Month: June 2017

Why Malls Should Have Digital Signage Displays

Posted on: June 21, 2017

Commercial monitors are dominating our daily lives in dynamic ways. They allow us to binge-watch our favourite TV shows, we use them to make online purchases, we use them to complete work-related tasks, we can play games on them to pass the time, and so much more. These versatile industrial displays are popping up all over the place, most notably inside our shopping centres.

Digital Signage in Shopping Centres

Digital signage displays in shopping centres have drastically evolved and improved over the years. Believe it or not, they weren’t always the high-tech computer-based structures they are today. As little as 20 years ago, mall directories were still printed on a thick piece of paper and placed in a glass encasing. It was someone’s job to come in every once in a while to update or change the advertisements on the other side and there could usually only be one ad at a time inside the directory. Nowadays, most—if not, all—mall directories are digitized, which means that the internal advertisements and changes to the directory can be made remotely from a state-of-the-art computer mainframe.

Benefits of Using Digital Signage Displays in Shopping Centres

The benefits of installing digital signage in commercial shopping malls are endless. Not only do they provide more convenient, quick, and easy means for customers to find the exact stores, products, and services they’re looking for, but they also greatly benefit the retailers as well.

High-End Wayfinding Technology

Digitized mall directories allow customers to search for the stores they’re looking for with ease and convenience. The faster customers are able to find your store, the faster they’ll be able to spend their money there without having to deal with the frustration of searching the entire mall or waiting in line at the customer service desk. Modern mall directories now have easy-to-read maps that outline the exact route a customer has to take from their current location to get to their desired location inside the shopping centre.

Increased Ad Space for Retailers

Commercial-grade monitors inside shopping centres hold a dual purpose: one is to serve the needs of the shoppers and the other serves the needs of the retailers. These ingenious setups have the capability to hold multiple ads from multiple retailers simultaneously. The ads can be set on a rotation to change as people walk past. Rather than having to bring someone in to manually change each ad once a week, the ads change instantaneously as often as the programmer directs them to based on how much money has been provided by each advertiser.

Improved Accessibility for All Users

In this day and age, accessibility is a high priority for a lot of retailers who want to accommodate their wheelchair-bound and other physically disabled customers. Digital directories can help achieve this objective by providing customers with alternate, more accessible routes to navigate through the shopping centre and reach their destination.

Nauticomp Inc.’s Custom Commercial Monitors for Malls

At Nauticomp Inc., we’re always looking forward to the future with our innovative commercial-grade and industrial monitor designs. We manufacture a large variety of high quality handheld and lone-standing computer displays that can withstand any kind of work environment including military and naval bases, the food and beverage industry, restaurants, the gaming industry, healthcare facilities, and so much more. To learn more about our commercial and industrial monitors, please contact us at 1-705-328-2992 for Canadian service and at 1-800-267-9491 for U.S. service.

Guide to Buying a Rugged Computer for Industrial Uses

Posted on: June 14, 2017

rugged-monitor computer

When it comes to choosing displays, monitors, and computers for industrial use, a rugged computer or display is a necessity. Whether it’s for the manufacturing, marine, energy, or mining industries, a commercial display is just not going to cut it. Industrial displays and computers need to be able to withstand harsh use while providing optimal performance. Ruggedized computers are the only ones that can provide this level of performance.

Why Choose Rugged-Display Computers?

Displays and computers that are used for industrial purposes have many special considerations. Usually, they are subjected to harsher use than a consumer computer would be. They also may need to be functional in extreme environment conditions (such as extreme high or low temperatures, or outdoors). Finally, if they are not able to perform properly and withstand extreme conditions in industrial applications, money—or even lives—could be on the line.

“Rugged” is a term used to refer to displays and computers that are designed and engineered to be the most durable on the market. Rugged-monitor computers are created specifically for use in marine, military, and industrial applications where high performance and ruggedness are crucial.

Features of a Rugged Computer Monitor

When you are looking for a rugged-monitor computer for industrial use, there are some particular features that you should keep an eye out for.

Warranty

Rugged displays should always come with a limited warranty. Since these displays are supposed to withstand harsh use, you need to be assured that they will function and not break down when being used in your industrial application.

Multiple Inputs

Rugged-monitor computers should have multiple video inputs and be compatible with a range of different inputs. Any rugged computer should be able to be used functionally in a multitude of environments, so compatibility is essential.

Sunlight-Readability

Rugged-display computers should have sunlight-readable technology if they will be used for outdoor use. Look for features such as LED backlighting and optically bonded glass, which will ensure they are viewable in the brightest lighting conditions.

Outdoor Use

Rugged monitors should also have a range of other features for outdoor use. They should be “all-weather computers” that have extended operational temperature ranges (for use in the extreme cold or heat) and fully dimmable capabilities (for use in poor lighting conditions). They should also be waterproof and have high shock resistance.

Size

A good rugged display will have a large screen inside the smallest chassis possible. Look for a sleek design that doesn’t forgo functionality. A good rugged computer can be durable even with a smaller chassis size.

Interface

Rugged computers should feature an easy-to-use interface that is intuitive.

Factors to Consider Before Buying a Rugged Display

There are some basic considerations that should be made when choosing an industrial display.

Features

Make sure that the display you are choosing has all the required features that you will need. Not every rugged display needs to have every feature, but it does need to be suited for your industrial application or use.

Price

Good rugged-display manufacturers will offer products at a competitive price. They should have a line-up of models for a variety of price ranges.

Custom Options

Rugged-display manufacturers should be able to provide custom solutions designed and engineered specifically to your requirements. Consider having a specialized display designed to meet your needs.

Reasons to Choose Rugged Computers for Industrial Applications

Rugged industrial computer monitors offer many different solutions for very harsh working environments and conditions where rough usage of technology is the norm. Industrial displays that are applied in military, construction, and marine environments, for instance, must be durable and fully functional under harsh conditions where dirt, dust, and exposure to liquids are common. They should also be constructed with a rugged design, strong IP definitions, and they must entail a sensible total cost of ownership (TCO).

Durability

Durability is a key aspect of any industrial panel mount monitor. These devices are built with expectation that they’ll not only last a very long time, but that they’ll also be able to withstand all kinds of rough handling, weather conditions, strong vibrations, falls onto hard terrain, accidental submersion in water, prolonged exposure to the elements, and so much more. It’s also extremely important that they’re resistant to dust, sand, and glass particles. Their chassis must be strong enough to survive intense pressure that’s applied to them and hard contact with other objects as this is bound to happen on the job site.

Functionality

Another important factor that must be taken into account when purchasing a new industrial touchscreen LCD monitor for any outdoor job site is functionality. Similar to durability, this means that these devices must be intelligently designed both inside and out with the latest technology in software and hardware that allows for optimal usage under all circumstances. They must be fully equipped with up-to-date operating systems, high-quality communications systems, a great deal of memory capacity, and fast processing capabilities.

Rugged Design

Industrial LCD monitors stand apart from consumer-grade monitors because they’re much more versatile and specifically built for varying working conditions that the latter simply can’t handle. They’re more flexible, easily portable, and they’re built with a variety of mounting options that make them easier to use. In some cases, many industrial displays can even be customized to suit the needs of your specific company. By adding additional specialized features, companies can design their own devices and have them manufactured to their liking. Specially manufactured devices ensure high quality, accuracy, and reliability for a multitude of industries.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Another advantage of industrial computer monitors is their incomparably low total cost of ownership rate. This can be attributed to the fact that these devices don’t need to be replaced or repaired as often as commercial or consumer-grade devices. Their rugged and durable design and infrastructure allows for longer use and higher capability to withstand almost any setting.

IP Definitions

Ingress Protection (IP) is a standard of protecting electronic devices from external damages caused by liquids, dust, hard falls, and other harsh elements. Superlative industrial touchscreen monitors should have a minimum rating of IP65, making them dust-, liquid-, and crack-resistant. Even though commercial and consumer-grade devices have lower upfront fees, the cost of maintaining, repairing, and replacing them in an industrial environment will add up quickly as damages are imminent and frequent.

Why Choose Nauticomp Inc.’s Rugged Displays?

Nauticomp Inc. has been an industry-leading provider of rugged displays and monitors since 1997. Our rugged displays have been designed for use in the harshest applications, including for marine, military, and industrial uses. We offer a limited warranty with all of our displays and can create custom designs to meet the most stringent of requirements.

We are an established display manufacturer with worldwide brand recognition as an innovative industry leader. We are dedicated to providing high-performance displays that are at the forefront of leading-edge display technology. Contact us at 1-705-328-2992 for Canadian service and at 1-800-267-9491 for U.S. service.

Factors Affecting the Accuracy of Industrial Touchscreens

Posted on: June 7, 2017

Technological innovations are constantly paving the way for new methods of using industrial touchscreen monitors. These days, they’re pretty much everywhere and are being used in a variety of capacities including on our mobile devices, as POS systems in stores, and even on our laptops and tablets. No matter where you go, industrial touchscreen displays are prevalent and people of all ages are mastering the skill of using them for everyday life. They’ve become so ingrained in our everyday lives that it’s almost impossible to imagine what life was like before these nifty devices existed.

Elements That Affect Accuracy of Industrial Touchscreens

As advanced as they’ve become, industrial touchscreens still have a very long way to go in terms of improving durability, accuracy, and usability. There are still far too many factors that can negatively impact general experiences using industrial touchscreen displays.

Type of Touchscreen Device

As you probably already know, there are many different types of touchscreen devices currently on the market and they each cater to a different type of user and environment. Resistive touchscreens are comprised of two layers of plastic that recognize a command by registering the pressure from a certain movement on the top layer of the screen. They can be used with fingers, stylus pens, or pretty much any other instrument as long as enough pressure is applied to the screen. Capacitive touchscreens are much more durable and last longer because they’re constructed with sturdy glass layers that only respond to electromagnetic activity produced by your direct touch. They’re more precise and therefore, perfectly suited for retail and restaurant use.

Placement and Position of Fingertips

Sometimes the way you’re holding a touchscreen device can either help or hinder its ability to respond to your command accurately. If you’re holding the device in such a manner that there are multiple points of contact registered on the screen, then the device might mistakenly perform the wrong task or none at all. It’s important to make sure that your fingertips are appropriately positioned for the task you’re looking to complete.

Other Factors

Environmental factors such as sunshine, weather, temperature, and rough physical use can also negatively impact the accuracy of industrial display touchscreens. Direct and bright sunlight can impede visibility, which causes the user to make mistakes while using the device. Inclement weather such as rain or snow can also prevent the device from operating properly, especially if water penetrates the surface and makes contact with the inner mechanisms. Lastly, if the device is scratched as a result of rough usage in a public place, then this can also prevent it from being able to accurately register touches.

Nauticomp Inc.’s Rugged Industrial Touchscreens

At Nauticomp Inc., our goal is to manufacture intelligently designed industrial touchscreen displays that can withstand all kinds of tumultuous physical environments. We’ve constructed devices for a wide range of industries including military operations, naval bases, retail locations, restaurants, and so much more. For more information about our high quality industrial touchscreen monitors, please contact us at 1-705-328-2992 for Canadian service and at 1-800-267-9491 for U.S. service.