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Digital Signage Helps Marching Band Stay in Sync

April 11, 2016

Digital Signage Helps Marching Band Stay in Sync

Digital Signage at Band Center

The Ohio State University Marching Band is acclaimed for its intricate patterns on the field. But band member Christian Deiderich saw an area where the band could excel off the field, as well: ditching paper signs for digital signage.

“I’d seen [digital signage] at the Fawcett Center,” says Deiderich, but he wanted something that was “not just a PowerPoint presentation on a loop.” He was looking for something that enhanced visual interest, with videos and scrolling text. Something like Xibo.

“Xibo really excels at providing attention-grabbing visual content,” says Mike Kaylor, Director of Academic Technology in the College of Arts and Sciences, who implemented the software. “Its open source platform is more advanced than the Raspberry Pi systems we’ve experimented with previously. It displays not only text and pictures, but also videos, Twitter feeds, the OH-IO image of the day, even live weather reports.”

"We also can post images from the official band photographers, Ed and Karen Crockett, says Deiderich "They've got images from 40-50 years."

Ohio State personnel throughout the college collaborated to make this project succeed. Rick Shaffer, Business Operations Manager for Marching and Athletic Bands in the School of Music, provided administrative support. Allen Coleman, ASCTech Digital Media and Instructional Technology Coordinator, assisted with the technical and logistical aspects of the project.

Getting the project online involved "a lot of work in Photoshop and pulling university brand assets," says Deiderich, but now it's more about "scheduling the times for things. Like tonight, we have a floor cleaning. So there's a message that goes online at 7:30: 'The band center is about to close for cleaning.'"

Reaction to the screens has been very positive. “I think the displays are a great addition to the band center,” says band member Adam Martini. “The displays make it so that everyone who enters the band center knows what's going on within moments of entering the lobby, before we even have our instruments.”

“I am thrilled to see these two displays up and running in the band center,” says Dr. Christopher Hoch, Director of Marching and Athletic Bands, “Hundreds of people pass through our facility every week, including current students, prospective band members, alumni and tour groups, making these displays a great tool for sharing information and imagery with internal and external audiences alike.”

What's next for the marching band? In the tradition of the band performing for others, Deiderich is compiling an OSU Xibo user manual for other Ohio State departments. For more information about this and other ASCTech services, just send us a request.