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networking a dynamic display

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by triathlete1981

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i can't think of any other way to state the topic.

what my boss gave me as a project is...
on our factory floor (we produce foam), there is a markerboard on which our QA guy writes customer complaints. he also has it in an Excel spreadsheet. rather than go to the board to write the complaints down, he wants to simply put the complaints in the excel sheet and display them on a monitor out on the floor.

his computer is about 100' away from the floor. the nearest computer to the markerboard is about 15' away which a floor supervisor uses. i thought maybe i could attach a tv w/some appropriate cables of course to the supervisor's computer. but at 15', i'm worried about the signal degradation (poor quality of display).

then my boss tells me that the ideal situation would be that not only the QA guy can display the Excel spreadsheet on the tv (or other type of display if recommended). our production mgr or my boss could display something on the tv as well.

so, the display device would have to be networked somehow that a few ppl in the company would be able to change what is currently displayed on the device.

any suggestions?

8 replies

by danlm

My wife is a teacher who just received White Boards that allow her to do her class's from a laptop which has a cable running from it to the board. It is very interactive to the point that you can actually write on these electronic whiteboards with your finger. I do not see why this couldn't run off a switch(not sure at all here) so that others can work the white board.

The company that produce's these boards are called SmartBoards. You might want to check the company info on this. I'm sure these are not cheap. Actualy I would be supprized if they are. But, from what Luara tell's her they are a serious benifit for her. She use's them for displaying work papers that she has scanned, and then writes on the white board to show why things are wrong or right. In your case, what would stop your QA from updating his spread sheet as it's displayed to get live data displayed. This may be something that could be pulled into other things within your company.

If you are already using something like this, and the question is geared more toward the networking/security. I apologize for throwing my 2 cents out without asking for clarification on your question.

I would look to see if the whiteboards could be password protected. Or, place a router in front of it and only allow specific ip's through. Or, have the excel document in a shared drive/folder with only specific people allowed to have access to it. Thus, only the people that have access could change the document and only allow one computer to access the whiteboard.

Dan

by triathlete1981

thanks dan.

i checked out the smart board. you're right; they are expensive. the smallest board had a 48" diagonal and costs $999:

http://www.touchboards.com/smart/smartSB640.asp

they probably can be password protected. network/security is an issue here. i think what i'll wind up having to do is putting a computer out on the floor with a tv connected to it. unless someone comes up with a different idea.

by nicknielsen

If the QA guy wants to lose the markerboard, there is no need for the Smartboard. Have your considerd a dedicated PC/monitor for this function.

by triathlete1981

the route i'm going to have to go. put a low end box near where the markerboard is and connect a large monitor to it. it's on the warehouse floor, and if someone knocks into the smartboard, we're out a grand.

with the pc, i could just get a setup where icould attach a large monitor or large television via the appropriate cables.

this seems to be the route unless someone comes up w/a better option.

by danlm

[i]and if someone knocks into the smartboard, we're out a grand.[/i]

If smartboard is bumped, it needs re-calibrated with the host pc. At least thats what Laura told me. So her kid's are careful around it.

Dan

by triathlete1981

i'm worried about someone driving around with a forklift and smashing one of the forks into the board. it's happened before with important equipment.

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