LED at the POS

High quality, multifunctional, attractive: LED sets the tone in the digital signage market. Trends around the staging of brands and products by the use of LED displays in stationary sales are developing rapidly. Carmelo Siragusa, who is an expert in digital signage solutions from jls, knows the challenges and opportunities in the application of LED technology. During the last few years, he has been responsible for the design and implementation of a variety of LED solutions.

Thanks to the high level of brightness and complete anti-reflective coating, LED displays are really eye-catching and create a unique customer experience. An LED display is composed of individual, magnetically fastened elements - what are known as cabinets. This modular design allows the design of LED displays in all sizes and shapes, i.e., not just in the classic 16:9 format. In addition, handling is usually easier in a support case. If there is a defect, individual modules can be replaced without incurring costs for replacing an entire display. With an average service life of 10 years, LED is well above the expected service life of displays.

LED technology offers a crucial advantage, especially in shopfitting, because the usable area can be adapted much better to the structural conditions. This means that individual architectural and aesthetic requirements can be taken into account. It is therefore worth using LEDs if size and shape can be harmonised to match the conditions in the store, such as e.g. ,the height and nature of the premises. For example, a curved LED display can be attached to a rounded wall.

As the number of suppliers and products increases, it becomes increasingly more complex to identify the most appropriate solution. The intended resolution, format and brightness are essential when choosing the right LED. Pixel pitch indicates the distance between the individual pixels on an LED. The deeper the pixel pitch, the higher the image resolution of an LED display. The most sensible pixel pitch is determined based on the average distance of the viewers to the wall. Choosing the size and shape of the LED will affect the requirements for the content that will be shown on the display. The location of a planned installation and the lighting conditions there must also be taken into account when selecting the most appropriate product. For outdoor and what are known as semi-outdoor applications in a shop window, there are for example LED modules with extra high brightness for use in daylight.

One of three crucial factors in the success of LED installations is the embedding in spatial concepts. Harmonious and at the same time astonishing integrations attract attention. Unusually large, stepped or rounded as well as outward or inward curved displays are another factor for lasting customer experiences. Imagine, for example, an LED wall that extends six meters high through the floors of a shop to the ceiling. However, an LED only becomes a real visitor magnet when it is particularly suitable and you might say surprising imagery makes viewers stop in amazement. Content that matches the size and shape is therefore the third success factor. The more unique the content, the greater the attention. When designing animations and films, it is also worth paying attention to the fact that the content is perceived by viewers as visually pleasurable and enriching

LED technology is being constantly developed, sometimes at a rapid pace. The increasingly frequent use and pronounced technological advances are leading to significantly more confidence in this technology compared to the past and are further increasing demand. As a result, the price per m² is becoming increasingly attractive, which means that an LED display is becoming more affordable. In addition to the falling prices, it is becoming apparent that the pixel pitches are getting smaller and therefore the resolutions ads can use are getting higher and higher.  In addition, an increasing number of products are coming onto the market for more flexible use, for example with bendable modules. The result is new possibilities for adapting the display to the spatial conditions. Last but not least, the effective image quality for the viewer also improves due to ever higher contrast values and colour depths. This is why we expect the use of LED displays to increase sharply in the future.