04.07.2022 | For a well functioning Digital Signage system, efficient and intuitive software must be complemented by professional hardware. Above all, this includes choosing the right display. Below, we have summarised our knowledge and expertise from over 20 years of experience.
Professional line screens
When purchasing a Digital Signage display, make sure to use only professional line screens. These differ from classic consumer TVs in the following ways:
Continuous operation
Digital Signage screens must be designed for continuous operation, either 24/7 or 16/7 (depending on the application). Professional devices are explicitly built for this. They differ particularly in their improved ventilation compared to consumer TVs. Better ventilation prevents screens from overheating and failing during continuous operation, and higher quality LED panels maintain brightness and colour for longer.
Brightness
For good readability even in sunlight, displays must provide adequate anti reflective properties and brightness. We recommend screens with a brightness level of at least 500 cd/m². For installations exposed to direct sunlight — such as shop windows — special displays with enhanced anti glare treatment and brightness starting from 2,500 cd/m² are available.
Fire protection regulations
As a rule, professional monitors meet all necessary fire protection standards. When purchasing, ensure the devices are certified according to DIN UL / IEC / EN 62368 1.
If a screen is installed in a public building or even along an escape route, authorities may impose stricter requirements. If you are unsure about cantonal regulations, we are happy to support you.
Resolution
4K or UHD (3840×2160 pixels) has become the standard resolution in the Digital Signage sector in recent years. Cinema quality resolution ensures readable text even from short distances and enhances the impact of images and videos.
Although many Full HD screens are still in use, they will increasingly disappear and be replaced by 4K devices. For this reason, we fully adapted our software to 4K back in 2018.
Display technologies
LED has become the standard technology in Digital Signage over the past 10 years. OLED and QLED offer better image quality and could theoretically replace LED — however, costs remain significantly higher. Below is an overview of the most common technologies:
LED
LED screens (Light Emitting Diodes) use light emitting diodes. Unlike LCDs, LEDs can produce coloured images directly. With red, green, and blue LEDs, all colours can be created by combining them. They consist of very small individual elements only a few millimetres in size.
Some manufacturers are going further and experimenting with micro LEDs. We have published a dedicated article on this topic. You can find it here.
LCD
LCD monitors (Liquid Crystal Displays) work by influencing the polarisation of light using liquid crystals when electrical voltage is applied. Since liquid crystals do not produce light themselves, they require a backlight. Additional layers are needed for colour.
Because of the multiple layers required, producing very thin LCD displays is difficult. For this reason, LED backlit LCD screens are now standard — although most “LED screens” are in fact LCD panels with LED backlighting.
OLED
Like LEDs, OLEDs (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) produce coloured light directly. OLEDs are made from organic carbon based materials and can be dissolved in water or solvents, making it possible to spray or print them onto a substrate.
Since an OLED display essentially consists of a single layer, very thin designs are possible.
QLED
QLEDs (Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diodes) are electro optical semiconductor components that convert electrical energy into light using quantum dots. Their major strength is their wide colour volume.
Unlike OLED, QLED technology uses inorganic particles, which increases longevity.
Although there are still many display brands, the actual LCD panels are now produced by only a few Chinese manufacturers. Even leading Korean brands like Samsung and LG have stopped producing LCD panels and now source them from China.
To reduce dependency, Samsung is pushing QLED production, whereas LG is focusing more on OLED.
Touchscreens
We have implemented interactive touchscreen solutions for several customers. The major advantage — quite literally — lies at your fingertips: users can select the content they want to view directly. Touchscreens help convey content in a playful, interactive way. Currently, five touchscreen technologies are commonly used:
• Resistive touchscreens
• Surface capacitive touchscreens
• Projected capacitive touchscreens
• Infrared touchscreens
• Surface acoustic wave (SAW) touchscreens
However, touch solutions only provide real added value if the target audience actively interacts with the screen. Strong content and a clear call to action are essential.
Screenimage relies on market Leaders
At Screenimage, we have relied for years on Digital Signage screens from the two market leaders Samsung and NEC, as their products fully convince us in terms of longevity and image quality.
In addition, you need powerful media players and suitable mounting equipment for your Digital Signage system. You can find more information about our hardware offering here.
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