User:Gibsonlukas/sandbox

A System-On-Chip (SOC) integrated circuit incorporates all the electronic components, including analog and interface circuitry, required to implement a system on a single chip. These systems on chip have become a part of everyday life in devices like phones, watches, displays, refrigerators, and many more items. Displays that contain the SoC technology are called Smart displays due to their similar computing capabilities. Some believe SoC is the future for displays but there are still many alternatives to using smart displays.

History

SoC in displays first appeared in consumer-grade TVs. Samsung became the first company to release a commercial grade SoC display in 2013 after recognizing the benefits of SoC technology for digital signage. The new Samsung Smart Signage Platform SDK's for signage software allows software partners to develop customized signage applications suitable for an array of business and user environments. These displays included the ability for new applications to be built for the displays based on [|HTML5 technology] instead of the traditional Adobe Flash player that required continual updates and maintenance. Samsung partnered with companies like Signagelive, Scala, Capital Networks, and Four Winds Interactive to help drive the use of the SoC technology. The Smart Signage Platform was initially compatible with the following 2013 Samsung digital signage product lines :


 * ME – C Series – these ultra slim, lightweight displays provide increased energy savings of 35% or more over CCFL backlit displays, while a thin chassis and narrow bezel help simplify installation and provide a more impactful message.
 * PE – C Series – a line of ultra-slim large format displays ideal for high-traffic areas that require 24/7 reliability, including commercial, public and corporate environments. These displays feature LED backlighting for brighter, more colorful images and anti-glare technology that offers a sharp picture, even in brightly lit indoor environments.
 * MD – C Series – ideal for high-traffic areas, including commercial, public and corporate environments, the design elements of these displays facilitate enhanced performance with the added benefit of cost-savings. At just 19mm, a narrow bezel allows audiences to focus more on the content, and the slim depth of the series offers more available space for other uses.

In April 2014, Samsung introduced the second generation of their platform with the main differences being:
 * Quad Core Processor
 * Built-in Wifi
 * SD Flash Memory Card Slot for more storage
 * File Delivery using compressed files, display will run off local file store so content will still be displayed when offline
 * Management by mouse and keyboard, instead of remote control

Sony was the second manufacturer to introduce a SoC display in 2013. Then in 2014, LG became the next major manufacturer to produce SoC devices. These smart devices operated on a LG proprietary software platform called WebOS. SoC devices initially presented some cause for concern due to their development complexity. With the introduction of each newer generations Samsung and LG addressed this issue to make the platforms more developer friendly. Many Content Management Systems "CMS" companies present external media player options that some believed to be the most reliable and scalable options compared to SoC. Another option similar to SoC is an OPS (Open Pluggable System) solution. The most well-known OPS provider is NEC. The NEC solution is an Android-based, all-in-one solution that snaps into displays that provide an OPS slot. However, SoC displays present a 25% - 40% reduction in upfront costs compared to alternative solutions. Major manufacturers like Panasonic, Philips, Viewsonic and Finlux adopted SoC technology by releasing display lines in 2016. Sharp and Toshiba followed suit releasing their versions in 2017.

Present Day 

Many manufacturers offer differing ways to utilize digital signage. Companies like Samsung and LG have developed proprietary software that their displays must operate on. Whereas, companies like Sharp, Panasonic, BenQ, Toshiba, Sony, Elo, and Philips operate on Android-based software. Then there external media players that further fraction the market.