How Digital Signage is Revolutionizing University Campuses in Australia: Current Applications and Future Trends
by Scala Team
How Digital Signage is Revolutionizing University Campuses in Australia: Current Applications and Future Trends
by Scala Team
In this blog, let’s dive into the different applications of digital communication in Australian universities and how the future will be as we maximise this powerful tool in revolutionizing the in-campus experience.
The Rise of Digital Signage in Australian Universities
In the education industry, there is an increasing focus on how to create better campus environments using smart campus technologies. There are several Australian universities that are already investing in advanced tools to elevate engagement and campus communication.
Using University digital signage in Australia has proven to be a highly effective solution to easily improve accessibility, promote engaging content, and deliver real-time announcements and information.
Why is Digital Signage Essential in Today’s Universities?
Students today want to be informed quickly and get information that they need in a snap, and this is where digital signage in universities play a crucial role in a modern communication ecosystem. The use of digital signages goes beyond displaying announcements or advertisements, it is now an essential tool to create engaging experiences and an interactive environment in universities. Here are some ways that digital signage can improve universities in Australia:
- Encourage and Boost student engagement: Digital signage displays allow the easy delivery of content that is catered to the interests of particular student populations for a more personal and interactive experience thus creating an intimate and dynamic learning environment.
- Improve wayfinding: With new students that arrive every semester and visitors who come daily, they can get lost and confused in finding their way through big campuses. Having interactive displays for universities such as a wayfinder can help with real-time information, navigation and interactive displays for a seamless and stress-free experience in the campus.
- Encourage real-time communication: Universities need to provide important information quickly. Universities can rapidly broadcast critical information, including event reminders, safety procedures, or class cancellations, thanks to digital signage for student communication.
Applications of Digital Signage on University Campuses
Universities across Australia are already maximising the benefits of digital signage for student communication. The placement of interactive kiosks to video walls and outdoor digital signs throughout the campus have been proven to be beneficial for increased engagement, here are some of the key applications:
1. Enhancing Student Engagement
Student engagement with digital signage is now a major focus for universities as they find ways to create more interactive learning environments. Digital displays provide a flexible platform for connecting with students, whether it’s for promoting campus events, emphasizing student achievements, or just sharing motivational content. Universities can even go further by showcasing social media feeds, video highlights from sporting events, or even promote mental health resources.
2. Wayfinding and Navigation
Being a new student in a large university can be quite scary or stressful, and one way to remove this burden for new students or visitors is to have digital signage in universities for wayfinding.
Interactive displays for universities help streamline navigation with real-time maps, building directories, and directions to key locations like lecture halls, cafeterias, libraries, and more. Some of Scala’s systems offer multilingual support, making it easier for international students to find their way around campus.
Outdoor digital signs at university entrances can also display current weather conditions, transportation schedules, or parking information to assist students, visitors, and staff.
3. Real-Time Updates and Emergency Communication
The ability to share real-time updates is one of the most critical aspects that digital communication in Australian universities should address. Whether it’s a sudden emergency and campus closure, digital signage for student communication can quickly broadcast alerts and instructions simultaneously in screen across the university. In unforeseen circumstances and emergencies, time is crucial in maintaining an informed and safe campus environment. Aside from emergencies. Universities can also use digital signage for registration deadlines, course schedules or changes in class locations.
4. Promoting Campus Events and Initiatives
Throughout the year, there are several events, workshops, and initiatives that take place in hubs at universities. Campus communication solutions in Australia should promote these events in a visually appealing and attention-grabbing manner through digital displays. This ensures that everyone is informed about the current and upcoming events in the campus.
5. Creating a Smart Campus Environment
As part of the movement towards smart campus technologies, universities optimising digital signage to foster a connected and efficient setting. In combination with other education technology trends in Australia, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence, digital signage is a key role in creating an intelligent campus where everything from energy use to classroom availability is optimised.
By integrating digital signage with other systems, it can automatically adjust based on real-time data. For example, displays in a university cafeteria can show live seating availability, or screens in lecture halls can show open availability and schedules for the day or week.
The Future of Digital Signage in Education
In the coming years, the adoption of digital signage in Australian universities is expected to rapidly grow as it is driven by a greater focus on creating interactive, engaging, and student-centred learning environments. It has become an essential move to adapt to the changing behaviour of today’s tech-savy students,
Here are some of the key future trends of digital signage in education:
1. Increased Personalization
As digital signage technology continues to evolve, universities can offer personalised content. Campus communication solutions in Australia will be able to deliver content that is tailored to individual students based on their year level, interests, academic progress or behaviour through the integration of AI and data analytic. A higher level of personalisation will make students feel values and lead to effective communication plus higher student engagement.
2. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
How students interact with digital displays will be revolutionised by augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Imagine how a student can walk past a digital screen with AR technology? This can project virtual maps, campus tours or even an in-classroom experience. It is expected that digital signage for student communication will start offering interactive and immersive experiences very soon.
3. Integration with Mobile Devices
Mobile devices are now an essential in everyone’s daily lives and being able to integrate university digital signage in Australia with tablets and smartphones is a requirement. In the near future, digital signage systems will allow students to interact using their phones with features such as wayfinding, personalised content delivery and touchless interactions.
4. Sustainability and Energy Efficiency
Sustainability and energy efficiency is a big factor for students nowadays. There is an increasing pressure for universities to reduce their environmental footprint and one way to do so is using digital signage.
Digital signage in universities is one way to reduce paper waste and energy consumption with the next-generation of digital displays that offer energy-efficient technology with solar-powered displays and low energy-LED screens.
5. Data-Driven Insights
Universities can optimise gathering date with a digital signage. With the analysis of how students interact with digital displays, universities can get insights into student preferences, engagement levels, and student behaviour which will be useful in creating communications strategies to improve overall student experience. This can also shape the future initiatives and planning in the campus.
Scala: A Leader in Digital Signage Solutions for Australian Universities
With the top universities in Australia looking for a way to elevate their student engagement and campus environment, Scala offers a range of digital signages solutions for Australian universities. Scala has a proven track record of helping institutions analyse their requirements, improve campus communications with digital signage solutions that are both manageable and innovative.
Scala’s digital signage solutions include:
- Interactive displays for universities to make students have an easier time to navigate and engage with campus facilities.
- Outdoor digital signage to display real-time updates and information at key locations across campus.
- Student engagement with digital signage with personalised content that can be tailored to fit specific campus events, student needs and interests.
- Scala’s Content Management System (CMS) enables smart content management that can help users have better control of their digital signage network. Scala’s award-winning CMS has a user-friendly interface that can manage all types of content and provides a seamless way to manage user access and distribute content.
- Scala Media Players are required to support engaging digital displays. These media players are designed for optimum performance while delivering stable and seamless multimedia content playback with efficient remote monitoring.
Get Started with Scala’s Digital Signage Solutions Today
As digital signage in Australian universities continue to revolutionize campus life, now is the best time to invest in this digital signage to create a connected, engaging, and efficient learning environment.
From real-time updates to interactive wayfinding, Scala provides the tools you need to create a truly smart campus. Get started today with cutting-edge digital signage in universities, visit Scala.
About the Author:
Scala digital signage experts share their experience and thoughts in our blog to provide practical tips and advice for real-world applications. Our team aims to offer interesting content through a variety of formats including long form articles, video logs, interviews and infographics.
