The IT team at Northumbria University is very forward thinking having already been voted "UK's most IT-Enabled Organisation 2006" by Computing Magazine. The existing campus had successfully implemented wireless technology designed to benefit both student life and subject involvement, with the introduction of a network that allows students and staff to connect their personal laptops to any one of 130 wireless hotspots. Currently this is the most extensive network in the Higher Education sector.
With such high standards already set, the challenge for the facilities team was to be equally successful. As with the physical separation where a bridge was the stylish and practical solution, there was an equally simple communications answer. For some while, the West Campus had been successfully using ONELAN Net-Top-Boxes (NTB) and 42" plasma screens, to deliver messages of local, regional, and national interest, connected to the university network and controlled centrally. The obvious and effective approach decided upon was to extend the Digital Signage network to cover the new East Campus, sure in the knowledge that it would be compatible with the existing IT infrastructure being installed. Scotia UK, Northumbria University's preferred IT partner places compatibility and functionality very high on its priority list.
In September 2007, 9000 students transferred to two new five storey buildings in the East Campus, the School of Design in one and the Schools of Law and Business in the other. The successful combination of these is seen as vital to the future development of the university, therefore the Digital Signage needed to be of an exceptionally high standard, as it provides the first and most visible point of contact for students, visitors, staff and security. Accordingly, Scotia UK and Northumbria University worked closely to develop a DS infrastructure and installation comprising fourteen ONELAN NTB units, to enhance the local Digital Signage in the new faculty areas. Consequently, 42in plasma displays plus NTBs have been positioned in the various student learning hubs and common areas such as reception and cafeterias where wireless hot spots are most prevalent.
Each plasma display is positioned to maximise the viewing area, and the system is set up with local content control operated by authorised personnel in the school areas. On-screen areas, controlled by IT services, display corporate content and local area information such as events, traffic or weather.
Joe Evans, Technical Services Manager at UNN explained: "All our ONELAN NTBs were supplied with Freeview capability giving our Schools the opportunity to display a wide range of broadcasted video and local content to our students. Although we have developed a corporate template for use on our ONELAN screens, we have delegated control of many of the zones to local NTB administrators which enables specific content to be displayed, relevant to their audience. A prime example is the foyer of the School of Design which benefits from a double height entrance hall. Here the Digital Signage is projected on to a white wall with an image of about 4 x 3 metres in size. The Design School uses this to create a high impact first impression when entering the building, showing promotional videos of past and current student degree shows."
Scotia UK's Andrew Middleton, who has been a key partner in the installation advised: "The key to a good installation is that the team understands the product and has confidence in it. This is the case with the ONLEAN NTBs used at the university. The compatibility factor can seriously disrupt work schedules if applied incorrectly and in this area there is really no substitute for experience. ONELAN units already interface with the network in the West Campus, so it was simply a matter of confirming that the various upgrades were compatible also. Refreshingly simple."
Joe Evans added: "The ONELAN NTBs and associated plasma screens blend well with the glass and steel structure of the buildings themselves, giving a positive aesthetic. The dynamic screen displays attract the eye and it is clear that messages are being received by the audience, which is the prime objective."
