SC&LP distributes information to parents and local people via a network of local schools and libraries. Traditionally communications are via newsletters, posters and letters sent home to parents via the children.
With a growing demand to distribute information more quickly and reliably, the partnership invested in a network of eleven LCD screens to be located at each of the main schools and central library. Initially the intention for information to be in a revolving broadcast mode was met with resistance due to the volume of information to be displayed, making it impractical for parents and passers-by to wait for the information of interest to come around on screen.
Looking at the various options to make screens interactive, including kiosks and touch screen, would mean a huge escalation of capital and on-going service costs. A Canditv solution however meant that screen costs remained minimal without the need for any special touch screen or ruggedized interface. In fact in some schools, existing screens were used to avoid further capital hardware costs altogether. Screens could still be mounted behind glass windows or high up on internal walls out of reach but still perfectly visible. All interaction is via mobile phone with parents able to simply dial a local rate telephone number, use the numbers on their handsets to select from a menu of options the information of interest before hanging up the call to leave the screen back in a revolving broadcast mode.
As the first of its kind in the UK Education sector, screen content is updated centrally online by the local Community and Learning Partnership coordinator, whilst each school also has the ability to update their own content.
Benefits:
- Simple and quick to use – Parents and passers-by dial a designated local rate telephone number and then use the keys on their handset to navigate quickly and directly without having to wait for the information relevant to them to come around.
- Low Cost – No special infrastructure or on-going service costs.
- Increased availability – Service available 24 hours.
- mproved efficiency and time saving – SC&LP and the schools themselves can update and distribute centrally coordinated information quickly without duplication of effort directly to the network of screens.
- Paperless – elimination of outdated posters and the thousands of letters that get sent home each year.