RaspberryPi as extremely cheap digital signage

[eduncan]

Hello everyone,

Like many of you, I eagerly await the release of the RaspberryPi models. I work for a University and one of the projects I am taking on is the implementation of digital signage across campus. I have been doing some research and have already setup a free open source digital signage server called XIBO http://xibo.org.uk/. The XIBO client runs on python. I have also found where someone has attempted to cross compile some of the libraries for the BeagleBoard http://www.cnx-software.com/20.....ard-overo/. How different will the RaspberryPi be from the BeagleBoard? Different ARM versions? Wouldn't it be nice to have digital signage for $35 a TV? I plan on making every attempt to get the client running on the RaspberryPi. I have obtained a BeagleBoard to test with but I have no idea how similar the two will actually be. Any thoughts? Comments? Anyone else want to help on this particular project?
-E

[jamesh]

Good idea.

I would expect that the main code would be a straight recompile from the Beagle board - but do you mean recompile? Python is interpreted, so should run as is on both systems.

[eduncan]

Yes, I mean recompile the python code.

The libraries that I know will need to be cross compiled would be:
libavg
Berkelium
libbrowsenode

There very well could be more

By no means am I a good programmer, but I will figure this one out. If any developers have any free time or knowledge to contribute I would appreciate it.
-E

[jamesh]

Like I said, Python is interpreted I believe, not compiled. So it should just work - we already have Python running on the Raspi.

I could be wrong - Python experts needed!

[asb]

Python is definitely no barrier, it's just going to be cross-compiling the libraries and getting them to use the available hardware for accelerating video decode. Probably the biggest issue I can see so far is I'm not sure libavg runs on OpenGL ES yet (as opposed to OpenGL), but some searching seemed to indicate people have been looking at it.

[stuporhero]

Python is both interpreted and compiled! (It can be compiled to it's own bytecode)

[jimwelchok]

Yea verily, Yea!
I plan on using it for charity work, at fundraisers. I was going to use concerto http://www.concerto-signage.org/

[lewis71980]

Yep looking forward to this. Was suprised at how mugh digital signage devices cost! Cheapest I could see was around £200.

[SN]

Well I hope you get a good cheap solution running - anything has got to be better than the windows based rubbish on the London Underground Escalators - lost count of the number of Windows Error screens i've seen

[iMash]

Has anyone had chance to look at this yet?

I have debian squeeze installed on my Pi, and have ran into an issue with the libavg library as suspected. However, I have never cross compiled libraries and have tried following the tutorial on cnx-software. But, I guess, as he is compiling for in an emulated environment I guess some steps are different?

I'm keen to learn and if anyone can point me in the right direction that would be good?

If I manage to get xibo up and running on the Pi I will attempt to write a tutorial for others to follow, to get their own up and running .

[gnz]

If I manage to get xibo up and running on the Pi I will attempt to write a tutorial for others to follow, to get their own up and running .

I'd love to hear your experiences on that one. I'm gonna try the same thing, but it'd be great to hear if you have any tips (or if you've given up)..!

Thx
gonzalo

[mrtenchy]

Ditto on the updates...
Xibo is a fantastic alternative to expensive commercial bits of kit...
It's on my list of things to do as well

[iMash]

If I manage to get xibo up and running on the Pi I will attempt to write a tutorial for others to follow, to get their own up and running .

I'd love to hear your experiences on that one. I'm gonna try the same thing, but it'd be great to hear if you have any tips (or if you've given up)..!

Thx
gonzalo

I have temporarily given up. I have had the xibo pyclient installed manually on the pi. But one of the required libraries (libavg) needs cross compiling for the arm architecture.

I have attempted to research how to cross compile libraries and then load them onto a different system but ended up feeling like I was banging my head against a brick wall trying to get help or find the right bits of information.

I have certainly not given up altogether and when I get chance to learn how to cross compile the libraries I will.

[mrtenchy]

Scratchbox is the tool....

[gnz]

The guys at CNX software are making good progress in getting Xibo to run on ARM platforms: http://www.cnx-software.com/2011/11/04/ ... l-version/

[solutionssquad]

let me start by saying I am in no way a linux guru....

Has ANYONE had luck getting Xibo to run on the Pi that can provide directions?!

Much appreciated!

[PeterHaban]

If only I had seen this yesterday... I came up with the same idea


Raspberry Pi Project 2 – Raspberry Pi driven digital signage and environmental monitoring

http://www.raspberrypioneer.com/2012/06 ... onitoring/

[chrowe]

I have created a page on the wiki to collect info about projects using the Raspberry Pi for digital signage at http://elinux.org/RPi_Projects/Digital_Signage

If people can post their research, successes, failures, ideas, etc. there I think it would help us all

[crypty]

I have realized with the raspberry pi a digital signage in combination with an web browser in full screen mode and the actual raspbian image, it works great.

The only where I am experimenting a bit is video playback in browser,
for that in my first experiment the power was too less.

I don't have so many linux experience to know what to use to have a better playback.

When you want I could post my setup and maybe a video how it works.

Greetings from Germany

Tommy

[solutionssquad]

Would LOVE a video or directions!

[crypty]

OK I will prepare a video about my actual research version for digital signage on raspberry.

[crypty]

Ok here is the video to give you some impression.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaPt_3aN-CU

Ahh sorry for the background noice,
my wife was on the phone

It's a digital signage for a hotel with 4 pages
- welcome page
- news site (with rss-news, pictures, clock and weather)
- some other information pages for advertisement and
general restaurant and hotel informations

Hope I was able to show you what can work.


Tommy

[solutionssquad]

It looks awesome.
Is it running Xibo?

[vasilise]

Hi,
very nice job.
As for the video, i believe that raspberry is working as iPhone. In order to play a video without lag we must send it to Pi through a different route (as the iTunes for iPhone). Because the Pi has hardware decode for H.264, when the Pi recognizes a such file it will be played good.
So maybe we can try to send these files through a website or through a PC running a custom made software like iTunes.
Does anyone has any other idea on that?
Crypty could you please post a link with your implementation?

[crypty]

Yes, it's really an pi (you can see it a bit down under the tv)

I can write this evening after my main job a small how to, how
i configured raspbian that he goes automatic in this html web-
presentation.

tommy