Once strictly the province of sports stadiums, electronic displays have become available in all sizes for all businesses. While Jumbotron manufacturers still do a brisk business, falling component prices and improved designs have enabled electronic display manufacturers to produce crisp, full color displays that cost less than the original limited electronic display devices that spawned them.

Cathode ray tube pixels gave way to lamp screens, which in turn were replaced by the light emitting diode (LED), which consumes less power and puts out more light than its predecessors. This has not only led to larger, brighter and more detailed outdoor electronic displays, but also to smaller specialty displays that can be used by any business or organization that wishes to communicate information in an eye-catching way.

In addition to sports venues, an electronic display board can be used by any of the following:

1. Corporate lobbies to greet visitors and provide continuous company information.

2. Restaurants, bars and entertainment venues to list special items, prices and times.

3. Trade shows, conventions and kiosks to tout company products and services.

4. Airports and bus, subway and train terminals to list arrival and departure times and communicate delays.

5. State roads departments to warn of construction or traffic conditions.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Let it be LED electronic displays

Light emitting diodes offer a cheap and bright electronic display board option to businesses to get their messages across with a range of color and animated display options.

I recommend: adsLED, Inc. makes outdoor LED displays in three varieties: OneColor, 256-color TruImage, and 16.7-million color TruColor. They also make attractive indoor displays for business, school, retail, service and non-profit agencies and back their products with a two-year warranty and excellent service.

Give your employees the numbers with digital displays

Motivate your employees by giving them a sense of ownership of their work by communicating goals to them on an ongoing basis and receiving their continuing feedback. Installing electronic display devices company-wide makes this possible.

I recommend: Electronic display manufacturers Electronic Displays, Inc. and Vorne specialize in business displays, with production monitors and panel message displays, timers, counters and production scoreboards offering large digital readouts.

Master the marquee with digital displays you can control

Not only have electronic displays become more affordable, but many now include software to let you design and update your own advertising displays, providing control, flexibility and adaptability.

I recommend: NTI sells digital signage systems for advertising that can accommodate text, still images and full-motion video, with or without audio, that can be updated from any computer connected to your company’s computer system. You can also export content to a spreadsheet, website or PowerPoint presentation.

Piggyback your message on existing electronic displays

Television monitors have become practically ubiquitous, found in restaurants, bars, and office break rooms. If you can't afford or don't want to purchase standalone digital displays, systems that broadcast over the television are a viable alternative.

I recommend: ChyTV uses Chyron’s broadcast technologies to let you display your message using text, graphics and live video anywhere there’s a television.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Position your electronic display where it catches the eye without serving as a distraction. Choose a location where the display stands out as much as the message it carries.
• •  Consider how much time and effort you want to spend on maintaining and updating your electronic display before you purchase. Some suppliers of electronic displays also offer a service to update your display on a regular basis for you.