Digital signage has evolved from what was primarily an ad-based medium to what is now a full-featured communication pathway. The main driver is the onslaught of big data and the ever-increasing interconnectivity and interoperability of IoT devices. This makes it possible for the information to be targeted to employees and customers at any time, place, and device.
The distribution and management of this new era of communication is where content management systems (CMS) play a significant role. Location-based communications companies like L Squared make managing this network puzzle easy.
The new ecosystem’s required hardware and software include the displays, the media player, and the CMS. During installation, it’s important to be mindful of electrical requirements and network configuration (wired or wire-free). Let’s explore the relationship among these components, beginning with the display and media player.
The Need for Media Players
Digital signage displays must have a media player (internal or external) to push video from the CMS to endpoint devices and show content. A digital signage media player is a computer-like device specifically designed to display media files from the CMS. The hardware allows it to easily render 4K and even 8K images, videos, and animation. It is intended to handle most common file types and, increasingly, web-type dynamic content.
In the early days of digital signage, media players were located at the rear of a display or in a nearby equipment rack. These players were standalone appliances the size of a paperback book. The challenges associated with these players included external device failure and the need for cable extensions.
So manufacturers integrated the CMS into the display directly. Initially, the CMS was built into PCs, but this led to problems in terms of security, reliability, and support. In 2013 the first SoC (System on a Chip) devices hit the market. The goal was to build an all-in-one digital signage display that contained all the software components, didn’t require a separate player, and was more secure than a PC. SoC devices are easier to install, more cost-effective, and require less management.
What is an SoC Display?
When SoC devices were first released, they lacked CPU power and memory. But since then, SoC devices have come a long way, with powerful chips that can keep up with today’s complex demands of digital signage content.
An SoC is an integrated circuit that creates a complete computer on a smaller printed circuit board within a device. Think of it like a small multi-core processor on a chip with the computing power of a smartphone. It contains a graphical processing unit (GPU) to boost the display’s graphic and video performance. Its CPU reads and executes program instructions. Media is stored in the random access memory (RAM), which allows data to be stored and retrieved quickly.
The SoC is pre-programmed by the manufacturer before distribution, usually with proprietary software and firmware. The software for SoC includes applications, scripts, programs, and other operating information that is built onto the SoC and runs with the device. Examples of SOC include LG and webOS, Samsung and Tizen, and Sony and Android. Each manufacturer installs its operating system directly onto the display’s built-in SoC, creating a platform around their technology.
L Squared combines these different technologies in an all-in-one ecosystem that can run with all devices regardless of brand or operating system. L Squared can work with legacy and new devices by creating one easy-to-use and managed platform.
Benefits of SoC Displays
Some might argue that SoC displays are less powerful and reliable than standalone media players. That might have been true for the first generation of SoC, but the newest generation of SoC displays has outstanding performance and quality. The latest displays have quad-core processors and run 4k content. They are also very reliable and are made to last, with a failure rate of less than 0.5%.
Additional benefits of using SoC displays are:
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Simplified installation
SoC displays eliminate the need for external media players or PCs. With everything integrated into the display, installation becomes much simpler and quicker.
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Reduced maintenance
With fewer components, SoC displays are less likely to experience technical issues, and troubleshooting becomes simpler. Additionally, updates and maintenance can be performed remotely, reducing the need for physical access to the display.
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Lower power consumption
SoC displays consume less power than traditional displays with separate media players or PCs. This not only saves energy but also reduces operating costs over time.
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Improved reliability
SoC displays are designed specifically for digital signage applications, so they are typically more reliable and durable than consumer-grade displays.
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Increased flexibility
SoC displays have multiple inputs and outputs, allowing greater flexibility in configuring and customizing the display. This can include support for multiple display resolutions, video inputs, and networking options.
Conclusion
The pros and cons of SoC are clear. On the pro side, they are on par with most external media players today. They eliminate the downside of commodity operations systems which have security liability. They reduce IT overheads and are under the umbrella of the display warranty with extended service programs available.
Conversely, external media players are still relevant in specific applications. If your requirements exceed the capability of the SoC for extremely high resolution and heavy-duty interactive or multiple software apps, then an outboard player may be your best choice.
But for most digital signage applications, considering the potential cost savings on hardware components, installation labour, ease of maintenance, and power consumption, the argument for using SoC displays is crystal clear.
