.gitignore | ||
gruene_signale.conf | ||
gruene_signale.py | ||
README.md | ||
setup.py |
green-signals
Introduction
green-signals is the source code for "Grüne Signale" digital signage solution.
Features
"Grüne Signale" offers a digital signage platform intended for use in showrooms. Main goal is to run a slideshow presenting end-user customizable contents with low efforts and budget required to set it up.
- Low Budget solution
- Low Knowledge requirements
- All based on OpenSource modules and OpenSource itself
- Playback of Images and Videos (muted)
- Media files can be delivered in nested folders
- Playback of Media follows alpabetical order
- Easy to configure
- Easy content updates via media download (zipped)
- Once set up it shall run unattended
- Written in Python 3
Prerequisites
- Raspberry Pi computer with Power supply, HDMI cable and SD-Card
- Display with HDMI input (best with HDMI CEC support)
- this can be a dedicated computer monitor or a TV Set
- the Display should support FullHD Resolution (native 1920x1080)
- LAN or WLAN connection
- Mouse and Keyboard only needed for initial setup
- VLC Application (included in Full Raspian Image)
- Python-VLC module (needs to be installed during setup)
- Python-crontab module (needs to be installed
- Cloud account for automated media update (we suggest to use "Grüne Wolke")
- The media files need to be provided as ZIP-File containing the images and videos
Media formats
- Images in JPG or PNG format, same display duration for all images as configured
- Videos in MOV, M4V or MP4 format
- All media shall have 16:9 landscape format
- All media will be scaled to fill the screen
- Best resolution is 1920x1080 pixels (FullHD)
- Video clips are muted during playback
- Video clips should start and end with blending from/to a black frame (playback could flicker)
Environmental Topics
- A Raspberry Pi computer has low energy consumption (usually less than 10W)
- It can be configured for a safe shut down at night time (reduce light pollution)
- A diplay supporting HDMI CEC will automatically switch to StandBy
- Power for Raspberry Pi and display shall be turned off by a timer device
- set the timer a few minutes after scheduled shut down of the Raspberry Pi computer
- when the power is switched back on in the morning, The slideshow will autoomatically start and in background update the media files
Development Environment
- The project is developed on a Raspberry Pi 400, any Raspberry Pi model (except Pico) is fine
- The project is intended to run on Raspbian Linux
- support for other platforms is possible, but not tested
TODOs
- create setup script (setup.py)
- run pip3 install python-vlc
- run pip3 install python-crontab
- add green-signals to auto-start
- write configuration file
- user friendly GUI
- configuration script (included in setup.py)
- add cronjob for safe shutdown at given time
- validation that remote URL points to a ZIP file.
- improve on-barding
- so far only dummy images for intial slideshow
- provide manual in media slides and as documentation (Wiki?)
- tutorials and other on-boarding guides (maybe with "Grünstreifen")
- testing, testing
- and more testing in real world ;-)
Contact:
Chatbegruenung, Channel netzbegruenung-digitalsignage Stefan Schmidt-Bilkenroth, ssb@mac.com