Digital signage is about displaying still and moving
images, text, video, scrolling newsfeeds and other
digital content on small and large display screens and
kiosks in public areas.

An example would be in a school reception area.
Using digital signage software on your computer, you
create a presentation by inserting digital media such
as a your school logo, a playlist of school activity
images, video of highlights from your school
sports day or drama production and RSS newsfeed of
school messages or local news.

Your dynamic digital
signage presentation is then played on the reception
area display screen to give visitors a flavour of the
school community and ensures effective communication
for staff and students. Scrolling text messages
can be personalised to welcome visitors and provide
information and school events to parents collecting children after school.

Different presentations can be created, for example,
displaying a spreadsheet of menu items and images in
the dining area, and scheduled to display at various
times of the school day or week. A display screen in the school office or staff room provides administrative information for staff and visiting governors.

Digital signage replaces paper notice boards

“During corporate events, we
live stream via YouTube from the event and display that to staff on all the floors .”

There are hundreds of notice boards in offices, community centres, cinemas, doctors’ surgeries, hospitals, schools, and other places, on a whole host of topics, covering Health & Safety, menus, opening times, events, special offers and other information.

There is a growing trend to move away from paper notices to digital media along with a growth in display screens in public areas.

Digital signage communication system

Images courtesy of
Sharp NEC Display Solutions; software Repeat Signage.

In a hospital waiting area, for example, digital signage software can display the date and time, a playlist of pictures, a video and RSS news feed messages (like the ticker tape messages you see on TV for the sports results or breaking news), and a spreadsheet displaying clinical information.

In the accident and emergency areas of clinics, current waiting times can be displayed and easily changed by the receptionist to keep patients and visitors updated. Healthcare information can be displayed, images of hospital services and even a video to entertain children.

Waiting times can quickly be updated on a computer.
Images courtesy of
Sharp NEC Display Solutions; software
Repeat Signage.

Why should we use digital signage?

Sample presentation includes a spreadsheet of menu items and playlist of images.

Digital signage is used to:

Provide information – travel information, menus, weather, national news, college courses, sales graphs, product brochures, etc.

Entertain – play a video or playlist of pictures

Advertise – products, services, offers and events

What is digital media?

Sample presentation comprises logo, playlist of images, static images, text and an RSS newsfeed.

Digital media, also called multimedia or dynamic content, includes still and moving pictures, animated gifs, text, text over pictures, videos, audio, RSS news feeds, web pages, weather data, real-time clocks and date, webcams, streaming video, documents, spreadsheets and PDFs, etc.

Where is digital signage used?

Almost anywhere indoors where you wish to
display information, entertain or advertise your
services.

Outdoor digital signage screens in town centres
and theme parks
display tourist
information; drive through fast food
restaurants displaying
menu choices; whilst bus
and train stations display passenger
information.

Patients in waiting rooms can view healthcare information and read clinical or local news feeds.

Digital signage presentations, played on small or large screens, can be scheduled to display information at various times of the day or week. For example, in a business reception area, products and services can be advertised, and when important visitors arrive they can be greeted by a welcome message scrolling along the bottom of the display screen.

Patients in waiting rooms can view healthcare information and read clinical or local news feeds.

In doctors surgeries, dental practices, opticians, hospital clinics and veterinary surgeries, digital signage can provide important health information and alert patients when it’s their turn to be seen.

Examples of digital signage software presentations.

Create, connect and
play – What equipment do I need?

Sample presentation created with Repeat Signage digital signage software.

Software – to create and display
your digital presentations. Software is normally
available as SaaS (software as a service) where you
create your software on a third party service website
and pay a monthly subscription for using the service,
the cost depending on how many display screens you use
the software on. For example, to display software
content onto a 4-screen video wall normally incurs the
cost of 4 display screens, 4 media players and 4
software licences.

Repeat Signage software is downloadable software with a Windows platform.
The software gives options to update your digital signage
presentations, either from a network, your website via FTP or with a free
RepeatServer.com account. The two-year licence fee includes updates and
email support and a licence is needed for each Windows computer (media player,
Slot-in PC or USB computer stick) playing presentations onto one display screen.
The Media Wall edition is cost effective as you would need 4 display screens, 1
Windows media player and 1 Media Wall software licence.

Hardware – display screens

There are many display screens on the market designed for commercial use. These include large format LCD or LED screens, high brightness screens, sunlight readable screens, display screens designed for 12/7, 16/7 or 24/7 use. Interactive displays and kiosks allow customers
to browse information, order brochures etc. Also available are small display screens available designed to sit amongst supermarket or retail store shelves to advertise products or provide information.

Hardware – media players

Media players are small form computers, available for Android and Windows, and are designed to sit behind the bracketry of display screens. USB computer sticks, for Android or Windows operating systems, slot into the USB port of display screens.
Some display screen manufacturers offer screens that allow Slot-in PCs on the rear of the screen. These tend to be more expensive than media players but being part of the display screen, are a deterrent against theft and tampering.

Create your digital signage content

Repeat Signage presentation showing use of spreadsheet, icons and playlist of images

Your content could be:

A simple playlist of pictures

A corporate or entertainment video

A Microsoft PowerPoint presentation

Professional digital signage software.

Professional digital signage software allows the display of dynamic digital content, which can be controlled from a central location, ideal for high street chain stores and restaurants or hotel groups wanting to centralise information, with presentations scheduled for display at various times of the day or week.

As an example, an entertainments manager of a leisure complex is responsible for advertising forthcoming events. He uses software to create a presentation,
promoting that days’ activities and forthcoming events. It’s his day off on Tuesdays and he needs to advertise the day’s programme of events from 9am in the morning, which changes hourly.
On Tuesdays he either has to delegate the task or come into the office on his day off (not a popular option). Professional digital signage software that allows a variety of digital media to be
scheduled and displayed at pre-determined times during the day and week, lets the software work for him and not the other way round.
As more people work from home, content can be updated remotely over the Internet at any time of day or night. Even on an exotic island beach if you suddenly remember you need to change some content!

Advantages of using digital signage software

Repeat Signage for London's Velo Restaurant

Repeat Signage Media Wall software at London’s Velo Restaurant, in daily use for over 6 years, promoting healthy Vietnamese food.

Dynamic content – You can include a variety of digital content to create your digital signage presentation.

Rather than a slideshow or a video, digital elements are included on a ‘one page’ presentation, for example, your logo, text, static images, playlist of images, animated graphics, video, audio, RSS news feeds (or scrolling text), etc.

Depending on the digital signage software you use, you can insert PowerPoint presentations, spreadsheets of menu items or financial data, page-turning PDFs, documents, webcam, website pages and even display text and image content from a database.

Create impact – Digital signage presentations can be displayed on a single display screen or onto a video wall, either portrait or landscape. For example, four display screens in landscape (horizontal)
format, are ideal for digital menu boards in fast
food restaurants, whilst large display screens in portrait (vertical) mode are used for digital fashion shows or displaying life size characters in museums. A single image can be spread across all screens or separate content on each screen.

Increases in-store brand awareness – Advertising brands and promotions increases impulse purchases and promotes online shopping when stores are closed. Income can be generated by advertising non-competing local businesses.

Save printing costs – Digital signage saves on costs of paper and printing of traditional flyers and posters and messages and information can be updated almost immediately.

Scheduling – Different presentations can be scheduled to play at various times of the day or week, especially useful for restaurants for displaying breakfast, lunch and evening meal menus and special offers.

Encourage customer interaction – Interactive presentations to be displayed on interactive monitors and kiosks. These are ideal for way finding in shopping malls and airports, or for turning the pages of brochures or catalogues in shops.

Control your content – Depending on the software, you can create your own digital signage presentations, updating content manually, via local network or remotely over the Internet from an online server or your own website.

Disadvantages of digital signage

Presentations can be created in minutes with Repeat Signage software.

Time – Time incurred to create your own digital signage presentations. However, whenever new software is used, there is always a learning curve. Many digital signage software providers will ensure they offer a user-friendly interface, and some offer free templates and training videos. An alternative is to employ the services of a graphic design company to create digital presentations for you (which could be off-set against previous printing costs).

Cost – Calculating costs. Software licences are normally on subscription, either a monthly fee, annual or bi-annual, which has to be budgeted for and can prove expensive when you have multiple screens and use the software for many years.

However, costs can be off-set by an increase in sales as a result of having digital signage displays. Furthermore, there is an opportunity to generate an income through
advertisements. For example, in a shopping centre, digital signage can provide way-finding, promote events and generate advertising by featuring its shops and brands.

Repeat Signage digital signage software

Repeat Signage software includes Unicode support for the display of country characters.

Windows-based,
Repeat Signage is
downloadable software that can
be updated via local network or
remotely over the Internet. For security conscious organisations who prefer not to host content on third party websites, Repeat Signage presentations can be played onto display screens accessing content from your own website (the player computer connected to the display screen collects the content from your website.)

A
Standalone
edition is also available that allows content to be updated
manually, making it ideal for networking meetings, primary schools,
military outdoor events and local exhibitions.
As many businesses and organisations use Windows computers,
their Microsoft skills are easily transferable when creating
presentations in Repeat Signage software.

Repeat Signage software licences last for two years and include all updates and email support during the period. A licence is needed for each Windows
player computer displaying presentations onto one display screen (4-screens for the Media Wall edition). Repeat Signage comparisons.

Repeat Signage brochure (PDF)
showcases ideas
for using digital
signage across
multiple vertical
markets and
countries and you
can read this

online without
leaving any
details.

Repeat Signage allows you to set up a free account to easily create your own
RSS news feeds and include these in Repeat Signage presentations, or they can
be uploaded to your website as part of your social media marketing and Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
RSS Feed Expert.

Disclaimer: The purpose of this guide is to give a general
overview and acts as a guideline only.

Digital signage design ideas (PDF)

Repeat Signage software

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