There has been a dramatic fall in the price of modern TV technologies. LCD and plasma screens are now available at a far lower cost than their bulky predecessors the CRT was ever available for.
This is one of the reasons that digital signage has expanded so rapidly and is now one of the fastest growing technological industries. However, that isn’t to say embarking on a digital signage campaign is not without costs and ensuring you keep these to a minimum will go someway in ensuring you get a return on your investment.
When budgeting for a digital signage campaign there are obvious costs to consider such as:
LCD screens – standard devices can be used with adequate protection but specialist and rugged commercial displays are available. When using standard screens the costs often reflect the size of display – the larger the more expensive.
LCD Enclosure – All digital signage systems need some sort of protection even for indoor units to protect the screen from impacts and accidental damage. However, for outdoor digital signage the LCD enclosure also has to counter the rain and other weather elements.
Media player/networked system – a decision needs to be made on how you are to upload content. For simple campaigns with one or two displays where the content is not altered that frequently then inexpensive media players can be installed in the digital signage enclosure. However, a networked system will be more practical for larger scale campaigns as content can be uploaded at a central control point.
Hidden Costs – As with any project there are often unseen costs with digital signage. One of the main areas of expense often unaccounted for is the maintenance, repair and upgrade of screens. TV screens operating as signage units often have less of a shelf life than those operating in home entertainment, primarily because they are left on for longer periods and are in less sterile environments.
However prevention of LCD damage, reduction in repair and lengthening the life of standard TV systems can all be improved by choosing a decent DS or LCD enclosure that contains adequate filtration and cooling.
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