Customers don't always appreciate the complexities behind displaying different content on a screen (flash, slide show, video, audio, interactive etc) in different locations where a network may or may not be available, and perhaps scheduling this or synchronising with other events, or distributing and updating to multiple displays, and checking that all is working properly. The customer simply wants to invest in the best "attention grabbing" display systems they can afford.

The following serves as a check list of components that should be considered when designing any solution.

Hardware components including, screens, servers for content distribution, client computers with fast graphical interfaces for use with screens, media devices as alternatives to client computers, network interfaces for internet or local network access by cable or wireless.

Software components including platform operating systems and content sharing architecture, applications used to manage all aspects of content.

Functional components to distribute content to multiple client computers or devices, scheduling presentation of different content, synchronising presentation of content with other events, updating content, monitoring satisfactory operation, interactivity and data collection and deposit.

Operational components such as installing all hardware including network devices, power provision, maintaining all components, networking configuration, content security and user support.

To progress new opportunities with digital screen content solution a desirable agreed solution should be implemented that could work in a number of the common scenarios, perhaps complying with the emerging open standards for sharing content in "digital signage networks". A framework could be built for a first project and content added. Subsequent projects would then only require content to be prepared, if the framework was versatile enough.

Providing a framework solution as a "solution as a service" product, with subscription license fees for customers, would result in benefits for the customer (trouble free maintenance, available on demand, opportunities for inter-working with other products) and minimise provision and support effort.

This could still be installed on a LAN for a stand alone implementation if necessary (no internet). If the internet is used then security measures must be strictly applied. It is possible to create private networks using consumer broadband connections from a single provider. Alternatively larger organisations may already have extensive MPLS (multi protocol label switching) networks with suitable security.