There has been a lot of talk about all the difficulties of using digital signage in outdoor environments. Direct sunlight, high winds, and extreme temperatures can wreak havoc on displays and make viewing them difficult and strenuous. It also can be quite expensive and challenging to maintain. As DigitalSignageToday.com explained in a recent article, “The true challenge for outdoor digital signage occurs with installations where screens are exposed to direct sunlight and solar load takes effect. Solar load is the extra temperature, humidity and degradation a piece of equipment endures when placed in direct sunlight.”
A2aMEDIA’s Mediamesh, based off technologies invented by ag4 and GKD, has a self-cooling system that requires no separate system – even in direct sunlight. Actually, it is so durable that it can withstand up to 200 mile-per hour winds, intense heat, icy conditions and salty ocean air. The temperature range for operational functionality is negative 10 degrees F to 158 degrees F and the electronics that manage the displays can be located on the inside or outside of the buildings on which they reside without compromising quality, aesthetics or operational needs.
A2aMEDIA’s own Carlos Ferré recently published an article in ArchNewsNow that focused on how new technologies are helping to transform architectural surfaces far beyond the traditional canons of architecture. Clunky digital displays of the past are gone and have given rise to sleek, transparent building façades that serve as new forums of expression. As more and more architects are choosing to design buildings with digital signage displays as prominent features of the architecture, it’s more important that ever for building owners and architects alike to thoroughly evaluate digital media façade technology. Carlos provided readers with five key elements to consider when looking at media façades: transparency, weight, flexibility, durability, and energy efficiency.
As demonstrated in the article, display technologies like A2aMEDIA’s MediaMesh serve these elements. Mediamesh installations, for example, use just one-sixth the electricity of conventional LED boards and provide passive solar gain from the sun. And, as can be seen below, they are up to 70 percent transparent, offering significant aesthetic advantages.
While Carlos notes there are few true innovations in the field of architecture, digital signage is most certainly one. His article provides an outline on how to evaluate this innovative new technology, but also demonstrates why many installations will now be seen as a definition of iconic architecture in the digital age.
Lately, there has been some very interesting digital installations popping up across the globe. As the digital out-of-home sector continues to expand we hope even more incredible displays will begin construction. The other day here at A2aMEDIA we were discussing which world location would make the best venue for a new digital display. Our discussion resulted in some great ideas like the Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia, the world’s tallest buildings until 2004, Niagara Falls, and even an out of this world site like the International Space Station. (Unfortunately the moon was already part of an advertising campaign for Rolling Rock back in 2008.) But we just couldn’t pass up on one location in particular—the Burj Hotel in Dubai, which opened this week on January 4th. Reaching a half mile into the sky, the Burj is the world’s tallest skyscraper with 160 stories. And while wrapping the Burj building in Mediamesh might take some time, it would mean some serious space for advertisers and a grand sight to see for the passerby. Despite the grandeur of this theoretical project, there would still be a lot to consider in terms of content and interactivity to ensure the project’s success. Still we’re excited to see what the future of digital display holds—it’s bound to be on a grand scale.
If you haven’t seen the Miami Heat’s digital makeover you’re in for a surprise—the Miami Heat’s AmericanAirlines Arena just completed a major upgrade, including a 3,400-square-foot LED Mediamesh display, which A2aMEDIA brought to the face of the arena this spring. (Check it out in a recent article from the Miami Herald.)
The display is great for advertisers and Heat management is hoping it will be just as exciting for the fans to keep them coming back time and again. The success of the Miami Heat display has gotten the industry talking—and wondering what’s next. Where in the world would you like to see a Mediamesh display?
