Digital Signage - Simple approach?

[contink]

I'm using what seems to be the accepted terminology here for what I think most people will think I'm trying to do but I may be wrong so hopefully the right folks see this.

 

In a nutshell I've been asked by the head of a school if I could sort out a simple system that displays photos in a slideshow style display on a wall mounted screen.

 

They don't want anything fancy like interactive news feeds or anything like that, just the ability to show a variety of photos from trips and possible some information about coming events..

 

Now I figure the the simplest approach to this might be to use one of the really old laptops we have sitting around as a clean WinXP base, hook it up to the network and then use something like AutoIT to automate the process of selecting the contents of a protected directory (staff ALC to stop the kids getting in) and then displaying it using the built in slideshow in WinXP or one of a plethora of slideshow apps.

 

It'd be nice if it could display a power point slide or similar for the text information but really the simpler the better.

 

So, really the question is this.. has anyone already put something like this together and got any tips or can anyone recommend any slideshow apps that might tackle the automation better?

 

Thanks in advance...

[TechSupp]

Done the same at one of my primaries, but for the front entrance. Had an old laptop and got a wide screen monitor mounted on a wall brack and Bobs your uncle...or rather not if you want the laptop at the other side of the wall as you will probably have to drill a hole through the wall as I did and then make up a video cable by soldering on a new end once you have fed it through the wall. Soldering the new end on is not bad just a bit fiddly...then its Bobs your uncle. Been up and running the last couple of months now without a problem. They use Powerpoint to show the photos etc as all the kids can use it and allows them to be involved in creating the shows. If its just photos just use Window Picture and Fax viewer and set it to display a slide show. As it was a primary it had to be cheap and simple to work. No problems so far.

[contink]

Thanks for that... Glad I wasn't imaging how simple it should be.

 

I think we'll start with the slideshow for the all important governors meeting this week and then we can look at other options in the future.

[User3204]

Yeah, we have two funky widescreen, flat TFT TVs put into the foyer, and then they asked me to wire "something" up to it, "what for ?", I asked, "dunno" came the reply.

 

So I got one of the old laptops, that won't run off battery, plugged it into a VGA>CAT5 converter, split this to two sockets, along the cable to the sockets in the foyer, and then a CAT5>VGA converter (each) to the TVs.

 

Then I run either:

a) Google Picasa on the machine, pointed towards a share with pics in, you have to tell it to slideshow.

b) Powerpoint - but I don't tell them I can do this, as it means fiddling with it.

 

I power the VGA>CAT5 converter via a timer switch, so it switches on at 8:30 and off at 16:30.

I had to make sure the laptop didn't go into screensave.

 

I wanted to replace this with a OneLan system, but we couldn't afford it this year...

[Little-Miss]

Contink, that is scary....was discussing the same thing today.

[ChrisH]

Use Photostory or MovieMaker for simple stuff.

[Trapper]

We've got a 42" Sony LCD TV in main reception with two 19" wide LCD monitors around site.

 

We use the CAT5 to VGA converters and run a PowerPoint with photos, text, info and videos (no sound... yet!) from one old desktop locked in a room.

 

Works very well, we just had to fiddle the display resolution to get it working on all the displays.

 

It's logged on locally, but on the network. We can update the PowerPoint from our machines, copy it the display PCs C:\ root and then VNC onto it and quickly change PowerPoints over once a week.

[WithoutMotive]

We use an old computer connected to an LCD screen.

 

This computer has Powerpoint install plus Showpoint which is free Powerpoint addon.

 

What this does is automatically check a specified directory for the latest Powerpoint show and run it. So, if you change the Powerpoint or put a new Powerpoint in that directory, Showpoint will automatically detect it and start showing it without you interrupting the display.

 

Very very handy especially if you're running several displays with the same content.

[dhicks]

In a nutshell I've been asked by the head of a school if I could sort out a simple system that displays photos in a slideshow style display on a wall mounted screen.

 

Has anyone else noticed just how cheap LCD screens have got now? There's a 26" one advertised in the Dabs catalogue at £200. 26", for goodness sake!

 

Also: has anyone else had problems with Google's slideshow screensaver? The one that does the fancy pan-and-fade effect with your photo collection? I have a computer running the slideshow screensaver pointing at a folder on a network-mapped drive, but for some reason only the one photo comes up. All the time. There's several thousand in various sub-folders in the drive. Is it a problem with the fact that it's on a network share?

 

I was considering suggesting Google Screensaver as a solution to the above (nice effect, and it would be dead easy to update with a network share), but maybe the photos need to be on a local drive or something.

 

--

David Hicks

[pooley]

We do as above, 42" lcd on wall, pc behind (cable run through wall), pc is networked powerpoints can be dropped onto box remotely, powerpoints saved as powerpoint shows and a shortcut to the powerpoint is placed in the programs\startup folder.

 

Very simple and just works

[denon101]

Well I guess I am in the fortunate position of having 2 Onelan boxes. One is attached to a 42 in the reception area and another 37 is in the main student area. All of the kids have to walk by. It really does get the information across well. Another plus point is it really impresses parents!!

 

My only gripe is that because everything is not microsoft etc (linux and squid) it will not do powerpoints easily. You need to convert them to flash.

 

Nice kit, bit not cheap!!

[contink]

Contink, that is scary....was discussing the same thing today.

 

I was the geeky guy sitting to your left staring into your left ear.. Amazing what stuff I could see in there... Who's Sven and what's that about the guy in the Aero advert about...

 

 

Anyhoo... getting back on topic... My thanks to all for this little discussion. I've opted to grab Google Picasa and make that the primary base.. The Showpoint thing would be great if it wasn't for the fact that it's for 2007 and this machine is most definitely not 2007 capable.

 

The stuff re: CAT5 to VGA is wishful thinking too because they put in less network points than any 1998 build should ever have had but then they didn't put in enough rooms either so it's no shock (yes, it's PFI!). Still n'all very useful intel and much appreciated.

 

Cheers

[sparkeh]

We use the CAT5 to VGA converters and run a PowerPoint with photos, text, info and videos (no sound... yet!) from one old desktop locked in a room.

 

Woah woah woah! So you can just stick a converter into your PC, run a cat5 cable to your screen and another converter? And thats it?

 

If so, I can tear up the expensive digital signage quote we got.

[Jobos]

So is the pc left running 24/7 or does someone have to switch it on each morning?

[Guest Guest]

Another vote for Showpoint http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace/EM011444181033.aspx?CategoryID=CE010820981033

 

I have made a template for the admin staff to add information to such as the days events, which assemblies are in which hall etc. If we wanted to show a slideshow/photostory or video etc we would simply embed it into powerpoint as you normally would.

Showpoint is pointed to a folder which is accessible by the appropriate people so no need to access the machine directly*

 

*To change the playing powerpoint you simply add a new powerpoint into the folder, give it a few seconds and then delete the old file. Ive found that if you dont give it a few seconds it will not have time to change over to the new file and you will need to VNC in to stop and start showpoint (i must script this)

 

I must say this is far from a perfect setup, but for your usage it may be just right as it allows anyone who can use powerpoint to make a display and upload it all by themselves (in theory). I am currently installing this setup for a teacher, fingers crossed.

 

To make it continually loop you have to go to "Slideshow Setup" in powerpoint.

Even though the option is there i cant figure out how to get powerpoint to display in a 16:9/10 resolution. If you go the showpoint way maybe consider a 4:3 screen

[WithoutMotive]

To make it continually loop you have to go to "Slideshow Setup" in powerpoint.

Even though the option is there i cant figure out how to get powerpoint to display in a 16:9/10 resolution. If you go the showpoint way maybe consider a 4:3 screen

 

I've actually found that it's a little easier to have your Powerpoint set up to loop before you save it as a show.

 

Also, I've set up my Powerpoint page setup to be the same size as the screen so that it displays the same on my PC screen as it does on the LCD screen. Makes editing a whole lot easier.

[WithoutMotive]

The Showpoint thing would be great if it wasn't for the fact that it's for 2007 and this machine is most definitely not 2007 capable.

 

It is???

We have it running with 2003 with no problems at all. Have done for ages.

[maniac]

I have a few screens around the school. I've actually gone one step further and used a VGA to Composite converter box and then a composite to RF modulator and plugged it into the areial loop in the school. I have 2 different feeds into the loop on different channels so any normal TV can tune into one of 2 different feeds. We also have a digi box pushing it's output onto a 3rd channel and a DVD player and video player hooked up to the system as well. We can send all the devices outputs down the same cable, and choose on each screen what source we want it to receive, as they are all pushed over a single bit of coax, but each one on a different channel.

 

RF modulators are £29.99 from maplin and are great as you can send up to 30 to 40 different video streams down a single bit of coax!

 

Mike.

Edited October 14, 2008 by maniac

[mrbios]

Woah woah woah! So you can just stick a converter into your PC, run a cat5 cable to your screen and another converter? And thats it?

 

If so, I can tear up the expensive digital signage quote we got.

 

indeed you can, the most usefull bit of equipment since the screw driver imo!

 

We once had 30PCs in a cupboard with a converter one end and the other then in a box attached to the desk, no PCs in the classroom at all, though it was a good idea to begin with it became a big annoyance when the PCs started getting issues

[contink]

It is???

We have it running with 2003 with no problems at all. Have done for ages.

 

Ah... MS Marketing machine probably set the "requirement" there then.. Thanks for the clarification.

[sdc]

I have a few screens around the school. I've actually gone one step further and used a VGA to Composite converter box and then a composite to RF modulator and plugged it into the areial loop in the school. I have 2 different feeds into the loop on different channels so any normal TV can tune into one of 2 different feeds. We also have a digi box pushing it's output onto a 3rd channel and a DVD player and video player hooked up to the system as well. We can send all the devices outputs down the same cable, and choose on each screen what source we want it to receive, as they are all pushed over a single bit of coax, but each one on a different channel.

 

RF modulators are £29.99 from maplin and are great as you can send up to 30 to 40 different video streams down a single bit of coax!

 

Mike.

 

This sounds like a great idea to me - I'm wondering if there's any noticeable drop in quality at each stage of conversion?

[DSapseid]

I set up a nice 42" lcd tv in reception and drilled a nice big whole through the wall and plugged it into an old laptop where 3 of the usb socets are broken and the battery and wireless doesnt work.

 

Just running a powerpoint presentation and the librarain updates it every morning to say the latest news etc.

 

Works well but would prefer a proper soultion.

[chrbb]

Can I just get the cat 5 vga converter thing straight in my head?

 

I put lcd screen in reception, plug vga in converter box, plug converter box into network socket, then in another part of the building connect another vga converter box to computer and connect that to network socket and whatever i put on said computer is displayed on reception lcd? Or have it got it totally a**e about face?

[dhicks]

I put lcd screen in reception, plug vga in converter box, plug converter box into network socket, then in another part of the building connect another vga converter box to computer and connect that to network socket and whatever i put on said computer is displayed on reception lcd? Or have it got it totally a**e about face?

 

Bear in mind that you are connecting the two points via Cat5 cable, not over an Ethernet network - you have to have an actual, physical wire running between the VGA converter boxes. This generally isn't a problem with properly put-together wiring cabinets, you simply connect ports together in your patch panels until you have a connection between the two points you want, but you aren't running this through a switch.

 

--

David Hicks

[chrbb]

Just had read the post a couple of times to grasp the not using the switch bit - you mean in the comms cabinet just connect the two relevant patch panels ports to each other?

 

Would this work instead - lcd in reception connected to secretary's computer behind reception wall as second monitor displaying images etc seperate to the display on her computer monitor?