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QEII Conference Centre A Digital Signage System for the QEII Conference Centre
Digital Signage is the latest technology for the dynamic display of information in the audio-visual industry. Feltech are one of the market leaders in the full integration of digital signage systems. The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, a premier purpose-built venue in its The QEIICC has four main auditoriums, seven conference rooms and over 20 smaller meeting rooms across seven floors and 2000 square metres of exhibition space. Digital signage technology is the dynamic way of indicating directions to the right room for visitors. Way-finding: an even better service
The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre needs a secure system to provide way-finding around the Centre and add to the technological infrastructure – and all of this by following the environmental policies of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). In addition to the way-finding benefits of the system, The QEIICC will to benefit from increased revenue streams from the sale of advertising space for clients on the system. The whole system is based on a networked solution, run from a central location within The QEIICC and includes remote management of the system from Feltech’s offices. Why has The QEIICC chosen Feltech and dZine? The QEIICC instigated a tender process in line with European tender guidelines, advertising in the Official Journal of the European Community. Feltech won the tender and implemented the dZine turn key solution for digital signage. The QEIICC and Feltech chose the dZine solution because of a 15-year track record and a distribution of over 75,000 players worldwide.
Feltech developed a software 'patch' between The QEIICC's diary system and the new signage software. This enables the Centre to retrieve content from a database automatically, as part of the Centre's event listings. Feltech supplied, installed and commissioned all the screens required within the budget and timescale of the customer. On top of its large-scale project management experience, Feltech is known for its position at the forefront of the visual communications industry by embracing the latest technology and techniques. In a term of three years, The QEIICC will have implemented 64 displays each with its own graphic processor to allow bespoke content through out the centre. State-of-the-art technology Because The QEIICC has a strong commitment to improve performance, a lot of requirements have to be met. Feltech chose dZine, a Belgian technology company, because they offered The QEIICC digital signage, supporting both videos and graphics and being compatible with common media formats. dZine was chosen because of 5 key differentiators in their turn key digital signage solution: 1. Non-windows, non-Linux platform: network security risk free, extreme high reliability (no windows updates, no blue screens, operating system and firmware sites on solid state compact flash) resulting in measured uptimes >98%. 2. User friendliness of the content creator tool and content distributor tool. 3. High flexibility in integration using simple ODBC links (displaying real time information from back end systems, RSS feeds, interfacing with fire alarm and evacuation). 4. Very high installed base (>75000 players worldwide) – hardware supported for 10 years; in The QEIICC roll-out of three years, dZine can guarantee the same hardware platform for the players, which is not the case with PCs where the builds are changing every three to four months. 5. The presence of a full HD compatibility.
Easy to use page editing software content creation and built-in scheduler for content distribution were also some of the software requirements. A central computer server complete with dZine server software stores all the shared graphical resources and scheduling software and is connected to all the remote display screens. The system will improve the way-finding around the Centre. The speed and efficiency that electronic signage will bring to clients and staff will seriously enhance the service on offer. First class communication and co-operation between the Project Management/System integrator and manufacturer was essential to the project’s satisfactory completion. That is why Feltech and dZine worked together on the project. Feltech will fully support and maintain all of the equipment and systems for the lifetime of the system. Eco friendly The QEIICC respects a constant commitment to improve performance, especially in relation to environmental issues. There will be a dramatic impact in the reduction of waste paper produced by the current signage system. The time spend to fix up the paper guidance posts is also greatly reduced. Digital signage technology reduces costs and increases efficiency in every way.
Systems Designer: Peter Fell Project Manager: Tony Whybrow |
