A week in words…

 It’s been a busy week back at HQ after the long Easter break, with plenty of new products on the horizon and some new product deliveries into our warehouse, Brendan and Zech have certainly had plenty to get cracking with.

That’s right; we have got a new recruit to the Display Solutions team. Zech Smith has joined the company as our Internal Technical Sales Support, and his role is to provide essential support to our Product Manager Brendan in the sales and technical functions. We are pleased to have a new member on board here at Display Solutions, so it’s a big welcome to Zech from all of us here! Look out for the right-hand man working hard on some products in the videos being released soon. 

We have also kicked off our filming for the launch of our YouTube channel this week, with our PR agency taking a trip to Osprey House to capture the team on camera! We have filmed some short videos on our product ranges, which will give you an insight into the companies themselves, as well as showing you how certain products work. The first videos which were shot include a demonstration of our new ASRock motherboard, a video on our partner Shuttle and how our client Sabercom has integrated the DS61 Slim PC into their digital signage solution.

With filming drawing to a close today, our PR agency will be working hard to ensure the videos are edited ready to be released in the next couple of weeks, when our YouTube channel will be making its debut. To see the videos first, make sure you stay locked onto our blog and twitter feed!

Want to know more about our products? Contact the team today on 01480 411 600 to see what solutions we can provide for you. 

Touch Screen Technology for Education – Is it the next big thing?

 Touch screen technology has evolved rapidly in the past 5 years, with almost every mobile phone incorporating touch screen capabilities, and further introductions including touch screen computers and wrist gadgets. Nowadays we use touch screen facilities at home, at work and even in the shops with new kiosk facilities appearing everyday. So where next? 

It appears the latest area touch screen is taking off in is no other than the education sector. Out are the traditional whiteboards and marker pens (those were the days) and in come the high spec touch screen displays. Some critics may say it could be a distraction for pupils or an added expense to the classroom, however there are a range of benefits to using touch screen displays in the classroom that make it a perfect solution for schools. Here are three points to start with:

• They are durable and easy to clean – it’s never helpful when you can't read what is written on the whiteboard because it has turned a shade of green from the daily abuse of the marker pens. Using a screen eliminates the need for marker pens, and marks from grubby hands can simply be wiped away. 
• You can save money – Although there is an initial outlay, touch screen technology saves money as replacing pens, whiteboards and even print outs become a thing of the past.
• They're easy to use – Being able to plug a laptop, tablet or computer in and show presentations, websites and other resources makes it much easier for both teachers and pupils.

The list doesn't end there, with touch screens having the flexibility to be integrated into a range of applications, and varying in specifications and sizes, it can provide a solution for many different environments. Tell us what you think about using touch screen technology in the education sector –we want to hear from you!

Want to know more about touch screens for education? Stay tuned into our blog, or alternatively contact our office on 014820 411 600 to see if we can provide a solution for you. 

Our Client Sabercom takes Digital Signage to the next level for major London Railway Depot

Our client Sabercom has been working hard to develop a digital signage solution for a major industrial site in the capital city. The customer needed the screens for a range of uses which include:

• Health & Safety videos
• Rolling Stock Launches
• Live News
• Corporate Information
• Site Specific Updates

However, their customer - a major railway firm, had a list of complex challenges on their site that was spread over four seperate buildings, which meant a traditional hardwired LAN display was no longer an option. Some of these included the four separate buildings where workers are based, multiple railway lines and live overhead cables in the areas where the displays were required.

In order to overcome the issues which Sabercom faced on this project, they came up with a unique solution. The answer was to develop the wireless LAN system using Point to Point through Line of Sight. Each screen has a PC connected to a central server which has internet access.

The DS61, used by Sabercom

By using the Shuttle DS61 Slim PC, our client has been able to create a display system suitable for outdoor environments whilst benefitting from the great value for money. Brendan O’Reilly, our Account Manager says “The DS61 provides a unique blend of performance and cost effectiveness to match Sabercom’s project requirement with this Shuttle range. We provided a quick turn around on a fully integrated system including Operating System pre-installation and are happy to endorse the Shuttle for projects of this nature.”

The DS61 has an operating temperature of between 0 c and 50 c which will withstand the wide range in temperatures encountered in outdoor working environments. Being rich in I/O interfaces and added features such as the H61 Express Chipset, this product is ideal product for digital signage applications.

The latest Shuttle range offers quality, performance and connectivity in a compact unit. For further information on the Shuttle product range, contact our Account Manager Brendan O’Reilly on 01480 411 600 or visit our website at http://goo.gl/0pB3L0 

Introducing Shuttle: A brief overview

Shuttle is one of our suppliers that was visited by our MD Cheng Yoe on his recent trip to Asia, and they have certainly been working hard on expanding their product portfolio. Here's a short blog post with some background information on the company. If you don't yet know about them, we are confident you will want to! 

The Taiwanese company was established in 1993 and produces Mini PC’s and networking devices for the business, education and consumer markets. Shuttle is an industry recognised leader in the small form factor computer and accessories market, and follows a strict Total Quality Management system to warrant that their products are produced to the highest possible standards at all times. Another key focus of the company is to ensure their carbon footprint is minimised where possible. The company follows an environmental policy which highlights points such as continuously improving measures for preventing pollution and re-using all recyclable products where possible. 

Here at Display Solutions, we have experienced previous success with their products, and support their mission to create high performance products with a small footprint, all with great value for money. Some of shuttles latest products include:

• The DS437 series (see right image)
• The SX79R5 series (see left image)
• The XS36VL series

We are looking forward to promoting the latest products from their Slim PC and XPC ranges, which will be launching with us over coming months. To find out more about Shuttle’s product range and to view the full range, visit our website here or alternatively contact our Product Manager Brendan O’Reilly on 01480 411 600.