Products | Digital Signage What to consider when planning your digital signage application and evaluating the different platforms. exact needs—nothing more, nothing less. O To be sure you’re matched to the right platform, we highly recommend speaking with us by phone. But before you call, we advise you to try to answer as many questions as possible below, check off what features you think you might need, and take a look at the chart on the facing page. The chart provides a quick comparison of each platform’s mode of delivery and features (for more detailed platform descriptions, see the subsequent pages in this guide). 11 quick-start questions to answer: 1. How many screens do you intend to have? 2. Will the screens have the same or different content? 3. How many locations, and what are the distances to these locations? 4. Who is the audience who will be viewing the signage? Customers, employees, visitors, or all of these groups? 5. What information do you want to communicate? Advertising, current information (news, weather, internal data), personalized messages (“Welcome, Mr. Smith”), instructions (directions, schedules)? 6. What is the purpose of this installation? Selling a product or service, informing an audience (wayfinding), entertaining the viewer (i.e. those waiting in line), reinforcing a theme? 7. What existing media assets do you want to redeploy? Web information, system data (inventory or production numbers), existing ads (video, print, Web formats), and/or live TV feeds? 8. Where does information come from, and from how many contributors? Do multiple people/departments need to submit information, and if so, where are they located? Who is the “owner” of information? Are third-party suppliers involved (for instance, an ad agency)? 9. How often will this information be updated? Constant updates (system status, live messages, etc.) or periodic updates (for instance, video files with low refresh cycles)? 10. What types of displays will be required? What sizes, resolutions, and screen orientations? 11. How will the monitors and digital signage players be mounted? On the ceiling, wall, or floor, or in a rack? 4 Do you want a live TV feed? 4 Want to stream IPTV content through players? 4 Need to fast forward or toggle between presentations and control volume at the screen? 4 Need to stream content to a subscriber wirelessly? 4 Do you need your signage to have interactive touch? 4 Do you need to capture pure HD video content? 4 Want to use the appliance as a media server? 4 Need to support many players in many time zones? 4 Will you be using mostly social media for content? 4 Will you need to render professional-quality Flash? 4 Because of security or space issues, do you require the player to be installed in the display itself? 4 Do you want to install the platform on a server? 4 Want to tile images across several screens? ur end user-focused, consultative approach. At Black Box, we’re experienced at putting users in touch with a digital signage solution that fits their needs. We don’t provide one-size-fits-all products; we provide systems for your At right: A matrix of four screens showing a single image. Not all platforms support this. You may need additional equipment if your displays do not support the tiling function natively. For details, contact our FREE 24/7 Tech Support at 030-2417799. 22 Tech Support 030 - 241 77 99 | Sales 030 - 241 77 77 | On-Site Services 030 - 241 77 44 Buyer’s Checklist
What to Consider When Planning... Compare the features and capabilities of our digital signage platforms (as well as competing like-priced platforms): Features & Capabilities MediaFlyer™ EXPRESS Delivery modes Multiple-role platform (publishers/players/subscribers) Enterprise-class platform (VMware® server software/subscribers) Scalable, Web-hosted management platform (Web site/subscribers) Administration through a standard Web browser High level of security/VPS network manageable Supports multiple media formats within each playlist Support for multiple zones on a screen Platform’s player features and capabilities Multilayering and overlapping (z-index) of any or all zones Layering of zones with transparency and alpha blending Independent audio zone with audio level control Audio level controllable by player Multiplayer content synchronization Meta tagging available for players Detailed per-account/per-user security and settings Multiple simultaneous text rolls and crawls Imported or custom fonts Includes professionally designed layout templates HTML page capture capabilities Supports zones for data feed integration Graphic design features Supports right-to-left text (for certain language-scrolling requirements) Drag-and-drop control of images and graphical elements Maintains aspect ratio, stretching to fill or maintain native size, zone by zone Supports Adobe® Flash Version 10 or 11 (.swf) Layered zone capability with transparency Overlay text on top of images capabilities Can use FTP for multiple file upload Content transfer Data capabilities Microsoft® exchange Can be uploaded by a local user at the remote player (“ad-hoc”) Supports XML Web feeds (RSS tickers, Atom, etc.) LDAP/active directory support Exchange and Microsoft SQL Server support Supports data feeds for ad networks Output modes Video capabilities control and support External Scheduling capabilities Supports an API for use with applications for content and player control DVI and/or HDMI video output on subscribers/players Selectable rotation for portrait modes Customizable aspect ratios and resolutions Scalable, positionable graphics over live video and clips IP video streaming Set-top analog CATV video capture option Digital HD video capture option Support for general-purpose input/output (GPIO) via RS-232 trigger mechanism Touchscreen capability for USB HID touch devices Drag-and-drop playlist creation Multiple layouts, playlists, and schedules can be defined Schedule the turning on/off of displays Global time zone support for playout at correct local times * With additional software or equipment. ** Via power save mode. For more information and our online store, visit www.blackbox.nl 23 Use of block style text for RSS feeds and other streaming text Can be done in a single file upload through a graphical user interface Drag and drop from a browser interface — — • • — • • — — — — — • • • — — • • — • • 11 — — — • • — — • • — — • • • • — — — — — • • • •** • iCOMPEL™ SMB • — — • • • • • • • • • — — • • • • • • • • 11 • • — • • • • • • •* — — • • • • • • • •* • • • • • iCOMPEL EDS — • — • • • • • • • — • • • • • — • • • • • 10 • • • • — • • • — — • — • • • • • •* — •* • • • • • Other Platform You’re Evaluating — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
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AV, Multimedia, and Digital Signage Design and Sourcing Guide main