Leaving a shop screen on all day: sleep settings, burn-in, volume and heat
A screen in a waiting room or shop is often left on until closing time. Consumer equipment, however, is not always built for running that long. This article lists what to watch for when a screen stays on all day.
1. The screen switches itself off (sleep)
PCs and tablets dim or sleep after a while without input. TVs also have settings that switch them off after a period of inactivity. Check the power-saving, sleep and auto power-off settings. For anything shown in a browser, it also helps to check whether the browser supports a way to keep the screen awake (the Screen Wake Lock API).
2. OLED burn-in
With OLED screens, showing the same image for a long time can leave a ghost of it, called burn-in. It is said to happen most easily with fixed items such as logos, clocks and buttons staying in one place.
- Avoid still pictures and fixed items at the screen edge; choose a moving image.
- Leave the manufacturer's burn-in protection (such as pixel shifting) turned on.
- For long daily use in a business, check the manufacturer's warranty conditions.
3. Volume
A volume that is right for a quiet morning can be inaudible when it gets busy, and if you leave it turned up it can be too loud by evening. Decide on a modest volume that does not get in the way of names being called or conversation, and make "if in doubt, mute" the rule.
4. Heat
The back of the TV, and PCs, tablets and the small devices that connect them, get warm when they run for a long time. Do not push them against a wall or into the back of a shelf; leave room for air to flow. If you keep a tablet charging while you use it, check the manufacturer's guidance as well.
5. Anyone should be able to start it each morning
It matters that the screen can be started even on a day when the usual person is away. Put the steps on a single sheet of paper and stick it by the register or in the back room. (Playing video from a free service has its own pitfalls.)
keensense, for comparison
keensense is a service run by the people who wrote this article. It shows natural scenery in a web browser. The display for shops hides the controls and the chat box, and uses a mechanism that prevents the screen from going to sleep (Screen Wake Lock). The scenery keeps moving, so the same picture does not stay frozen on the screen, and the sound can be muted with one tap. We also provide a one-page printable routine for staff.
- Setup: open a dedicated URL in the browser of a TV, tablet or PC you already have. No account, sign-up, installation or special hardware (an internet connection is required).
- Scenes: campfire, candle, forest (five times of day), beach, park (cherry blossoms in spring, autumn leaves), night sky and a sea of clouds. A venue can choose one, or let the scene change automatically every 15, 30 or 60 minutes.
- Price: $69 per month or $690 per year. One license covers one location, with any number of screens inside that facility. A 7-day money-back guarantee applies if it doesn't work on your equipment or network.