StrandVision markets digital signage to K-12 schools

Eau Claire, Wis. - With students oriented toward television and other high tech electronic media, an Eau Claire-based provider of hosted digital signage services has introduced a digital signage product for K-12 schools.

StrandVision, LLC will market a Web-based signage system that uses existing televisions to distribute daily school announcements and community information.

Mike Strand, founder and CEO of StrandVision, said the signage system is a low-cost, easy-to-administer product that is a natural way to bring students up-to-date information in an attention-getting way. The system enables them to check locations and times of their activities, and schedule and room changes can be broadcast throughout the day.

"Couple the television medium with the ability to make quick updates without a lot of technical knowledge, and it becomes a current information source that students can rely on," Strand said.

Faculty and administrators might come to rely on it, too, because the system can be configured to send different messages to different locations and at different times of the day. For example, a separate feed can be sent to teachers and administrators in break rooms, with messages targeted to administrative matters. Installations can take place in hallways, at entrances, in cafeterias, in the library and other areas where students or faculty congregate. The digital signs can provide constant updates and reminders using text, photographs, and video.

Under the system, information is delivered over the Internet. The network requires a personal computer with Internet access to act as a server that distributes information to televisions over the school's existing cable or local area network.

Typically, a school's computer or technical instructors or support staff can install the system in less than an hour.

The day-to-day administration does not require technical expertise. Anyone that knows how to browse the Web can enter daily updates. Administrative staff is able to log onto the password-protected server over the Internet to type in the latest announcements or upload photos and graphics. The entire system is updated at the next "refresh" within minutes with the use of a fill-in-the-form entry system.

StrandVision will make digital signage for school communications available through a national network of resellers and installers. The starting subscription rate will be $54.95 per month.