A Web Based DigitalSignage Service

Geovanni West

Mentor: Dr. Jiang

SURI 2015

Introduction

Digital signage is simply the use of digital means to remotely manage and market products or display

information.

What makes digital signage systems so powerful:

• Vastly cheaper

• Versatile

Objective

This research project proposes a solution to convert traditional local server based digital signage service to cloud.

Current Systems: Is it worth it .Magic Info Software is installed on sever and client (TVs), and used to control the information showing on the screen.

When the screens needs to be updated, the individual requesting the update has to send the information to our tech specialist who then has to create a new layout for the post and upload it to the server. The screens then communicate with the server to display content.

This inefficient process creates a middle man who has to not only handle his responsibilities but also the responsibility of keeping the 36 screens stationed around the campus up-to-date.

Current Systems: Is it worth it .

Disadvantages

A technically inclined individual has to be hired to update server

Adds extra cost.

Creating the content is very time consuming.

The system stores all the information on a localized server on campus and content.

If the server side has some problem, the screen side will have problems showing the content

System becomes inefficient to run and hard to maintain.

Current System: How do they do it?

Creators meet with tech

specialist and request updates

Goes back to now pilling

up work

Too much extra work involved

What is the purpose in getting the screens?

Specialist

works on it now?

Puts off current work and

updates screens accordingly.

Inefficient

YesNo

YesNo

How about now?

Upload to

screens?

Doesn’t upload to screens

Yes

No

Content creators

creates post

Traditional Server Method

Some traditional methods:

Individual Media Boxes or DVD players at each plasma display

Using IPTV for televisions and mobile devices

Free Open source server based services such as Xibo.

New System: Web 2.0

It adopts Web 2.0 technology, and separates the technical aspects from the content management.

Specifically, free blog and web albums are used to store related news / slides, which gives the authorized individuals easier access in managing and updating relevant information needed to be broadcasted.

The system will be divided into three (3) separate sections:

• content management

• interface design

• hardware configuration

New System: Method

Content Management

This is where the authorised individual will be able to send post by email or update the site directly and the webpage will handle how it will be displayed automatically.

New System: Method

Interface design

Using Web 2.0 technology, such as dynamic text/images and RSS functionality, the web page will be able to automatically go through a pre-determined number of items and display each. As a new post is created, the RSS feed handler will update the screens as such. To implement all of this the programmer will have to have knowledge of HTML, CSS, javascript, and goodle gadjets API.

New System: Method

Hardware configuration

All it would need is the accessibility of the internet and a web browser and each screen being able to display the webpage assigned.

New System: Additional

Each webpage can be made into showing content only specific to a certain building/ department.

Or

Each webpage can be tailored to show pictures, text, or a mix between the two.

New Systems: Is it worth it .

Disadvantages

Changing the interface design would require a person with knowledge web developing.

Advantages

The system stores all the information on the cloud/internet which can be viewed from any web browser enabled device.

Easier to add, update, or delete content.

After initial setup, no middleman (tech savvy) individual is needed again.

Conclusion

After implementing the test system which will be fairly identical to the final system, it proved easier to maintain. The cost of implementing this system is non-existent and since it shows no obvious disadvantages it will be best to implement.

Our approach on the signage system opens up a door of possibilities for creation and variation. Web 2.0 is a big step in web development and brings with it a limitless supply of creation.

Future Work

In the future we wish to add more features such as:

Emergency notifications

Priority posts

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Acknowledgement

• NSF/HBCU-UP grant

• Kory Griggs

• Dr Hong Jiang

• Dr Godwin E. Mbamalu

• Summer Underground Research Institute 2015

• Federal Grant Number : 1436222

Project Title: Implementation Project - Center for Engineering and Science

Reference

• See Saw Networks, Technical Report. “Engaging People with Digital Out-of-Home Media”. See Saw Networks, 10, 2007 http://www.richmediatechnologies.com/downloads/resources_adv/Outdoor%20Effectivness.pdf

• Jimmy Schaeffler. “Digital Signage: Software, Networks, Advertising, and Displays: A Primer for Understanding the Business”. Focal Press, XVIII, Apr 2008.