Introduction:
Digital signs are a form of electronic display that shows
television programming, menus, information, advertising and other messages. We can see Digital signs in both public
and private environments, like retail stores, hotels, restaurants, and
corporate buildings, amongst other locations. Digital signs use
technologies such as LCD, LED, plasma displays, or projected images to display the intended content. Digital sign displays are
most commonly controlled by personal computers or servers, through software’s;
this approach often allows the operator to avoid large capital outlays for the
controller equipment.
Advancements:
Digital Signage, since
1994, has witnessed different phases; and become one of the most powerful
sources for displaying media information. The segments are being broken into
clearly identifiable pieces each, with their own place within the Digital
Signage ecosystem.
According
to a report http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/digital-signage-market-513.html
the highest increase in CAGR is seen in the case of ROW and APAC as these are
the most upcoming markets. These increments are due to adaptation of the
technological innovation easily among China and India. Being the high adaptive
rate, these are the most luring markets for any of the new products to be
launched. In view of this, the same initiatives have been taken by loads of
companies by either collaborating or merging with the local players for setting
up their market in these regions. As there are enormous steps involved in
setting up a new digital signage system, and a small fault can lead to the
wastage of the entire system, companies are now following standard equipments,
so as to cultivate faith among customers in all the regions.
According
to the report the global digital signage market generated around $3.95 billion
in 2011 and is expected to generate $13.2 billion by 2016 at a CAGR of 27.29%.
The market is run by the APAC and ROW region as most of the sections such as
retail, education, indoor are still at the introduction stages.
The
major players operating in the global digital signage market are NEC Display
Solutions (U.S.), Sony (Japan), LG Electronics (South Korea), Samsung
Electronics (South Korea), Mitsubishi Electric (Japan), Sharp (Japan), Adflow
Networks (Canada), Omnivex Corporation (Canada), Dynamax Technologies (U.K.),
Cisco (U.S.), Scala Inc. (U.S.), UTStarcom Incorporated (China), PRN
Corporation (U.S.), Nanonation Inc. (U.S.), and Keywest Technology (U.S.).
Applications:
1.
Public information – news, weather, traffic and
local (location specific) information, such as building directory with map,
fire exits and traveler information.
2.
Internal information - corporate messages, such
as health & safety items, news, and so forth.
3.
Menu information – pricing, photos,
ingredients, and other information about the food(s) being offered, including
nutritional facts.
4.
Advertising – usually either related to the location of the sign or
using the audience reach of the screens for general advertising.
5.
Brand building – in-store digital sign to promote the brand and build a
brand identity.
6.
Influencing customer behavior – directing customers to
different areas, increasing the "dwell time" on the store premises,
and a wide range of other uses in service of such influence.
7.
Enhancing customer experience – applications include the
reduction of perceived wait time in the waiting areas of restaurants and other
retail operations, bank queues, and similar circumstances, as well as
demonstrations, such as those of recipes in food stores, among other examples.
8.
Enhancing the environment – with interactive screens
(in the floor, for example, as with "informational footsteps" found
in some tourist attractions, museums, and the like) or with other means of
"dynamic way finding".
The report can be seen and downloaded from here.
