Digital signage is the way of showing information electronically. It is used for advertising and displaying other messages. This is used in retail stores and corporate buildings. It is controlled by the personal computers by using software programs. This is also called digital out of home. In this contents can be changed easily and animation also can be included. This is also known as narrowcasting, screen media, place- based media and digital merchandising. It is used for displaying public information like news, weather and local information. And it is used for displaying internal information like healthy and safety and corporate news etc. In advertising field it is used for general advertising. It also helps in brand building, influencing customer behaviour, enhancing the customer experience and environment.
The content is the main part of the digital signage. If it is not good then it is a failure. For writing the content software and programmers are there. This has periodically changed manually or using the software. Digital signage depends on variety of content to deliver the content. It includes media players, content management server and display screens. Multiple media player can be supported by the content management system and several screens can be supported by one media player. The three functions are combined in the stand alone device and network connection not needed for this.
It is displayed using LCD, plasma screens, LED boards, emerging display like interactive surfaces, projection screens and organic LED screens. It also uses less traditional technologies like water and fog screens. Digital signage is not used for large networks. The prices of LCD and plasma screens are decreasing and it increase the number of digital signage installations.
The contents of digital signage are played through internal player or at least one media player. The contents can be scheduled in different ways. For this various hardware and software’s available. The JPG slide shows and loops of MPEG-2 can be played through simple portable media players. It controls the whole campus and from a single location the content can be displayed at many venues. It is suitable for small groups. The digital player network uses the monitor and the internet. The monitor is directly connected to the internet and it can be edited and uploaded through the internet. The display, content server and media player will be located at different places and the audio wiring must be there between the content server and media player.
It can be connected to the mobile also. With the help of SMS and Bluetooth the interactivity can be increased. Thus Digital signage is one of the effective method to reach the people.