Digital signage glossary

The terms

A

Active area

The part of the screen that shows a picture, smaller than the outside of the unit. Listed per size in the size guide.

All-in-one

A display with its computer inside the same case. Ours has an RK3568 Android computer.

Andon

A visual signal of production status. See the andon guide.

Android

The operating system on these units. It is why you can install your own app.

Aspect ratio

Width against height. Most of our screens are 16:9. The 10.1 inch is 16:10.

B

Bezel

The frame around the picture. On our units it is part of the metal front.

C

Class 2

A power-limited class of low-voltage circuit in the US electrical code. Ask your electrician if it applies to your supply.

CMS

Content management system. Software for scheduling and pushing content to screens, usually a paid cloud service.

Contrast ratio

How far apart white and black sit on a panel. Ours run from 600:1 to 1000:1 by size.

Cut-out

The opening in a wall or panel for a flush mount. See the cut-out table.

D

Daypart

Running different content at different times of day. Our player has on and off hours but no dayparting.

DC terminal adapter

The small adapter in the box. Your two power wires land on its screw terminals, and it plugs into the unit.

E

exFAT and FAT32

The formats most cards use. Both work. FAT32 limits one file to 4 GiB.

F

Flush mount

A screen set into a wall, so only the front shows.

G

GLB

A 3D model format for viewing. We offer one per size on downloads.

H

H.264

A video compression format, also known as AVC. The safe choice for signage video.

H.265

A newer video format, also known as HEVC, and common on phones. Support depends on the unit.

HDMI out

A video output. On these units HDMI does not take a signal in.

HEIC

The default photo format on many iPhones. The player does not read it.

HTTPS sync

Our player's optional way to pull new content from your own web server on a timer.

I

Internal copy

The copy of your show the unit keeps in its own memory, so the card can come out.

IP65

An ingress protection code under IEC 60529: 6 means dust-tight, 5 means protected against water jets. On these units it covers the front face only.

L

Legibility distance

How far away text can be read. We use 30 feet per inch of capital height.

M

Manifest

The small file that lists what a screen should download when it syncs.

microSD

The small memory card used in the unit's card slot.

MP4

A video file type. Use it with H.264 video inside.

N

Nit

A unit of screen brightness, one candela per square meter. Ours run 250 to 400 nits as standard.

P

Panel mount

Mounting through a cut-out in a panel, with the unit held from behind. Ask us about clamps for your panel.

Pixel pitch

The physical size of one pixel. It sets how large a given text height looks on each screen.

PoE

Power over Ethernet: power and data on one cable. These units do not support it.

Portrait

A screen turned tall. On these units it is a rotation setting on the same hardware.

Proof of play

A report of what played and when. Advertisers often want it. Our player does not produce it.

R

RK3568

The processor in each unit.

RS232

An older serial port, still common on industrial equipment. Each unit has one.

S

Staff PIN

The code that opens the player's hidden menu.

Static power

The power figure on the spec sheet, 18 W for every size. Allow more for startup.

STEP

A 3D CAD file format. Use it to check your wall or millwork against the real unit.

Sunlight-readable

A brighter panel option for bright rooms and glass walls. Not an outdoor rating.

T

Traveling cable

The flexible cable that hangs between an elevator car and the building.

V

VESA

A standard pattern of mounting holes. Our drawings show 75 x 75 and 100 x 100 mm. They mark the holes M4 on every size except the 18.5 inch, where we will confirm it on your order.

Viewing angle

How far off center a screen stays readable. Listed four ways, because the four can differ.

Voltage drop

The voltage lost along a cable. See the power guide.

Questions