Choosing Your Display: Commercial TVs, Video Walls, and Smart Boards

These days, we are constantly surrounded by screens. For businesses, digital displays, or simply signage, serve different functions. They can be used to advertise sales or promotions, inform customers about new products or services, and direct customers to your store or office.

Digital displays can be used to create a more interactive customer experience. For instance, you could use a digital display to showcase customer testimonials or show real-time inventory levels. No matter how you use them, digital displays are a powerful tool for any business.

Next, we compare the three most common instances and uses:

When to Use a Commercial TV?

Commercial TVs are visually similar to your TV at home, but differ when it comes to functionally. The key differentiator is the duration. Commercial TVs are designed to operate for long periods of time and display dynamic content to customers. These units were designed to last and are typically made from high-quality materials that can stay on for hours on end. As customers in your business come in and out, these displays stay on – for hours on end. While there is less focus on the software functionality (whew!), these units are specifically designed to be durable and withstand the rigors of constant use.

Additionally, commercial TVs include features that allow them to be controlled remotely, which allows to easily change the channel or adjust the volume. The same top brands that make residential displays also make commercial displays – that’s like Samsung, Sharp, Phillips, Sony and others. All provide equally great support for all their models.

The installation of a commercial TV may not be tricky, but the configuration with other technology in your space is. If you're looking to install a new TV (or a few) for your business or public space, we can do that for you – and make sure it syncs up with your whole system. Properly.

Where Do Video Walls Work Best?

When it comes to massive and eye-catching displays, video walls are it to promote your business and grab attention. The two common types of video walls are LCD and LED. While both are a good investment, each have very specific applications.

Video walls became more popular after the price of flat screens went down. An LED wall is made of many smaller LED panels, while LCD video walls are made up of small TVs and the downside is “window panning” effect where you see a minor seam where they connect. Most will have their own software, therefore, you can manage them individually or as a whole if they are all networked together. Today, we mostly install LED panel walls due to the quality and price.

When installing, we always want to think about five factors:

How much do the seams (and placement) matter?
What is the size? And shape?
Where will the video wall live? Inside or outside?
How important is the brightness?

Direct view LED work well in concerts or sports stadiums – outside or inside.

Ten years ago, you would rarely have a direct view LED wall in a conference room simply due to the cost. Today, we are seeing video walls becoming more common because of the affordability factor. Recently, we installed a 2’ x 2’ video wall with each panel being 55” in a lobby for one of our customer to communicate event schedules and display relevant content. We have also installed displays that are 2’ wide by three stories tall. The possibilities are truly endless.

When it comes to deciding which one is right for you, it depends on your needs. If you want something that will make a statement and be very noticeable, then go with an LED panel wall. If you need something more subtle, LCD might be a better option. Consider also how often you'll be changing the content on your signage. If it's going to be frequently, then you will want something that's easy to update without having to call in a technician (or do – we’re close by). Video walls are an impressive way to get your message across, so choose wisely and make sure it meets your needs!

For video wall, the top brands are Planar and Barco, and they are excellent for businesses with a lot of space to fill such as clothing stores, agencies, or restaurants.

Why Smart Boards are Becoming More Common?

What’s an interactive smart board (or a whiteboard), and what does it do? These are a step up from commercial TVs or a video walls we discussed here. If you have ever used this new(er) technology, you know how convenient and user-friendly it can be. Smart boards have become increasingly common in educational institutions, government agencies, and commercial enterprises and stand out with the interactive functionality. With so many uses, it is no wonder that these devices are more and more popular.

Interactive smart boards can be used to give presentations, view multimedia content, and even play games. With this tool, multiple people can engage in a collaborative experience to take notes, annotate content, and share screens. You can use the display as a touchscreen device, while it is plugged into your laptop or a computer to teach a lesson or work with your team on a project. The uses are endless.

The best brands for acquiring a smart board are Optoma and Sharp.