In recent years, large-scale digital signs have become one of most popular forms of advertising and communication. This is largely due to the fact that these signs seem to be an incredibly effective way of reaching consumers. By using large electronic screens, advertisers and businesses are able to quickly and efficiently send messages to passersby walking on the street or driving in the cars. Not only that, but these signs also allow businesses to send targeted messages to consumers at specific locations and times. Clearly, the benefits of large-scale digital signs are endless. Yet, their seemingly complicated nature may cause you to be hesitant about constructing one of your own. However, the truth is creating such a sign is far less complicated than you might think. In fact, you don’t even need construction management experience to get a sign up and running and start attracting more customers to your store.

What is large-scale digital signage?

Large-scale digital signage is a form of large electronic display (usually a LCD, LED or plasma screen) that shows information and other messages to those in the general vicinity. The signs can be used in various environments, from retail stores to corporate offices, and are used to send messages to certain audiences at specific times.

According to Sensagent, what makes digital signs better than static signs is that “the content can be exchanged more easily, animations can be shown and the signs can adapt to the context and audience, even interactively.” As a result, those whose digital signs are often able to effectively reach their target audience as well as many others, allowing them to often wind with a considerable return on their investment.

The history of large-scale digital signage

Large-scale digital signage was created first by a company called Scala back in 1987. The software used to create these signs was originally developed for cable TV, and was called Commodore Amigas. By 1997 Scala multimedia had gained quite a bit of notoriety, and won the “ Gold Award” for their cutting-edge technology. Over the next few years, an increasing number of businesses and advertisers began demanding digital signs.

As a result, the company began to look to the future, by creating a platform that could process high definition quality graphics and videos and focusing their attention on the global market place. The success experienced by Scala lead them to celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2007. Ironically, at this time much of the industry was just beginning to adopt the technology to Scala had been using to create large-scale digital signage for years.

Today large-scale digital signage is part of modern society. It is how the media, public works and many other businesses involved in communications get the attention of the public. In fact, major companies such as McDonald’s, T-Mobile, Virgin Mega Store, Burger King, Shell and Warner Bros all utilize large-scale digital signage to reach out to their customers.

Construction of large-scale digital signage

Creating large-scale digital signage having an LED display (or some other type of large screen), a media player and a server that sends out the communication and Internet access. The most important part of constructing a large-scale digital sign is making sure that the media player you are using and the content you wish to display are connected or are all part of one device.

If these three things are located separately, then it is likely that you will have to run A/V wiring between the display, media player and the server. You will also need DVI, HDMI or VGA component cords to make this connection. However, if you already have these supplies, then you can begin construction on your large-scale digital signage. Ideally, you should consult with a professional when setting your sign up, but it is not essential. If you think you are capable of setting up your sign on your own, you certainly will be able to save yourself a lot of money.

Clearly, large-scale digital signage will continue to be a large part of the future of consumer communication. Not only do these signs reach a variety of audiences with ease, but they also have the capability of sending targeted messages to consumers, which is an important marketing strategy for any business.

© AdvertiseMe.com.au for Digital Signage Blog, 2011. | Permalink | One comment |
Post tags: advertisers, Audiences, Cars, Construction Management Experience, Consumers, Dictionary, digital signage, Digital Signs, Drake, Electronic Display, Electronic Screens, Environments, Large Scale, Lt, Macdonald, Nbsp, plasma screen, retail stores, Scala, Target Audience, Truth, Vicinity

“It wants to increase licensing fees in a 120-seat restaurant to $19,344 a year — up from $125. Small cafes would be slugged with a 4729 per cent yearly increase from $124 to $5860.”

Source: http://techdirt.com/articles/20090615/0329305236.shtml

For those digital signage businesses who provide their clients with a digital signage solution that plays music in the background, have you considered what legal implications are involved and what the licensing requirements are? Even if your client has paid for the music clips or videos!

In Australia, retail stores that play music – whether from the radio, purchased CDs, computers, digital signage are required to pay a licensing fee otherwise it may be considered breaching copyright laws and eventually be fined thousands of dollars.

Now we all know that music can set the mood and atmosphere in your store, nightclub, restaurant or cafe but did you know that you may have to pay a licensing fee for playing music in your business environment or anywhere in public areas? Basically, if you play music in your store you need to have a PPCA public performance license to play protected sound recordings and an APRA public performance license to play musical and literary works. For more information about this visit https://transactions.business.gov.au/BLIS/musiclicence.aspx

All I can say is, just make sure that if you’re running a business or if you’re installing a digital signage solution with audio for one of your clients make sure you mention these licencing requirements to your client otherwise they (or possibly your business) may end up paying a hefty fine – so don’t risk it.

After thinking about this situation, do you believe a license is required for playing videos of unsigned artists playing original songs from Youtube in your store or business environment?

Feel free to submit your answer as a comment.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but my understanding is that because these artists are unsigned (i.e don’t have a label) the PPCA, or APRA won’t be paying them one cent so why should you pay for the license fee if all you’re playing is songs from these unsigned artists. For example, here’s one of my favourite Youtube R&B groups called LEGACI playing an original song. Keep it up boys.

© AdvertiseMe.com.au for Digital Signage Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 3 comments |
Post tags: australia, Blis, Business Environment, Business Environments, Cafes, Cds Computers, Copyright Laws, digital signage, Exact Figures, Legal Implications, Licence Costs, Licencing Requirements, Licensing Fee, Licensing Requirements, Music Background, Music Business, Music Cds, music clips, Music Radio, Music Retail, Music Videos, Performance License, Play Music, Playing Music, Public Areas, Public Performance, Retail Environment, retail stores, Running A Business, Seat Restaurant, Shtml, Signage Solution, Sound Recordings, Techdirt, Thousands Of Dollars, Truth, Unsigned Artists, Youtube