MN K12 Tech Coordinator Tips & Tricks
HistoryEdited Nov 24, 2009 1:36 PM by Joel Anderson…

Digital Sign Hardware

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On the Digital Signage Scope of Project page, we mentioned that we used an HDTV in the activities wing and two projectors in the cafeteria. But there is a lot more equipment involved. First of all, we need a way to remotely control the displays:

  • turn displays on and off
  • change inputs between: cable TV, digital sign content, DVD, VHS, computer
  • control volume
  • change the TV channel
Secondly, we needed to incorporate some sort of "smart podium" in the cafeteria that would allow public speakers to easily utilize the projectors and associated viewing sources.

Each sign area needed:
  • one Cat5 cable for the Macmini sign content data
  • one Cat5 cable for the display hardware control signals
  • one Cable TV feed
  • power
  • display hardware controller
  • Macmini
So at each display, we needed a hardware control box that would accommodate the serial commands to control the display. Each control box was connected to our network via Cat5. The "brain" of the control system, also connected to the network, is controlled with a web browser. The browser interface allows us to individually control each display, and control what it is displaying, and when.

The sign content is delivered over the network to Macmini's running special sign software, so a Macmini with a network connection is needed at each location (only one is needed in the cafeteria, even though there are two displays).

The cafeteria needed a way for the public to be able to easily turn on the displays, adjust volumes, use a microphone, connect a laptop for slide show presentations, and playback DVD and VHS content, So the "smart podium" was designed. The podium contains the following equipment:
  • mixer/amp
  • DVD/VHS/SD/USB/TV playback unit
  • video switching unit
  • Macmini for sign content
  • laptop audio/video/network connection
  • Gefen DVI Detective (This stores the resolution of the display device and is connected to the Macmini so it "remembers" its resolution when the display is switched back and forth between inputs)
  • Keypad to control equipment

Comments

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Try my iPad Quick-St...Falsejoel2011-10-27T05:51:48+00:00joelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:22:25+00:002010-05-01 02:22:25updated11Changed the name from Personal Productivity to Personal Productivity StrategiesjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:14:34+00:002010-05-01 02:14:34updated10Added text descriptors to each categoryjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:05:53+00:002010-05-01 02:05:53updated9Added tag - paperlessjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 01:46:35+00:002010-05-01 01:46:35addTag8Added tag - mainjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:17:08+00:002010-04-05 20:17:08addTag7joelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:15:34+00:002010-04-05 20:15:34updated6Added tag - hotjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:15:11+00:002010-04-05 20:15:11addTag5Added tag - ipadjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:26+00:002010-04-05 20:11:26addTag4Added tag - gtdjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:21+00:002010-04-05 20:11:21addTag3Added tag - productivityjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:11:16+00:002010-04-05 20:11:16addTag2First createdjoelJoel Anderson2010-04-05 20:10:54+00:002010-04-05 20:10:54created1wiki2010-05-01T02:22:25+00:00groups/tech/wiki/56867FalsePersonal Productivity Strategies/groups/tech/wiki/56867/Personal_Productivity_Strategies.htmlJoel Anderson11 updatesPersonal Productivity Strategies This section of the site will focus on personal productivity, and will include topics such as Getting Things Done (GTD), OmniFoucs, paperless wor...Falsejoel2010-05-01T02:22:25+00:00joelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:22:25+00:002010-05-01 02:22:25updated11Changed the name from Personal Productivity to Personal Productivity StrategiesjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:14:34+00:002010-05-01 02:14:34updated10Added text descriptors to each categoryjoelJoel Anderson2010-05-01 02:05:53+00:002010-05-01 02:05:53updated9Added tag - 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