Ticker Communications Inc. (T4R)

[alliecorp]

If you haven't yet, take the time to look over Tickerom's website. Recently, they've been adding new products and information. For example - and much more...

Signs, Display and Content: http://tickercom.com/signs-displays/

and LED Facts:
http://tickercom.com/led-faqs/

Is the display intended for indoor or outdoor use?

This is an important concern as LED signs are designed specifically for either indoor or outdoor conditions. The first consideration is environmental durability and Tickercom outdoor LED signs are built

to funtion in extreme weather conditions. From Alaska to Las Vegas, Tickercom Outdoor LED signs are proven to last. Another important aspect is LED brightness. Automatic brightness control comes standard on all Tickercom outdoor LED signs to ensure readability no matter the conditions. Tickercom also offers indoor window bright signs that are powerful enough to read through a store’s window from the street.
What content will be displayed on the sign?

Think about how you plan to use your LED sign. How many characters and/or lines need to be displayed at one time? Shorter length LED signs make reading long messages difficult but are perfect for quick messages. Multi-line signs suit many outdoor needs that require multiple static messages to be displayed at once. Would multi-colors enhance the message? Although monochrome signs are more affordable, a multi-color sign can often enhance a message by visually separating key points of information.

By asking lots of questions you can determine exactly how to use your LED sign.

The answers to those questions will lead you to the right sign.
What method will be used to communicate with the LED sign?

The method of communication depends on quite a few factors that are constantly evolving as new technology becomes available. Tickercom offers three main types of communication.

PC Based

Hardwired: The LED sign is plugged directly into a PC or connected through the network. Tickercom’s easy-to-use software allows the user to easily design and send their message.

B. Wireless: The LED sign is connected to the PC via a wireless modem or bluetooth device. Tickercom’s easy-to-use software allows the user to easily design and send their message.

Please note that Tickercom content is not available on computer controlled LED signs.

Web Based

A. Hardwired: An Internet device is connected to the router and then wired (Cat-5 cable) to the LED sign. Plug and play capabilities. Internet connection required.

B. Wireless: An Internet device is connected to the router and a secure bluetooth system wirelessly connects to the LED sign. Plug and play capabilities. Internet connection required.

GSM Unit

A GSM device is connected directly to the LED sign. GSM is a type of cellular technology that receives Tickercom’s signal from towers throughout North America. Plug and play capabilities.
What is the maximum and minimum viewing distance?

Viewing distance is a very important consideration when choosing the right LED sign. A good general rule is that one inch of text is visible from 50 feet away. The following diagram illustrates at what distance and character size a pedestrian audience will recognize and understand the content displayed on the LED sign.

If the target audience is moving then another factor comes into play: The time needed to read and understand the message. Tickercom suggests an ideal minimum of three to four seconds of readable exposure time for a message of seven to eight groupings. However, the faster the audience is moving the less time they have to read the message. In the case of highway traffic the display characters could be 24 inches high to allow a maximum viewing distance of 1200 feet. While in the city, 24 inch characters would be too large and overwhelming.

The chart below lists the maximum and minimum time an audience will need to view an LED sign at specific character sizes while travelling at certain speeds. For example, six inch text is visible from 200 feet away. If the audience is travelling at 25 mph (city traffic) then they will need 5.5 seconds to understand the message. If the audience is travelling at 65 mph (freeway traffic) the maximum viewing time is reduced to 3.1 seconds. Remember, the audience requires 3-4 seconds to read 7-8 pieces of information. If the LED sign is displaying too much content, then the reader will not have sufficient time to fully comprehend the message.

What is an LED?

LED is an abbreviation for light emitting diode. An LED is a solid-state electronic device that is much more efficient at creating light than an incandescent lamp. And, unlike incandescent lamps, LEDs have no filaments that can burn out or fail. LEDs contain chemical compounds that emit light when electric current passes through them. Different chemical compounds emit different bands of light. Tickercom uses the highest quality LEDs from the top manufacturers in the world. LEDs are available in various colors.

LED components can be in the form of through-hole LED lamps, SMD lamps and COB (chips on board) dot-matrixes.
What is pixel?

Pixel is short for picture element. Pixels are points of light that illuminate to form letters, words, graphics, animation and video images. A pixel can be made up of a single LED, multiple LEDs of the same color or multiple LEDs of different colors. A pixel can be off or on or lit at various brightness levels.

What is pitch?

Pitch is the distance between the centers of adjacent pixels. Simply put, the smaller the pitch (the closer the pixels are to each other), the shorter the optimum viewing distance for the display.

What is resolution?

Resolution is defined as the number of pixels contained in the physical area of an electronic display. The greater the number of pixels, the greater the amount of information displayed. The total number of pixels usually expressed as W x H where W and H denote the horizontal and vertical number of pixels.
What is viewing angle?

Optimum viewing angle is determined by the horizontal and vertical points at which the measured light intensity is at least 50% of the intensity measured directly in front of the display. Some applications require a wide viewing angle, others a focused viewing angle.