There are several reasons for this. Firstly, outdoor digital signage is viewed differently to indoor screen. People may be passing by in a vehicle or walking briskly by and so only have a split second to receive the message, information or advertisement.

Secondly, the ambient light is different when viewing outdoor digital signage. Content is viewed at night-time, twilight, and during the day. Because of this, content that looks and works well indoors may not be as effective in daylight or when viewed at night.

Here are some tips to help prepare content for outdoor digital signage:

Don’t jumble the sign with too much information. Establish what the key points and design elements are. Whatever the message that is being promoted you should ensure it can be communicated even with just a brief glance.

Content for outdoor digital signage differs.

Use moving images and graphics sparingly. It’s not a television and people won’t view it as such. Moving images and transitions should draw the eye to a focal point which should be the key message you are trying to promote rather than have too much movement.

Fonts should be used sparingly as well. Try not to use too many, no more than one or two and if don’t mix sans and serif fonts in copy. If you are using multiple fonts – use one for a headline and the other for copy. Never use all caps either. People need to see the shape of a word to read it, especially at a glance so use upper and lower case lettering.

The same can be said for colours; use them sparingly too. Use Brand colours and only colours that work together. Green on blue is not readable, whilst yellow on black is greatly visible, but ugly to look at.

Finally, the secretly to creating good content is testing. Get people to look at the content, take surveys and listen to what people tell you – if something doesn’t work then change it.

Tips for Creating Content for Outdoor Digital Signage is a post from: LCD-enclosure.com written by Richard N Williams - About the Author: Richard N Williams is a technical author and a specialist in the digital advertising industry helping to develop outdoor digital signage and computer, printer and touch screen enclosures for all environments. Please visit us for more information about an LCD enclosure or other digital outdoor signage solutions.

Perhaps the leading users of digital signage; retail has a distinct advantage over other industries in that the return on investment from a digital signage campaign can be more direct and easier to ascertain – place a screen in the window and you can literally count the extra profit.

Whilst useful in-store to help manipulate purchases; outdoor digital signage is also used for generating additional custom.

Fast food industry

Another industry that has adopted digital signage early on is the fast food restaurant business. From digital menu boards that display the menus and latest promotions to outdoor digital signage screens used for outside promotion and drive-through menus.

Banking and finance

The ability to update in realtime has proved extremely useful for the banking and finance sector where interest rates, shares and exchange rates change frequently. This sort of information used to be out of date by the time it was printed onto traditional print media but with digital signage realtime prices can be displayed.

Digital signage a new method of outdoor advertising

Hotels

Another area that has adopted digital signage has been the hotel sector. Information for conference visitors, staff and guests can be provided on the hotel screens which also create a modern look, giving the hotel a sophisticated and contemporary feel.

Transport

Railway stations, platforms, bus stations and airports have been early adopters of digital signage technology. Information such as time tables can be displayed on a digital screen as can realtime information like delays and cancellations. Equally advertising can be placed on the screens to take advantage of the large captive audiences often found in these transport hubs.

Implementing Digital Signage in Business is a post from: LCD-enclosure.com written by Richard N Williams - About the Author: Richard N Williams is a technical author and a specialist in the digital advertising industry helping to develop outdoor digital signage and computer, printer and touch screen enclosures for all environments. Please visit us for more information about an LCD enclosure or other digital outdoor signage solutions.

And when conditions are even more extreme, such as with outdoor digital signage, the problem is exacerbated; summer temperatures can rise to well above the safe working range and then temperatures can plummet to below freezing in winter.

Temperature is therefore an important consideration and there is much you can do to ensure that limits aren’t exceeded and that the digital signage won’t fail leading to extra costs and an ever dwindling ROI (return on investment).

Temperature is often a concern - especially sub zero

Temperature control

All LCDs, even commercial grade screens, will have an optimum working temperature. It is important to understand this range before any screen is installed. Furthermore, if the display is to be placed in a digital signage or LCD enclosure you must appreciate that this added insulation may increase the temperature of the screen in comparison with the ambient.

To ensure the optimum conditions, additional cooling fans are often placed in LCD enclosures to ensure any heat build up is removed before the screen overheats.

Dealing with Extremes

With outdoor digital signage or screens placed in more hostile conditions coping with the two extremes of temperature is vital. Sub zero temperatures can cause condensation to freeze and expand – this will permanently disable any screen; whilst the overheating caused by excessive ambient temperatures will also lead to permanent failure.

The cold is easily dealt with by many outdoor LCD enclosures. Heaters and insulation are commonly used to control temperatures. Heating systems can be thermostatically controlled to ensure the inside of the enclosure never drops below the optimum.

Heat can be more complicated to cope with. Air conditioning is often a consideration in extreme areas but this can be highly expensive and requires regular maintenance. Cooling fans will only work to a certain point – as they can only move around the air inside the enclosure which if already too hot will not add additional cooling.

Cut off switches that switch the screens off when temperatures reach too high are another solution but this means the digital signage screens are not operating a certain times – okay if this is just once or twice in the summer months – not so good if it becomes a daily occurrence.

The Effect of Temperature on Digital Signage is a post from: LCD-enclosure.com written by Richard N Williams - About the Author: Richard N Williams is a technical author and a specialist in the digital advertising industry helping to develop outdoor digital signage and computer, printer and touch screen enclosures for all environments. Please visit us for more information about an LCD enclosure or other digital outdoor signage solutions.

But this can often lead to problems as most LCD TV systems, even commercial grade screens are not designed for use outside a home type environment.

Protection is therefore an important consideration if the LCD device is to be taken anywhere that is not conducive to a home type environment. And screen protection is even a consideration worth thinking about even if the location is a non hostile one.

Vulnerability of Screens

Whether it is an LCD or plasma device the most vulnerable aspect is the screen itself. Even in a home environment protection of the screen itself should be considered as quite often, even with a warranty, the screen may not be included.

And the screen of an LCD TV is easily broken too, and once the screen is cracked the device is useless.

Types of Screen Protection

LCD screen protectors are commonly available. Most of these are acrylic or Perspex and provide an additional barrier to protect against accidental impact, scratches and cracks. However, while these devices are good for the home of office – they don’t offer enough protection when the LCD device is taken to more hostile locales.

LCD enclosure for Outdoor LCD protection

Outdoor Digital Signage

When it comes to placing a screen in a hostile location where considerations such as rainfall, dust, dirt, vandalism and temperature can be a hazard, then you are going to need to protect more than just the screen.

Due to the prevalence of outdoor digital signage there has been an increase in outdoor and rugged screens but these are highly expensive and most outdoor digital signage installers prefer to use protective LCD enclosures instead. These steel housings not only protect against the rigours of the elements but also provide an impact and vandal proof barrier making them ideal for outdoor and hostile use.

Different Ways to Protect LCD Screens in Different Locations is a post from: LCD-enclosure.com written by Richard N Williams - About the Author: Richard N Williams is a technical author and a specialist in the digital advertising industry helping to develop outdoor digital signage and computer, printer and touch screen enclosures for all environments. Please visit us for more information about an LCD enclosure or other digital outdoor signage solutions.

There are hundreds of websites, blogs and news sites dedicated to digital advertising, outdoor digital signage and the use of digital out of home advertising. However, finding the most useful locations for relevant up-to-date information can be extremely difficult with so many different sites.

Here are some of the most useful resources for finding information on digital signage and out of home advertising:

Wirespring’s blog

Bill Gerba’s blog for WireSpring is one of the best and most read digital signage information pages. Whilst strictly a commercial blog, Bill and his team of independent experts provide a non-biased view of the digital signage world; featuring tips and analysis it is always worth bookmarking and Bill writes with an enthusiasm and passion for the subject which always makes it a pleasurable read.

Digitalsignage.com

With perhaps the most sought after URL in the digital signage world, digitalsignage.com at least provides a useful resource on their commercial site. The blog is a mix of relevant news items and comment and is always worth a weekly visit.

Daily Dooh

An independent blog put together by a dedicated team of industry analysts, journalists and researchers. Daily Dooh lets itself down on occasion with the odd cynical snipe at industry operators. However, there is plenty of good comment and industry news to warrant it being on your bookmark list.

Digital Signage Today

One of the most detailed news sites with reams of news, features, information and whitepapers from all corners of the industry. If its going on it will be somewhere on the pages of Digital Signage Today.

Display Alliance

The new kid on the block but Display Alliance is already packed with news, comment and the latest research. Not just confined to digital signage but with all aspects of the AV industry, Display Alliance is promising to be a hot resource for all things screen related.



Digital Signage Blogs – Reviewed. is a post from: LCD-enclosure.com written by Richard N Williams - About the Author: Richard N Williams is a technical author and a specialist in the digital advertising industry helping to develop outdoor digital signage and computer, printer and touch screen enclosures for all environments. Please visit us for more information about an LCD enclosure or other digital outdoor signage solutions.

Often overlooked but unfortunately a necessity none-the-less; a vandalised or otherwise damaged screen will cost in both downtime and replacement so ensuring it is well protected is essential. Steel LCD enclosures are one solution.

Direct sunlight

If the screen will be facing the sun then some anti-glare measures will need to be taken to ensure the image isn’t washed out or glare doesn’t prevent the content from being viewed.

Health, safety and the law

Another consideration that is often overlooked is the affect of the screen. Outdoor digital signage must not cause a distraction for road users, for instance. The glass that covers the screen needs to be shatterproof or be manufactured from safety glass to prevent injury in the event of damage.

Content

Last but not least, content is the reason you are embarking on outdoor digital signage in the first place. But outdoor content can often differ to an indoor campaign and you need to ensure the content is relevant to the location the sign is placed.

The use of LCD enclosures in Outdoor Digital Signage

LCD enclosures are commonly used in outdoor digital signage projects because they enable many of the problems and challenges of using AV screens outside to be countered. A good quality steel LCD enclosure will protect a screen from the weather whilst also acting as a rugged barrier against impacts and vandalism but is also much more than that.

Temperature systems such as cooling fans, heaters and even air-conditioning can be installed inside the enclosure providing a micro environment that ensures the optimum conditions for an AV screen to operate in is maintained.

And with options to enable the screen to be used in any outdoor or hostile environment; such as shatterproof screens, anti-glare technology; and they are also versatile in that a media player or small PC can be installed inside the enclosure or the LCD enclosure can be easily plugged into the network thanks to waterproof gland plates.

Outdoor Digital Signage Checklist…part two is a post from: LCD-enclosure.com written by Richard N Williams - About the Author: Richard N Williams is a technical author and a specialist in the digital advertising industry helping to develop outdoor digital signage and computer, printer and touch screen enclosures for all environments. Please visit us for more information about an LCD enclosure or other digital outdoor signage solutions.

As with any project, planning is essential, so ensuring that you have covered all the bases will help prevent your outdoor digital signage project turning into a disaster. But the list of things that can, and do go wrong can be daunting and it is all too easy to forget one or two things – that could be crucial.

So to help you, here is a check list of things that will help you ensure you don’t miss any of the fundamentals before you install you screens in an outdoor location.

Location

Before anything else, the location has to be selected. Nearly everything other decision will be reliant on where the sign is to be located. Once the location is sorted out you can assess things like the type of weatherproof protections that is required or whether or not direct sunlight will be a problem.

Weatherproofing

Any outdoor digital signage needs to be protected from the weather. Look out for a NEMA 4 or IP65 rating if you are using an outdoor TV or LCD enclosure.

Temperature – extremes

You need to have both extremes covered. Cooling needs to be supplied in the summer to prevent overheating but the winter needs to be accounted for too. If the temperature plummets beneath zero – heaters will need to be supplied to ensure damage isn’t caused by frozen condensation.

Network

You need to have established how the content is to be uploaded which very well may mean installing cables and network access points before the installation.

Part two to follow…

The Outdoor Digital Signage Checklist…part one is a post from: LCD-enclosure.com written by Richard N Williams - About the Author: Richard N Williams is a technical author and a specialist in the digital advertising industry helping to develop outdoor digital signage and computer, printer and touch screen enclosures for all environments. Please visit us for more information about an LCD enclosure or other digital outdoor signage solutions.

Digital signage has become so popular it is now found in a myriad of locations from retail stores to gas stations; shopping malls to doctor’s waiting room and it is also now being found in outside locations.

Outdoor digital signage

Outdoor digital signage is a natural extension of indoor systems. Due to the proliferation of indoor screens, taking it outside will not only reduce the amount of competition but also will attract a higher audience compared with an indoor system.

There are added challenges of course, protecting the device from the weather, excessive temperatures and ensuring it is secured from vandals or thieves – all of which can be handled by a good quality outdoor LCD enclosure.

However, the benefits of going outdoors can far outweigh the costs:

The advantages of outdoor digital signage outweigh the costs

Benefits of outdoor digital signage

There are benefits of outdoor digital signage are but include:

• Cost effective outdoor advertising – compared to other outdoor advertising methods, outdoor digital signage is relatively cost effective. There is no need to send technicians to replace content as with 2D print posters.
• Engaging – far more noticeable in the sea of outdoor advertisements; the moving imagery and bright colours is far more eye-catching than static images.
• Flexible – multiple advertisements can be displayed on the same screen and content can be uploaded remotely without the need for regular replacements of the advertisements.
• Modern – ripped and faded print adverts are no match for the modernity and image represented buy an LCD screen

Reasons to Consider Outdoor Digital Signage is a post from: LCD-enclosure.com written by Richard N Williams - About the Author: Richard N Williams is a technical author and a specialist in the digital advertising industry helping to develop outdoor digital signage and computer, printer and touch screen enclosures for all environments. Please visit us for more information about an LCD enclosure or other digital outdoor signage solutions.

With the Internet, social networking, live phone streaming and the use of digital signage it is not hard to see why it has been described as such; however, what will these technologies add to the user experience of the Olympics?

While the Internet, social networking and other technologies will allow spectators to communicate to the outside world and allow those of us not lucky enough to be at the games to be kept informed – digital signage will have a different role to play.

Digital screens and outdoor digital signage are going to play a key role in many areas during the games. Here are some areas where we might expect digital signage to be used:

Transport

One of the most important areas to for any successful event such as the Olympics is the local transport system. With so many people visiting the London just for the games ensuring that they can get to the stadiums easily is one area where digital signage can help.

Interactive maps, bus and Tube timetables and other transport information can be supplied by digital signage making the logistics in navigating the city a lot easier for visitors (many of whom may have never been to the city before).

Event Information

Providing key event information to enable people to plan their day is another area where digital signage and outdoor digital signage can really help. Even with events as well-planned as the Olympics there can often be scheduling changes. With the real-time ability to alter content, digital signage is one of the most efficient methods for relaying such changes as the entire network can updated instantly; ensuring people don’t miss out on any rescheduling.

How will digital signage be used at the olympics?

News and results

As with any major sporting event people can’t be everywhere at once and they may have interests in events that are coinciding. At least with digital signage updates, latest news and results can be displayed on digital signage screens – ensuring the latest results are not missed anyone.

Only time will tell how digital signage will be implemented but as the Olympics is still several years away, here may be even newer more exciting technologies to talk about when it finally does begin.

London 2012 – What Part will Digital Signage Play? is a post from: LCD-enclosure.com written by Richard N Williams - About the Author: Richard N Williams is a technical author and a specialist in the digital advertising industry helping to develop outdoor digital signage and computer, printer and touch screen enclosures for all environments. Please visit us for more information about an LCD enclosure or other digital outdoor signage solutions.

All these advertising methods are highly expensive, which is one of the reasons digital signage has become so prominent, especially in retail locations.

And outdoor digital signage is beginning to become prevalent too, despite the added costs involved; as the advantages of being outside – larger audience, less competition etc – outweigh the costs.

Outdoor digital signage is becoming increasingly common

Added Costs of Outdoor Screens

There are added costs to outdoor digital signage compared to an indoor screen. In an indoor environment a standard or commercial screen can often function perfectly well without much protection; however, in an outdoor environment there are many elements that the screen will need to be protected from:

• Rainfall
• Airborne debris
• Damage caused by accidental/deliberate impacts
• Temperature changes – from sub zero to summer heat waves
• Direct sunlight

Outdoor and waterproof LCD TV systems are increasingly becoming common due to the demand for outdoor TVs and outdoor digital signage. They are, however, highly expensive with many outdoor TVs in excess of the $10,000 and while they commonly protect from the rain and have large temperature tolerances; they will still need some added anti-vandal protection and in areas of extreme temperature – possibly additional heating and cooling systems too.

Cost effective Outdoor Digital Signage

But outdoor digital signage does not have to be an expensive activity, there are cost effective alternatives:

LCD enclosures are a simple and effective method of allowing and standard or commercial device to be taken outside into an outdoor environment.

Not only do they protect from all the elements mentioned above they are solidly built from steel so protect the housed LCD from attack too. And with space for a media player – or small factor PC – and LCD enclosure; even combined with a commercial grade screen, will still cost a fraction of a specific outdoor LCD device.

So what is the Cost of Outdoor Digital Signage? is a post from: LCD-enclosure.com written by Richard N Williams - About the Author: Richard N Williams is a technical author and a specialist in the digital advertising industry helping to develop outdoor digital signage and computer, printer and touch screen enclosures for all environments. Please visit us for more information about an LCD enclosure or other digital outdoor signage solutions.