Endpoint devices are the media players at the end of the network connection driving display devices (TFT-LCDs, plasmas, LED walls, etc.). They are implemented in various technologies.
Wintel PC
Digital signage systems today are often implemented using ordinary desktop IBM-compatible PCs running Microsoft Windows. On top of this, a media player control software is run to play back media files according to a schedule. The main strength of the Wintel PC is flexibility. The main weakness is lack of reliability, as Wintel platforms are known to crash in front of the captive audience.
Linux PC
The Linux PC is a variation of the Wintel PC, running the open source Linux operating system instead of Microsoft Windows. A media player control software running on top of X-windows is often the solution. The upside of Linux PC is a reduction of cost (free operating system) and, some believe, improved reliability of the operating system. The downside is that it still runs on ordinary PC hardware and can be prone to reliability problems.
Mac PC
Another variation of the PC solutions is the Mac PC. With the Mac mini’s introduced at $499 with full media playback capabilities, the Mac PC is an attractive alternative to the Wintel PC, especially for the art savvy content designer. The plus of the Mac PC is a compact form factor and higher level of visual display capabilities. The minus of it is again lack of robustness being a consumer-grade solution.
Software
Often a endpoint technology comes as a software package only. The software runs on one of the hardware systems. The benefit of having a pure software solution is the choice of hardware is open to the integrator and cost can be easier controlled. However the risk here is that a software/hardware combination that is not certified by a vendor can often cause unforeseen problems unless it is well tested before installation.
Non-PC
A number of non-PC solutions exist today, running on various non-Wintel, RISC-based platforms. IC vendors including ESS, Sigma Designs, TI, AMD, Intel all offer solutions that are capable of handling digital signage in a dedicated hardware. The pros of a non-PC solution is by far reliability and often size. However the cons are that display features are often limited to video playback only and can be hard to integrate with real-time reporting systems (arrival/departure information, currency/interest rates, etc.).
Variations of non-PC solutions are described in detail in Part II of this article.
