Customizing FIDS and Digital Signage Computers Saves Time and Money

May 11, 2016

There is a nonstop flow of information in every airport: departures, arrivals, weather, advertisements and digital signage, often going nonstop, 24/7/365. And behind every display is a small computer that runs the show.

John F. Kennedy International Airport’s Terminal 4 is one of the busiest and most efficient international gateways into the United States, handling 19.5 million passengers in 2015. It is the main international terminal at JFK, with 36 gates in two concourses and sees approximately 100,000 people passing through its doors each day.

Installed behind each FIDS monitor in Terminal 4 is a Shuttle DS81, a mini-computer that keeps information flowing in reliable, crisp, easy-to-read detail.

For airport applications, one of the most important tasks when buying, upgrading, and installing these mini-computers is to make sure that every one of them boots the same way, and in many cases, they’re imaged the same way, permissions are set properly, inputs and outputs are the same, etc.

And when you’re facing the daunting task of installing forty or four hundred new systems, your workload can be excessive. You certainly have deadlines to meet, and maybe your staff has been reduced. How can you get all this done with limited resources?

Depending on your airport and the company you work for, the new computer arrival scenario might go like this: the computers are delivered to a central location, maybe a warehouse, maybe a lab. Each one is unpacked, plugged in, and booted up. You need to set the BIOS, load the OS, load software, test, unplug, repack and deploy the system. And it takes about an hour each time.

And then you turn to the next one and start all over again.

You could hire a company to provide this service for you, but then you simply transfer the cost from your own budget to a separate outsourcing line item. You might not be able to get budget approval, and the fees could actually be higher than keeping the process in house.

There is a better way, so when considering a computing vendor/partner, here are a few questions you should ask yourself: How many hours am I spending loading up each computer? Does my computer manufacturer have intimate knowledge of complex airport applications as well as security and workhour limitations? Do they understand the problems I face and can they help me find solutions?

Can they provide pre-built, fully configured and imaged products that are plug and play to reduce installation and deployment time? Can I find one that does all this for me and gets my computers ready before I even open the box?

Most computer companies are set in their ways—their product comes off the factory line exactly like every other computer, and in the best case scenario, with an OS and some free software installed. You get what you pay for and the rest is up to you.

But imagine that your computers are already pre-set and pre-loaded. It could revolutionize your efficiency and positively impact your budget and company’s bottom line.

How much time and money could that save? Depending on the number of FIDs or digital signage computers you manage, it could be thousands or potentially millions of dollars annually.

And because the process is so efficient, the costs are minimal compared to the expenditures in time you would traditionally spend. The image is set once, and repeated in each device.

Unlike other computer manufacturers, Shuttle Computer Group offers its clients imaging services and customized solutions. Shuttle worked with JFK to define specific parameters, BIOS functions and imaging they needed. Each unit was delivered to their specifications, which made installation and use fast and easy.

The work was done once, up front, and when the systems were delivered, they were made JFK’s way, exactly as they wanted them configured – they really are Plug and Play.

When they have changes, Shuttle simply updates the golden image with any new requirements they might have, and then any additional computers are pre-configured exactly as they choose.

It’s simple, fast, efficient, and effective way to do business.

Marty Lash has been involved in technology sales and marketing since 1984, having worked with Epson America, Mitsubishi Electric, LG Electronics, and several start-ups. Marty’s expertise in field and sales management, channel marketing, direct response advertising and lead generation programs have made him a valuable asset to the companies for which he has worked. His most recent position as the director of sales and marketing for Shuttle Computer Group allows him to apply his knowledge and experience in expanding Shuttle’s presence in several commercial markets including digital signage, physical security and thin-client computers. Marty holds a degree in Business Administration.