Hi Kriss,
We have an in-house CMS for virtually all web content and decided to repurpose this for digital signage. A series of pages is loaded at once, each being displayed for x seconds. After a specific number of cycles, the screen tests whether the network is still available. If so, it goes back to get any updates to pages. If not, it carries on cycling through what it already has. In this way, we can even pull the network cable out and they'll carry on working. As a technical solution, it's been a success.
There are many limitations, though, and any replacement digital signage will work differently. We like the idea of mini-PCs hanging off the back of displays because it gives us the flexibility to display anything a standard PC can display (web, MS Office docs, video, custom written applications) and comes with in-built future-proofing. However, the University preference is now OneLAN. I've seen both the admin tools and OneLAN screens in operation and it seems a fairly painless way of administering content (especially if you want to devolve out this admin to non-IS staff). OneLAN handles pretty much all the types of content you'd want to throw at a display.
The biggest notes of caution I'd sound would be (a) to make sure you have enough content lined up for the screens and a clear plan for future content, and (b) to make sure the displays add value in the locations you choose for them.
Regards,
Simon
-----Original Message-----
From: Managing institutional Web services [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of K Fearon
Sent: 14 September 2010 17:09
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Big screens protocols
We're investing in a series of large screens for presenting departmental
and centralised information and working out how to manage content.
We already have a web-based internal messaging system and envisage it
working in a similar way to this, in terms of appropriacy of messages.
Has anyone developed any protocols for managing content on big screens
that you might be prepared to share with us?
Also, do you use web-based software to manage a 'fleet' of big screens
from one place, and share edit access?
Best
Kriss
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