Kiosk and Digital Signage (Narrowcasting)
Digital signage is a growing market sector across Europe, as consumers become more familiar with select and target advertising, and are now expecting to be communicated to through high end technological mediums.
Using Windows XP Embedded for Digital Signage
Often combined with an embedded PC platform designed specifically with digital signage in mind, Windows XP Embedded offers a robust, flexible platform ideal for the more complex digital signage applications.
The range of media player or CODEC support available for Windows XP Professional and XP Embedded combined with the ability to tailor the image to run from Solid State Media, makes it a very attractive platform for large ‘digital poster’ style signage players.
The main reasons given by our customers for the selection of XP Embedded for their digital signage and kiosk devices is:
- Codec and Media player support
- 3rd Party application support
- Ability to configure for a media player only application
- Features such as Enhanced Write Filter allowing smart system recovery
- Multiple resolution support allows single ‘box’ to support a range of display options
- Multi-screen support allowing complex displays to be run form a single PC platform with little fuss
- Out of the box multiple language support means deploying across a global estate is now achievable with the same OS platform
Using Windows CE for Digital Signage
‘Shelf Edge’ Media players or advertising is set to replace traditional cardboard or plastic display media. The ability to select a shelf in a specific store to receive a special offer and to link it to the POS system and analyse the ROI in real-terms is very compelling.
Microsoft Windows CE is quickly becoming the OS of choice in this arena because:
- CE seamlessly combines MPEG, JPEG and Shockwave animations using DirectX programming interfaces hence allowing massive flexibility over how content is created
- Solid State media support combined with a small footprint makes the solution lower cost and extremely reliable allowing a 5 year ROI to be a real expectation
- Network support is built in allowing individual devices in a larger estate to be updated with specific content with little configuration required
- Multi language support as an out of the box offering makes deployment across a global estate a reality
If you would like more information on the most suitable embedded operating system for your digital signage or kiosk device or would like to explore our hardware offering, please contact us.
