Digital signage software is growing in popularity, making its mark as a popular tool for marketing and communications. As a new and developing technology, digital signs can come in a plethora of different screen types, each with its own features suitable for its intended application.
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Before you invest in a digital sign, you need to know everything you can about the various screen types and their respective features. Understanding these differences is crucial, especially considering factors like screen fatigue, which can impact viewer engagement and the overall effectiveness of your digital signage. In this article, we discuss the screens used for digital signage, their features and applications, the best manufacturers of digital signage, and more.
Digital Signage Screens
From interactive screens to the new OLED display, it&#;s important that you choose the right type of digital signage screen that will support the content you&#;re looking to integrate and complement your display&#;s location and purpose.
Interactive
Interactive displays feature touch-screen technology, enabling the viewer to press on certain elements of the display to prompt new content. They can use it to learn more about your business and offers, search for answers to their questions, and satisfy what they need to make a decision about your brand.
This type of digital signage screen allows the viewer to personalize their experience, resulting in more engagement and longer dwell time. By being able to select what they want to see or learn more about, the display serves as a self-service hub that can get them the information they need without having to speak to on or off-site staff.
Because the user interacts with the display, you can also maximize your use of analytics to get live data feedback about how viewers are interacting with your digital sign. You can learn about what products or services they&#;re searching for, what content they spend longer looking at than others, and more. In turn, this allows you to tailor your content to suit their needs and behaviors.
LCD/LED
The most common screens used in digital signage are LCD or LED liquid crystal displays. These are considered the standard because they provide good resolution and brightness suitable for any type of content. LCD or LED screens also come in a plethora of sizes and orientations, so you&#;re likely to find one that can support the content you&#;re looking to display.
While both LCD and LED are good options, it&#;s best to go with an LED screen. Not only are they thinner and have superior display quality compared to LCD, but they&#;re also more energy-efficient. LCD screens are in the process of being phased out, so there&#;s a potential for you to have trouble sourcing parts and maintenance for them in the near future.
OLED
The newest technology being used in digital signage today is OLED. Compared to the standard LED screens, OLED is thinner and more translucent, able to show content on both sides of the screen. This maximizes audience viewership and gets your message across from whatever angle it&#;s being viewed.
OLED also has a brighter resolution and great contrast ratio, which makes colors vibrant and visible even in bright lighting conditions. This new digital screen technology is already available in the market and utilized by various industries. While more improvements need to be made to it, there&#;s no doubt that it&#;s going to be an important part of digital signage&#;s future.
Tablet
Digital signage screens can come in small packages, such as in the form of tablets. While smaller than standard digital signs, tablets can be very valuable assets that are high impact. They&#;re portable and can be placed atop any surface, plus they&#;re easier to use and navigate compared to large interactive displays.
In retail stores, for example, customers can use tablets to browse information about a product online, such as supplemental videos, reviews, or comparisons with other products on the shelves. In restaurants, tablets can be used to peruse menu items and make an order. And in hotels, tablets allow self-service to browse options and book rooms.
Video Wall
A video wall comprises a series of digital screens placed next to each other to present a single, whole display. This is usually used to showcase content far larger than possible with a single digital screen. Video walls are also quite versatile in the sense that the individual screens can be positioned in unique patterns to supplement or emphasize the message.
You&#;ll often see this type of digital screen in spacious and high-traffic areas such as airports, shopping malls, or live events.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Digital Signage Screens
When choosing a digital signage screen for your display, one of the most crucial factors to consider is whether you&#;ll be placing it indoors or outdoors. Screen features can differ based on their intended location. Specifically, indoor and outdoor digital signage screens will have different brightness, connectivity, security, and weather protection capabilities.
Brightness
Outdoor screens should have a larger light output than an indoor display in order to remain visible even under intense sunlight. If you plan on putting your digital sign outdoors, make sure that it has at least 700 nits of light output or more. Most outdoor digital signs also have ambient light sensors that enable them to change brightness as required by the lighting conditions.
Connectivity
Digital signs today can support Wi-Fi connectivity, either wirelessly or connected to the router through an ethernet cable. While connectivity isn&#;t that big of a problem when it comes to indoor signs, there may be more unique requirements needed if you&#;re looking to place your digital sign outdoors. This is because you have limited reach and access to power sources.
For outdoor screens, you may need to invest in additional hardware that will enable you to connect your display to a cellular network. Without it, you might have trouble maintaining live updates and accessing the display via remote control.
Security
Signs that are positioned indoors are naturally safer than those placed outdoors because they are enclosed and protected by the building&#;s security. Outdoor signs, on the other hand, are less monitored and more prone to hacking. In order to prevent security breaches, you&#;ll need a sign with built-in safeguards against hackers and other data security threats.
Weather Protection
Unlike indoor signs, outdoor displays need to be able to survive harsh weather, whether that be rain, snow, dust, or humidity. Find options made of annealed glass, which is four times stronger and more shatter-proof than the regular glass used in indoor displays.
Most outdoor screens will also come with enclosures that are rated a minimum of IP65. These effectively seal the display and protect it from weather elements.
Can You Repurpose a TV Screen as Digital Signage?
Turning TV screens into digital signage is becoming more common as businesses look for economical ways to better market their products and services. While you can absolutely do so as well, it&#;s still highly recommended to invest in a screen that&#;s specifically designed for digital signage applications.
Digital signage screens are built to withstand the demands of commercial use and are created to display your content in the best possible light. Aside from greater performance, a screen dedicated to digital signage utilization also has:
Best Manufacturers of Digital Signage Displays
Digital displays must be durable, secure, versatile, and have features that enable them to display high-quality images. To find screens that meet these requirements, you should look to the most reputable and trusted digital signage brands in the market. Your best options are:
Digital screens from these manufacturers have high-resolution displays that can present your content in the best quality. They&#;re also compatible with most media players, which broadens your scope of options.
Purchasing a digital screen from any of these competitive brands guarantees that you&#;ll be able to find the best option that suits your business. You can also expect innovation and lots of improvements when it comes to the screen&#;s features as these brands aim to be a step ahead of their competitors.
Choose the Right Digital Signage Screen for Your Intended
Application
If you want to learn more, please visit our website commercial digital signage displays.
You see, digital signage screens come in wide varieties. They each differ in size, application, features, and more. Before you decide, make sure you&#;re taking your business requirements into account. Ask yourself the following questions:
What will you use the digital signage for?
Where do you plan on putting the digital signage? Indoors or outdoors?
What type of content are you looking to display?
What hardware and software do you plan on using for the digital sign?
What are your digital signage goals?
Ironing out the basics can go a long way in pointing you to the right digital signage screen that will cater to your needs and meet the demands of your marketing and communications strategies.
When you&#;ve decided on the perfect screen for you, the next step is looking for reliable and easy-to-use software. Rise Vision is the number one cloud-based digital signage software provider. Visit our website to learn more about our solutions and try our digital signage software for free.
Alternatively, you can purchase your digital signage hardware and software all in one place with Rise Vision&#;s subscription-based offers. Our Avocor R Series Hardware as a Service subscription comes with a display and built-in media player, allowing you to reduce your hardware costs and simplify digital signage procurement.
We also have the Rise Vision Media Player Hardware as a Service, a subscription media player that&#;s optimized for the Rise Vision software and features an easy plug-and-play setup.
Both subscriptions will entitle you to complete hardware management and support from Rise Vision so you don&#;t have to worry about the technical aspect of managing your digital signage.
How To Choose the Right TV Display for Digital Signage
TelemetryTV
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7 min read
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Oct 6,
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Any good director with a story to tell knows the importance of getting the right actors. In the world of digital signage, those actors are your TV displays. So make sure you consider these points below before you get ready to break out the red carpet.
If you have already purchased your screens, then you&#;re well on your way to setting up your digital signage network. If not, here&#;s a quick guide to choosing the right TV display for your digital signage.
Top factors to consider:
- Types of TV Displays
- Expected Display Lifespans
- Screen Size and Viewing Distance
- Display Resolutions and Pixel Density
- Brightness
- Bezels and Video Walls
- Price and Warranty
The Magic Behind the Screen
LCD vs LED vs OLED vs Plasma
Ever wonder about what goes on behind the pixels? TV displays today use various technologies to deliver an image. The most popular screen technologies today are:
- LCD (liquid crystal display)
- LED (light-emitting diode)
- OLED (organic light-emitting diode)
LCD is the most common screen technology due to its low cost and high-quality image. Though the technology is old, their lower price point makes them the dominant market leader.
LEDs have a vibrant, brighter image compared most LCDs since their light comes directly from each pixel. Their higher price point has made them the second choice to LCDs.
The new kid on the block is OLED (organic light-emitting diode). They allow for sharp contrast and far deeper blacks than any other display type.
Plasma screens are no longer widely produced due to their tendency for image &#;burn-in&#;.
The Life of A Pixel
How Many Hours Will Your Screen Last?
If you&#;re spending big bucks on a TV display, then you should care about its life expectancy. These factors are usually determined by the quality and build-grade of the components of the TV. TV displays fall into one of two categories: consumer and commercial.
Consumer displays are meant for personal use. These are the TVs you&#;d buy for your living room and are built to display media like movies and video games. They often come with a large number of software features. They are not designed for rugged environments, and their lifespan is less than that of commercial displays.
Commercial displays are built to be kept on 24/7. They can be carefully colour-calibrated, and can easily integrate with third-party control devices. They often have more limited input options and may not always have built-in audio. However, they are an excellent choice for digital signage due to their purpose-built design. They&#;re also designed to be visible in both outdoor and indoor settings.
Commercial-grade screens excel in 24/7 usage environments such as public areas and transit hubs. Elements such as high humidity, volatile weather, and exposure to sunlight can damage outdoor displays. However, commercial displays are built to resist these factors. Commercial backlights can last up to 5x longer than those on consumer-grade screens. They also include security features that deter infrared tampering. That being said, commercial displays can 2&#;3x cost many times the price of consumer-grade televisions.
Like any light source, backlights will dim over time. Typical commercial LCDs can be expected to last around 100,000 hours. The light from an OLED screen comes from organic material that also decays over time. While earlier models were less reliable, new OLEDs have comparable 100,000-hour life expectancies. One thing to remember is that the brighter the image, the more power it will use, and the quicker it may burn out.
Size Matters
What You Need to Know About Screen Size and Viewing Distance
Screen size is important &#; but bigger is not always better. There are a variety of use cases that necessitate a variety of screen sizes. Smaller screens are great for kiosks, which is a popular use case for digital signage. Displays that are 50 inches or larger are the best screens for wall-mounting and reaching more than one or two people at a time.
TV Sizes and Viewing Distances: At larger sizes, LCDs tend to have a less reliable viewing angle. When considering LCDs, use the 4/6/8 principle for viewing distance.
The minimum distance a person needs to be from the screen to understand information is:
- 4x the screen height for detailed information.
- 6x the screen height for general information.
- 8x the screen height for at-a-glance information.
LEDs start to lose brightness at about 60° and have a maximum viewing angle generally of about 150°. Because of their intense brightness, this means they are the ideal choice for outdoor displays. Their minimum viewing distance in metres is measured by multiplying the pixel pitch by . Pixel pitch is an industry standard of measuring pixel density in millimetres.
OLED pixels generate their own colour and light, so the viewing distance and angle are much improved. They will, therefore, retain their colour accuracy at extreme angles.
Talking &#;Bout My Resolution
Display Resolutions and Pixel Density
Resolution is a measure of the horizontal pixels by the vertical pixels. No matter what your screen size, you will want your resolution to be at least p. The higher the resolution you choose, the more readable your displays will be.
The other factor in screen clarity is pixel density, or pixels per inch (ppi). Pixel density measures how many pixels are present in a single square inch area of the screen. The higher your ppi, the clearer your image will look when a viewer is close up. Higher ppi will diminish the &#;screen-door effect&#; that can occur when the resolution is too low.
4K resolution can allow for massive information clarity on a large screen. To run 4K, you will need to have a digital signage player capable of outputting 4K in real-time. You will also need the necessary internet bandwidth to transmit 4K content reliably. p is still acceptable for most display types. If you are planning to deploy screens larger than 65 inches, 4K is recommended. We recommend evaluating the best digital signage player hardware solutions with your team.
Shine Bright Like a Backlight
How to Measure the Brightness of Your TV Screen
Measurement: The modern standard to measure display brightness is known as the nit (nt), or &#;candela per square metre&#; (cd/m2).
A candela is a measure of luminous intensity equivalent to the light of a single candle. It is a useful measurement of light emitted per unit area. Most HD LCDs have a nit level of between 450nt and 1,500nt. LED ranges from around 1,800nt to 6,500nt for outdoor displays.
OLEDs on the other hand generally have dimmer screens, typically producing around 800nt at their brightest. However, sections of the display that are black produce no light. This gives them unbeatable contrast compared to LCD.
Putting Your Best Bezel Forward
How Thin Should You Go?
A current trend in display design is to create smaller and smaller bezels. Bezels are the physical borders around the display that often house sidelights and hold the screen in place.
Why They&#;re Important: A thinner bezel means that your content can more easily stand on its own. The effect is most important when it comes to video walls. These require the viewer to look at a mosaic of screens and see just one large display. The smaller the bezel, the less the separation of screens is noticeable. Currently, the thinnest bezels available are around 1mm.
Caveats: When not using a video wall, bezels aren&#;t always a thing to be avoided. Screen bezels provide a visual buffer for your content against the environment around your display. This can help draw attention to your displays. In a busy environment, a larger bezel can make your display stand out more than it would on its own.
Budget for Less
Price and Warranty
Whether to get a warranty essentially depends on how you&#;re using your displays. Modern screens are very reliable. If your screens are indoor and not being touched often, you can expect nearly a decade of life out of them. Outdoor displays and kiosks may see enough use to make a warranty worth considering.
For digital signage, you do not need displays that include any consumer features like smart TV software. Be sure to avoid these as they can sometimes double the cost of a screen. While most commercial-grade televisions will not have these features, different brands vary in their feature-offerings.
Checklist: Before You Buy Your TV Screen
Second only to your content, your displays are the most essential part of your digital signage ecosystem. While your audience might not know the difference between an LCD and an LED, they will notice which one looks best.
Your audience is key to deciding which display type is right for you. You need to ask yourself:
- How long will they be looking at the screen?
- How far away will they be?
- Where will the screen be?
- How many people will view it at once?
- What kind of content is being displayed?
- Does the display need to be on 24/7?
Put yourself in the shoes of your ideal viewer and determine how they would interact with your display.
Determining what you want to accomplish with TelemetryTV will help significantly in making a more informed decision. If you would like to get started with a free trial of TelemetryTV you can sign up here.
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