Digital signage is an incredible tool for broadcasting content, message dissemination, and advertising. It has applications in virtually every market and sector, from academia to retail to places of worship, both indoor and out. Today’s cutting-edge flat or curved displays add a touch of modernity and aesthetic beauty to any space. However, digital signage technology evolves quickly, and can seem confusing to the uninitiated. To get the most out of their digital display investment, it is advisable that consumers learn some key terminology which can empower them to make a more informed purchasing decision.
I don’t think there is a need for the LCD Display Mention. Unless we discount it by saying it has color calibration issues and Burn in. Led does not have burn in. Maybe we say today we will focus on LED Digital signage.
● LCD Display: A flat-panel display using liquid crystals via a backlight or reflector to produce images.
● LED Display: A display solution utilizing light-emitting diodes as pixels for a video display.
● LED: A light-emitting diode (LED) made up of a two-lead semiconductor which emits light when activated, offering lower energy consumption, longer life, and availability in sizes smaller than traditional light sources.
● Video Wall: A video wall employing multiple displays, tiled or overlapped, to form what appears to be one large screen.
● Pixel: A physical point in a raster image; the smallest controllable element of a picture represented on a display.
● LED Density: Indicates the quantity of LEDs per display or square meter, with greater density translating to higher brightness and higher resolution.
● Pixel Pitch: The distance between pixels center to center on a display screen, usually reserved for LED display technology.
● Fine Pixel Pitch: LED displays with a minimum amount of space between pixels, usually 2.5mm or less; narrow pixel pitches yield clearer displays when viewed up close.
When it comes to LEDs, there is more that consumers should understand as part of their research. LEDs do not use filaments, making them highly efficient as nearly all of the electricity is converted to light rather than heat. This efficiency also displays itself in maintenance costs. Filaments and light engines in standard lights burn out as a result of this heat. The frequent replacement of these parts is costly. LEDs require less time and money to maintain. However, LED displays do require a module replacement every few years, depending on usage.LED diodes naturally lose about 20% of their initial brightness after the first 2,000 hours of use (or 3 months), and that brightness will slowly degrade until it dies at about 100,000 hours (or 11 years). Thus, it is important to note that the manufacturer’s claimed display brightness will drop about 20% after 2 to 3 months of operation.
Buyers should also ask the following questions when shopping for digital displays:
1.) How does the unit stay cool?
2.) Where is the device’s service access point? How is it serviced?
3.) Is the display good for both indoor and outdoor use? Only indoor? Only outdoor?
4.) Who manufactures the driver and switch integrated circuits (ICs)?
5.) Do all pixels come from the same bin?
6.) Is the fill factor of the screen (how much of the screen is covered by light-emitting pixels) at least 40%?What % is the fill factor of the screen?
Digital signage can be of great advantage, but only if the solution meets an organization’s unique needs. Through education and asking the right questions, consumers can ensure their satisfaction with their display, and PixelFLEX®, your partner in digital signage, is pleased to clarify these concepts. Put your new LED knowledge to use and check out the PixelFLEX products page!
