Digital Signage Systems

[mattpant]

Did anybody put together any Digital Signage systems in their schools over the summer holidays?

 

If so, I would be intressted to hear how you all got on, what software and hardware was used, and if possible a breif summary of the type of infomation you are displaying on your screens.

 

Also if anybody has got any screenshots of the templates/layouts that they are using and willing to share them with us I would be grateful to see what designs people have come up with!

 

I'm using basic PowerPoint with a few plugins from http://www.presentationpoint.com, inc BBC RSS Feeds, some RJ45 to VGA Extenders from Maplins and an Old Laptop to run the OS/PowerPoint. It works really well and was fairly cheap to implement.

 

Looking forward to hearing from you all!

 

Regards,

 

Matt

[Ric_]

Currently looking into this. One system that looks like it will fit the bill is the MediaCat from Navaho ( http://www.navaho.tv/ ). I will update when I know more.

[indie]

We use a thing called a Net Top Box by OneLAN Limited, basically a linux box with a web interface to configure it.

 

You create a template with "zones" and you apply media to those zones, all i've done in made some web pages with some nifty php to pull booking information out of our MRBS database.

 

It can display RSS feeds, Flash, video in most formats, images, html etc.

 

It costs around £1200, a little on the expensive side but that includes the hardware (which also has a digital tuner card so you can add say BBC News 24 to a zone) and software.

[MkII]

We put together 2 sets, one in reception and one in tha canteen/ foyer [they are too far apart to physically combine]. Both are old P4 2.4 based/ XP Pro/ Office 2K/ Powerpoint/ Showpoint [lets you edit the playing file which then updates seamlessly]. One on a 42" plasma and one on a 32" TFT [plus 17" TFT slave in a waiting room] - both high def. The best res so far is 1024x768 to get the animations smooth.

 

Content is pretty dull so far, the noob bursar is in charge of the presentation. We've added the BBC news ticker [sports news only - paranioa].

 

Currently looking for inspiration.

[mattpant]

Sounds very good all.

 

Does anybody have any screenshots of designs that they use that they could put up.

 

Also, what type of infomation/contend do you display? Is the infomation for Student use or for visitors around reception area?

 

Regards,

 

Matt

[ranj]

I am interested in getting a digital signage package, i saw one at bett 2007 from a company called cameron communications. i was sold when i saw it but its like £2.5 k. it would be a dream to have, its so simple to use.

[mattpant]

Hi Ranj,

 

I also saw that stand at BETT, the Scottish chap, Raphael gave to a demo of it, looked nice and simple to use, but the screen layout (like the clock and the ticker tape) I thought looked a bit tacky!

 

I failed to see any other stands offering similar solutions thought.

 

Matt

[Andrew_C]

Just by chance seen this Roku Brightsign. Anyone got any views / does this help the OP?

[john]

I have not seen the Roku thing before, but if its anything like there other Roku products it will be very good and very reliable.

[Ric_]

Was meant to update on this... after much searching I came across a few systems (TrueColours, MediaCat, SchoolVoice, etc.) and received quotes for a few. We have settled on MediaCat via EuroLaser (speak to Mandy).

 

If anyone wants a comparison write-up, let me know and I will knock something up once I have fully awoken.

[alan-d]

Was meant to update on this... after much searching I came across a few systems (TrueColours, MediaCat, SchoolVoice, etc.) and received quotes for a few. We have settled on MediaCat via EuroLaser (speak to Mandy).

 

If anyone wants a comparison write-up, let me know and I will knock something up once I have fully awoken.

 

Yes please Ric - I'm looking into this very subject for the summer break

[Ric_]

Was meant to update on this... after much searching I came across a few systems (TrueColours, MediaCat, SchoolVoice, etc.) and received quotes for a few. We have settled on MediaCat via EuroLaser (speak to Mandy).

 

If anyone wants a comparison write-up, let me know and I will knock something up once I have fully awoken.

 

Yes please Ric - I'm looking into this very subject for the summer break

 

I was hoping that nobody would find this over generous offer... pester me in a couple of days if nothing is here

[john]

I also like the idea of this write up Ric, so when you wake up, not that us poor IT people are allowed to sleep (Had a call this morning at 6am, the internets down can you come in and fix it bloomin teachers with nothing better to do at that time - the answer that I wanted to give ended in off and the first word is not printable here! but the answer I gave was yeah, its scheduled ISP maintanance until Monday at 9am )

[eduabncs]

Just got the following link from a Cisco Marketing email. It's a digital sinage solution.

 

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns620/networking_solutions_package.html

 

Knowing Cisco it won't be cheap though.

[Ric_]

@eduabncs: Had that too.

 

Will post my eval soon... just need to remove the school name, etc.

[Andrew_C]

Just by chance seen this Roku Brightsign. Anyone got any views / does this help the OP?

 

Been in touch with Roku:-

 

We do not currently have a UK distributor; BrightSign is available by direct purchase for $299.99 for up to 10 units. Shipping costs depend on the quantity, and begin at $35.00 per unit. We accept payment by credit card for up to 2 units, and wire transfer, and the item is in stock.

[Lee_K_81]

We use a thing called a Net Top Box by OneLAN Limited, basically a linux box with a web interface to configure it.

 

You create a template with "zones" and you apply media to those zones, all i've done in made some web pages with some nifty php to pull booking information out of our MRBS database.

 

It can display RSS feeds, Flash, video in most formats, images, html etc.

 

It costs around £1200, a little on the expensive side but that includes the hardware (which also has a digital tuner card so you can add say BBC News 24 to a zone) and software.

 

We got the NetTopBox also. Had a company called Reflex in to do it. Installed screens etc for us also. It was only on the third visit (after order was placed) though that they mentioned sound wasnt included and would be an extra £1000! So now we have great signage, BBC news 24, etc, but no sound. I think we're going to implement the sound ourselves. Very positive experience of system but not installers.

[Ric_]

OK... removed the bits identifying my school.

 

The document is simply my recommendation to the governors so only really covers those aspects that we find important.

digital_signage_eval.pdf

[plexer]

Just opened it an got an error about no disk in drive r:??? chose continue and it opened fine.

 

Ben

[plexer]

Also:

 

Sixth Form Common Room

• 42” Plasma Monitor

• Replace the exiting LED signage

 

Presume that should be existing and exiting?

 

Ben

[srochford]

We have 42" screens in various places around the college. The software they run is more or less home grown - details at:

http://techinfo.cnwl.ac.uk/Display%20Screen/default.asp?dest=Editor%20and%20Display%20System.htm

 

Essentially, it has a scrolling text window on the left and two smaller windows on the right which will show either pictures or videos (you just put them in a folder and they get shown in order). The text is stored in a database and can be edited by appropriate people.

[iSteve]

We have 6x 42" screens, and the way we do it is as follows:

 

1 Mac Mini computer locked away in nearby office to each screen, networked. Use of Apple Remote Desktop software (can equally be done at the command line for free, but we have the software anyway) to push out updated presentations to each screen individually or en-mass. We then create presentations in Keynote, which allows for silky smooth high res transitions, builds, movie playback, motion text, layering etc etc.

 

It looks very good, and works well too.

[Cowman]

I have been talking to a local company who do all of our Projector installs for us, they also do digital signage solutions.

 

They pointed me at a bit of software called Ezevue which is basically a server package which will allow you to broadcast out to different signage outputs on your LAN, costs about £695 for the software and five licences which I don't think is too bad.

 

Here a link for you to have a look yourselves:

 

http://www.ezevue.com/www/tec.asp

 

Here's a link to the company I deal with for most things AV, I would recommend them as they always deliver what we need/want on time and at a good price:

 

http://www.tecknowledge.co.uk/

[Ric_]

@Cowman: You might want to decide what will be displayed before going down that route. One of the things we intend to display is video of the little darlings' activities and streaming video to lots of screens might be pretty demanding on a network.

[maniac]

We cheat a bit here. We've one 52" (I think) plasma screen in main reception simply running a DVD on repeat which we update every now and then.

 

It displays stills of students doing stuff, ocassionally video clips of school productions etc. scans of press cuttings from when the schools been in the press and adverts for school events coming up in the near future. It's really easy to update (just edit it and burn a new disc) and very reliable as the DVD player stays on repeat permanently, all the receptionist has to do every morning is turn the plasma screen on.

 

We did initially try a solution involving a PC wired to it running a presentation type thing, but this proved to be problematic for us.

 

Mike.