Digital signage in the public sector

Digital signage applications in education, government and the emergency and security services

Digital signage is a powerful communications tool and is already being applied by public sector organisations in the UK and throughout the world. Educational colleges, town halls, health service providers and the emergency services have been particularly quick in benefiting from digital signage implementation.

Digital Signage in Education

Digital signage has much to offer colleges and other educational institutions that want to improve communication, particularly with their students but also with staff and visitors.

Engaging students and making them aware of available resources has been found to be a major factor in improving student satisfaction and that goes on to result in improved student retention and qualification success. Fast changing data such as timetables and special lectures and events are obvious material for Digital Signage messaging but Digital Signage also offers potential far beyond that. It has the ability to communicate messages that have historically been difficult to convey effectively. Information on student resources such as counselling can be made both attractive and attention grabbing in a way that static signage cannot compete with. The results for student wellbeing - and hence success - can be immense.



Security is unfortunately an increasing issue in both schools and colleges and here again digital signage offers fast and effective dissemination of information that no other medium can match.

Digital signage in police applications

Criminal investigation may seem an unlikely application for Digital Signage but it can be extremely effective. Information is at the heart of every criminal investigation. Links and connections between one piece of information and another are often crucial in solving crime. Some police agencies are already benefiting from the use of Digital Signage to disseminate information more widely to police officers, such as in canteens and other areas not open to the public. Faces and names of suspects are remembered better because the officers see the information multiple times a day as information can also be fed to personal devices such as PDAs and mobile phones.

Digital signage and health service providers

Hospitals are now almost universally large buildings making it hard for visitors to find what they need and where they need to go to access it. Digital Signage can improve the visitor experience immensely and reduce frustration, which can only help health professionals do their job more effectively.

As well as information on how to find particular locations around a hospital, digital signage is an ideal medium to constantly reinforce messages such as those concerning cleanliness and the need for vigilance against super bugs.

Digital signage in town halls

Large cities need large administrative buildings and here again digital signage offers the potential to improve the way they interact with the visitors they serve.

The ability of digital signage to provide multiple messages simultaneously means that each display device can deliver relevant information, such as details of that day's events, whilst for example reinforcing community cohesion with messages relating to local events or achievements. Engaging visitors with attractively displayed information presents a government persona that is open and actively seeking to interact with its visitors.

Digital signage and security

Whatever sector a building is serving - education, government, health etc - security is always an issue and digital signage has a role to play. Whether the situation is a fire emergency or a criminal one, then the rapid dispersal of relevant information can literally mean life or death.

Technology is available that will allow predefined triggers, such as a signal from a smoke detector, to automatically publish evacuation instructions. Alternatively, manual over-ride of scheduled content will allow up-to-the minute information to be displayed instantaneously. The versatility and flexibility of digital signage is nowhere more valuable than in providing security information.

The future of digital signage in the public sector

There is no doubt that digital signage is a force to be reckoned with in the 21st century. The power of information and its dissemination can never be underestimated and the need for public sector organisations to communicate with their staff, their customers and their visitors can only increase.
The technology behind Digital Signage is developing rapidly. Display devices are becoming more competitively priced and picture quality is continuously being improved and this offers opportunities to public sector organisations as they meet the challenge of providing ever better services on ever more pressured budgets.

Display technology is developing smaller devices for hand held and mobile units well suited to the needs of the police as well as emergency and rescue services.

Digital signage technology has much to offer public sector organisations, the scope for imaginative and creative use of this technology is almost infinite.

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