your content (i.e. loops and clips). This app “talks” with the player software, and manages your content’s distribution.

These applications can be purchased or licensed. Some companies choose to design them in-house, though doing so is costly and requires in-house support.

Follow the link below for the third, fourth, and fifth essential elements.

http://www.connectedsign.com/digiknow/5-essentials-to-building-an-effective-digital-signage-system-continued/

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Throw out the old bulletin board and colored paper. Cluttered cork walls do not draw the attention of these multitaskers. A clean screen with running content of current events, university announcements, and student accomplishments is much more appealing. The content can be changed constantly to reflect what is going on at the school at that particular time.

The placement of these screens is crucial. Why spend the time and money if your hard work is overlooked? Fortunately, in a college atmosphere, any indoor area with heavy student traffic will act as a perfect location for a screen. The content can be run on a loop to keep the student body informed while going about daily activities. Not only do these screens attract the student eye and act as a communication tool but they are also GREEN! Save your paper, go digital!

Digital signage can be used to deliver pertinent information to those who visit emergency centers. The content can inform patients about symptoms they might be experiencing, and the conditions that can cause them. The screens can also provide post-treatment tips for at-home care, making patients’ subsequent visits less likely.

There are numerous reasons to install a digital signage network into a hospital. If such a system is leveraged properly, it can make the experience of visiting – or working in – the facility much more rewarding.

Emergency messaging can be delivered to digital signage screens throughout the facility immediately. Patients, visitors, and staff can receive timely information regarding noteworthy incidents, including instructions about what to do in response (e.g. find the nearest exit).

Hospital administrators can reduce check-in times, as well as lower the demand on their employees, by letting patients register themselves. A digital signage kiosk can be set up in the lobby for those who wish to expedite the process.