9 trends from InfoComm 2012: From new display technologies, digital signage content and cloud services that you'll want to know about now.

and does not handle animation very well, it is the perfect solution for basic calendar information dissemination. It runs on a coin-style battery for as long as 3 years and is wireless, making it completely freestanding. It can run with its own content management system or tied into larger ecosystem.

Passive LCD

You may also see passive LCD.It has all of the same attributes as e-paper, but at a much lower cost. Though it doesn’t have the contrast and brightness of e-paper, it is already a finished product. It is currently deployed in retail stores such as Kohl’s, where it has completely replaced paper shelf tags. It has a much wider range of use than just retail.It is low cost and perfect for basic information dissemination.

Industrialized Small Screens

Tablet computers, such as iPads and Android-based units have been used as room signs for some time.In some ways they offer an off-the-shelf solution for room signs. They are wireless, touch-enabled, and moderately priced. However, they are consumer products, and not designed for the rigors of 24/7 use. There will be a number of “industrialized” tablets made for digital signage use.There are also wall mounts that are made for tablets, so they can be used as digital signage.

Other small monitors that will be at the show are made with a 50,000-hour-rated panel. There are models that have built in processors, and some have HDMI input, with RS-232. This segment of the industry has been dominated by consumer monitors in the past. The small monitors are finally catching up to the large ones in terms of product specifically designed for digital signage.

Display technology is not the only areas taking a step forward. Also showing this week are solutions for new operating systems, live video streaming and options for copyrighted content — to name a few.

Operating Systems

Windows has been the operating system of choice for digital signage for many years. Windows dominates the digital signage world.Since many of the software developers came from other industries that used Windows, it was an easy and comfortable system to use.It is also the OS

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