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How Digital Signage Can Enhance Customer Experience in Retail Environments

Posted on: March 16, 2018

Digital signage and interactive retail displays have become such commonplace fixtures within strategic brick-and-mortar advertising tactics that most people don’t even realize that these machines are subconsciously influencing their purchasing habits. Interactive LCD displays work wonders for marketing campaigns because they whisk customers into an awe-inspiring digital experience that they might have otherwise missed out on if they didn’t happen to enter the retail stores that feature them. Continue reading to discover how a strong digital marketing campaign can positively impact your physical foot traffic and improve sales.

Strategically Raising Brand Awareness

Effective advertising campaigns can leave a strong and long-lasting impact on consumers and incorporating interactive signage can help establish and increase awareness of your brand. That’s because people will remember the experience they had in your store. Bright colours, catchy slogans, and impressive imagery are integral to guaranteeing that your brand not only stands out, but that your key messaging resonates with your target audience and leaves a lasting impression as well.

Implementing Effective Customer Engagement

Attracting your customers to your retail store is just the first step. Once you’ve got their attention, it’s time to spike their interest and reel them in further. This is your opportunity to engage and interact with them directly in a meaningful way that establishes a strong and mutually beneficial relationship between your brand and your customers. Help them understand how supporting your brand will impact their lives in a positive way and why they should do business with you rather than your competitors. It’s been proven that positive customer interactions can lead to more sales, and this is a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Flexible Sales Tactics and Payment Options

Some might argue that using too many technological advancements in your marketing schemes can place you at a disadvantage because it leaves very little to the imagination. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth, as it takes a great deal of talent and creativity to come up with brand new digital advertising techniques that set you apart from your competition. Digital technology has also made it possible for retailers to offer customers unique shopping experiences that make them feel like they’re participating in something special, simply by making purchases in certain stores. It also makes it possible for more retailers to offer a wider variety of modern payment options.

Customized Offers

Another bonus that comes with integrating more technology into your marketing and sales tactics is that you can also install algorithms that generate customized offers and coupons that are specifically formulated based on each customer’s past purchases and buying habits.

Nauticomp Inc. is one of the world’s most renowned and leading designers and manufacturers of state-of-the-art digital displays. Our state-of-the-art touchscreen and digital screens are fully customizable based on the specific needs of your professional environment. What’s more, they’re equipped with a wide range of features that are designed to enhance the way you conduct your business. Contact us today to learn more about our company and products.

Advantages of Using Digital Menu Boards in Restaurants

Posted on: March 7, 2018

Digital signage is making a huge impact on the way companies present themselves and do business. In recent years, this innovative and game-changing method of establishing brand recognition has infiltrated the restaurant industry. More and more fast-food chains, in particular, are embracing the infinite benefits of switching from the traditional, static menu boards to their more modern and easy to manage digital counterparts. To learn more about the different ways in which installing digital menu boards at your restaurant can help improve your business practices, keep reading.

Easy to Manage

Every once in a while, even the most successful businesses need to revamp their marketing strategies and incorporating digital display screens is a good way to do just that in the restaurant industry. Digital menu boards are very easy to manage because everything is automated and you don’t have to manually change or update the signage. Since the restaurant industry moves so quickly and there are always new promotions and menu items coming out, staying ahead of the game is essential.

Automation Allows You to Quickly Update the Menu

As a restaurant manager or franchisee, it’s your job to always be on top of things and make sure that all of your menu items are completely up-to-date. Digital signage has made it so that you no longer need to rely on your employees—who are bound to make mistakes occasionally—to change the menu boards manually. On top of that, you also don’t need to place orders for new signage or hire someone to install it every time you want to make changes to the menu. Now, you can simply control everything digitally and come up with innovative designs for your menu board on the fly.

Increased Sales/Boost Customer Experience

It’s been proven that digital menu boards have not only increased sales for a lot of big name fast-food franchises in different countries, but they also eliminate the need for your cashiers to try to upsell customers on new menu items. Digital menus have the capacity to suggest complementary menu items to your customers as they’re placing their orders, which leads to more impulsive decisions and they’ll subconsciously upsell themselves without feeling pressured.

Scheduling Capabilities

As mentioned, digital menu boards put you in control of your business. Part of that means that you can spend less time changing the signage on your walls as you can now use a digital timer to schedule when your breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus will change ahead of time.

Save Money and Time

As an added bonus, think of all the money and time you can save by not having to worry about managing the menu board inside your restaurant. All of your menu items will always be up-to-date and consistent with the brand image and key messaging that you’re trying to maintain.

Nauticomp Inc. has proudly been the leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of custom digital signage, menu boards, and screens in the United States and Canada for more than 20 years. Our state-of-the-art digital screens are suitable for all weather conditions, have sunlight readable capabilities, and are completely dust and water resistant so that they can withstand all kinds of treatment and work environments. To learn more about our company and our products, please contact us.

How to Choose the Best Types of LCD Panels

Posted on: February 22, 2018

The general consumer typically has very limited knowledge about the different types of LCD panels on the market and they take all of the information, specifications, and features printed on the packaging to heart. The reality is that advertisers tend to take advantage of the fact that most people conduct very minimal research before making big technological purchases—in fact, they depend on this to sell higher quantities of commercial monitors. With that in mind, how exactly do you know if you’re actually getting a good quality product that’ll suit your needs? Reading up on all of the different types of industrial LCD monitors is a good place to start!

What Is an LCD Panel?

LCD stands for liquid-crystal display. Over the years, LCD technology has become ubiquitous with various commercial and industrial screen manufacturing. LCDs are constructed of flat panels that contain liquid crystals with light modulating properties. This means that these liquid crystals use a backlight or reflector to emit light and produce either monochromatic or coloured images. LCDs are used to construct all sorts of displays from cellphones to computer screens to flat-screen TVs. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the different types of LCD displays on the market.

Different Types of LCD Panels

Twisted Nematic (TN)

Twisted Nematic LCDs are the most commonly manufactured and used types of monitors across a wide range of industries. They’re most commonly used by gamers because they’re inexpensive and boast faster response times than most of the other display types on this list. The only real downside to these monitors is that they possess low quality and limited contrast ratios, colour reproduction, and viewing angles. However, they suffice for everyday operations.

IPS Panel Technology

In Plane Switching displays are considered to be among the best of the best when it comes to LCD technology as they offer superior viewing angles, excellent image quality, and vibrant colour accuracy and contrast. They’re most commonly used by graphic designers and in other applications that require the highest possible standards for image and colour reproduction.

VA Panel

Vertical Alignment panels fall somewhere in the middle between TN and IPS panel technology. While they have much better viewing angles and higher quality colour reproduction features than TN panels, they also tend to have significantly slower response times. However, even their most positive aspects still don’t come anywhere close to holding a candle to IPS panels, which is why they’re much more affordable and suitable for everyday use.

Advanced Fringe Field Switching

AFFS LCDs offers far superior performance and a wider range of colour reproduction than even IPS panel technology. The applications involved in this type of LCD display are so advanced that they can minimize colour distortion without compromising on the extremely wide viewing angle. This screen is typically used in highly advanced and professional environments such as in the cockpits of commercial airplanes.

Nauticomp Inc. is the leading designer and manufacturer of high-quality LCD panels and displays. All of our touchscreen displays are made to order and customized according to your specific needs and applications. To learn more about our products, please contact us today.

Reasons to Buy Commercial-Grade Screens for Your Business

Posted on: February 14, 2018

Choosing the right technological devices for your business can be a difficult and daunting task, especially if you’re not particularly tech-savvy. The market is literally flooded with new devices coming out every couple of weeks. So how do you know which ones are appropriate for your professional needs? Should you go with commercial grade screens or will consumer-grade devices suffice for your purposes? Keep reading to find out why commercial grade devices could be more beneficial when it comes to fulfilling the needs of your business.

Product Warranties

Commercial grade screens and devices typically come with a longer-lasting and more comprehensive warranty coverage than your run-of-the-mill consumer devices. These devices are designed and constructed with your business in mind. Engineers and manufacturers are fully aware of the fact that these products will most likely be used by a large variety of people on a daily basis, all of whom handle technology with varying degrees of gentility. As a result, many manufacturers offer extensive warranties on their products while also standing by the professed high standards and quality of their products.

Hours Of Operation

Certain industries require their devices to be in operation for many hours on end with very limited or no downtime whatsoever. These machines need to be reliable and durable so that they can endure even the roughest usage without breaking down or requiring frequent repairs. Airports, for instance, require their devices to be in good working condition approximately 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as people are constantly travelling at odd hours of the day or night.

Operation Costs vs. Initial Costs

Upfront costs for commercial displays are slightly higher than consumer-grade devices for the simple reason that the cost of operating them is significantly cheaper in the long run. Many commercial grade screens usually consume lower levels of energy without sacrificing on the quality of their performance or the durability of their infrastructure. Designers and manufacturers specifically construct these devices so that they can withstand consistent and sometimes rough usage, which adds a higher level of convenience and ends up saving you a great deal of money in the long run.

Display Security Features

Commercial grade screens also come with a variety of useful features including display security. This feature helps protect these devices from enduring internal and external damages, which is necessary for devices that are used in public places with high volumes of users. To put this into perspective, at home, the only ones using your electronic devices are you and your family members, which means that they’re less susceptible to damages and they get more downtime in between uses.

Purpose and Usage

The type of device you should install for your business depends largely on your requirements. In certain environments such as retail, restaurant, construction sites, military and naval bases, or even in the healthcare industry, high-quality commercial grade screens are the standard because these sectors require equipment that’s capable of serving all kinds of purposes and overcoming potentially harsh working conditions.

Lifespan

Due to the demanding nature of the industries in which commercial displays are often used, it’s important for these devices to be extremely durable and able to handle anything that’s thrown at them. As a result, these devices are constructed with the intention of lasting for a longer period of time than most consumer-grade models.

Nauticomp Inc. adheres to all of the above mentioned standards when it comes to designing and manufacturing commercial grade screens and displays for our customers. All of our devices are customizable to suit the needs of your business. To learn more about our products and our company, please feel free to contact us directly.

3 Major Myths About LED Displays Debunked

Posted on: February 6, 2018

LED (light emitting diode) displays are undoubtedly dominating the digital advertising market, and for a good reason. They offer a wide range of beneficial features that can help businesses expand their customer bases and attract more foot traffic into their brick-and-mortar locations.

However, when it comes to general consumer knowledge surrounding the specifications advertised on commercial-grade LED display monitors, there are a lot of misconceptions being perpetuated as fact. Certain glorified manufacturer specifications are over hyped wolves in sheep’s clothing. These advertising tactics have proven to be effective for a lot of major appliance manufacturers due to the lack of technological knowledge of the average consumer. Continue reading “3 Major Myths About LED Displays Debunked” →

What Does the Future Hold for Digital Display Technology Enhancement?

Posted on: January 29, 2018

Digital display technology is advancing and evolving at a much faster pace than ever before. New, exciting, and innovative ideas are constantly being brought to fruition with the intent of making our lives easier through technological improvements. So, what does this mean for the future of commercial monitors and how do you know which ones will suit both your personal and professional applications best? Keep reading to learn more about the different types of digital display technology that’s already available on the market and what you can expect to get out of each of them. Continue reading “What Does the Future Hold for Digital Display Technology Enhancement?” →

Different Touchscreen Technologies: Which One Is the Best for Your Application?

Posted on: January 5, 2018

In the last 20 years or so, numerous innovative technological advancements and the increasing demand for greater convenience and higher quality devices have all paved the way for state-of-the-art touchscreen technologies to infiltrate the market and become the industry standard. Rugged touchscreens have become such a widespread mainstay in our collective consciousness and daily activity that many of us tend to take their importance and functionality for granted without even realizing it. When it comes to choosing between commercial-grade or industrial touchscreen monitors, it’s important to know the difference between each type of display and how they can benefit either your personal or professional needs. Continue reading “Different Touchscreen Technologies: Which One Is the Best for Your Application?” →

3 Misinterpreted Terms Related to Display Technology

Posted on: December 28, 2017

As technology continues to advance at the speed of light, an increasing number of new and innovative products continue to saturate the market, while product predecessors become obsolete. This constant evolution can inevitably lead to the misuse and misinterpretation of common technological terms and applications, which causes a great deal of confusion for people who are wholly unfamiliar with their true meanings.

Below is a list of three display technology terms that are most commonly misused and misunderstood by laypeople.

Aspect Ratio vs. Contrast Ratio

When it comes to LCD or LED displays, there’s a major difference between aspect and contrast ratio. However, because they’re so similar in terms of definition and functionality, many people tend to mistakenly use these phrases interchangeably without completely understanding what they mean. Aspect ratio refers to the image sizes and clarity that a device is capable of depicting (usually either 4:3 or 16:9). Contrast ratio, on the other hand, refers to the visual contrast in brightness that a screen is capable of creating; it ranges from the brightest and whitest whites to the darkest and blackest black colour schemes.

Pixels Per Inch (PPI)

PPI is arguable one of the most well known specifications when it comes to display technology. It rose to prominence when Apple Inc. introduced the revolutionary concept of retina display in its devices. Most rack-mounted displays boast having a high PPI, but the ratio of number of pixels to screen size is irrelevant if the user has poor eyesight as this will hinder their individual experience with using the device. While a higher PPI produces a sharper and clearer image for people within close proximity who happen to have perfect vision it doesn’t make much of a difference to people watching from a far distance who suffer from visual impairment. This feature is a good selling point for handheld devices such as tablets or cellphones, but it’s not necessarily an asset for larger wall mounted screens.

Bit Depth

There are two distinctly different types of bit depth—audio and colour—and it’s important to make sure that you understand their individual specifications before making any potentially expensive purchases. Digital audio is measured by what’s known as pulse-code modulation, which encompasses the total number of bits that are featured in each sound sample. This has a direct impact on the quality, sharpness, and resolution of the sound produced by the device. In contrast, colour depth corresponds to the number of bits that exist in a single visual pixel and this determines the colour each pixel produces. The confusion surrounding these two specs stems from the fact that most people simply refer to both of them as “bit specs” without elaborating on whether they’re referring to colour or audio features.

Nauticomp Inc. is one of the leading designers, manufacturers, and distributors of high-end commercial and industrial weatherproof, dustproof, and waterproof displays in Canada and the U.S. For over 20 years, we’ve been supplying consumers and corporations alike with state-of-the-art rugged displays that are built to withstand all sorts of environmental conditions. To learn more about our company and products, please feel free to contact us directly.

7 Tips to Clean Your LED or LCD Display’s Monitor

Posted on: December 18, 2017

Keeping your precious rugged LCD monitors or LED screens clean and tidy can be challenging. This is especially true if you happen to have handsy young children who like to touch everything or pets running amuck in your household or even if you happen to work in a particularly messy environment such as a construction site or restaurant. Sometimes, rogue bits of debris can attach themselves to your electronic devices and while this is entirely out of your control for the most part, there are a few effective and harmless cleaning solutions you can put into practice to keep your electronics clean and running smoothly. Continue reading to learn about helpful tips for cleaning your LCD and LED screens without causing internal or external damage.

Prepare the LCD or LED Screen

Before you can get down to the cleaning part, you need to prepare your LCD or LED screen in order to reduce the risk of liquids penetrating the surface and causing internal damage. Keep in mind that modern screens might technically include higher end features than the old school CRT screens from your childhood, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re more durable. In fact, modern LCD and LED screens are actually a lot more fragile and easily susceptible to damage if they’re not cared for properly. To prepare the screen for cleaning, make sure you shut down the system entirely, disconnect it from its power source, and then let it cool down for a few minutes. This will reduce the risk of electrocution and it’ll make it easier to clean the screen without resulting in annoying and unattractive streaks.

Never Press Down on an LCD or LED Screen

Occasionally, you’ll have to contend with a tough spot, streak, or fingerprint marking that takes a little extra effort to clean. If this happens, don’t panic and definitely don’t press down harder with a cloth or try to scrape it off with your fingernails or any other tool as this can cause severe damage to the top layer or anti-gloss coating. The best thing to do is use a non-abrasive cleaning solution such as isopropyl alcohol that’s diluted with either pure or distilled water. Spray the solution onto a microfiber cloth and gently wipe down the area in either an up and down or side to side motion. Applying too much pressure to even the most rugged touchscreen can compromise its limited durability.

Types of Cleaning Cloths to Use

There are a few types of cleaning cloths you can use to wipe down your rugged LCD monitor either at home or at work. The most recommended one is microfiber cloth for a multitude of reasons. First, microfiber is a state-of-the-art technological development that’s a thin and soft, yet strong enough material to thoroughly clean your electronic devices without risking damaging them in any way. Most of the time, computer and flatscreen TV manufacturers provide microfiber cloths with their products along with a specific set of maintenance and cleaning instructions. Microfiber cloths are immune to collecting or spreading lint across your screen, and because of the intricate way in which the minuscule fibers are intertwined these cloths are able to trap larger quantities of dirt and dust without leaving streaks. You can also use a cotton tea towel, a cotton t-shirt, or cotton handkerchief if you’re in a bind and don’t have microfiber cloths on hand.

Never Spray Liquid Cleaners Directly onto the Screen

This point can’t be emphasized enough. Even though it may seem like common sense that electronic devices shouldn’t come into direct contact with any liquids (especially if they’re still plugged in), not everyone seems to think so and many people have made the mistake of spraying cleaning agents onto their devices. The safer and smarter way to clean any rackmount LCD display is by first wiping it down with a dry cloth and then spraying a small amount of the cleaning solution onto a different cloth and wiping it down gently. After you do this, wipe it down with a clean dry cloth to remove any remaining liquid.

Refrain from Using Cleaning Products That Contain Ammonia

Always avoid using ammonia or rubbing alcohol based cleaners on your touchscreen devices. The devices themselves might be constructed with the capability to withstand most types of damages, but certain features they possess aren’t. Ammonia and rubbing alcohol can irreparably strip away or damage the extremely delicate anti-glare coating on the screen, which will not only negatively alter your viewing experience but also make your device a lot harder to use in strong sunlight.

Vacuum Dust from the Edges

Dust that settles between the gaps in the screen where the bezel and the top layer of glass or plastic meet can penetrate deeper and cause internal damage to your device. Regularly using a vacuum with a soft-bristled brush (to prevent scratching) can help you keep your device clean and free of any issues.

Spray the Surface with Compressed Air

For extra measure, you can also spray the surface of your screen, computer keyboard, or even the vent on the back of the device with a can of compressed air to blast away any lingering and stubborn debris or dust. If any of it lands on the surface of the device, make sure to gently wipe it away with a clean cloth to prevent it from making its way back into your device. Implementing this cleaning method on a regular basis will ultimately help to guarantee the longevity and functionality of your device.

Nauticomp Inc. is the proud designer, manufacturer and distributor of countless rugged LCD and LED monitors and displays. We’ve been working in the technological industry for more than 20 years and supply a variety of businesses including marine bases, military bases, restaurants, casinos, retail stores, shopping centers, and healthcare facilities with durable and high-quality LED and LCD displays that serve a wide range of purposes. For more information about our company or our products, please feel free to contact us.

Common Myths About LCD Displays

Posted on: November 21, 2017

When it comes to selecting, purchasing, and installing the right LCD monitors and displays, there are a number of essential factors that must always be taken into account. First and foremost, you need to determine exactly what the purpose of the display will be and which features are the most important for your specific purposes. Whether you’re looking for a rugged LCD monitor for commercial or personal use, you should have a general idea of the specifications you require and how they’ll comply with your given environment. On that note, it’s also extremely useful to research common misconceptions and myths that are often believed to be true about even the most rugged LCD displays.

Myth #1: LCD Displays Actually Carry Liquids

Since LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display, it’s understandable that a lot of people are under the misconception that LCDs actually contain liquids. Of course, this couldn’t be further from the truth. The description actually refers to the type of crystals that are used within the display and not their physical manifestations. As a testament to the malleability and flexibility, these crystals are aptly classified as twisted nematic liquid crystals. This basically means that the crystals can be manipulated in so many different configurations that they share some of the same fluid properties as liquids; hence the name.

Myth #2: Custom LCDs are Difficult and Time-Consuming to Develop

Many people are mistakenly under the impression that custom designing and building industrial LCD displays is far too time-consuming, expensive, and complicated of an endeavour to undertake, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, if you really think about it, ordering your own personalized equipment from the get-go could actually end up saving you a great deal of time, effort, and money rather than purchasing a standard device and then having to make appropriate changes to it later on.

Myth #3: Custom LCDs Aren’t Worthwhile for Smaller Projects

Another common misunderstanding is that custom LCDs with rugged touchscreen capabilities and other special features aren’t worthwhile for small projects because they’re too expensive and complex. On the contrary, it’s actually very much worth your while to customize your LCD displays to your exact specifications because then you won’t have to pay extra money to add certain features later on. For instance, waterproof LCD monitors are a very popular item on the market for a variety of reasons, most notably their versatility and ability to be implemented in numerous commercial and industrial settings.

Myth #4: LCD Monitors Are Susceptible to Screen Burn-In

This couldn’t be further from the truth. In actuality, rugged rackmount LCD displays are specially designed to withstand high temperatures and even completely block out excessive amounts of light. This means that it’s virtually impossible for these screens to overheat.

Nauticomp Inc. has been custom designing and building rugged industrial and commercial LCD displays for over 20 years. Our top-of-the-line monitors are able to withstand incredibly high and low temperature variables and they’re equipped with a variety of invaluable features including sunlight readability, waterproof capabilities, dust and dirt resistance, and so much more. For more information about our products and how they can serve you and improve the quality of your working conditions, please contact us.