With air traffic expanding rapidly, airports need clear and effective signage solutions performing non-stop. DP Kim, Vice President, LG Information Display Overseas Sales & Marketing, explains.
DP Kim, Vice President, LG Information Display Overseas Sales & Marketing: “We envisage airports to be places where people want to go and spend time, instead of associating them with stressful journeys. In the coming years, signage will also be even more entwined with architecture.”
Airport Business: What digital signage solutions does LG offer to airports?
DP Kim, Vice President, LG Information Display Overseas Sales & Marketing: Well, to start with we have a large range of Flight Information Display Systems (FIDS) showing real-time arrival and departure information. These FIDS-signage solutions use In Plane Switching (IPS) technology, which means that it doesn’t matter from which angle passengers read the flight information, the signs will always be clear. From 2018, LG provides FIDS displays with built-in Open Pluggable Specification (OPS), requiring only one power supply to power the display as well as the OPS-kit.
We also added haze-treated displays and video walls to our line-up. Both offer the best viewing experience with a much lower reflection, so that passengers can always read the information whatever the lighting conditions. Besides airport-specific displays, LG offers other signage solutions that are designed for use in and around high traffic areas – from outdoor to retail signage solutions. One of the most innovative products is LG’s Ultra Narrow Bezel Video Wall. This product ensures clear picture quality and is favourable for large video walls installed in large public spaces.
AB: In what ways can an airport utilise LG digital signage to create a memorable traveller experience?
DP Kim: There are many opportunities for airports to benefit from LG’s digital signage solutions. As we all know, the aviation industry is expanding rapidly. As more and more passengers rush through airports, they need effective communication to be able to find their gates.
LG offers tailored digital signage based on passenger behaviour in four areas:
- Information gathering: In departure or boarding areas, many passengers want information on where they should be or if their flight is on time. Here it’s very important that displays are highly visible. With IPS panels, LG guarantees the best information visibility under any condition and viewing angle.
- Queuing: Waiting in a queue is unavoidable at airports. LG’s unique products such as In-Glass OLED or Ultra Stretch products, with unique design and high-quality images, attract passengers’ attention.
- High traffic pass-thru: Areas where many people cross are ideal for LG’s Open Frame OLED and LED Transparent Film to create iconic signage with high quality images and state-of-the-art design. It will definitely attract the attention of passengers. Incheon International Airport is a great example, where LG installed curved OLED signage on a grand scale.
- Public/retail: Passengers are attracted by stores. Signage can interest passengers and drive footfall into the store. Immersive displays like In-Glass OLED will show products in high quality and will attract attention from passengers.
Wayfinding solutions and FIDS displays will optimise the flow of passengers, while other signage solutions will make these passengers more aware about the range of shops, and food & beverage on offer.
AB: How does LG ensure excellent performance that is unaffected by external factors, such as sunlight, dust or humidity?
DP Kim: LG’s haze-treated screens reduce reflections and are capable of providing clear images at all times, both during the day in natural light and at night in artificial light. The products also offer protection against other external factors, such as sunlight, dust or humidity. These innovations have contributed to the success of LG in other industries dealing with similar challenging conditions, such as restaurants and outdoor.
AB: What changes do you foresee for airports in the coming years and what solutions does LG offer to meet these future demands?
DP Kim: We envisage airports to be places where people want to go and spend time, instead of associating them with stressful journeys. In the coming years, signage will also be even more entwined with architecture. LG’s innovative technology opens new areas to architectural purposes. An example is Transparent OLED, which is also a suitable fit in control rooms where signage is used to monitor air traffic. LG Transparent OLED offers a great way to optimise the efficiency of operators. When turned off, operators can see through the display and keep monitoring what’s happening outside. And when it’s on, an augmented reality layer is displayed on top of the reality outside, all of it can be seen through the transparent OLED.
