Preventing Damage to Digital Signage Screens

LCD and plasma TVs are flatter and thinner than their predecessors. For this reason they have become a versatile tool that has been taken out of the home and used for a myriad of different reasons from providing information to digital signage.

The most important aspect of any LCD TV is the screen face, ensuring this is kept clean and is protected is, therefore, essential – especially if the device is relaying digital advertising.

However, preventing damage to Digital Signage Screens can be really tricky, especially in outdoor locations.

Screens need to be protected

Screens are incredibly easy to damage. Even a minor impact on an LCD can scar the surface of the display and the screen is vulnerable to all sorts of other hazards too.

Sunlight can damage a screen. The constant glare of the sun can cause parts of the display to heat up and will eventually cause burn marks on the surface, as will continued use if enough consideration is not put into removing heat build ups.

Vandalism is another problem often faced by unattended displays – particularly outdoor digital signage. Impacts due to vandalism are not the only hazard for the screen as graffiti can cover the face of an LCD and prevent it from being viewed.

Protection for the screen is, therefore, essential for any outdoor digital display and there are several aspects to screen protection.

Impact protection is best dealt with by installing a shatterproof screen in front of the display. A decent LCD enclosure is essential for this as the screen will be protected from all sides. Housed in an LCD enclosure the screen will be kept free from dust and other elements so only the shatterproof screen needs to be cleaned. Also, if vandals have scratched of scarred the shatterproof screen it is far easier and more cost effective to replace just that, rather than the entire device.

To prevent sun damage and overheating of the screen where outdoor digital signage screens have continual sunlight shining on them, a decent airflow system must be included in the LCD enclosure design to help transfer heat away from the screen – commonly referred to as an air curtain. Alternatively, tinting can be used but this will diminish the brightness of the screen.