In the past two years, digital signage has been spotlighted as a new core market segment. As such, more and more related vendors are expected to get involved in its diverse application entry-level to high-level product portfolio development. The digital signage concept was brought into the global specialized exhibition in 2007, and since then, a wealth of opportunities have presented themselves in a range of applications from small-size to extra-large video walls.

 

As a first mover vendor who brings the video wall concept into full play, IEI makes great efforts on its digital signage total solution. Guided by its flagship iSignage brand,  based on a turnkey strategy, as well as a full range for integrated applications, the corporation has established a firm upper hand in the field.

 

'We at IEI think that digital signage is a concept that should enable users to run a variety of applications in concert with one another. Our strategy is rooted in providing our customers a total one-stop solution, while market segmentation prevents us from fierce competition with the related vendors,' indicates David Lin, Vice President of Enrich Business Center, IEI Technology Corp.

 

Nowadays, digital signage development provides the greatest opportunities for profits within commercial broadcasting. Indeed, digital signage is especially dynamic development that embodies rich ubiquitous applications and business opportunities. As a whole, it provides three key benefits: first, as a dynamic feature that the information and content is able to update instantly, secondly as multimedia player, and finally by delivering messages to targeted audiences at specific locations and times.

 

By focusing on turnkey and full range product offerings, IEI hopes to provide a total solution that blends integrated services with a variety of applications and user environments. Therefore the company is confident that they are capable of providing digital signage total solutions to products including, but not limited to, players, content creation software and administrating console with great flexibility and know-how technology, and complete standard from Risc to X86 solution.

 

This year IEI has focused their product line to address lower-cost X86-based software with an eye towards higher performance at competitive prices. Recognizing that the consumer's primary business model revolves around software domain as the key application development, IEI tries to make software easier to use, as well as easily meet customer's needs.

 

Lin explains, 'take our iSigange Frame software for example, which covers 7', 8', 10', 12', 15' supporting remote update content or management via LAN or Wireless LAN. We're hoping that our product portfolio will replace the traditional video or CD player that offers discount and product information to consumers in the shopping mall.'

 

IEI's software achieved the first 2008 DIGI Award for Digital Signage Excellence. Its iSignage AdDesign software features user-friendly with intuitive drag and flexible layout design within content editing, and iSignager-500A/500H mainstream level added a new standard 'HDMI' interfaces with an external device connection, as well as supports Full HD (1080i/p) content output display. 

 

When asked about IEI's advantages, Lin indicates that quickness and customization are the leading advantage exhibited by IPC vendors. In contrast with its competitors, the company focuses on routinely changing customer needs in order to quickly drive integrated system and services innovation during every development stage.

 

IEI's new generation video wall solution is based on the X86 standard, which more flexibly supports playing Flash, webpage, as well as more than two commercials at a time. The company anticipates achieving higher future commercial benefits by extending the idea of connecting with an all-in-one display-Panel PC concept into POS system.

 

When it comes to the high-end level solution, IEI emphasizes its iSignager-800/1000 standalone player, and VWBOX series for video wall display integration. IEI is eager to deliver customers with an option to choose an IEI's video wall rather than simply buying a large-size LCD display.

 

Thinking outside of the box regarding large-size video wall all the time, requires many graphic cards, energy dissipation, and high installation costs. Due to their complicated and somewhat expensive nature, few consumers are able to access the video wall market. 'IEI, on the other hand, strives to make video wall available to a broad market. Our video wall solution features space saving, fanless but in great thermal performance, only one graphic card needed, and cost efficiency as well,' Lin says.

 

Conveniently reducing the number of graphic cards in a video wall unit to one specialized card, IEI has streamlined the previously complicated graphic network needed for connecting to other devices, By using a consumer-grade and cost-effective Dual-link DVI graphic card, consumers may find it easier to enter the market, and as that market grows, so to will product development and innovation.   

 

Aside from commercial applications, the Dual-link DVI graphic card presents diverse development opportunities. How about bringing this concept into security application? Utilizing IP cameras and video walls will allow users to concurrently view clear, divided picture surveillance. In the meantime, medical, traffic and stock information applications provide avenues for imaginative innovation.

 

All along, IEI hopes to create more products with added value for a variety of applications across fields. The video wall trend supports this idea, which is especially regarded as a beneficial solution that allows cost-effective application usage, such as professional visual, public displays, broadcasting, central monitoring, food courts, hospitals, security and more. Combined with digital signage's interactive capabilities, through such devices as RFID, GPS, POS, reader and so on, the development will no longer be limited to digital signage alone.

 

One of the biggest challenges for IEI comes from establishing public recognition. The corporation keeps focusing on cooperation with general channel as SI partners, committing high-end product portfolio in competitive price to other application market.

 

 

iSignage-500A

IEI VWBOX can be connected with the general PC and notebook via one DVI cable to display the high-resolution image. Get through to Windows Desktop and set up the expected resolution in the 'Display Properties', a high-resolution and large-screen video wall image is easily displayed through IEI video wall controller. There is no need for extra PC upgrading for your high-resolution video wall solution.

 

The IEI video wall controller is the first in the market which supports ultra high-resolution image input. Also, IEI VWBOXs can be connected to LCD or DLP panels, video wall cubes, projectors or any monitor that accepts a DVI input signal. Connect the IEI VWBOX with your PC through one DVI cable, a large-screen and high-resolution video wall image is easily displayed, perfect for advertising, central monitoring and surveillance applications.

 

The connection between IEI VWBOXs expands the video wall architecture flexibly from 16 screens to up to 81 screens, bringing cost-effective advantage to super-large-scale video wall. The unique GeniMASK^TM technology adjusts the mask settings of all the video box controllers easily.