How do live news and RSS feed widgets work in digital signage software?

The live news and RSS feed widgets are classified as Live Data Widgets that are essential for providing dynamic, real-time information on digital signage screens.

These widgets function by integrating external data streams directly into the digital signage system, ensuring the displayed content is continuously updated without manual intervention.

Here is an explanation of the process by which live news and RSS feed widgets work in digital signage software:

1. Widget Selection and Configuration (The CMS Portal)

The process begins in the Content Management System (CMS) portal, which acts as the centralized control point.

• Widget Availability: The CMS offers a variety of widgets suitable for business environments, specifically including RSS Feeds.

• Integration: The user selects the RSS Feed widget from the Library Management system. The interface steps are not described in detail, but the general process involves configuring the widget to use the external news feed URL by adding the RSS link.

• Text Customization: The software also offers Custom Parameters for Dynamic Scrolling Text and Data Configurations, allowing users advanced options for customizing how the scrolling text is displayed.

2. Layout and Zone Placement

Once configured, the widget is treated as a dynamic content asset that must be assigned a display location.

• Zone Flexibility: The user utilizes the Custom Layout Builder with Zone Flexibility. This tool allows the screen to be divided into multiple zones.

• Placement: The RSS feed widget is assigned to a specific zone on the display. This often takes the form of a Scrolling Ticker or Static Text, allowing news headlines to scroll across the screen while other content (like videos or images) plays in adjacent zones.

3. Scheduling and Deployment

The dynamic content is then packaged for delivery to the screen.

• Playlist Integration: The layout containing the RSS widget is included in a Playlist.

• Content Delivery: The CMS publishes the content and configuration to the target screens.

4. Real-Time Data Fetching and Display

The final step occurs at the player application level, where the content is rendered on the screen.

• Dynamic Rendering: At the player level, the device running Android digital signage or Windows digital signage processes the widget configuration.

• Live Updates: Since the RSS feed is a Live Data Widget, the player fetches the external feed, and the content on the screen updates automatically whenever the external RSS source publishes new items.

• Continuous Operation: This dynamic content runs continuously, often in a Loop, providing real-time news and information that is highly effective for internal communication in offices (current news, weather, sports) or external customer engagement.