This is possibly due to outdoor digital signage not only being more engaging to consumers compared to traditional static media but it is also perhaps the only advertising sector that is not completely saturated so it becomes even more attractive to advertisers because of the lack of competition.

But there are other benefits to outdoor digital signage and it is not just advertisers and retailers that are finding outdoor displays and screen useful. Churches, schools and other public buildings are utilising outdoor digital displays to provide information as the advantages of such a media far outweigh the alternatives.

Advantages of Using Outdoor Digital Signage

• Remote uploading – Unlike other forms of outdoor advertising, digital outdoor signage enables content to be uploaded remotely. This means that ad agencies do not need to pay a technician to change content every fortnight but that advertising content can be changed more frequently and even scheduled for specific times and events – making advertising more targeted. For non-advertisers this is also allows important information to be uploaded in real-time which means important messages can be passed on almost immediately.

• Multiple content on a single screen – while the old six sheet outdoor advertising displays could revolve six different adverts on the same space, with outdoor digital signage the number of advertisements on a single screen can be unlimited.
• Modernity – and perhaps another factor that is helping to make outdoor digital signage a growing media is the modern and contemporary feel a digital screen provides compared to other outdoor advertising methods. This raises the profile of businesses and locations.

As more and more people get involved in the outdoor digital signage market then the less attractive the market may become – not least because the newness and uniqueness of outdoor digital signage will slowly wear away and the competition will inevitably increase; so if you are thinking in embarking in outdoor digital signage perhaps now is as good a time as any.

Advertising with Outdoor Digital Signage – A Growing Media is a post from: Armagard 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.

The one inhibition people have about embarking on an outdoor campaign, however, is the price.  While outdoor screens are now being manufactured on mass, and their price is continually falling they are still highly expensive devices.

But there are shortcuts. Using standard or commercial grade LCD screens and placing them in an LCD enclosure will save a considerable amount on the initial investment but, furthermore, as LCD enclosures provide the ideal working environment for an LCD screen they will also lengthen the life of any screen placed in an outdoor location as it will always be running in the correct temperature range.

Protection

And the advantages of LCD enclosures do not stop there; LCD enclosures also offer a wide range of protective qualities.

• Weatherproof protection – ensuring no weather elements can penetrate the enclosure
• Physical protection – protecting the LCD TV from impacts, both deliberate and accidental
• Shatterproof screens – protecting the most vulnerable aspect of the TV
• Temperature controlled environment – ensuring the screen never overheats of freezes.

All these facets not only allow the use of standard commercial grade screens to be used in outdoor areas, which are a fraction of the price of outdoor screens, but also ensure these device last longer and are not damaged by either accidents, the weather or deliberate tampering.

By using an LCD enclosure the reduction in initial investment means the ROI is easier to attain and as the devices will last longer, the ROI will be a lot easier to achieve too.

Digital Signage – The Price of Outdoor Screens is a post from: Armagard 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 this technology is not just being used for the purposes of advertising and promotion there is a more practical side to outdoor TV screens that is helping to provide important services – especially in remote areas.

Providing important information in remote areas has always been difficult. Road closures, natural disasters (landslides, avalanche warnings etc) local news information, are all important in remote areas as if people get stranded the dangers are amplified by the remoteness and lack of help in an area.

Digital signage screens are now being used in many remote areas to provide such information. No other medium is as effective. Radio broadcasts are only effective if the radio is on and tuned in, and other forms of communication can’t compete with the immediacy of outdoor digital signage.

The only problem in using screens in such remote areas is ensuring they are maintained an in working order, especially as many remote areas are in harsh environments – and quite often unmanned.

Limitations of outdoor digital signage

From frozen ski resorts, to dried sun-baked areas of the outback, digital signage can actually function reliably – anywhere. However, screens do require protection and this comes in several facets:

Temperature

The correct operating temperature is an important aspect for ensuring the long life of a screen as well as preventing it failing. IN areas where excessive heat is a problem, screens are housed in LCD enclosures with cooling systems installed. These vary from cooling fans to cut off switches and air conditioners; whist in cold areas, insulation and heaters are used inside the LCD enclosure to maintain a steady temperature.

Weather

Weather protection is another important facet for an outdoor screen in a remote area. Any LCD enclosure housing such a device has to be waterproof otherwise the screen will fail during the first storm. But other weather elements have to be considered such as snow and hail but also wind blown debris and airborne dust – both of which can lead to similar problems to water penetrating the device.

Physical protection

Another aspect to outdoor screens is the physical protection, especially as many remote areas are unmanned. Accidental impacts, vandalism and other incidents can disable a screen which may not get noticed by the screen operators for weeks, in which case it could be too late. Solid steel LCD enclosures will protect against most impacts and attempts at deliberate damage – ensuring the screens are in operational condition when it is needed.

Outdoor Screens in Remote Areas is a post from: Armagard 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.

Modern TVs like the LCD are used in all sorts of locations for a wide variety of tasks:

Outdoor TVs

Increasingly, becoming common outside pubs, bars and even in people’s back yards an outdoor TV for entertainment use requires many facets standard devices used in homes do not:

Weatherproofing, extended temperature range and the ability to withstand impacts and attempts at theft are all important to prevent the TV from becoming disabled (or stolen).

Digital signage

Perhaps the largest users outside of entertainment are advertisers and promoters. Digital advertising and even outdoor digital signage are two growing industries. The screens used here also need protection especially outdoor screens and those left in unmanned locations.

Industrial screens

Industrial areas are also increasingly relying on LCD screens for everything from providing information to workers to displaying production schedules. Industrial areas can be even harsher locations for screens than even outdoor areas so protection from the elements is crucial in many factory floors and other industrial locations.

Institutions such as prisons

Prisons, hospitals and other institutions require a two-tiered level of protection for their TV devices. Not only does the TV have to be protected from damage from the residents or inmates but equally the residents have to be protected from the screen so any TV device in such a location must be designed so it can’t be used as a weapon or a device to commit self-harm.

Animal enclosures

And human beings are not the only ones that enjoy watching TV. In many zoos and animal parks, particularly those that house apes, televisions are used for entertainment too – and obviously that means similar levels of protection to prevent the animals from hurting themselves or destroying the device.

LCD enclosures – Cost effective and comprehensive protection for almost any location

LCD enclosures offer the perfect protection for all of these applications for TV devices. Waterproof and weatherproof; able to withstand the rigours of industry; temperature controlled; and manufactured from solid steel with anti-vandal and theft technologies, LCD enclosures also enable standard devices to be used in the above areas – providing a far cheaper solution than rugged, outdoor and solid state devices.



LCD Enclosures – when TVs need to be protected is a post from: Armagard 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.

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.

Using Computers, Printers and LCD Displays in Industry is a post from: Armagard 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.

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.

Protecting LCD Monitors in Outdoor and Industrial Environment is a post from: Armagard 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.

LCD enclosures are used either outdoors, in industrial areas or where there is a risk of damage, vandalism or tampering and there are numerous reasons for erecting a screen in such a location and include:

• Digital signage
• Providing information
• Warning signs
• Digital advertising

Outdoor Digital Signage

One of the fastest media; outdoor digital signage is becoming increasingly common along our high streets, shop frontages and even on bus stops, news stands and on railway platforms. Outdoor digital signage is a cost effective method of raising brand awareness or advertising to a large audience.

Whilst outdoor LCD TVs are commonly available they are incredibly expensive and whilst they allow a TV to be used in an outdoor location they offer very little protection against thieves or vandals. LCD enclosures are manufactured from steel and are resistant to attack and impacts.

All sorts of organisations use outdoor digital signage, including:

• Advertisers
• Retailers
• Marketers

Digital Notice boards

Another common use for LCD enclosures is providing information. Notice boards have commonly been used outside churches, colleges and other public buildings. They are also commonly used in industrial areas but they do have their problems. Information is easily lost amongst the clutter and posting on notice boards can be time consuming.

A digital signage notice board will allow instant upload of information and older messages can be automatically deleted. It is also more modern and engaging making it more likely that the information will be read.

Who Uses LCD Enclosures and Why? is a post from: Armagard 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.

Not everyone is a fan of digital signage and it has even seen some quite militant opposition to it. In the Paris Metro, plans have been underway for a mass digital signage campaign since 2009.

However, when the company responsible for installing the screens, placed four test devices in the Metro which were immediately vandalised – partly by anti-advertising campaigners who object to the signs on grounds of civil liberties.

Plans are still underway to place the digital screens in the Paris Metro, however, with the threat of constant vandalism, they may well find the project will never get off the ground properly or have a hope of achieving a return on investment – especially if the displays are continually getting vandalised.

Vandalism as a General Problem

Vandalism is common problems for digital displays in public areas, particularly outdoor digital signage and screens left unattended.

Vandalism causes a double whammy when it comes to getting back a return on your investment. Not only does it often lead to having to replace the signage display, provoking extra cost, but also when the display is out of commission it is not generating awareness.

Protecting against Vandalism

Vandalism protection is therefore essential for many digital advertising applications – especially outdoor digital signage.

There are two areas that protection should be centred around:

• Protecting the screen
• Protecting the display device

Screen protection requires some sort of shatterproof screen across the actual LCD or plasma screen. This should prevent the smashing of the screen – perhaps the most vulnerable area of a modern flatscreen device.

The entire LCD TV (or plasma) – if vulnerable to damage by vandals – also needs protection. A steel LCD enclosure or other digital signage enclosure should be considered ensuring the entire device (including media player) can be totally protected from vandalism.

Digital Signage – and the problems of Vandalism is a post from: Armagard 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.

However, over recent years the light bulb arrays and neon signs have been slowly replaced with LCD, plasma and LED alternatives.

These digital signage displays are more flexible, offer better colours, images and resolution than the traditional electronic signs. However, none of the glitz and glamour of these locations has been altered by the change to outdoor digital signage.

Furthermore, as the cost of outdoor digital signage is falling and more and more advertisers realise its potential, these modern and dynamic methods of digital advertising are emerging all over the country adding a touch of Vegas glamour to the dourest town, city or village.

Why go Digital

But aesthetics are not the only reason that more people are turning to digital signage as a means of advertising and brand awareness. Compared to traditional methods – print, TV or radio advertising – digital signage can reach just as large an audience but for a fraction of the costs.

There are challenges of course, ensuring these screens are protected from the rainfall and other outdoor elements, but this is easily countered by the outdoor LCD enclosure that houses the screen.

From advertising, raising brand awareness, promotional offers or just putting out information there are few better, cheaper and better looking alternatives that outdoor digital signage.

Outdoor Digital Signage – The Glitz and Glamour of Vegas on any High street is a post from: Armagard 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.

This week saw the Digital Signage Expo 2010 take place in Essen from the 15th – 17th June.

Armagard were there to demonstrate their LCD enclsoures and outdoor digital signage solutions along with digital signage providers from all over Europe.

All were there to demonstrate their latest innovations and products to what is dubbed Europe’s Largest Digital Signage Event.

Record numbers were expected through the doors as organiser Jens Schindler explains:

“We are expecting record numbers of visitors to the fair, as we’ve seen a dramatic increase in our visitor pre-registrations so far. We’re also expecting more interest from museums because of our new Interactive Museum area. Essen and the surrounding Ruhr area are actually home to over 200 museums and, as the area is European Capital of Culture 2010, the Ruhr museums have been very popular recently.”

More than 140 exhibitors took part in the show, such as Armagard, Samsung, Optoma, Epson, Hyundai and LG. Sponsors are Provisio, Star Micronics, Bell Microproducts and impuls.TV.

Digital Signage Shown off in Europe is a post from: Armagard 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.