Digital View Blog

Shown here is a panel we connected up the other day for testing, a Sharp 1280 x 480 pixel display. This panel is certainly novel with a 8:3 aspect ratio and looks very suitable for a range of signage and instrumentation applications – we are considering using it with our media players and providing it as a display for digital signage applications such as in retail and museums.

For this test it was connected to a Digital View ALR-1400 LCD interface controller but it can also be matched with other Digital View controllers.

Details are on our controller solution generator here, the model is Sharp LQ123K1LG03.

As a proof of concept for the use of the RS-232 capability on our LCD controllers we recently made a small joystick, slider and button control board for our SVX-1920 controller (see picture), this connects to the controller RS-232 port. For this test we programmed the board for:

• Picture in Picture (PiP): A single button press turns the PiP window on/off. The joystick moves the PiP window around and the slider adjusts the size of the PiP window. Another button selects different PiP modes.
• On-screen markers: A single button hotkeys through various on-screen markers.
• On-screen (OSD) menu: A single button turns the OSD menu on//off.

It works excellently, the PiP window size adjustment is very responsive and smooth using the slider and the position is easily and quickly adjusted with the joystick.

The idea behind this is to show a few of the ways that the RS-232 interface can be used to make a display much more than just a simple monitor by using some of the innovative features in Digital View controllers.

We will be putting this control board in a housing and also test with other other control presets for the buttons, slider and joystick. The SVX-1920 protocols for RS-232 are extensive so the range potential functions that this sort of interface board can be used with is considerable. Other Digital View controllers also support RS-232 so this capability is not limited to the SVX-1920. 

Update: We added a housing as shown to make it easier to use the joystick for demonstration and testing.

Many people associate night-vision with red or green images however when designing a display system that optimizes image detail and preserves a users ability to see in low light other factors are worth considering:

• Color palette: Tuning the color palette for night-safe colors may help preserve image information and usability. Factors to consider:
  • De-saturating shorter wavelength colors, ie those towards the blue end of the spectrum.
  • Adjusting the gamma curve to emphasize detail in low light areas of the image.
  • Combining all colors to Red mono or Green mono.
  • Using the Red or Green channel only.
• Brightness: When working in a low light environment a night-save setting may require a maximum limit on the display brightness setting. When invoked it makes sense that brightness adjustment operates with a suitable level of adjustment resolution over the new limit.
• Controls: Being able to invoke the night-safe easily and effectively will be a key element:
  • Auto settings: For example an light sensor is used to invoke the night-safe settings.
  • External control: This is where external equipment switches the display system to its night-safe settings, it could be a clock or as part of a larger display and system infrastrcture.
  • User control: To make things easy for a user a single button access for night-safe settings as well as controls that remain readily accessible and readable in low light conditions.

IMAGES

The top image is the original; the 2nd is with blue removed, gamma adjusted to bring out detail in shadows and is suitable for having the brightness reduced in low light conditions; the 3rd image is red only; the 4th is green only. (Note: It seems that the pictures align properly on the right in Firefox and Safari but not in Internet Explorer).

Various Digital View controllers support all of the above, details can be found from the individual controller manuals, the application notes for RS-232 and the Serial Utility as well as from Digital View directly. A good model to consider is the SVX-1920 or upcoming harsh environments version the HX-1920.

Touchscreens are in fashion, popularized initially by kiosks but most recently by smart-phones led by the Apple iPhone they are also being used for interactive retail media systems. But what about buttons – the humble button deserves consideration, it is intuitive and low cost, easy to install and reliable. The following is a brief look at some of the issues…

• Intuitive: Buttons are very intuitive, you see a button you know it is there to be pressed. Touchscreens need content that makes it clear that the display is touch-sensitive and where to touch.
• Cost: Generally buttons will be lower cost, possibly by a very considerable margin.
• Space: Buttons need space whereas touchscreens only take up the space of the display, this can be a key factor for shelf-edge displays in retail.
• Reliability: Both are likely to be quite reliable though touch panels may suffer from being too sensitive or not sensitive enough
• Feedback: You know when you have pressed a button but with a touchscreen users are never quite sure until the system responds.
• Dynamic function: With a touch screen it is relatively easy to make the button function context sensitive. Buttons can have on-screen descriptions (as with ATM cash machines) but that can lead to alignment issues.
• Calibration: Buttons don’t need calibration, neither do segment type touch screens.
• Design: Buttons come in all shapes, sizes and with a range of design and labeling options.
• Personal preference: Very often a key deciding factor.

So don’t forget buttons – they are very engaging.

The AVX-1920 is the first in a range of video scaler, switcher, converter and image processor products that Digital View will be launching over the coming months. This particular model provides a range of inputs with an HDMI output supporting video and images up to 1080p (1920×1080). Amongst its advanced features is a flexible PiP (Picture in Picture) capability with transparency adjustment, network control and a number of professional quality image adjustment features.

This will be followed by a version supporting DVI output and then 1U rack-mount versions with VGA and other outputs. In addition there will be greater support for audio switching.

The image quality of the AVX-1920 and future models is and will be excellent as they build upon Digital View’s 15 years LCD controller experience and expertise.

The latest version of the Digital View 10″ VideoFlyer (VF100W) was unveiled the other day. This is a complete redesign based around the M3-310 integrated media player & LCD controller.

The most apparent result of this new design is the slimmer housing and narrower bezel with other modifications making the unit more attractive and fit for purpose – VideoFlyers are designed for use in retail promotion shelf edge signage and POP fixtures as well as museums and galleries.

Some of the special features, in addition to being a fully solid-state MPEG and JPEG media player & display system include:

• USB content update, this is an automated process.
• Connection for external buttons for interactivity and control.
• Support for DV Remote, a PC based remote control application.
• Built in speakers with volume control as well as stereo audio output.
• RS-232 connection for external device connection and control.
• Motion detector and bar-code reader options.
• Infra-red remote control support.
• Easily adapts to an open-frame bezel mount media-player/display.

The 10″ wide-screen panel is superb, together with the rugged housing and built around the proven Digital View M3 media player architecture this is a great little media-player display system.

We recently launched a new software utility for real-time control of Digital View media players. This is different from our existing content management and scheduling systems as used in networked digital signage applications as it is intended for direct, real-time control as may be more typically used in an AV installation.

Details in brief:

• The DV Remote Utility is a PC based application for real-time remote control of a  Digital View ViewStream 300 or ViewStream 500 media player over a network or RS-232 connection.
• Functions include all the common DVD player type commands such as Play, Pause, Stop, Next track, Previous Track as well as track name feedback.
• When used with a ViewStream 300 a Digital View IP-50 is used for the network connection.
• Integrated within the DV Remote is another utility that helps locate the media player on the network, this can save a network administrator from having to search through router logs.
• At present this is Windows based but a Mac version is due in the near future.

Last month our UK office put together a brief video demonstration video showing how to connect up and synchronize three LCD displays running off M3-300 media player boards (equivalent to ViewStream 300 players). This video was posted to the Digital View YouTube account as an informal demonstration for internal review purposes but is still there and really does show how easy the setup is.

These are normal off-the-shelf Digital View M3-300 players, the connection between them is RS-232. An application note for this is being posted to the Digital View website on the media player documentation page: http://www.digitalview.com/viewstream/documentation.php (listed under Application Notes / Playback Synchronization).

Amazingly easy.

May 2009 marks 4 years since the first digital escalator displays went in at Tottenham Court Rd underground train station in London. This was a milestone for the digital signage industry as not only was it a major installation of solid-state media players with screen to screen synchronization (which has been used to tremendous effect) but  it was also a significant move by one of the top four outdoor advertising agencies – Viacom at the time.

Digital View provided the media players and various technology including the content management system working with Esprit Digital who provided the DEPs (Digital Escalator Panels) and project managed the whole thing. We hear that the system far exceeded its reliability requirements which were demanding in a very demanding environment – indeed the units are still running. Esprit Digital have continued to supply DEPs as more stations have been added to the network.

The recently launched SVX-1920 LCD interface controller provides a number of features well suited to digital signage display systems. A quick overview of the relevant features includes:

• Full HD 1080p video support with a range of inputs including HDMI and Component.
• RS-232 and Ethernet interface for remote monitoring and control.
• Multi-panel brand & model support, see Digital View’s CSG (Controller Solution Generator for LCD panel details).
• Native 10 bit LCD panel support – over 1 billion colors, not just 16 million.
• 120Hz LCD panel support for smoother motion in video and scrolling text, uses optional IE-1000.
• Works with DisplayMark for verification of LCD panel operation.

It is available now.