LED Ticker Technology Tip: Controlling A Large Network
Posted on Thu, December 31, 2009
How easy is it to control a large network of tickers?
Historically the tickers were dumb devices, each unit had a controller that simply received a stream of data and the software that sat central to a network holding a unique conversation with each ticker to ensure each ticker had enough data in its buffer to keep running smoothly. Once a network reached 50 or so tickers it became challenging for the PC and the software to keep everything in sync.
But all of that has changed. Over the last 2 years we have perfected a smart controller for each of the tickers. This now means the smarts reside at each ticker giving the user more control and ensuring that each ticker runs smoothly allowing you to add hundreds if not thousands of tickers to the system with no impact on performance. The other key advantage to this method is you no longer have a single point of failure. Each ticker is self contained and a controller failure only impacts that location - not the whole network.
If you haven’t looked at tickers in a few years I would encourage you to revisit them. They now have full color capability, more data feed options, and by eliminating the computers at each site and allowing for simple web-based control it makes them ideal to put into any location with little to no IT support.
Digital Signage in Education: UMKC
Posted on Wed, December 30, 2009
What is better than using digital signage to communicate with students? Doing it at very little to no cost to the university.
While may schools explore the option of selling advertising space to local businesses many find that it is becomes a full time job to sell the space, produce the content, and figure out the rate schedule. A much easier option is to follow what the sports stadiums have done - sell the naming rights. Each college within a university has distinguished alumni and partnerships with local businesses that recruit graduates. Why not leverage these relationships to get secure a sponsorship and place a static plaque recognizing that key donor.
Enclosed in this post is a photo of the digital signage installation at the Bloch School of Business at UMKC. Great example of a business school leveraging their partnership with a local business to bring state-of-the-art technology to their students.
Rise Display Installation: Wal-Mart Convenient Care
Posted on Mon, December 28, 2009
Heritage Valley Health Systems (HVHS) has expanded their health services by partnering with Wal-Mart to add several Convenient Care locations across PA. As part of their new walk in clinics HVHS has employed the use of 40” LCD digital signs to capture shoppers attention and provide valuable health and wellness tips.
Rise Creative Services Example: Interactive Donor Wall
Posted on Sat, December 26, 2009
Is your donor wall getting the response you desire? Is it encouraging people to stop and interact with it?
There are a number of great donor wall companies that can build amazing walls of etched glass, hardwoods, and brushed metal but the challenge is that wall doesn’t create a 2 way conversation with the visitor. If you are considering new ways to recognize your donors consider adding a touch enabled display to create an interactive experience for your visitors.
Digital Signage in Education: University of Minnesota
Posted on Wed, December 23, 2009
Last week I posted a content example from the recent installation at University of Minnesota Morris that was donated by Ag Country. (view posting)
To supplement the post I am happy to share a photo of the final installation.
Digital Signage Technology Tip: Using VGA over CAT5
Posted on Tue, December 22, 2009
Are you concerned with placing media players at the screens for security or service reasons? Are you looking for ways to deploy multiple screens and looking for an economical way to do it?
The solution to both questions is looking to a VGA to CAT5 system. This is NOT using your network or streaming video. This is where you use point to point or a home run cables from a broadcaster located in a secure server room to each display location. By doing this you have moved the media player from behind the screen where it could be challenging to access and service and placed it in the safety and security of your server room. By centrally locating your media player you can now also take advantage of a multi-port broadcaster that will split that signal to multiple screens thus saving you money on software licenses and media players.
Visit our website to see a System Diagram
Rise Display Installation: Bank of Blue Valley
Posted on Mon, December 21, 2009
In an effort to convince existing clients to use more services, many retail financial institutions are turning to digital signs as a way to improve the bank’s atmosphere and communicate better with customers.
While customers are waiting in line for tellers, digital signs can serve as dynamic bulletin board, delivering current messages about bank rates, financial products, insurance products, or new programs. In many cases, the bank marketing is placed alongside live TV, stock quotes and headline news feeds, ensuring that the content remains interesting and attracts attention.
Click here If you want to see other examples of digital signage in banking.
Rise Creative Services Example: Ag Country 2x1 Video Wall
Posted on Fri, December 18, 2009
Ag Country recently donated dual LCD configurations to both NDSU and University of Minnesota to help keep students informed about the latest job openings and news in the farming community. Since the displays are posted in each school’s college of business they also wanted to post the latest commodity prices to create awareness for the futures markets that help drive Ag business.
The end result if a very graphical and visual design that helps helps provide valuable brand recognition to Ag Country while communicating with students on both campuses.
LED Ticker Technology Tip: Size Does Matter
Posted on Thu, December 17, 2009
Whether you are installing in a sports bar or a trading floor a ticker display attracts attention from the moment people see it. The constant scrolling image from right to left provides a eye catching movement and an atmosphere that can’t be replicated.
A ticker usually comes down to creating “wow factor” so as you plan your space think about the impact you want to make. While a 10ft ticker is nice it only allows you to show a couple of stocks or games at a time verses if you have the opportunity to wrap the ticker around a couple of walls or the entire room you have created a much longer area to show more data thus a more dynamic atmosphere. Take the enclosed photo for example - visualize that ticker on just one of those walls verses the impact it makes by wrapping the corner and extending even further.
In summary think about the space you have and the impression you want to make with your visitors as you plan for your LED Ticker display.
Digital Signage in Education: Acuff Financial Markets Center
Posted on Wed, December 16, 2009
On October 2, 2009 the Mason School of Business at William and Mary University officially dedicated the new Alan B. Miller Hall.
The new facility boasts: 166,000 square feet of space, over 500,000 bricks, 1,260 tons of steel, 350 windows and a state-of-the-art electronic trading classroom. If you would like to learn more about this exciting project I would encourage you to visit their website to see more facts, watch video reactions of students first impressions, and some of the videos from Rex’s unplugged diary as he brought the building out of the ground and into reality.
The Acuff Financial Markets Center is one of the highlights on the tour utilizing the latest in digital signage technology including three 57” LCDs, and two 2x2 LCD video walls all showing the latest market information, graphs, news, and video from around the world. In addition to the trading lab the school has strategically placed over 20 LCD screens throughout the building to keep students informed of the latest events along with live market data to create a high energy business environment.
Digital Signage Technology Tip: Video Wall verses LED Wallboard
Posted on Tue, December 15, 2009
Historically Financial Trading Floors and Business School Finance Labs have used large LED wallboards to post current market data and news. The LED wallboards provide long life, great viewing distances and you could easily build large walls out of them to create a focal point in any trading environment.
A couple of good photo examples can be seen at: PIMCO and University of Pittsburgh.
With advancements in LCD technology and the new ultra thin bezels, video walls have replaced these LED datawalls. For users still investigating the LED wallboard technology here are 5 things to investigate and compare to help make your decision:
Color - with a LED wallboard you get 3 colors (red, green, amber) verses with a video wall you get the full spectrum of color
Flexibility- with a LED wallboard it is alpha numeric meaning a fixed character height for letters and numbers and if you purchase a 16 line by 64 character display, that will always be your limit. The advantage of what you can dynamically do with a video wall is obvious.
Graphics - with a LED wallboard you are limited to alpha numeric characters, with the video wall you can show graphs, charts, animations, video and live TV
Lead time - LED wallboards are custom built to order normally taking 6 weeks or better to build. LCDs are in stock and can ship the same week.
Price - with all of that functionality you would expect the LCD video wall to be more expensive. Actually it is on average 20% to 25% more economical.
Overall LED wallboards are still a great technology, but they just can’t compete with the mass production of LCD screens and in the end price and flexibility will always win. If you want more information you can view a 10 minute video comparison of the technologies.
Rise Display Installation: Custom LED Ticker For Casino
Posted on Mon, December 14, 2009
Western Technical Services Outfits Casino with a Custom Rise LED Ticker
The food and beverage manager at a west coast casino, knew exactly what he wanted for his new “Media Bar”, a sports bar, which would be the focal point at the end of a long casino floor expansion. When he contacted Western Technical Services regarding the installation of the casino’s new television and digital media for this new, sports themed-bar, Western Technical’s sales manager Sam Smith went to work researching LED ticker options. His task wasn’t easy. The “Media Bar” at the casino was built, and a very specific seven-inch high space was already dedicated for the new ticker. His customer’s timeline was tight, too. They wanted the LED ticker in place for the unveiling of the new floor expansion and bar.
“I went to each supplier and communicated the needs for the project,” Sam explained. “Ultimately, the reason why we chose Rise was that they had the largest selection and easiest availability. The timeline was very short, and they were able to meet our deadline quicker than anybody else.”
Rise Display worked closely with Sam and his installation crew to fulfill Western Technical’s customer’s needs. But that process didn’t come without its challenges. Originally, the plan called for a three-color LED ticker but was changed mid-build to a 38-foot, eight-color ticker display that wraps around the interior of the bar so that Western Technical could meet and exceed its client’s expectations.
“The eight-color ticker on the casino floor is absolutely amazing,” Sam said. “The colors, the logos, you can’t miss it! In order to go to eight-color, we had to get a taller ticker, and Rise turned that around quickly too. … I’m really happy with the decision we made to use Rise.”
Western Technical Services now has a new tool in its arsenal to what they already provide and can offer an interesting element above and beyond what they typically install for their customers.
Rise Creative Services Example: Benefits of Interactive Digital Signage
Posted on Fri, December 11, 2009
Interactive signage offers numerous opportunities for companies to improve their connection with visitors and customers, and to streamline their ability to provide helpful information. With hand-held devices leading the way, consumers will become more facile with touch-screen technology, and start to expect it in every environment.
Following are three ways that companies can benefit from interactive digital signage:
Interactive Wayfinding. Companies with large buildings or campuses can be difficult for visitors to navigate, leaving company receptionists and security guards to spend a majority of their day directing traffic. A touch-enabled digital sign can improve visitors’ experience, while freeing personnel to focus on other tasks.
Interactive Conciergee. While every visitor benefits from the “personal touch,” it’s challenging to provide services around the clock. A touch-screen display can operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to help your visitors find what they want, when they want it, with the simple swipe of a finger.
Interactive Donor Walls. Many hospitals and universities rely on generous donors and patrons for funds; corporations like to recognize employee achievement—interactive signage is a unique way to show appreciation.
If you would like to read more please read the article Three Ways Interactive Will Change Digital Signage
LED Ticker Technology Tip: Technical Drawings
Posted on Thu, December 10, 2009
We are happy to release our new interactive LED ticker configurator for architects, designers, and customers looking to quickly and easily get technical specifications and details on LED Displays.
The tool lets you select your color option (Full Color or Tri Color), your length (from 6ft up to 250ft), and your height (16 or 24 pixels) and the configurator will provide you with detailed information such as the weight, dimensions, power requirements, and heat dissipation. The drawing will also who the location(s) and quantity of where power receptacles and network drops need to be placed.
For more information on our customizable LED ticker displays that can bend or curve to fit your environment check out the 10 minute video overview on our website.
Digital Signage in Education: Johnson & Wales Finance Lab
Posted on Wed, December 9, 2009
The Johnson and Wales University Providence campus was Founded in 1914, JWU’s first and largest campus hosts more than 10,000 students from all 50 states and more than 60 countries in the fast-paced urban center of historic Providence, RI.
Rise is proud to have taken part in the addition of a finance lab within the college of business to provide a focal point to their program. The system includes multiple LCD screens both inside the classroom and in the hallways to create awareness for the financial markets along with a long, custom full color LED Ticker display to create a unique atmosphere.
The display technology combined with industry-trained faculty, working in small classroom settings, brings a blend of traditional business education and real world experience.
Digital Signage Technology Tip: Video Wall Bezels
Posted on Tue, December 8, 2009
Advancements in technology over the past 6 months are changing the way LCD video walls are perceived. New ultra-narrow bezels allow for the distance between two displays of only 7.3mm, nearly a 450% improvement from the 33mm spacing for standard commercial grade displays. When viewing at a distance of several feet away the bezel gap between displays is barely noticeable and ensures a uniform picture across the entire video wall.
All LCD displays are not created equal when it comes to stacking them together to create a wall of information. You will pay a premium for the ultra narrow bezels but the effect and atmosphere they create is well worth the investment.
To further maximize your investment in a LCD video wall take a close look at your software to make sure you can properly position content to account for the bezels and enable you to take full advantage of the resolution of the screen.
Learn more by watching our 10 minute overview on Video Walls.
Rise Display Installation: Metropolitan Community College
Posted on Mon, December 7, 2009
The Maple Woods campus for Metropolitan Community College has expanded their digital signage network of 46” Samsung LCD screens powered by Display Wire.
Administrators rolled out 3 screens before classes started in 2008 and further expanded their network by adding 2 more this fall to effectively communicate lunch specials, campus events, and other administrative announcements. In addition to campus communications they also mix in current sports scores, weather, and headline news to help make the display interesting and engaging to students and visitors.
Interactive Way-finding
Posted on Fri, December 4, 2009
People expect highly engaging and meaningful interactions with technology. Customers demand not only ease of use but also an enjoyable experience. Creating this experience for users requires the ability to anticipate a consumer’s wants and to allow them to interact with the information intuitively.
As you look at implementing interactive digital signage remember to look beyond the hardware to ensure you get a complete package consisting of the right software with good creative designers that can humanize your message and build the best possible user experience.
Content Conversion and TV Tuner Advice for Rise Users
Posted on Thu, December 3, 2009
If you are using the Hauppauge 950Q as a TV Tuner with your media player, you may have noticed that the the driver that came with the device does not work properly. For 2 easy steps to correct the issue click here.
Want to covert a PNG image to a JPEG image? Think that a WMV video looks better than AVI Video? Want to change the resolution of an image or video? Three suggested tools for online media conversion can be found here.
Curved LED Ticker at Ramapo College
Posted on Tue, December 1, 2009
At the April 2008 dedication ceremony for the new college of business building, Richard and Millicent Anisfield announced an additional gift of $3 million to the school that bears their name. This latest gift was used to fund the completion of the fifth floor of the new building, adding a number of new classrooms, faculty offices, and an exciting, new Global Financial Markets Trading Laboratory. With real-time access to financial data from around the world, students will expand their knowledge of the workings of global markets by managing virtual portfolios of stocks, bond, commodities and currencies.
As part of the Trading Lab Rise Display was proud to provide a unique 8 color LED ticker that wraps 2 walls and follows the curved design at the front of the classroom along with several LCD digital displays to help create the trading atmosphere.
