lessons learned at wayne state university a … centralized approach to digital signage ... nec...

A CENTRALIZED APPROACH

TO DIGITAL SIGNAGE

Lessons Learned at Wayne State University

Internet2 Fall 2011 Member Meeting

David W. Fleig, PMP

Project Manager, Wayne State University

Patrick J. Gossman, Ph.D.

Deputy CIO, Wayne State University


Wayne State Fast Facts

32,000 students

13 schools and colleges

400 degree and certificate programs

Most diverse university in Michigan:

students from 50 states and 70+ countries

Six extension centers throughout

Southeast Michigan

Tenth-largest Detroit employer


Overview

Goals of the Project

Organization (People, Funding, Content)

Technology (Hardware, Software, Network)

Successes

Lessons Learned

Future


Goal: From this…


To this…


Pretty simple, eh?

Launch digital signage as a . . .

University-wide collaborative,

Across schools and colleges,

Across multiple campuses,

Showcase important people, news

and events

Inform ourselves and visitors

Build unit recognition and the WSU brand


A bit more complex… Project

Management

(C&IT)

President

VP

Chief of Staff

Budget Office

C&IT

CIO’s Office

Infrastructure & Operations

Enterprise Applications

Customer Service

Network Security

Telecom

Video & TV

Business Operations

Communications

Marketing

VP

Graphic Design

Content Development

News & Information

Services

Facilities

Project Managers

Architecture &

Engineering

Construction Trades

Inspection & Life Safety

Art Curator

Purchasing

Buyer Software

Buyer Hardware

Legal

Dept / College

(Customers)

Deans

Directors

Staff

Students

Extension Centers

Vendors

Software

Hardware

Training

Installation

Maintenance


Here are the politics…

Lots of different players

Different wants and desires

Different content

Who will pay?

Who will have control?

Pressure for advertising


Competing Goals

Goals

Image

Inform, Unify, and Market

Branding

Timeframe: Immediate vs. Planned

Content: Local vs. University

Control (Content and Look): Local vs. University

Funding and Resources


Everyone wins


Content/Image Control Model

Image and Design – Marketing and

Communications

Central Content – Marketing and

Communications

Local Content – Local School/College/Dept


Funding Model

Central funding from President’s office

Central hardware and software

Signs in general purpose areas

Local funding from units

Local signs

Installation and replacement

Support from C&IT

Software

Central and remote support staff


Just the University


Shared Space


Shared Time


Local, University, National


How did we get here?

Project chartered in Fall 2008

Great team formed

Agreed to work toward the common goal

Architectural team understood value of

standardization, centralization

Multiple funding sources and multiple

ownership helped tie all together


Successes

Great team!

It looks good!

We are “catching eyeballs”

Many positive comments about image of

WSU and reaction to postings

Love time and weather, CNN with captions

Central support great in eyes of customer

End result: It works!


Lessons Learned

Top Support – policy and funding

Must have a clear goal and buy-in by

entire team

Easier to centralize BEFORE everyone

adopts their own standard

It’s all about the content

You can’t get everyone to play

It takes a long time


Challenges

Bring all schools and colleges into the fold

Content creation limited by staffing, both

central and local

Create once, publish everywhere has

limitations

Not making use of extensive software

capabilities yet

What happens in 3 years?


Future

Student channel

More signs

Get outliers in

More tailored content

Survey – What do customers like/dislike?


Technology

Getting Started

Location

Architecture

Installation

Equipment

Construction

Challenges

Examples

Future

Lessons Learned


Getting Started

Two Tech Teams

Hardware and software

Architecture and network design

Goal – Single Source

Accountability and coordination

Standard RFP Approach

Software

Hardware


Getting Started

“No Dark Signs”

Key philosophy

Development Stations

Marketing

IT Customer Service

IT Enterprise Applications


Present Day

45+ signs installed

25+ buildings

May be one or more sign per building


Location, Location, Location

Goal – “Capture eyeballs”

Customer First

Environment

Heat

Ambient light

Security

Display size


Architecture

How does it work?

No precedent

Centralized

Virtual

Production

Development

Common image


Architecture


Installation

More than “Just hang a display…”

“No Dark Signs” Buy it…

Hardware & Software

Build it…

Prepare walls or ceilings

Field conditions, historic buildings, etc.

IT

Program it…

Push content

Finally…Light up the sign!


Equipment

Flat panel display

Computer

Software

Mount


Equipment NEC 52” or 46” LCD displays

1920 x 1080p HDTV 16:9

Narrow bezel, Commercial

Players

Now Micro DMP-900

Small form factor computer

Fast and powerful as possible

“Keep it cool”

Software

Four Winds Interactive, Inc.

Content manager

Player application

Windows 7

Common Image


Construction


Let’s count the trades…

Construction

“No Dark Signs”

Coordination

Trades

Carpenters

Painters

Electricians

Communications

Technical staff

Audio-Visual


Cost & Time

Construction

$500 - $5,000…depends

Equipment

$4,000 per sign…all in

Total

$7,500

Average per sign

Lead times

3 to 45 days


AC Power


Power failures

Significant challenge Players (computers)

OS (Windows 7)

Displays

Be Prepared… Random recovery

Solution Small, disposable UPS?

Not tried yet

Heat & Ventilation

Significant challenge

Content impact


HOT

SPOT

Heat & Ventilation


Heat & Ventilation


Alternative

MUCH

COOLER

Heat & Ventilation


College of Nursing

Ventilation Critical !!!

Examples


Law School ceiling mount

Examples


School of Business 2 x 2 array

Examples


Near an elevator

Examples


Recessed Mounts…careful…


Real time monitoring

Audio, video and closed captioning

MPEG-4 AVC (Part 10)

H.264

HD 720p

6.5 Mbps

Multicast

VLC

Loudspeakers

CC text

Other Issues

Future

Interactivity – unlikely, but maybe…

Emergency messaging

Audio

Live streaming of special events

Enhanced remote management

Improved monitoring and QC

Additional signs


Successes

Great teamwork

Great partners

Solid design

Centralized

Smooth integration

Satisfied customers


Lessons Learned

Heat

AC power

Customer service and maintenance

Spares and warranties

Player computing power

Content impact

Networking

Centralized operations

Test and development facilities

Training

Codes and inspections


Thanks!

Please feel free to give

us a call


David W. Fleig, PMP

Project Manager, Wayne State University

[email protected]

(313) 577-0845


For more info…

mailto:[email protected]

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