We’re witnessing a great increase in the use of digital signage displays and there are many good reasons for this trend. They can be used in various locations, from shopping malls to banks, and they can be in all shapes and sizes, using a screen as the platform for broadcasting real-time information.
The message conveyed is visually attractive and engaging, which is something every company wants from this form of advertising. However, with the increased range of available options, a new problem has emerged: which one to choose?
What do you want to achieve?
You need to know what your focus will be. Is it information, entertainment or advertising? What do you want your display to present in terms of content? Are you going to opt for fixed images and text, or would you like your content to be dynamic? Sometimes you may not have the answers to all these questions at the onset of your project, but the sooner you know what you want, the sooner you’ll be able to narrow down your options.
Where will you install it?
In theory, you can install your digital screen almost anywhere, but you need to find a place that is most suitable for what you want to achieve. Since many companies chose to place their displays outdoors, you might want to follow suit.
However, you need to be careful when choosing the right display. Consider panel brightness, for example. Both LED and LCD displays can adapt to various lighting conditions, though their backlight technology is different.
How big should it be?
You need to bear at least two things in mind when choosing the size of your display. The first one is the size of the area your display is located in and the other is the distance from which people would be looking at it. Needless to say, if the space you’re installing your display in is large, you need to choose a screen big enough to convey your message in an engaging way.
A video wall might be a good option for particularly large spaces, as exemplified by tradeshows and conferences. On the other hand, smaller advertising displays are more suitable for store shelves and smaller places.
Resolution
Finding a digital display screen with the right resolution is another issue. With so many monitors allegedly boasting HD, we need to look at what that really means. Namely, not every screen that supports HD means that it is the right HD screen for your project.
For example, a resolution of 720p, or 1024×768 pixel, is great for a regular TV broadcast, but it might not be the optimal choice for your digital signage project. You need to connect your display with a player through an HDMI cable. When it comes to fullHD, the standard resolution is 1080p, but most new versions support a 4K resolution.
Types of displays
To begin with, you have standard digital signage displays of between 32 and 98 inches. They sometimes come with simple in-built media players, but can also receive TV or feeds from digital signage computers. Then, there are freestanding digital displays, used for advertising and public information indoors. They feature slim displays with plug-and-play capability, making them great for hotel receptions.
Next, there are slimline wall-mount digital posters, used for retail and leisure venue advertising and public information. They too can work as stand-alone units or as part of a more complex network. They often feature deep black borders and aluminum edging, which distinguish them from standard TV-looking monitors.
If you need a menu board, box-office header board or theatre subtitling, you should go for a stretched bar monitor. These LCD monitors are specially cut to provide a great wide-display format, offering an original and catchy way to grab the public’s attention. BAR displays also come in all sizes and aspect ratios, with sunlight readable options and open frame models.
Also, there are video wall screens, which are typically mounted to create large format multi-screen displays. With their ultra-narrow bezels and flat depth extrusions, they minimize dead space when combined for multi-screen walls. They too come with a range of sizes, brightness options and resolutions.
When it comes to outdoor displays, there are those freestanding ones used for advertising and public information outside leisure facilities. They are encased in weather-proof metal enclosures and sleek, so that they can be moved around venues or bolted down for permanent fixtures.
Finally, wall-mounted displays are normally found on hotel terraces or in pub gardens and used to broadcast sporting events and/or for marketing purposes. Their in-built media players facilitate simple content to be scheduled via USB or remotely via Wi-Fi, while an external I/O allows hooking up with TV sources or professional digital signage computers to display more complex marketing campaigns.
Conclusion
These are just some of the things you should consider when choosing the best digital signage display for you. First, you need to know what kind of content you want to broadcast and where you’re going to install your display. Next, you should consider the features of the device and your budget. Luckily, there are plenty of options to choose from and you should have no problem finding the right one for you.
