Archive

Archive for July, 2009

Sherlock Systems’ re-branded Rise Display Network controls Digital Signage at Plexus Corp

July 30th, 2009

Plexus_Office_thumb_2_thumbSherlock Systems has spent almost a quarter of a century helping clients meet their specific technology needs, whether those needs involve hardware IT integration, custom-built systems for specialized software applications, or PC-based control devices. In the last decade, the Buffalo Grove, IL company has also become a leader in the rapidly expanding world of digital signage, offering a full range of electronic display services from installation to content creation and management.

A Rise Vision partner, Sherlock recently set the Plexus Corporation up with a network of large LCD displays on a manufacturing floor with four different departments, each of which has different information display needs. According to Sherlock’s Marketing Coordinator Dianna Kolb, “Plexus needed a better way to communicate with each department within their production floor. They chose four different screens for the four different departments.”

To enable Plexus staff to create and control each of their new display’s messages individually, Sherlock also set them up with a subscription to the Rise Display Network, which they have re-branded under the name SherVision Display Network.

Says Ms. Kolb, “We worked directly with Plexus to get them the media player that we built onsite, we supplied them with the screens, and we sold them their Rise Vision Subscription. With it, they can display content on each of their screens that is relevant only to that department, and they are able to make live updates from their office that are then seen on the floor.”

According to Ms. Kolb, Plexus is enjoying the flexibility that their Rise Display Network subscription gives them. “They really like the way that it can display more than one piece of information at a time.”

Asked what benefit their client has appreciated the most about the Rise Display Network, she replies, “The time it has saved them. Plexus Corp. has created a network of displays, and each department is now exposed to a live feed of production news directed specifically for their employees. They are able to communicate with all different departments without a lot of travel time. In fact, since they now control their screens via the Internet, they don’t even need to be at the warehouse.”

Ms. Kolb says that being a Rise Vision partner is helping her company to stay on the cutting edge of digital signage technology. “Sherlock Systems customizes all of our digital signage solutions to fit our customer’s needs, and Rise is helping us attain that goal. Our customers keep finding new ways of using our digital signage technology, and are finding it easy to grow with Rise Vision.”

Digital Signage Software, Software-as-a-Service

Incorporating live data into your digital signage.

July 28th, 2009

Incorporating live data such as sports scores, news headlines, stock quotes, and weather into your digital signage content is a great way to make your display a destination and keep your visitors entertained.  Most digital signage software providers offer services or integrate with 3rd party suppliers to offer this real-time information at a cost or supply tools to incorporate generic RSS feeds.

Example of screen design using live data from Rise Vision

Example of screen design using live data from Rise Vision

Many end users question costs for licensed data because they can go grab similar information for free from Google or Yahoo for free.  Why is this free – because those websites are trying to attract your traffic for the pay-for-clicks revenue.  So while those data services may be free to you as the visitor someone is paying for you to view that data.  If you read the user terms for these websites many of them specifically say it is for personal use and not allowed for public display so do your homework if you opt to go this route.  Another fear with using “free” data from the web is that it could be unreliable or go away at any time.  What is to prevent that website from changing their design and removing the data service you are using.

In summary using live data is a great way to make your display stand out, just make sure you use a legitimate, authorized source so you don’t find yourself with blank spots on your screens or even worse a letter from the owner of that information demanding restitution.

A list of some sources of data can be found at http://creativenation.blogspot.com/2009/07/syndicated-content-news-sports-etc-for.html

Digital Signage Software, Live Data , ,

Out of sight

July 13th, 2009
Cinemark Theaters - Sioux Falls, SD

Cinemark Theaters - Sioux Falls, SD

As I travel I am always looking for innovative uses of digital signage.  Sometimes what attracts my attention isn’t the content or display but how someone positioned their screens.  In many cases I have seen great screen placement that is inviting and noticeable, but on other occasions I shake my head when I see displays that are installed so high in the air people don’t even know they exist.  I am all for putting things out of reach in public spaces so vandals don’t terrorize them but on a recent trip to Sioux Falls, SD I encountered 2 installations that most people probably don’t know exist.

With the Cinemark install they had audio running and the loop was only about 5 minutes long.  When I was purchasing my popcorn I asked the girl taking my money what she thought of the digital sign and she motioned that she wanted to throw her stapler through it.  She said she had been there for about 5 hours and the audio was driving her insane hearing the same message over, and over, and over.

Empire Mall - Sioux Falls, SD

Empire Mall - Sioux Falls, SD

So free advice, if you are installing digital signage think about your screen placement and if you need audio to complete you system think about using directional speakers so your employees don’t go nuts.

If you want some online resources for recommendations on screen placement check out the following:

http://www.peerlessmounts.com/Resources/MountBuyingGuides.aspx

http://www.chiefmfg.com/

http://ergotron.com/

LCD Displays