The medical profession has undergone dramatic changes in the last decade. Computers and technology used to be the solely used by administrators but now, everybody, from doctors, nurses and even orderlies, regularly have to use computers equipment.

All this sharing of keyboards and computer mouse can cause problems. Computer keyboards and a computer mouse are transmitters of germs and bacteria. With so many different people using them, some eating at the desk or slopping coffee on the keyboard, it is no wonder that there are more germs on the average computer keyboard than on a toilet handle or seat.

And with the rise of hospital acquired infection over recent years, such as MRSA and C. Difficile, the spread of germs from computer equipment is a serious issue.

Hospital Keyboards

Hospital keyboards are designed to not only prevent bacteria build up, being built flush with no nooks and crannies for bugs to hide and spread; but also they are designed to be easily washable, allowing cleaning without the risk of damage to the keyboard.

As hospital keyboards can be regularly washed with soap, water and a host of cleaning products, including anti-bacterial detergents and alcohol’ this can greatly reduce the risk of infection spreading from user to user.

Medical Mouse

Similar to hospital keyboards a medical mouse is also washable. Computer mouse have the same problem as computer keyboards with germs able to get a foot hold in the gaps between the buttons, which is why a washable medical mouse is built without the gaps. They are also manufactured from the same bacteria resistant materials as a hospital keyboard and can be easily washed and wiped clean – even with alcohol.

You can even get washable wireless mouse enabling easier use – they can also be carried away by individuals allowing them to have their own mouse rather than share with different users and risk the spreading of pathogens.

Hoteliers are always looking for new ways to communicate with their customers, staff and visitors. The modern hotel is far more than just a place for bed and breakfast. A whole host of events and functions take place in the average hotel: weddings, conferences, meetings – not too mention nights out and meals in the restaurant.

So communicating to all these different people has always been a challenge, which is why digital signage and outdoor digital signage is such a benefit for hotels. Here are ten reasons and uses for digital signage in the hotel industry:

Flexible

Rather than the outdated chalk and welcome boards, a digital signage screen can be updated and scheduled to provide content when required. A single notice-board can welcome a set of visitors and then the same board can welcome a different group of people a little later. Outdoor digital signage can even be used outdoors to display vacancies or conference information.

Aesthetics

The bright, vivid, and modern screens are far more eye-catching than other methods. Digital signage can help create an image of modernity and help boost the aesthetics of the décor.

Extra Revenue

The great advantage of using digital signage screens is that they are multi-purpose. When they are not being used for providing information advertisements can be displayed – either in-house or for external advertisers as an additional revenue stream.

Ultimate Financial Savings

No matter what the future marketing campaigns require, digital signage will be able to provide a solution. There are no printing costs associated with digital signage so no matter how large the hotel, or number of hotels in the chain, content can be created cheaply and rolled out across the displays in all locations.

Content can also be created in-house and if screens are networked together it can be simple and straightforward for content to be rolled to all devices on the network.

Traditionally for outdoor use, LEDs have been the most common display type. This has been because LEDs are brighter than LCD displays so in at night time the screens stand out more – but more importantly the added luminance can counter the effects of the sun during daylight hours.

Daylight and sun glare are a common problem for any outdoor digital signage system. Direct sunlight has the effect of washing the screen out – the light from the sun masking the brightness from the screen. Direct sunlight can also cause glare, reflecting the sun directly off the screen making it impossible to view.

There are ways to counter these problems caused by the sun. Anti-glare glass for instance will mask sun-glare but when it comes to sun readability unless the device is shrouded or angled away from the sun you have to fight brightness with brightness.

Backlit LCD screens and transflective screens

LCDs are now becoming powerful enough to be used in outdoor locations under direct sunlight. Both backlit LCDs, that use LEDs to illuminate the LCD image; and transflective screens that bounce the sun’s own rays back to amplify the brightness of the screen are two up and coming technologies that are allowing LCD displays to be used outdoors.

The secret of these devices is the level of brightness they can muster. A standard LCD device will manage 500-800 nits/candelas in brightness, whilst these high brightness TVS can almost treble that.

However, it must be noted that just because a high brightness screen is capable of coping with the sun, the LCD display can not just be carted outside. Protection against temperature and the weather will also have to be factored in any outdoor digital signage projects – as will anti-vandal protection.

High brightness TVs placed inside and outdoor LCD enclosure is a simple and cost effective method of doing this. A decent high brightness device,. Housed in an enclosure will be protected from all the outdoor elements; temperature, rainfall and impacts whilst being powerful enough to cope with the brightest of sunny days.

Whilst a few steps behind the indoor digital advertising market, outdoor digital signage is rapidly catching up with more and more installers and advertisers realising the value of using AV screens in outdoor locations.

Outdoor digital signage is a more challenging media to get involved with though and each location can throw up new challenges that have to be countered to ensure the screen will tolerate the conditions of the outdoor environment.
But many of these challenges and limitations in using screens in outdoor locations are easily countered with protective devices like LCD enclosures allowing the use of digital screens in almost any environment.

High Street

One of the most common areas for seeing outdoor digital signage is along the high street. From advertising to local information such as wayfinding, outdoor digital signage is finding numerous uses on our high streets.

The most common challenge to cope with when placing screens on the high street is the weather. Waterproof LCD enclosures manufactured to IP65 (NEMA 4) are commonly used to ensure the screens are protected from the weather but there is often issues with the ambient temperature and direct sunlight that have to be countered too.

Transport Hubs

Bus stations, railway platforms and even taxi ranks are attractive locations for outdoor advertisers because of the sheer volume and captive status of the audience. Again protecting the devices from the weather is important to ensure the screens can cope in these environments.

Ski resorts

An example of an extreme location; ski resorts are increasingly installing screens as a way of providing important and emergency information (closed runs, avalanche warnings etc). Digital signage in ski resorts is highly effective at providing this real time information but it has to be protected from the extreme cold.

Heaters are often installed inside the LCD enclosures as is insulation to ensure the screens do not freeze.

Schools and institutions

Another common outdoor location is outside schools, colleges and even religious buildings. These screens can pass information to the staff, students, visitors and parents, simply and effectively. Often these locations can be vulnerable though and susceptible to attacks of vandalism which is why steel anti-vandal LCD enclosures are a common solution.

There was a time that the only thing you would see on a television was a TV broadcast. However, these days with outdoor digital signage and computer technology, you are just as likely to see a street advertisement displayed on an LCD TV.

Because of their flatness, low cost and standard mounting systems (VESA) LCD TVs are commonly used for all sorts of out of home activities from outdoor digital signage and PC use to information and advertisements. And they are used throughout various industries from retail stores to factories; hospitals to colleges – and even prisons.

But not all locations are suitable for an LCD screen and protection is often required which is why LCD enclosures are proving so popular.

The LCD enclosure

LCD enclosures are designed to protected LCD (and plasma) displays from the rigours of hostile and outdoor environments. All sorts of protection is offered by these LCD enclosures, including:

• Dust
• Dirt
• Liquids
• Rainfall
• Washdown
• Impacts
• Heat
• Sub zero temperatures
• Vandalism

LCD enclosures are used in all sorts of hostile locations for all sorts of purposes, here are some of them:

Outdoors

Either for outdoor digital signage or for providing information, LCD enclosures allow the LCD screen to be used – no matter the weather, temperature or time of day.

Factories

Another area full of hostile elements is factory floors or industrial units. Fortunately the same technology that defends LCD enclosures from the weather can also defend against the dirt and dust generated in factory environments.

Schools/Colleges

Another common location for LCD enclosures is in colleges, universities and schools. Not only do can incidents occur to damage an unprotected screen but often these institutions require outdoor screens.

Prisons

Another area where LCD enclosures are used to protect LCDs is in prisons, psychiatric hospitals and youth offending institutes. Not only do LCD enclosures protect the screens from attack but also they prevent the inmates or patients injuring themselves on the TV device – or prevent them from using the device to attach ligatures to it.

The industrial environment is no longer an area defined solely by heavy machinery and industrial processes. These days, computers and technology play just as an important a role in factories as the heavy machinery does.

From controlling processes, relaying important information to operators to printing out despatch and stock information – technology increases production, reduces waste and generates efficiency.

But technology like computers, printers and displays face challenges in industrial locations that are not present in offices or homes where these devices are also commonly used.

A myriad of hostile elements can and do exist in these areas, and include:
• dust
• dirt
• liquid splashes
• wash down
• extreme heat
• sub zero temperatures
• excessive heat
• impacts

To counter these elements and environmental challenges there are several options. The first is to use solid state industrial computer equipment. This is not always possible as not all devices have industrial equivalents (such as printers) and even when they do they are highly expensive. However, enclosures have been designed to allow standard office equipment to be used in these areas:

Computer Enclosures

Designed to house standard office computers, industrial computer enclosures come in all sizes. The enclosure will prevent any hostile elements getting to the computer and provides the perfect working environment inside for the PC to operate in.

Equipped with industrial keyboards, or using touch screens, computer enclosures often house other computer equipment too, like monitors – although these can be separately catered for.

LCD and Monitor Enclosures

LCD enclosures house the flat panel displays so common these days. Almost any size LCD display can be housed in an LCD enclosure but even older CRT type displays can be catered for as a whole range of monitor enclosures are available too.

Printer Enclosures

Perhaps the most difficult device to protect in an industrial environment is the printer. The main problem with protecting printers is that there has to be access for the printed material to be removed.

Printer enclosures are often designed with flap and door mechanisms which allow the device to be totally protected and still permit access to the printer. Heated printer enclosures are available too and these allow standard printer devices to operate in sub-zero temperatures – which even industrial printers can’t manage to do.

The LCD monitor is changing the way we use computers, TV screens and other technology. Unlike the bulky cathode ray tube televisions many of us grew up with, LCD TVs are flatter, lighter and cheaper to produce.

It is these reasons that we are now seeing LCD screens in areas not normally associated with televisions. From outdoor digital signage to information screens in factories; flat-screen devices are being installed in almost any location.

Of course, if you take a standard (or even commercial grade) screen outside or place it in a dusty factory – it probably won’t last very long.

LCD Monitor Enclosures

Protecting these devices is hostile locations is straightforward thanks the LCD monitor enclosure. These devices can protect almost any sized flat screen device (either LCD or plasma) in almost any location.

LCD monitor enclosures are ideal for hostile areas as they protect the LCD from:
• Rainfall and weather
• Dust and other airborne debris
• Excessive temperatures – either sub zero or baking heat
• Impacts – either accidental or deliberate

LCD enclosures and monitor enclosures are found in various locations for various applications:

Outdoors

Whilst outdoor digital signage is the most common use of an outdoor LCD screen there are other reasons why these screens are taken outside. Information is a key area as LCD TVs are really useful for providing important news and info and are often used to display timetable information on railway platforms or providing churches and schools with an interactive notice board. The number of LCD installed in an outdoor location increases year on year.

Even in highly hostile areas such as ski resorts where temperatures plummet below zero you will find LCD screens housed in monitor enclosures as the inside of the enclosure is often kept at optimum conditions by cooling fans and heater systems – and other climatic controls.

Industrial

Factories and industrial locations are also using LCD devices to display important information. LCD monitor enclosures are used in these locations too protecting eh screens from the harmful elements of the factory floor.

Other Locations

Prison, schools, hospitals and other public buildings also use LCD devices and enclosures. Often the LCD enclosure is used as physical protection but as they contain climatic controls an LCD enclosure will often extend the life of a standard LCD enclosure.

Keeping screens protected in outside environments is a key part of modern digital signage networks. Outdoor digital signage is one of the fastest growing aspects of the industry and when you consider the huge proliferation of screens in indoor areas – you can see why.

Outdoor locations have less competition and can attract larger audiences than an indoor system which is why so many installers are turning to outdoor screens.

Outdoor digital signage is not as straightforward as indoor applications, though. While you have the same considerations in choosing screens, content, players and locations; in outdoor areas the challenges are increased by the need to protect the digital screen from the weather and varying temperatures of an outdoor location.

IP65 and NEMA 4

Rainfall and other elements such as airborne debris are commonly dealt with by ensuring the digital signage or LCD enclosure adheres to either the NEMA 4 standard (US) or the European IP65 rating. However, rain is only part of the challenges a good LCD enclosure should be equipped to cope with.

Temperature

Temperature is another challenge that outdoor digital signage has to be able to cope with. From the freezing depths of winter to the broiling temperatures of summer; both extremes will have to be countered for any outdoor screen to be able to function all year round.

LCD enclosures are perhaps the best solution for doing this. They have the advantage of specific outdoor screens in that they have the room to house not just cooling fans but also heaters, air conditioners and cut off switches (or a combination of solutions or whatever is best for your specific location).

As a solution for erecting digital screens in almost any environment, you won’t find a simpler more cost effective solution than using an LCD enclosure.

With digital signage now being so prevalent there are few locations where screens haven’t yet been used for either advertising or information. But not every location is suitable for display screens – especially in outside or industrial locations where weather and other elements can damage and disable a screen.

This is where LCD enclosures come in and I would like to take this opportunity to explain a few of the benefits of an LCD enclosure and the possibilities that they allow.

From outdoor locations to industrial areas, LCD enclosures allow the safe use of standard and commercial screens- no matter what the environment it has to operate in is like.

An LCD enclosure can be described as a protective housing for an LCD screen but there are more to them than that.

Not only do LCD enclosures protect the device from rainfall and other liquid splashes they also keep out airborne dust, swarf and other elements that are generated in industrial processes. And don’t think of an LCD enclosure as just a metal box to protect the LCD screen either. Inside each enclosure is a myriad of components, all designed to ensure the environment inside the LCD enclosure is at the optimum for using the LCD display.

Heaters, cooling fans, and even air conditioning are placed into LCD enclosures to ensure the enclosed temperature is at the optimum – regardless of what the ambient temperature is doing. Media players or even small factor PCs can also be housed inside the LCD enclosure to control the content, and as most LCD enclosures are manufactured from mild steel – they offer rugged and durable protection too.

LCD enclosures are used in a whole host of environments and for a whole host of purposes, including:

• Outdoor digital signage
• Industrial signage/information
• Outdoor TVs
• Outdoor information point
• Digital Menus

The spread of hospital acquired infections is an increasing problem in many hospitals and clinics throughout the world. Anti-biotic resistant infections such as MRSA and C. Difficile are all too common and result in hundreds of deaths each year.

Controlling infection throughout hospitals is an important aspect of good clinical management and many measures have been introduced to limit the spread and protect the vulnerable in our hospital wards.

Spread of infection

Barrier creams and enforced hand washing are only part of the story in helping to eliminate hospital acquired infections as there are other measures that need to be considered too. Preventing the spread of infection is not just about keeping the wards clean.

Commonly, in modern healthcare settings, the computer is just as prevalent a tool as the stethoscope.

Computers, and in particular keyboards and the computer mouse, are key harbourers of germs. In fact, there are more germs on the average computer keyboard and mouse than there are on a toilet seat. And as computers are commonly used by more than one person these germs can spread from staff member to staff member.

Medical Keyboards and Washable Computer Mouse

Most computer equipment is difficult, if not impossible to clean too. The design of most keyboards and mice means there are too many nooks and crannies for bacteria and pathogens to linger. They are also vulnerable to water which can affect their operation.

Washable and medical keyboards and computer mice are now available; and are proving incredibly helpful in the fight against hospital acquired infections. Medical keyboards are not only manufactured from easy to clean and bacteria resistant silicone but also they are designed to prevent pathogens from being able to linger under the keys.

The same is true of medical mice. These are also washable and manufactured from the same bacteria resistant silicone – you can even get wireless and washable mice.