Procedure: University of Minnesota Duluth
UMD digital signs are to be reviewed and approved by UMD administration before being purchased and installed. The content must be managed through the centralized software system (Carousel) provided by University Relations, to support our campus need for emergency notification. UMD Facilities Management must be consulted for location, placement, and building code review. UMD Information Technology Systems and Services (ITSS) will provide technology consulting services.
Departments currently using other forms of digital signs should move toward converting existing systems to use the centralized Carousel management system to support our campus need for emergency notification.
Units requesting a digital sign are responsible for all costs and are encouraged to consider our campus carbon footprint when determining whether a digital sign is truly a good investment.
Goals
- Use a centralized management system to enable use of signs for emergency announcements.
- Standardize infrastructure to simplify support.
- Share infrastructure between campus units to reduce overall campus costs.
- Ensure that installation is appropriate and meets building code regulations.
- Support thoughtful choices that take into account the campus carbon footprint.
Procedures
1 - Complete this approval form to begin the process before proceeding with purchase and installation:
2 - Contact University Relations (Twin Cities campus) to get added to the system and purchase a monitor. University Relations provides accounts/access to the system, configures the layout of individual signs, and determines the list of supported monitors. The University’s recommended media player is Apple TV for new or replacement players. They must be purchased through the Twin Cities Bookstore (using SKU 3590529) to ensure they are configured properly for digital signage use.
- Visit UMN Digital Signage for pricing and details.
3 - Contact UMD Facilities Management for the installation. Facilities Management, in coordination with ITSS staff, will coordinate the installation work, ensure that the sign meets building code requirements, and address power and network needs.
- Submit a work request form to Facilities Management to begin this process.
Costs
Individual units requesting a digital sign shall be responsible for the cost of the equipment, ongoing charges for using the centralized system, cost of installation, and the staff costs that should be devoted to updating information on the sign. The value of a digital sign is the ability to regularly change content. If staff resources are not available to do this, please consider installing a bulletin board.
All involved in using digital signs should recognize that they use a significant amount of energy to run, thus increasing our carbon footprint at a time when we are working hard to reduce it. Please be sure that you will make good use of a digital sign by providing frequent updates of content before choosing this solution.
Requesting to add content to digital signs on campus
Primary use of digital signs is independently defined by each of the departments that have paid to install and maintain each sign or set of signs. In some cases, departments may be willing to share some limited screen space with others, when appropriate to their mission and use guidelines. Note that you may be required to create a file type and size specific to the layout of a given sign. The standard size/format accepted by most units is: 497px x 768px, in jpg format.
To request that an image be added to digital signs on campus:
To request that an image be added to the Kathryn A. Martin Library digital sign, please follow this process: Library Digital Sign Guidelines
To request that an image be added to the Kirby Student Center digital signs, please follow this process: Kirby Student Center Posting Policy
To request that an image be added to any of the remaining digital signs on campus, you need to join the Digital Sign Google Group: email [email protected]
Revision History
- September 1, 2011: Effective date
- September 2016: Added info re: Requesting to add content to digital signs on campus
- May 2024: Updated with University Relations Information