DIGITAL SIGNAGE IN HEALTHCARE

What is Digital Signage?

A digital sign is a display device that has the ability to display dynamic content and

replaces static billboards and posters.

A digital signage network is the connected grid of digital signs, which can be

controlled remotely. The network is accessible via either the Internet, making it

possible to remotely manage the network from any connection through a Web

browser, or locally via an intranet and One master Control computer. The display at

the consumer end can be plasma monitors, LCD monitors, CRT displays, standard

televisions, projection displays and kiosks

Why Should I use Digital signage?

Digital signage gives us the ability to inform, educate and entertain. The real value

of digital signage is to be able to deliver the right message at the right time to the

right person. It lets you plan what content you want to show (unlike TV). You can also

build in capacity to display real time comments and sms messages.

How does a hospital benefit from a digital signage system?

• Informs your employees

• Informs your patients and visitors.

• Generates extra revenue

• Decreases perceived wait time

• Saves on costs

• Helps reduce your environmental impact

• Reinforces your brand image.

Studies:

� Digital Signage in Health care

http://www.digitalsignageexpo.net/Resources/IndustryInstallations/Healthcare/tabid/102/Default.aspx

Patients sitting in lobbies and waiting rooms are, by nature, a captive audience.

They’re looking for something to entertain or inform them. Digital signage helps by

reducing the perceived wait time with information and entertainment.

BENEFITS HEALTHCARE PROVIDER PATIENTS

1) The ability to communicate with his staff

To be informed

2) The ability to communicate with his patients

To be put at ease

3) Good branding Ability to properly navigate the facility

Other uses include

• A window to the operating room

• Health News

• Health communication

• Doctor schedule

• New Schemes

• Showcasing newer treatments

• Advertising (revenue earnings), etc.

What do I require to run a Digital signage in my Hospital/Institution?

In its simplest form, DS requires

1. One Manager PC ( to store and play the Content)

2. Networking via cables (ethernet) or Wireless technologies like WiMax.

3. Display Screens.

The initial Decisions to be made are

• Decide screen size

• Decide locations spot

Important Components:

Hardware:

• This includes one master manager PC for storing, tagging, arranging and playing

the content +/- TV tuner card.

• Display Monitors- This is a most important component and is one of the first

things to be finalized. The monitors can be LCD monitors or Plasma screens.

Both have their own disadvantages and benefits. Other infrequently used

monitors are CRT displays, standard televisions, projection displays and kiosks.

LCD MONITORS

PLASMA SCREENS

1) Better for screens 42 inches and smaller Better for larger screens

(>50inches)

2) No image retention, better for static

image displays.

Suffer Burn in/ Image retention

3) Less sharpness of video images Rich, Vibrant HDTV video display,

higher refresh rate

4) Goes bad in the form of one pixel at a

time

Goes bad in the form of a black

line.

5) Better viewing in Ambient light Better in Dark surroundings

Screen Size and Fonts:

• The ideal viewing distance of a screen is between two-and-half and four times

the screen width. (50 inch monitor for viewers 12 to 15 feet away)

• Letters need to be at least one inch high for every 20 feet of viewing distance,

• Medium-level impact might be 4-inch text, with high impact around 6 to 8

inches

Ideal software should support:

• Capable of displaying MPEG 1 and MPEG 2 video, picture, website, RSS feeds,

text (i.e. banner adv, staff communication, notices and circulars etc.), digital

clock, ad-hoc text message, PowerPoint, Flash File, TV channel or cable TV

programs.

• Allow easy scheduling of multiple events.

Currently, the world’s largest digital display is a 108-inch LCD developed by.

Sharp Electronics Corp

If you don’t have any specific digital signage management objectives other than to loop media, off-the-shelf media players and free software may do the trick. If you want to manage media with schedules, develop segmented screens, control from remote locations, monitor operations, tie media playback to sales operations, this requires using proprietary software

- David Little, Keywest Technology

• Easy uploading of new content.

• Display units must be connected to one or more PC workstations that have

individual fixed IP address. Therefore contents can be sent to selective display

units.

• Also required may be real-time remote player status check, system and content

log reporting, remote-control features to poll the detailed player status, screen

controls, volume control, reboot player and software upgrades.

A number of softwares, both free and commercial Digital signage software are

available. The final choice is made depending on the client requirements.

Some software examples can be seen here:

http://www.agglom.com/webslideshow/71401/Digital_Signage_Software

Let your content strategy decide what the network needs to deliver.

Content can be played or broadcasted by eight types of video modes: (least resolution)

--> 480p, 480i, 576p, 576i, 720p, 720i, 1080p and 1080i. (Best resolution).

Any TV with a resolution of at least 1024 x 720 is considered HD.

.

“Managing the content, creating the content and planning the content are the

most costly, resource-intensive [aspect] of maintaining a digital signage network.”

However advanced technology you use for resolution and hardware, if the content

shown is not of good quality, it’s a big failure.

The available screen real estate can be used in a number of ways to integrate video,

tickers, images, audio etc.

A few important points to note are

• In-store digital signage is a “glance media.” Messages should be short,

sweet and to the point.

• Highly captive locations allow for longer spot lengths and loop lengths may

be designed around the average wait time. (Content loops can be 20

minutes if average wait period of a patient is 20 minutes).

If digital displays are integrated on the same network where patient information is kept, then it’s conceivable that malevolent hackers could use the signage as a back door to access that private information. For that

reason, many healthcare providers choose to create an entirely separate network that is solely dedicated to digital signage

• Update frequency of content depends greatly on frequency in which

audiences repeat their visits ( Content can be updated fortnightly/monthly

corresponding to patients repeat visits)

• Entertain them, don’t preach.

Make the display a destination

The one sure way to make sure you have succeeded is if the display screens

become a destination for a new visitor, helping him get any useful information

required.

The Future is here

• Interactive Touchscreen Displays - These are the current hot favourites ,

used for active display of information and controlled by the consumer. They

are widely used in larger public institutions and supermarkets.

• Voice activated Displays- This technology is still in the initial stages , but

shows a lot of promise.

• Medication reminder displays- Can be a specialized use of Digital display,

with audio and can be put up in wards and corridors of larger institutions.

Authored by

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