Body
Audience
This article is intended for for digital signs administrators, to learn how to upload and post content to their signs, schedule content for later, and more, using Optisigns.
Contents
- Emergency Alerts on Digital Signage - #ENS-Enabled
- Accessing Optisigns
- Digital Signage Best Practices
- Video Trainings for Optisigns
- Beginner's Guide to Optisigns
- Advanced Guide to Optisigns
- Branding Resources
- Digital Signage Team (Microsoft Team)
- FAQs
- Troubleshooting
Emergency Alerts on Digital Signs - #ENS-Enabled
Do not remove the tag "#ENS-Enabled" from your screen. This subscribes your screen to emergency alerts issued by Public Safety through Rave Alerts. In the event of an emergency, an alert will takeover all screens with critical safety information for the campus community. It is essential that this tag is not removed from screens. This function of digital signs has the potential to save lives.
In case of an emergency, call Public Safety at (607) 274-3333 or Dial 911 or push the "Call" button on any campus Blue Light or Emergency Phone. Do NOT post an emergency alert to your sign yourself.
Accessing Optisigns
If you are a sign administrator, log in with your IC credentials at ithaca.optisigns.net
To add or remove access for sign administrators, please submit a ticket here.
Digital Sign Best Practices
These are a collection of guidelines and best practices for sign managers, compiled by IT and the Creative + Marketing group:
- Do not remove the tag "#ENS-Enabled" from your screen. This subscribes the screen to emergency alerts issued by Rave. In the event of an emergency, an alert will takeover all screens with critical safety information for the campus community. This function of digital signs on campus has the potential to save lives.
- Content - Follow IC's Digital Signage Content Guidelines for what type of content is permitted or prohibited from being posted
- Volume - Most signs are not audio-capable. If they are, we recommend to leave sound off.
- Number of items posted - Maximum 20 items per playlist. Maximum 2 playlists per sign (for most signs, one playlist will be the Universal Stream maintained by Marketing). This is due to device bandwidth. Posting more than this increases the chance of delays or errors.
- Duration per slide - For viewing accessibility, minimum 30 seconds, maximum 3 minutes. Keep in mind that a powerpoint or PDF bundle of pages will be divided up by that time. Try multiplying your asset's page count by the duration in seconds you want each slide to be shown for.
- Scheduling considerations - Please take into account campus events that may be occurring and related traffic viewing your sign(s).
- Branding - Marketing and Branding Best Practices for Digital Signage
Video Trainings
Video trainings are available on IC's Kaltura, at: https://media.ithaca.edu/category/Video+Tutorials%3EDigital+Signage+%40+IC/294646892
Beginner's Guide to Optisigns
Video trainings of the following topics are available on IC's Kaltura, at: https://media.ithaca.edu/category/Video+Tutorials%3EDigital+Signage+%40+IC/294646892
How do I log in to manage my sign?
What is OptiSigns?
- This guide describes the benefits and features of Optisigns.
What types of files are supported?
- This article explains what file types can be uploaded for playback.
Upload & Manage Your Files / Contents
- This is a step-by-step guide on how to upload, search, preview, download, and delete files in Optisigns.
Assign content to your screens
- This guide demonstrates how to assign a playlist, assets, or schedules to display on a screen from the "screen" tab.
Push Content to your screens
- This guide demonstrates how to assign a playlist, assets, or schedules to display on a screen from the "Files/Assets" tab.
How to Preview a screen
- This is a step-by-step guide on how to preview a screen in Optisigns.
Creating & Using Playlists
- Playlists allow you to create a collection of content to be played sequentially on your screen.
Create and using Schedules with OptiSigns
- Schedules enable you to set you screen's content to change at predetermined times.
How to use PowerPoint slides with OptiSigns
- This will allow you to upload and display a PowerPoint Presentation on your sign. However, this option does not include animations/transitions. You can also use the PowerPoint Online method which allows you to link a slide show from your one drive. This maintains any animated content and allows edits to your PowerPoint file to automatically appear on the screens.
How to use Optisign's Templates and Designer tool to create content
- This enables you to use and modify pre-made templates or create your own content in Optisigns, rather than creating it in another program and uploading it from your computer.
For further information on using Optisigns, please visit their site at https://support.optisigns.com/hc/en-us.
Advanced Guide to Optisigns
How to create Split Screens, Screen Zones, Layout
How to create a scrolling strip / bars
How to create and use Weather Wall
How to use Simple Clock App
How to use News App
How to use Follow Us App
How to create and use Instagram Wall
How to use RSS feeds with OptiSigns
How to use Embed App
For further information on using Optisigns, please visit their site at https://support.optisigns.com/hc/en-us.
Branding Resources
Please see the following resources for branding your Digital Sign content:
Digital Signage Team (Microsoft Teams)
IC has a Digital Signage Team on Microsoft Teams for all sign administrators and related staff. Here, sign administrators can view and post content to be added to campus signs. If you are a sign administrator, please join and check this group regularly for content to add to your sign. If you have content you would like posted on other signs across campus, please post the file in the chat, with a brief description and the date range to be posted. Group members are also welcome to use this platform to post questions about using Optisigns.
Click here to request to join the IC Digital Signage Group
Content Posting Requests
Sign managers, and other members of the Digital Signage Microsoft Team (see above) can share content to be posted on signs around campus by submitting it to that team's general chat board. Anyone outside that group can request that content be included on signage by completing this form and attaching the file (.jpg or .png is best). The form will also ask for a brief description of the purpose of the content and the dates between which it should be posted. This request form will share the file with Sign Administrators by posting it to the General chat board on the Microsoft Team. Sign Administrators are responsible for reviewing content on this board and uploading relevant content to the signs in their areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I log in to access my sign? ithaca.optisigns.net This link is also listed on the apps.ithaca.edu page.
How do I get access to manage a sign, or add/remove access for someone on my team? Please fill out an access request here.
Troubleshooting
Please do not use remote connect to preview content. If your sign is not showing what it should be, please contact IT for support using the link below.
For technical support with your digital sign screen or hardware device, please submit a ticket here: https://help.ithaca.edu/TDClient/34/Portal/Requests/ServiceDet?ID=197