Need info on cheap Digital Signage
October 7, 2006 7:19 AM Subscribe
How do I create a cheap Digital Signage Network that runs without any user interaction? (You know the screens showing stuff in-stores, movie theatres, etc.)
I want it to be cheap, and something that can start on its own once powered on. Ability to get updates on its own at night would be perfect.
I want it to be cheap, and something that can start on its own once powered on. Ability to get updates on its own at night would be perfect.
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Here's what I did. Both the signs I'm running are secondary monitors on people's PCs. I've installed 2 pieces of software that handle the actual screen changing. One works while the user is logged in and working. It rotates the desktop background image on the secondary monitor through a series of JPGs in a folder. If the user leaves their workstation and it goes into screensaver mode, I've installed the "branding removed" version of Google's "googlepack" screensaver. It runs a slideshow from a folder of JPGs as well. If you set the software to browse a network folder and do your updates there, you've effectively updated all of them. If you have dedicated PCs, just run a slideshow from a network folder and have it auto loop and never go into sleep mode.
If you want something more professional, I suggest Magenta Research. Their products can do video over ethernet very nicely, albeit not cheaply.
posted by cosmicbandito at 12:44 PM on October 7, 2006