A connection that exhibitors want to use to avoid the cable and a laptop or other computer connection to a monitor is the direct USB to Television direct port connection that you find on most larger television monitors. They will have a PowerPoint presentation or video downloaded to a USB memory stick and want to plug it directly into the monitor.
There is a big caution that you need to understand about this USB input port. More often than not the monitor refuses to play what is on the USB memory stick and there can be many reasons why.
- The USB port is just a service port.
- The information on the memory stick is not in the correct format.
- USB port is only made for JPEG photo or music files.
- Port is only available as a power outlet.
- The media is not compliant with DLNA interoperability guidelines.
Bottom line – just because the monitor has a USB port does not mean you can play information from a USB memory stick the way you can plug a memory stick into your computer.
A monitor is not a computer. It does not have programs like PowerPoint stored to open and play files like a computer. PowerPoint files are a great example. In order to play a PowerPoint file you would need to convert the files to a video format and put it on a USB memory device. Then you would need to run the video file through a solid state digital media player.
The player we use at Exhibit Edge is a Micca full HD 1080P digital media player. It is a black small box that can be easily velcroed to the back of the monitor and will accept USB memory sticks or SD Flash cards.
Yes – It is a great idea to bypass all the cables and computers for simple continuous loop videos but be very careful about thinking that a USB port on a monitor works the same way that it does on a computer. Monitors are not computers and cannot open files or presentations the same way a computer can. Always check format and compatibility before you get to the show floor when using a USB device connected directly to a monitor.
As always, please respond with your questions or comments and let others know about EXHIBITOR LOUNGE.COM. We will see you next week. Until then, I am your host Michael Gray telling you to RELAX in the Exhibitor Lounge.