Using TVs to Display Information

[dgiles79]

I need some input on the best way to get information displayed on multiple TVs in a call center.

I'm covering a large building, and I have all my hardware picked out (I will be using 4 x AT-HDCAT-8 amplifiers, and AT-HDRX receivers for each TV), but the thing I'm struggling with, is the best way to get information on to the TVs.

They want to be able to display messages to the call center floor, either using powerpoint slides or other graphical media, and the distributers I am using have 2 HDMI inputs.

Do I just need to have a PC with HDMI output hooked up to each distributer, and just pull up a slide to display it? It seems like there should be a better or more professional method of getting the information to the TVs than just mirroring a PC screen though.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[OfficeTechs]

there are a few digital signage solutions around, some of which are free which would suit your needs.

 

[300DDR]

We just setup two tvs. They are connected to a mac mini (1 via HDMI, 1 via DVI->HDMI adapter). We use Keynote slideshows exported to a video file and then played using VLC (which has nice options like choosing which monitor to output to by default). VLC plays on one display, the other display has a desktop background that changes every 1 minute (with similar info to video playing on other TV). Working great so far. Not sure if it will work in your situation, but I think cheaper than a full-fledged signage program. *I'm sure this can all be done with a PC instead of mac, but the mini is easily wall-mounted behind the TVs.

Here's what our setup looks like:

 

[4ycr]

I have used Xibo for a client, while okay I would prefer to switch them as the news feed is jerky and different parts can't sync with each other so it can be easy to have things go out of sync but they are happy.

I have tried one other but couldn't get the news feed to work properly.

 

[FoolishTech]

+1 for Xibo, I personally use it. It's the only free digital signage out there with all the features it has - it can also run your powerpoint slides, however the full version of powerpoint (not just the viewer) is required. It's pretty clunky to use on the server end, the interface leaves a lot to be desired, and there is a bit of a learning curve with setup and usage... but it would do the job for you.

 

[4ycr]

foolish, Do you have any tips to smooth out a scrolling RSS feed?

 

[FoolishTech]

none whatsoever I haven't setup RSS on it yet, though I *NEED* to badly to keep the content fresh a lot easier, especially now that we have several related blogs to display. But so far I've only used it for pics and flash video which I converted from various sources like wmv and even powerpoint because we don't have the full version of powerpoint on all of our clients. I do use a dual display pane setup but haven't bothered syncing the panes as the bottom strip only displays phone/web/etc. I don't even use Xibo for plain text, I write text in MSPAINT and save it as a JPEG because working with the Xibo text component is crap.

 

[TenYardFight]

I think all these solutions have a PC outputting the video. I agree that's the way to go.

That said, I have sign company client. They sell a package that does what you're talking about with a USB stick. You'd have to walk to every TV and remove the USB, program it, and replace it every time the message changed though...

What about making a twitter feed just for the call center, and having them all display that twitter feed? ...or this: Full screen a browser pointed to yourwebsite.com/image.jpg. Use a plugin to make it auto refresh every 60 seconds. Replace the image when you want the message to change. You can give them a UI to do it.

 

[skdmaster]

I use a Roku box attached to the back of 40" TV connected via HDMI and to the wireless network. I setup a Picasa private folder and installed the app on the Roku for Picasa Slideshows. Pointed the app to the account/folder and have a slideshow running in the showroom with pricing and info. I can upload new slides anytime to the folder I just have to exit the app and go back into it to refresh the new slides but otherwise works really well.

 

[TenYardFight]

Pretty brilliant.....

 

[dgiles79]

Thanks for the input everyone. I will present them with the different options, and see what they would prefer.