Things have changed a lot in the classroom over the last two decades. Students have gone from hauling around backpacks full of heavy textbooks to reading off of tablets and laptops. The usage of this technology not only provides convenience today, but it prepares students for the utilization of future technologies. Following is over 10 ways to use digital signage for school districts.
Schools need a way to display pertinent information to students and faculty, and it needs to be secure, efficient, and reliable. Digital signage is the technologically advanced solution. Enterprise digital signage solutions provide schools the tools they need to display anything they deem valuable to students and faculty and the ability to remotely manage and communicate.
1. News and Announcements
Digital signage software makes it easy to keep school announcements up to date. It can be used to answer the all important question: what’s for lunch? In fact, with the use of excel spreadsheets or Google sheets, the lunch menu can be fed to the software, automating the process. Someone in the cafeteria simply needs to access a spreadsheet containing the lunch menu, and they can update the menu items for the week or schedule the month.
Students and staff can see the menu on the screen as soon as the content is pushed live. Schools don’t need to spend time announcing news and lunch over intercoms every morning anymore, making more time for learning. READ HOW Oak Lawn Community High School saves time everyday with Arreya Digital Signage.
Many schools have countless events throughout the year, football games, parent teacher conferences, and concerts just to name a few. It can be difficult to keep up with, especially if all the signs are paper or handmade. They often need to be thrown away or replaced after the date of the event has passed. Digital signage not only makes it convenient for events to be updated, but it also reduces waste.
2. Wayfinding and Orientation
Trying to make it to all the new classes on time can be stressful, especially if it’s a student’s first year in a new building. It’s easy to forget where all the classrooms are and when each class starts. Wayfinding can reduce some of this stress. Digital signage can come into play here to direct students to the right classroom from day one. It can also display when each class begins and ends. If the presentation is made public, students can access this information right from their phones or laptops.
Maps of the school can be displayed and updated in real time, so if you have new teachers, classes that need to be added, or renovations that are being done, you don’t need to create a new map altogether and throw out the original. This allows teachers to be more flexible and utilize classrooms that best serve the needs of each individual class, while simultaneously showing students where they need to be throughout the day.
3. Roll Call/Attendance
Trying to keep track of student attendance can be a difficult task, and it’s imperative that staff know where students are at all times. Digital signage can help by allowing students to interact when they come in or out of a class. They could be required to type their name, upload a file, or simply touch the screen to show that they are physically where they need to be.
4. Digital Assignments
The more technical and digital skills students can learn, the better. Some schools are already allowing students to create and upload presentations to their digital signs as assignments. Teachers are able to monitor the content they upload prior to pushing it live to their screens, so there’s no risk of inappropriate content being uploaded. Students get to see the work they did come to life on devices across the school, whether it’s artwork, something they wrote, or just a normal powerpoint presentation. CHECK OUT other ideas on how students can get involved with digital signage software.
5. Alerting Students and Faculty of Danger
While everyone is at school to learn and grow, safety is always the number one priority. In the event that there is ever a lockdown situation, or impending dangerous weather, digital displays have the ability to notify everyone instantaneously. The signs can display instructions to everyone on where to go and what to do, reducing panic, and giving people vital information they need to stay safe. Digital signs can be connected to softwares like ALERTUS , which allow staff members to push alerts to all signs with the tap of a button on a smartphone. A few seconds could make the difference in a dangerous situation. That’s why having a plan in place is so critical.
6. Cancellations or Delays
Every winter, schools in cold-weather states have to deal with snow, ice, and possibly frigid temperatures. Occasionally, the decision needs to be made on whether or not school should be delayed or if a snow day is in order. Administrators can use digital signage software to push out notifications if school or extra curricular activities are delayed, postponed, or canceled. As long as the content is public, anyone can access it from their own device to stay up to date, extending communication beyond students and faculty. CHECK OUT how Franklin Middle school uses Arreya Digital Signage. See how digital signage meets their challenge of engaging with stakeholders outside of their school building and motivating students.
7. Graduation Ceremonies
Graduation is a time for everyone to celebrate. The students’ hard work has paid off, and now it’s time to recognize them. Digital signage can be a great way to do this, not only because it looks great, but because it’s extremely easy to implement. It would work particularly well for a graduation ceremony, because a spreadsheet could be used to feed information about the graduates, similar to the lunch menu we mentioned above. In fact, once the format for the graduation presentation is set, a new spreadsheet could be uploaded each year, and the information on the signs would be updated automatically. This removes the need to print or create new signs each year, reducing waste, and saving time and money.
8. Display Educational Material
Teachers can utilize digital signage software in their classrooms by displaying content relevant to their courses. They can upload previous lectures, notes, videos, deadlines for projects, or the class syllabus. Teachers can even allow students to comment on course related topics, and everyone would be able to see what they wrote on the display.
9. Secure Displays
One of the biggest concerns that come to mind with digital signage in schools is hacking. The last thing parents and faculty want is something inappropriate being displayed on their screens. There are many options in terms of locking things down, but one of the best we have found is Google Chrome’s kiosk mode. Kiosk mode prevents students or anyone else from tampering with or changing the content that is being displayed. It won’t allow them to access the web browser, and it won’t allow them to change any text, images, or any other content that has been scheduled. CLICK HERE and Google explains kiosk mode and how to activate it. WATCH A VIDEO on setting up kiosk mode.
10. Social Media
Schools can use digital signage to display live feeds from their Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram accounts. This is just another way to engage with students and update them on what’s going on. Some schools will have Twitter accounts for each team or club they have, and they will post updates on scores or competitions throughout the year. Digital signs are an excellent way to display all of these social media accounts on one screen at the same time.
Total School District Integration
Digital signage software can play a vital role in keeping both students and faculty up to date and engaged. It’s also a great tool to communicate with stakeholders outside of school. It can be used to keep people safe by integrating alert software, and it can be used to recognize students and faculty for their achievements. Hopefully this post gives you some ideas on how digital signage software can benefit your school, not only saving time, money, and resources, but by enriching the learning experience as well.
People have more options now than ever, especially when it comes to food. With a more segmented market, quick service restaurants (QSRs) need a way to separate themselves from the competition. Digital signage for the QSR Industry make restaurants stand above the competition with elegant displays, and we aren’t talking about just menu items. Digital signage software can display almost anything, from infotainment like news and Twitter feeds, to weather and traffic. It’s even capable of live streaming to hundreds of devices simultaneously.
Showcasing the Food
One of the best ways to get someone in the door of the restaurant is to show them food videos and slideshows along with the current menu. Using digital signage in the QSR industry to show videos or images of your food is a great way to entice some hungry customers. Videos of food being prepared could be displayed or just videos of other people enjoying it. This is where high quality images and videos are going to be vital. The clearer and sharper the images are, the better. Being delicious keeps customers coming back, but looking delicious will help get first time customers in the door.
Weather Topics
Weather, the topic we use to make small talk with almost anyone. It’s nice to be able to look up and see the weekly forecast or see what current conditions are for your commute. Displaying the weather is also particularly useful for QSRs, because they can actually use the weather to sell specific items. A nice hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate sounds even better when it’s paired up with a forecast of 20 degrees and snowy, and of course an ice cold glass of lemonade sounds a lot better when it’s 90 degrees and sunny.
QSRs can make the most of these conditions by displaying relevant menu items right up with the weather, making these items even more appealing. LEARN MOREabout using weather in QSR industry digital signage.
Behind the Scenes
With constant traffic in and out of the restaurant, and rushes of customers throughout the day, communication is imperative. QSRs need to get staff the information they need quickly and efficiently.
Digital signage does this with immediate effect. They can schedule content to let staff know about upcoming events, training, and news. It can also be used to call out wins, like employee of the month, or positive customer reviews.
Soon, AI or artificial intelligence could be implemented into digital signage, and it’s smart enough to understand speech. This means people could pull up to the drive through and place an order without a person being there to take the order. This could be a huge win for restaurants who are short staffed, which appears to be the majority today. LEARN MORE about the possibilities of future applications of AI and signs in the QSR industry.
Practicality and Safety
Many restaurants are ditching paper menus, especially after the COVID19 pandemic.
Originally, the paper menus were replaced by QR codes to reduce the spread of germs, but there are other benefits as well. Previously, changing menu items, removing items, or changing prices would call for all new menus to be created and printed. With a digital menu, restaurant owners and managers can update menus in seconds. CLICK HERE to learn more about how QR codes are changing the restaurant industry.
In conjunction with digital signage software, restaurants can use QR codes to let customers see the menu from where they sit, and scan the code to get the menu right on their phone. Digital signage can also be used to display which orders are ready, and estimated times remaining for orders that are being filled. There are even additional QSR solutions built right into digital signage software, like QR code generators. With a few clicks, you can create your own QR codes and add them to all of your signage.
Enterprise digital signage is extremely scalable. It can be used to display content on one screen or thousands of screens, and it could be updated on smartphones from any location in the world with a stable internet connection. This means that restaurant managers overseeing multiple locations can update all displays at once using one device from virtually anywhere. Digital signage for the QSR industry is saving time and money for restaurants something that is always needed.
Chrome Enterprise Recommended is Google’s partner program for third-party solutions verified as meeting technical and support standards for Chrome OS. Google-verified program helps organizations identify solutions that meet or exceed global standards for security, management and deployment. Arreya was chosen by Google to be a Chrome Enterprise Recommend Kiosk and Digital Signage Solution.
Making It Easy to Choose Kiosk and Digital Signage Solutions
Google wants enterprises to succeed. They remove the painful trial and error that businesses go through to find reliable, secure Chrome OS communication solutions. Google does all the work. They find, interview and test cloud softwares. Then they compile them into specific categories, like kiosks and digital signage. This saves enterprises valuable time and money.
Google has always been at the forefront of technology, looking for emerging trends and solutions for better communications. COVID-19 pandemic pushed the advancing trend of remote offices and work-from-home quickly forward. Something that was optional became mandatory overnight. Businesses scrambled to find the communication tools that would connect a remote workforce. (LEARN MORE) They encountered issues in:
Security
Deployment
Cost
Management
Businesses had to get these new tools overnight, giving no time for verification of solutions. That is where the Chrome Enterprise Kiosk and Digital Signage Solution fill the need. The verified solutions have already been tested and verified to meet the strict standards that Google set.
The Chrome Enterprise Recommended Partners (CER) grew from the need for enterprises to easily find and implement verified Chrome OS solutions for different communication platforms.
Aligning with Google for Chrome Enterprise Solutions
Security.
From the beginning, Arreya was developed to work with the Chrome OS devices including Google phones and tablets. Along with the Chrome Enterprise Upgrade, businesses can deploy digital signage that is secure and powerful for today’s cyber world. As a Chrome Enterprise Recommended Kiosk and Digital Signage partner, Arreya makes it easy to communicate.
Chrome OS includes regular security updates and built-in protection. It blocks executable files and partitions operating system files so they can’t be modified. (LEARN MORE)
Chrome devices with Chrome Enterprise Upgrade can be locked into kiosk mode. Removing the temptation for anyone to access multiple apps or change digital signage to unwanted URL’s. Arreya channels will be the only thing viewers see on screens.
“In developing Arreya in 2014, we knew we wanted our digital signage suite to be accessible by anyone, with no proprietary hardware,” said Jill Burgess, president of Arreya. “Google Chrome devices give clients nonproprietary hardware that anyone can afford, with the reliability of Google. Our partnership has allowed Arreya to grow and give our clients the freedom to remotely manage content and hardware.”
Deployment.
Chrome OS digital signage and kiosk hardware devices deploy fast with automated download of user apps. (SOURCE)
Commercial grade Chrome OS devices from leaders in technology, are available through the Arreya online store. All devices come with the Arreya white glove service. It pre configured Chrome OS hardware with Chrome Enterprise Upgrade and the client Arreya channel. Giving a plug-n-play experience.
All Arreya channels have the ability to be viewed and managed from anywhere as a progressive web app. The PWA feature makes it easy for enterprises to seamlessly move to remote and hybrid situations without losing communications. Apps can be installed on any Chrome OS device without going through the Google play store. Chromebooks can have the Arreya channel installed as an app for instant access.
Cost.
Chrome OS with Arreya is designed to reduce the cost of communications. The combined reliability of Chrome Enterprise devices and the Arreya support reduce deployment, upgrade and training costs. Chrome OS devices and Arreya have automatic updates. This reduces employee downtime and IT support costs in waiting for software and firmware updates.
The hybrid and remote distributed workforce redistributes the costs of communications. Instead of funds used for in-person information, such as posters, brochures and other printed materials, communications become electronic. The security of the Chrome OS and Arreya platform allow for all communications to be accessed by individuals through secure, cloud avenues. Human resource benefit packages, quotes and proposals, data and spreadsheets can be viewed through an Arreya channel.
In-person training can be transitioned to training videos and with Arreya pinpoint management, specific groups can be given access for viewing at any time. Reducing the down time used for training and reviewing by field employees.
This shift to online communications is a smart and eco-friendly investment. Reductions in waste and pollution are significant and help the planet. (LEARN MORE)
Management.
Through the cloud-based Google Admin Console, IT can configure more than 500 policies from anywhere, control device updates, take screenshots, reboot and install or manage apps from anywhere.
Paired with Arreya Digital Signage, anyone can manage digital content and hardware remotely. Know exactly what is happening without in-person visits. Know who is watching and when.
Meeting the Chrome Enterprise Recommended Requirements
Arreya was tested by the Google team of Partner Managers and Engineers to determine if the digital signage suite meets the CER requirements. Arreya meets or exceeds all the requirements.
Deployment – After configuring app in admin console, device boots successfully into kiosk mode and runs Arreya Digital Signage Suite.
Online Longevity – Arreya can run in kiosk mode for 72 hours without device reboots, with an active internet connection, unattended and maintain responsiveness.
Offline Longevity – After completing online longevity, run under the same conditions without an active internet connection.
Online Reboot – After initial run and defined configuration, app will restore same state after device reboot.
Offline Reboot – After initial run and defined configuration, app will restore same state after device reboot without an active internet connection.
PWA Plan – Arreya needs to be a working PWA
Fall Gracefully – If Arreya encounters a critical error, it should fall gracefully, restoring itself to an appropriate working state.
The Rise of New Digital Experiences
The new Chrome Enterprise Recommended partnerships expand the possibilities for different types of communications and collaborations. A powerful and secure platform that is supported by the Google and Arreya team. You can literally launch anywhere.
In kiosk and digital signage the Arreya digital experiences are endless. Beyond the monitor on a wall, digital signage is store menus, interactive displays, customer kiosks and employee kiosks-anywhere on any device you can view digital content. Within each of those categories solutions for wayfinding, concierge, ticketing, room bookings and manufacturing data kiosks are just a few of the possibilities for Arreya with Chrome Enterprise.
Clear communications are the key to positive patient experiences in hospitals and healthcare practices. Immediate welcoming visual experiences are the first impression for a patient and promote a positive environment and the organization’s brand identity. Hospital digital signage simplifies the experience.
The real challenge is – how does a hospital quickly and effectively communicate to people who arrive already feeling anxious? In today’s tech savvy world, the best way to communicate real-time information is on displays.
Digital signage and interactive displays can do a lot for improving patient experiences. Here are some applications and benefits of hospital digital signage:
1. Digital Wayfinding – Visually Guiding Patients
Modern hospitals can be hard to navigate, especially when a patient is arriving. Despite the best efforts to lead patients simply upon arrival, patients getting lost in a hospital can cost the organization over $220,000 a year in added labor costs. Not to mention the negative patient experience.
Digital wayfinding signage with interactive capabilities allow visitors to quickly access directions to navigate a building. It frees hospital staff from directing traffic and reduces social interactions, which are concerning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the Arreya Digital Signage platform visitors can carry the map or directories with them on their phone through beacon technology and the PWA progressive web app widget. Clinics can share the digital directories prior to the patient visit for easier access to correct parking and entrances. Shortening the distances to clinics for patients with disabilities and limited mobility issues.
A progressive web app or PWA is a website that looks and behaves like a native mobile app. It combines the features of web browsing with an intuitive app-like experience, without the barrier of needing to visit an app store and having to download an app.
Types of Digital Wayfinding Content:
Maps
Physician Directory
Physician Profiles
Clinic Specialties
Clinic Wait Times
2. Hospital Room Digital Signage – Personalizing Patient Care
Far from the old clipboards at the end of a patient bed, patient bedside digital signage has revolutionized patient care. It focuses patient information into real-time updates for staff. In recent years, hospitals have placed greater emphasis on patient-centered care and shared decision-making, thus improving the patient experience and reducing readmissions.
Hospitals can adapt one of the TV channels into a patient portal. It gives every room a personal portal with care team info, vital signs and appointments. Additionally educational medical videos or at-home care can be easily added to the digital content and personalized for each patient.
Much like hospitals, senior living facilities also have patient or resident care. Specific TV channels with directed content for residents can increase socialization even during COVID-19 isolations. Content can include movies, exercise classes, information or livestream events. Engaging residents with content that keeps them active and mentally stimulated.
3. Digital Waiting Room – Reducing Waiting Room Anxiety
Waiting is not something anyone wants to do, but when you are not feeling well, time becomes more critical. Digital signage in waiting rooms can reduce the anxiety of waiting. Announcing wait times or where a patient is in surgery helps reduce the stress on waiting family members. It also removes the extra burden on staff to keep family members informed of progress.
Check-in kiosks have become a part of most modern healthcare clinics. It removes many of the direct contacts with staff, which is significant during COVID-19 pandemic, and gets the patient to care quicker.
Additionally, clinic or hospital marketing information can connect visitors to the other services and outreach that the practices provide. Promoting the foundation and branding of each facility. While it’s not a replacement for one-to-one conversations with caregivers, well-prepared on-screen content can cover common questions and allow doctor-patient visits to get to the specifics more quickly.
4. Information Signage – Communications in Real-time
The most common form of hospital digital signage is the informational displays. Typically located in entrances and public spaces, digital signage easily engages patients and visitors with events, safety announcements and wellness awareness tips.
With the Arreya Digital Signage platform, scalability is simple and cost effective. Displays in elevators work in complete offline mode and once receive an internet connection, the digital content automatically updates.
Cafeteria digital signage content can be scheduled for daily updates from Google sheets without ever accessing the Arreya admin. Multiple managers can add relevant information from different sources and pinpoint the locations.
The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how important safety announcements of protocol need to be part of daily information. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated their safety protocols and guidelines, hospitals and clinics needed a way to quickly communicate this information with visitors and staff. Healthcare digital signage was an effective and safe solution. With Google Translate, Any language can be translated instantly for barrier-free visitor communications for everyone. With Google Dialogflow integration in Arreya Digital Signage, touchless and touchfree interactions easily become a part of non-interactive digital displays.
With digital signage, hospitals can be more strategic about what information they share, as well as when and where they share it. Information is easy to update, and system administrators can push real-time alerts in emergency situations.
5. Digital Donor Recognition – Celebrate Donors and Raise Funds
In a time when fundraising dollars are being spread across so many non-profits, it’s important that hospitals reach beyond the traditional local donors. Hospitals can expand their donor outreach with digital donor walls. Through the Arreya PWA widget, digital content can be shared with potential donors who never visit the hospital. Beyond the monitor on a wall, Arreya content channels can be viewed on tablets and phones anywhere.
There are many cost benefits to digital donor recognition. Unlike static donor walls, in depth information about the hospital giving opportunities, top donor stories and the benefits of donations can be highlighted in digital content. Different levels or campaigns can be combined and updated easily. This reduces the expenses of doing multiple donor walls and costly updates. Allowing for more frequent updates and increasing engagement.
Combining static donor walls with digital donor recognition grows the donations by visitors. Inspiring instant donations.
Arreya Digital Signage software was developed for the donor recognition industry. Intuitive tools that make interactive content easy for anyone to create and deploy. The List-eez data management widget collects data, like donor names, directly from Google sheets and sorts lists into viewable information. Making donor updates automatically. Learn more about the donor recognition displays by Presentations | Arreya
6. Employee Digital Signage – Motivate and Inform Staff
COVID-19 has been a challenging time for hospital employees. Powerful messaging about safety concerns can quickly be deployed with the Arreya alert widget to all screens. Staff birthdays, employee events, hospital and clinic statistics can be shared through employee digital signage to help motivate and retain employees.
Information that would in the past be shared through email or paper, can now be seen on employee displays in break rooms, staff elevators and nurses stations. With the powerful PWA widget, staff can view employee digital content on their phones or tablets from anywhere. Celebrate the wins and keep digital content informative.
These are just some of the many ways digital signage and interactive can be utilized in hospitals and clinics. Investing time and money into digital technology can benefit hospital staff and patients. The goal of any great digital signage is to relieve the anxiety and stress related to healthcare, reduce the cost of staffing and increase awareness.
The possibilities for digital signage are only limited by the creativity of the technology partners.
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