LCD Enclosures
A digital signage system is comprised of three components :
- a screen
- a media player
- a display enclosure
Choosing what type of screen and media player are to be used is relatively straightforward: The screen, whether it’s LCD, plasma or LED is often selected for size and picture quality, while the type of network and content used will often govern the media player or other method of delivering content.
Aesthetics
However, the display enclosure is another important aspect of any digital signage system. Not only does a display or LCD enclosure have to protect whatever screen and/or media player it houses but it also has to be aesthetically pleasing.
No matter how attractive and eye-catching your digital signage content is – if it’s being displayed in a bland display enclosure – it is unlikely to attract the attention it perhaps deserves.
Protection
Whether it is for a portrait screen; landscape; installed indoors or outside, the right display enclosure is essential, especially for outdoor digital signage as when using displays outside it’s obviously essential that they are protected from the elements.
Waterproof LCD enclosures are a common solution for protecting standard LCDS (and plasma and LED screens) from rain and other weather conditions. They are often designed to national standards such as NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) which gives an indication of the type of protection afforded by the display case (commonly for outdoor use NEMA 4 is the standard to look out for).
Other types of protection are often implemented to outdoor digital signage enclosures too. Air conditioning for hot environments, heaters for sub-zero areas and anti-glare glass to ensure maximum readability of the screen are often options to consider depending on the intended locale of the displays.
Security
Another area that often gets overlooked in using digital advertising, especially in outdoor and public areas, is security. Not only does a digital signage system need to be protected from damage caused by accidents and the elements, but there is also the risk of an unsupervised signage system being stolen or deliberately damaged.
Despite their falling costs, LCDs and other flat screen TVs commonly used in digital signage are still desirable items, especially for thieves. Display enclosures left outdoors or in unsupervised areas need enough security to prevent vandalism and attempts at theft. Quite often they are manufactured from steel and are fitted with decent locking mechanisms to ensure the risk of tampering with the equipment is minimized.
No matter what the location of the digital signage, the conditions it is to operate in, or the type of screen to be used, the display enclosure is an important aspect of ensuring your digital signage campaign is as successful as possible.