Exploring the role of digital signage in modern Smart Cities

This article readout is part of The Quintessence magazine. The latest issue explores the latest trends in technology and offers valuable insights into the fascinating world of Human Machine Interfaces. Access it free of charge here: https://library.ebv.com/link/140915/

In this episode, we explore how Human Machine Interfaces like smartphones, digital signage, and interactive kiosks are keeping citizens informed and engaged in smart cities. From real-time traffic updates and personalised city maps to weather forecasts and local news, smart infrastructure is making urban life more efficient and connected.

Discover how robust designs, vandal-resistant materials, and innovative technologies like touch-sensitive displays and visual sensors are enabling smarter communication in public spaces.

Transcript

Better informed in the smart city

Connected infrastructure made up of electronic and digital technologies aims to positively change life in the city. Energy savings, more efficient traffic flow, increased public safety and a healthier environment are just a few of the many benefits that a smart city can offer. 

The most important interface between citizens and the smart city is undoubtedly the smartphone, which people use to connect to the infrastructure and retrieve information through apps, as well as to provide information. However, digital signage is also an important resource for administration, public transport and citizens.

For example, digital information pillars from ST-Digital in Lucerne offer interactive city maps, a diverse range of information and additional advertising content. Smart city maps help passersby and tourists orient themselves in city centres thanks to their integrated touchscreen. Directions, weather forecasts or a comprehensive selection of information about destinations in the vicinity are further examples of the offering. The company Inputech even offers digital display and input systems that can optionally be expanded with visual sensors. Thus, characteristics such as age, height and gender of the passerby are recognised, and the information displayed is tailored to specific groups.

The municipal administration of Bussigny in the Swiss canton of Vaud uses an outdoor digital signage solution that allows it to improve communication with citizens at various locations. The outdoor solution had to withstand the elements, as it is exposed to extreme weather conditions all year round. Furthermore, the system was to be installed in a public setting and therefore needed to be particularly shock-resistant to protect against potential vandalism. A display solution with IK10 rating was sought. Eventually, special Outdoor Digital Menu Boards from Peerless-AV were used. 

Good to know: EN 62262 specifies the resistance or the degree of shock resistance of an electrical device against external mechanical stresses, especially impacts. There are 12 strength classes, starting from the lowest category IK00 up to the highest classification IK11.

The manufacturer’s smart city kiosks feature a fully sealed, IP66-certified design that prevents foreign bodies such as water, dust, moisture and insects from entering the display. Particularly important for city installation is high-temperature resistance: the displays operate at temperatures ranging from -35 °C to 60 °C. They can be expanded with an optional IR touch overlay that can recognise up to ten touch points. Housings made of stainless steel, aluminum and corresponding paint offer high resistance to corrosion and vandalism. In addition, the display features shock-resistant, hardened cover glass with an IK10 rating.

Sensitive resistive and capacitive touchscreens, as well as front foil keyboards, are the most important Human Machine Interfaces in public areas. The surfaces of these input devices must be protected against various environmental conditions, such as heat or UV or EMV radiation. They should also be resistant to yellowing. Besides a scratch-resistant display surface and shatter protection, they must also be protected against vandalism. This can be achieved by laminating the surfaces with special films. The films and lamination processes used depend on the desired technology (resistive or capacitive), surface (glass or plastic), area of application and the respective environmental conditions. Touchscreens can also be protected by hardened protective glass, which can be up to 10 millimetres thick. An alternative option is to use safety glass designed to break into small, rounded pieces when destroyed.

The possibilities of intelligent digital signs are still being explored. What is certain, however, is that they enable cities to provide contextual and personalised information for their communities, thus offering benefits for everyone.