Technology Showcase: Turnkey Digital Signage

Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Bennett Liles

All-in-one systems simplify digital-signage solutions.

Prism Technologies markets the interACT media player to provide an interactive experience for users on a large touchscreen display through dynamic content with realtime and context-driven capability. The unit can show an “attract loop” and provide in-depth information in a customer-driven interactive mode. Flexible scheduling and playlist manipulation are complemented by extensive tracking and usage-reporting features. Media may be displayed in either landscape or portrait formats in all sizes, and there is also support for peripherals such as card swipes, security mats, and printers along withan optional integration option for back-office applications.

The Neocast media player from Real Digital Media combines video, audio, and graphic storage with control and playback features in formats including MPEG-1, -2, and -4; DIVX; VOB; PNG; JPEG; GIF; and basic Flash. The player is controlled through the Neocast Media Server Software for configuration, sidebar, and ticker positioning; playout logging; and distribution of digital content using standard Internet protocols. The player's video output is analog VGA for resolutions up to 1600x1200 along with S-Video and composite video in PAL or NTSC. A 40GB IDE hard drive stores up to 50 hours of content internally.

The Roku BrightSign solid-state media player for digital-sign applications supports standard- and high-definition video, stills, music, and interactivity. The standard-definition video solution supports resolution up to 1024×768, while the high-definition solution delivers MPEG video up to 1080i. A BrightSign unit may be operated by just inserting a removeable flash card and running video, audio, and stills using playlists. The unit has its own internal operating system that can be used to add interactive buttons, touchscreens, mice, and rollovers with BrightScript, a scripting language designed specifically for kiosks and digital-signage applications.

A VitalCast digital-signage solution from Texas Digital consists of a VitalCast server, the VitalCast Content Manager, and the various displays at the end of the network. A complete system includes all media player PC hardware and peripherals, LCD plasma displays, software licenses, training, and support. The displays range from a 20in. LCD to a 42in. plasma. The content may include still graphics; video; audio; web pages; Acrobat documents; Word and PowerPoint files; live video from TV, cable, satellite, and webcams; and DVD/VHS playback. Local and network control extends to selecting the displays to receive various files and scheduling of the content playback on a 24/7 basis.

Triveni Digital has recently released a new version of the Ensignia Digital Signage Lobby, a standalone, self-contained digital-signage solution for scenarios requiring a single display screen. Installation consists of merely mounting the screen, powering it and connecting a PC to operate its MediaManager application, which manages and schedules digital content on an Ethernet LAN with the Lobby system and controls the content onscreen. The Lobby unit is equipped with an integral Windows XP operating system along with an 80GB hard disk, and the system accepts a 10/100 BaseT Ethernet input and delivers VGA and HDMI video outputs.