What is 4K?

4K digital signage and TV’s have been on the boundaries for a while but with falling consumer prices they are now much more affordable, but what actually is 4K and is it really worth the investment? Well in an industry where the display is everything 4K signage offers you the opportunity to stand further ahead of your competitors than ever before.

The 4K generation is upon us. It’s the new HD, in fact its Ultra HD (UHD) but in truth it is opening the door for a number of technologies such as HDR- explained in our PS4K post- OLED and Quantum Dot to finally find fruition and enter our living rooms and work spaces. Just as with the introduction of HD when many people contested the visible difference, 4K offers pretty major technological advancements. 4K Ultra HD TV’s deliver four times better definition than what is more than likely- your 1080p HD TV.

Ultra HD is a derivative of 4K, whilst 4096 x 2160 is the 4K resolution, Ultra HD is slightly lower at 3840 x 2160 which is why majority of TVs avoid the 4K stamp at all and instead vouch for UHD. Essentially it becomes much more difficult to see the grid-like structure of the image itself however close you get meaning you can watch a much bigger screen from the same position- hence why majority of 4K TVs are in excess of 50-inches.

4K will not be like the fad of 3D, 4K/UHD is unquestionably superior to any previous format. Currently the only drawback is the lack of 4K content but if you are considering the upgrade, the density of pixels will improve displays full-stop dependent on which you choose of course, but there are various boards coming together to produce new standards and ensure an abundance of content will be ready for the mainstream demand- which is expected to explode in the coming years leading up to Japan’s Olympics in 2020 as 8K broadcasting looks to take off by NHK, who are attempting to shoot and transmit the games in 8K or in more simple terms- Super Hi-Vision.

8K delivers 16 times the definition of Full HD with a stupendous 33 million pixels in a single 8K screen, hence why sceptics believe price and technology will limit 8K for a number of years to come although it is expected that 1,000,000 8K units will have been sold by 2019, by contrast in the first quarter of 2015 alone, 4.7 million 4K units flew off the shelves.

In the UK BBC and BSkyB are chairing a working group mulling over every potential exploit of the 4K generation whilst market leaders including Samsung, LG and Sony have split-off from that group to create their own UHD Alliance indicating the scale of opportunity for superior displays in the coming years.
As for ourselves we have 4K screens for any exploit, whether you want to produce ultimate electronic advertising at the height of industry displays, or if you’re perhaps looking to illustrate production facilities and/or visuals in a clearer format.

We have contrast ratios up to 5000:1 with 4K ready UHD screens in sizes 32”, 42”, 55”, 65”, 75”, 84” and finally 85” as well as host of 4K digital signage options, whether you require all in one portable signage, or a stationary mounted alternative. All available with various touchscreen mechanisms including Resistive, Infrared, PCAP and Capacitive touch. Our 4K screens come standard with Black Anti-Glare and a low reflection coating, with optional protected glass and sunlight readable display to maximize your campaigns and/or content. Whether you have OEM, IoT or M2M applications it is more important to be ahead of the game than ever and Assured Systems displays will guarantee you are not left behind in the HD era.

About Assured Systems

Assured Systems is a leading technology company offering high quality and innovative applied computing solutions to the embedded, industrial, and digital-out-of-home markets across the world. Headquartered in Stone, England and with offices in North America, our reach is truly global. Our impressive product portfolio includes a full range of Fanless Embedded Computer Systems, Digital Signage & Multimedia Computer Systems, Touchscreen Panel PCs, Human Machine Interfaces, Vehicle Mount Computers, Rackmount Computer Systems, Single Board Computers, Rugged Laptops & Tablets. Please call the numbers listed above or visit our website at www.assured-systems.com for more information.

Stretched Bar LCD Displays - Presenting More Opportunities in Digital Signage

What are Stretched Bar LCD Displays?

We’ve spoken about the vast array of screen resolutions available on the market and how those resolutions dictate image quality and screen size, read the blog here. Even with all of these options, the vast majority of screens for use in the home, in industry or in digital signage are of the same shape, which is rectangle to a limited ratio of height and width. Screens have always been driven mainly by the home market which takes sizing from TV camera filming dimensions and more recently the desire for widescreen and home cinema sizing. The implication being that industrial screens and digital signage platforms followed suit because (a) people are used to absorbing information from rectangular screens and (b) the cost of adapting TV based resolutions to commercial grade displays has been lower than starting from scratch.

Restrictions of standard screens

As the digital signage revolution has developed, OEM designers and marketing visionaries have realised the potential for signage screens to fit into more bespoke applications. The conformist approach to digital signage has been to take a standard resolution; commercial grade screen and wall mount or embed that screen shape into say, a store design. But the demand for displayed information goes beyond that of uniformed walls able to accept the standard rectangle screen. The opportunity to impact visually may come in long and thin spaces which will only fit all but the smallest of standard screens, or demand longer and thinner units. For example, fitting standard TV screens into public transport vehicles for information and advertising has been done for over a decade or so, but the desire to embed these screens into flush panelling and for them to fit the designed interiors of carriages has grown along with the evolving technology. Bus and train designers now want long and thin screens to fit along the header panelling of a coach where all passengers have a view, not just at the front of a coach on a wall mount where only a few passengers can see.

Why have they been difficult to get hold of?

It’s mainly been a point of cost. As mentioned above, to take existing screen resolutions from television display screens and adapt to commercial applications is relatively straight forward. Many screens can be made to suit and therefore the cost of production is reduced, making screens in traditional resolutions a viable investment for all. Taking a screen down to half the original height and keeping the width drastically reduces the number of applications the screen can be used in. Those applications tend to be in high ambient light so require sunlight readable; bright backlighting and rugged designs which can cope with the demands of public display and/or transport applications. This all leads to a market with a limited size availability at a premium cost.

Now You Can Display Everywhere!
Assured Systems can now supply a full range of stretched bar LCD displays with excellent price points. These commercial grade screens have filled the gap created by the growing demand for limited height digital signage screens. Presented in a comprehensive number of sizes, the SSD Series opens up a previously cost inhibitive range of digital signage opportunities which includes but is not restricted to:

- Tailor made digital signage
- Portrait gaming information points for casinos and bingo halls
- Transportation header panelling in coaches
- Menu board header displays
- Ticket Kiosk / Box Office header displays
- Museum displays
- Taxi information and advertising
- Bus shelters for schedules and routes

The SSD Series products are housed in a strong wall mountable chassis’ with standard VESA mounting points. The range features brightness levels from 300 NITS to an ultra-bright 2000 NITS LCD panels with multiple video inputs for flexibility. Additional features include touchscreen options, low power consumption (from just 9.6W for the 10” unit) and viewing angles up to +80°~‐80°(H), +85°~‐85°(V).

Main Features
Comprehensive Sizing: from 10" to 49"
Sunlight Readable: Brightness from 300nits to 2000nits
Green: LED Backlight & Low Power Consumption
Long Life Expectancy: from 70,000hrs to 100,000hrs
Smart Design: Slim Bezel & Fanless
Flexible: Available with LCM Module / Plug & Play Monitor

View the full range of Assured Systems Stretched Bar LCD Displays here.


OEM Support
Assured Systems are available for support when choosing components, including screens, for an OEM design. If there is a particular sized aperture which needs a product to retrospectively fit, we can manufacture a solution to fit.

Assured Systems specialise in the production of commercial grade screens for OEM designs and applications in highly specific vertical markets. We can assess your needs to find the correct screen solution having a more than extensive range of options which nears a bespoke service, without bespoke prices. Call our sales team now on 01785 87 90 50 for any advice on screen displays in digital signage, OEM integration or general industrial use.