Environment
Departmental digital signs available from https://its.umich.edu/communication/television-video/digital-signage
Issue
What do I need to think about when deciding where to put a digital sign?
Resolution
Regulatory Requirements
- Must be ADA compliant
- Must meet fire code
If your sign does not meet ADA guidelines and fire code, you may be forced to reinstall.
Infrastructure
- Consult with your facilities team to make sure your current building infrastructure can support your plans for digital signs
- Who will do the physical installation?
- Is power available in the location? If not, who will install the power drop?
- Does the location have wired internet connectivity?
- If not, who will run the network line?
- Wireless internet is not supported
- Choose a location that provides high visibility for the traffic pattern
- Ensure wall mount positioning falls within ADA protrusion limits
- Interactivity falls under "Operable Parts" guidance
- Avoid direct sunlight to minimize glare and light damage to screen
- Be sure positioning doesn't interfere with emergency egress
- Try not to locate a sign in a spot where distraction could cause accidents (such as at a stairwell)
- Room Schedule Displays are smaller screens to be mounted outside of specific rooms to convey calendaring and messages about room availability
Viewing Patterns
Consider the three distinct viewing patterns for Digital Signage when choosing a location for your display.
Point of Transit
When a sign is located in a busy hallway, viewers are likely to see the sign momentarily as they pass by. Their attention is fleeting and you cannot guarantee at what point in a rotation you may catch their attention. This viewing pattern is best for single, simple messages that rotate in order to attract attention.
Examples include:
- Reminders of imminent deadlines ("Students: drop/add deadline is Thursday")
- Campaigns to change behavior ("Remember to check Dental Google+")
- Announcements of an important event happening any moment ("James Earl Jones speaks in Room 210 at noon")
Signs in this viewing pattern tend to be static in nature; that is, users cannot interact with these signs (via touch or other means) in order to accomplish functionality. These are simply signs to be looked at.
Point of Wait
When a sign is located in a lobby, by an elevator, near a service desk, anyplace where people are expected to wait for a bit of time, you have more freedom with content. This viewing pattern lends itself to longer messages, and is best for:
- Informative content (upcoming events, directory/wayfinding information, news)
- Brand-building content
- Feel-good content (fun local trivia, positive news, very brief spotlight on a staff member, etc.) that shortens the perceived wait time
- Design can also be more rich and detailed if desired, as people will have more time to study it
Signs in this viewing pattern tend mostly to be interactive in nature, allowing touch input to facilitate user navigation through menus, wayfinding via maps, scrolling through content, and use of other functionality.
Point of Sale
When a sign is located in a retail space, either near products or by the register, the expectation is that the viewer has a bit more time to read and that the content on the sign may be helpful to them in making purchasing decisions. Uses for this viewing pattern include:
- General information, such as menus of products/services and store hours
- Calls to action, such as announcing a sale, touting a specific product, or making an appeal for donations to a cause
- Strong design may be most important here, where sales rely on brand and visual appeal
Signs in this viewing pattern tend mostly to be static in nature.
Additional Information
Digital Signage Service page
Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Center.