Project your Digital Display Where you want Regardless
Epsom, Casio, Sharp, NEC, Sony, Panasonic are all in the Projector Digital Signage arenaWhy would you ever consider using a Projector for digital Signage? The reasons are simple. Projectors only require Power, Mounting and a Digital Source at the most basic to perform. Once they are running the image(s) can be projected upon any flat surface - wall, ceiling, even the floor as recently demonstrated in a National Home Supply Chain. As Epson says on its' website "Perfect for large venues. Powerful brightness, precision control, reliability, and low total cost of ownership. Easy to install, manage and maintain.".
Many of todays projectors have the same video connectors that your monitor and LCD have - hdmi, serial, rj45, even audio.
The World is Not All Flat! According to Alan Brawn in a paper published on Digital Signage Federation. We also need to consider installation parameters and the environment in which a digital signage display must live. To the first order, hanging a heavy flat panel up in a ceiling where large screens normally reside is not an easy feat. It can be much simpler and less expensive to hang a screen and projector on a mount and get the desired effect. Digital Signage, asks the question: 'Why is Projections holding onto its segment of the digital signage market?"
"The answer is threefold; one is the cost of large flat panel displays, another is physically installing these huge devices, and last but not least, we have the environment and ambient light to consider. It is obvious that projection is not practical for most applications below 60 inches. I say most applications because there are exceptions to the rule. One “rule breaker” are those cute little Christie Digital MicroTiles that are projection technology and not flat panels and of course there are special applications where extreme brightness is needed on a small screen but in general screen size matters where projection is involved.
If we begin by looking at cost, a commercial 70” LCD flat panel is in the $12K street price range and the 82” LCD is in the neighborhood of $52K. The 103” plasma is $36K and the 152” is a whopping $500K and just under 300 pounds! The reality is that there are numerous applications where a larger screen size is needed but the budget, physical limitations, and the environment will not support the price of a larger sized flat panel display.
We also need to consider installation parameters and the environment in which a digital signage display must live. To the first order, hanging a heavy flat panel up in a ceiling where large screens normally reside is not an easy feat. It can be much simpler and less expensive to hang a screen and projector on a mount and get the desired effect."
Alan goes on to discuss the size and mounting of todays projectors which come in all sizes and shares, down to the small pico projector from Casio that can be connected to a cell phone.
On Casio's website they state the following:
" Businesses use digital signage both internally and to connect with customers. Whether a business is using digital signage to impart important information to customers, keep employees up to date or enhance a customer’s experience, Casio projectors make digital signage graphics and text crisp and engaging.
Text-intensive informational projections, like flight information at an airport, for example, benefit from a Casio projector’s clarity even at a large scale, providing passengers with easy-to-read - however complex or expansive - information on flight departures, arrivals, cancellations and delays.
Informational digital signage can also be used to impart less critical information to improve a customer’s experience. In businesses like restaurants, a Casio projector can display a digital menu, a list of specials and information about chefs to keep customers waiting for a table engaged. This type of digital signage also makes wait times seem shorter, keeping customers happy, especially in a busy environment.
In offices, digital signage can be used to greet clients and employees with pertinent world, local and industry news. Not only does this show clients that a business is technologically advanced and polished, it can engage them while they wait for a meeting, making them feel more comfortable. Digital signage can also help keep employees up to date with office happenings and practices, displaying internal information on holidays, office events, meetings and deadlines."
