Raspberry Pi for Video Walls and Digital Signage

May 27, 2015 General, Product Overview, Video-wall products

Raspberry Pi Powered Displays

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Update 14 September 2019: The original article below was written and published in May 2015. A lot has changed.

Most recently the 4K capable Raspberry Pi 4 has been released, and there is also the Pi Zero W, very low cost with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Volanti is working with both these boards for a variety of projects and we will be posting news of these in the coming months.

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Original blog, May 2015:

“The Raspberry Pi is a low cost, credit-card sized computer that plugs into a computer monitor or TV, and uses a standard keyboard and mouse. It is a capable little device that enables people of all ages to explore computing, and to learn how to program in languages like Scratch and Python. It’s capable of doing everything you’d expect a desktop computer to do, from browsing the internet and playing high-definition video, to making spreadsheets, word-processing, and playing games.

What’s more, the Raspberry Pi  has the ability to interact with the outside world, and has been  used in a wide array of digital maker projects, from music machines and parent detectors to weather stations and tweeting birdhouses with infra-red cameras. We want to see the Raspberry Pi being used by kids all over the world to learn to program and understand how computers work.” Source

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While the Raspberry Pi started out as a tool primarily built for educators to teach students how to code, hobbyists have transformed it into an incredibly versatile tool.

For the AV/signage crowd:

  • Can be used for digital signage
  • Can be used for Video Walls
  • Can be controlled with a remote via mobile/tablet devices
  • Can stream content up to 1080p
  • Open source and customizable

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Control via Mobile Device

Volanti demoed the Raspberry Pi on several in-house displays to compare resolution and overall power of the device. Using various mobile devices and open sourced apps, the development team quickly fell in love with what the Pi had to offer.

“I was extremely impressed that the latest version of the Pi could push 1080p without any noticeable latency. Its small footprint, price and ability to control via mobile devices makes this a serious contender for digital signage, video walls and beyond,” explains Koosha Araghi, Developer for Volanti Displays.

“By using third party software, the user has the ability to control individual displays in a video wall configuration by connecting a Pi to each display. Then by using a single “Master” Pi, one could control the configuration of all Pi’s using a mobile device,” explains Billy Barnes, Art Director for Volanti Displays. “This opens a lot of doors for companies using digital signage.”

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What’s Next?

Unlike its earlier predecessors, the Raspberry Pi B released in early 2015, outputs 1080p without any hiccups. Limitations include the lack of 4K resolution options, which could be a new feature in the upcoming generation of the Pi and its lack of formal ventilation which could pose problems for anyone running video content for long periods of time, unless you purchase a case with a built in heat sink. As the Raspberry Pi evolves so too does the software applications for it. Using a simple google search it is easy to find companies offering their latest software for the device.

Contact Volanti Displays

For more information or if you would like to set up some time to discuss your display ideas feel free to contact Volanti Displays.

Office: 408.500.350
Hours: 8AM – 5PM PST