Over the course of the past few decades, many schools have begun transitioning from printed to digital signage on their campuses. And, there are many other schools that are considering making this switch as well. In this article, we will talk about some of the big considerations in upgrading your school to digital signage, including design, content, and location of each of your signs. We will also talk about important things like ADA compliance and government funding. For now, let’s get into the reasons why most schools are choosing digital signage for education to make this transition.
What to consider before upgrading to digital signage
1. ADA compliance
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was established to ensure that public services, amenities, features, and information are accessible to all regardless of ability. ADA regulations apply to businesses that serve the public and have 15 or more employees. This certainly applies to schools.
ADA guidelines for digital signage involve their positioning, location, incorporation of touch, and other capabilities. Some specific examples of ADA regulations for digital signage include:
- Non-glare finish
- Less than 4-inch installed distance from wall (wall-mounted screens)
- Specific heights for touchscreen controls
- Voice response technology (in some systems)
2. Funds and grants
There are numerous funds and grants available to schools at the state and federal level. And, the list is always being updated and added to. Take 2020 for example. Due to the economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, former President Donald Trump signed into law a $2.2 trillion stimulus called the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act).
A good portion of this grant was allocated to state and local governments. It gave many schools and universities additional funding to offset economic hardships brought on by the pandemic or to make necessary upgrades, such as upgrading signs to digital.
These resources exist because both private donors and the federal government believe in the value of education of future generations. To learn more and discover what might be available for your school, here’s a helpful grant search tool.
3. Location
It’s important to think about where you want your signs to be placed. Your goal is not to simply fill an empty space. Rather, you are trying to find the most logical placement possible with the greatest visibility. Location can greatly affect your sign’s daily number of views – potentially by the thousands.
4. Content
Sign location and content go hand-in-hand. For example, you may want to share information about bookstore specials and sales on a display near the bookstore. Or, food prices and lunch specials on a cafeteria sign.
While some displays may be meant to run basic slideshows of images, others will probably be more interactive. A kiosk in an university parking lot, for example, should probably have higher functionality, such as the ability to search a directory or dial campus security.
5. Design
It may sound simple enough, but sign specifications vary depending on their location. For example, a wall-mounted sign above a library entrance will have different purposes and challenges than a waist-high welcome sign at a retail store, even though they are being used in similar ways.
Once you’ve identified all of the “functions” of your signage (i.e. touch integration, sound integration, screen size for viewing audience, power delivery, etc.), the actual “form” or shape of the display plays a large role in achieving your goals.
Some designs are very aesthetically pleasing, but not very realistic when it comes to withstanding vandalism or the cost to realistically operate a functional display. Others may work well enough, but are limiting in their simplicity and your business would benefit from upgrading to a more user-friendly model.
Conclusion
Investing in digital signage for your school or university will provide many benefits both now and to come. As you navigate your upgrade, we hope these tips we shared will help make the process smooth sailing, so you can move on to the next upgrade!