Our Credentials
Our involvement with digital signage is a result of 23 years of pushing the
boundaries in the provision of creative services as well as hardware and
software sales. Having developed a high level of in-house expertise in these
areas, the transition into the digital signage arena was smooth.
We now offer end-to-end digital signage solutions providing everything from
software and screen installation to network management and graphics.
We provide the expertise that can make all aspects of digital signage easy for
your business.
At Freehand, we understand that the core element to any signage network is
content, and our in-house production department will spend the time necessary
to understand your requirements and create signage that communicates
dynamically with your audience.
Our customers love our "one-stop-shop" solution as they do not have to invest
time and money in purchasing digital signage solutions from a hardware/software
supplier and then also have to seek out a design company which not only has the
skills but understands the concept of digital signage.
This places Freehand in a unique position and is further strengthened when our
team of 24 technicians and designers constantly push the boundaries and achieve
the unachievable in terms of delivering to tight deadlines without any
compromise to the quality of the finished product.
A background to digital signage
Digital Signage is a phrase coined to describe the use of a display device
driven by a media player to present a variety of information, entertainment or
advertising to an audience who are in a position to view such a display
normally for a relatively short time. Display devices can be large format
plasma or LCD screens (panel), projectors or computer display monitors.
Digital Signage is a very flexible medium with many uses.
Example 1: Information delivery
By showing current travel, public or consumer information digital display keeps
the public updated, informed and targeted. Examples are widely seen at airports
and railway stations showing arrivals and departures. This technology is also
used in Doctors Surgeries, Dentists, Hospitals, Schools and Colleges. In fact
anywhere where there is a need to display information to help the public.
Example 2: Advertising
Through in-store promotions and "offer" targeting, digital signage is fast
becoming the main solution for all retail outlets ranging from the small local
shopkeeper to the large multi-national supermarket. It is also used in sports
facilities such as gymnasiums and recreation centres as a dual purpose solution
whereby in addition to providing public information, the same display can be
used for advertising whether it is promoting the facilities of the club or
promoting sponsors' products and services.
Example 3: Entertainment
Another benefit of digital signage is that in addition to information and
advertising, it can also be used as an entertainment medium. It is widely used
to provide live or video & tv entertainment to reduce customers perceived
waiting times. This is becoming increasingly popular in outlets such as car
showrooms, theatre and cinema foyers, even your local Video & DVD rental
outlet.
Why choose digital signage
Think of the restaurant that wants to promote it's "daily specials", the retail
outlet which wants to show "sale" items, or even the health or country club
which wants to inform their clients of forthcoming events. All these can be
created using a digital signage solution rapidly and at far lower cost than
providing "print" advertising material, much of which may then be discarded
once the event has passed.
This form of advertising is growing at a faster rate than any other type of
advertising, (excluding internet advertising), and this growth is coming at the
expense of traditional media. The growth can be attributed to two key factors:
firstly the declining cost of the displays and networking technology that
connects digital signs makes it an affordable option, but most important of all
is the increased effectiveness of digital signage over traditional printed
displays.
Recently published research identified that an advert on a digital signage
system caught consumer's attention 63% of the time. By comparison magazines
scored 57%, TV 47% and the Internet 40%.
Digital signage options
Digital Poster
The simplest and lowest cost solution is a digital poster which is very similar
to the digital photo frames you may have seen. This poster comprises an LCD
screen with an inbuilt memory card reader and processor to display the
images.
Images can be stored on the memory card and when the unit is switched on, these
images will be displayed in sequence on the screen. An "image" could be a pack
shot of a product which you are selling, it could be a text screen describing a
special offer or it could even contain a video-clip. All these images can be
displayed with or without sound.
The Digital Poster has its own inbuilt computer which will allow you to set
start and end times for each group of images that have been set-up in a
"play-list". This allows you to show different groups of images at different
times of the day. It also allows you to vary the time an individual screen is
displayed, giving the person viewing more time to read posters with lots of
information and maybe less time where there is very little information.
For more demanding applications we can supply LCD Large Format Displays. These can be provided with and without TV Tuners. Sizes can range from 32" again up to 84" diagonal.
For single screen applications, typically a PC will contain the Digital Signage program and this will be output to the Large Format Display screen. Ideally this should be a dedicated PC and we can provide micro-PC's which can attach to the rear of the screen thus eliminating the need to house the PC on a desk or on the floor.
We supply a very elegant solution from Samsung which comprises of a large format LCD screen (32", 40", 46" , 52", 57" or even 70") with an inbuilt "networked" PC containing not only the digital signage software and the program which has been designed for you, but we also have the ability to remotely update your signage message over the internet. This also provides a lower cost solution than traditionally having a separate PC to run the Digital Signage application (although this option is often preferred for larger installations).
Networked Groups of Displays / Multiple Locations
We are appointed agents for the highly regarded InfoCaster Digital Signage software from Harris Inc. This software is capable of supporting multiple zones on a single screen, multiple screens within a specific area, multiple areas within a particular location, and of course multiple locations. We are currently creating the graphics and supplying the solutions for a "roll-out" which will ultimately encompass up to 1,000 screens in over 100 locations all managed from a central source. Whatever your requirement, whether it be from a single digital poster to a large Digital Signage network, Freehand can provide the total solution.
We will provide full training on the design packages that you will use, or alternatively Freehand can create the digital signage content for you.
For a range of our Digital Signage solutions please click here.
for more information please contact Chris Wright