Gefen Plans Digital Signage Content Platform
In a strategic move that company officials say places Gefen on the content development side of digital signage, the connectivity solutions provider will unveil it new Digital Signage Creator next week at InfoComm 2010 in Las Vegas.
In a strategic move that company officials say places Gefen on the content development side of digital signage, the connectivity solutions provider will unveil it new Digital Signage Creator next week at InfoComm 2010 in Las Vegas. The new product will join Gefen’s existing digital signage solutions, including an HD Digital Signage Player for scheduling pre-recorded content, and a plug-and-play 2×2 DVI Video Wall Controller for creating a four-display videowall.
Gefen officials say the new Digital Signage Creator allows users to think outside the box, because it offers multiple opportunities for custom content development of video, audio, static image, and data files, boasting an open-standards format.
The Digital Signage Creator comes with its own Digital Signage Director software to enable complete customization of digital signage content with several new features, from drag-and-drop functions to complex custom script writing. Content can be pushed to the Digital Signage Creator for immediate updates, can be pulled automatically using the iCalendar function, or can be used in a hybrid mode that utilizes both manual updates and server feeds that are automatically updated. Users can be assigned to handle all aspects of the content or just individual portions.
Each Digital Signage Creator comes with a sample library of content templates, or users can opt to create their own customizable content. Approximately 2 GB of space can be supplemented by using remote Web server pages and the USB hard drive. The Digital Signage Creator can function in standalone mode or integrated into a network. For locations with power but no connectivity, the USB port can operate using 3G wireless networks to receive and play content continuously. The USB port also can accommodate touchscreens for kiosk displays, Gefen says.
According to the company, the Digital Signage Creator is a green AV product that uses a maximum of 2W of energy to power all of its functions. The unit has no fan and generates little heat. It is also set to automatically power down if no content is playing.
The Digital Signage Creator is highly configurable, Gefen says. Users can choose to manually customize all settings, such as aspect ratio and resolution, or opt to have the Digital Signage Creator automatically scale the video and use the default settings. Installers can easily create custom boot screens for their customers to further enhance the user experience, says the company.
Gefen’s Digital Signage Creator comes with VGA with audio and HDMI outputs that can both be used simultaneously, reducing the need for a splitter if users want to deliver content to two displays at the same time. Supported resolutions include 1080p/30 and 720p/60. An RS-232 port via serial connection allows users to interface with other equipment, such as a Gefen switcher, if they need to play 1080p full HD or control volume and power. Automatic EDID detection eliminates rebooting in the field. Both horizontal and vertical alignments are supported.
