APPLICATION STUDY
From Simple Call Boxes to Smart Displays: How Full-Color Display Solutions are Revolutionizing Building Entrance Management
In the fast-evolving world of access control, building entrance systems have come a long way. The images below capture the transition perfectly — from a basic call box with minimal functionalities to an advanced, full-color, touch-enabled entrance solution. This shift highlights a broader trend in building technology: a move toward sophisticated, user-friendly, and visually informative systems.
Today, high-rise apartments, office complexes, and other secure buildings are replacing old-fashioned call boxes with vibrant, full-color display panels. These modern systems do more than facilitate communication between visitors and residents. They offer a rich, interactive experience, enhance security, and even make a visual statement at the building's entrance.
So, what makes these new entrance solutions so powerful, and what goes into designing the displays that drive them? Let’s dive into the design considerations for LCD and touch panels in these next-gen systems.
The Modernization of Building Entrance Management
Basic call boxes were designed for one purpose: facilitating voice communication between a visitor and someone inside the building. They did this job well, but their capabilities were limited by both the technology of their time and their simplistic design.
Modern entrance systems now integrate high-definition displays, facial recognition, digital directories, and touch-enabled features, significantly enhancing security and convenience. With this new tech, residents or employees can interact with visitors through a rich interface, receive notifications on their mobile devices, and even grant access remotely.
The visual upgrade from monochrome to full-color displays doesn’t just add aesthetic value; it provides real functionality. High-definition visuals allow for recognizable photos, icons, and text, all of which make the system more intuitive for users. Plus, full-color displays open the door to branding opportunities, where logos, custom messages, or building-specific graphics can welcome users with a polished touch.
Key Design Considerations for LCD and Touch Panels
Upgrading from a basic call box to a smart display is a technical feat that demands careful consideration of multiple design factors. Let’s explore the most critical ones:
1. Brightness and Readability
Outdoor and semi-outdoor building entrance systems are exposed to varying lighting conditions, which means high brightness and readability are essential. These displays need to be easily readable in bright sunlight as well as under dim lighting at night.
High Brightness Displays: LCDs with high brightness (often 1000 nits or more) ensure readability under direct sunlight.
Anti-Reflective / Anri-Glare Treatments: Adding anti-reflective and anti-glare treatments improves clarity, making the screen easy to read at different angles and lighting conditions.
Automatic Brightness Adjustment: Some systems include ambient light sensors that allow the display to adjust brightness based on the time of day or ambient lighting.
2. Touch Sensitivity and Durability
Entrance systems must endure frequent, sometimes rough use. Thus, their touch panels need to be highly responsive and durable to withstand heavy usage without losing functionality.
Projected Capacitive Touch Technology: This technology offers high sensitivity and accuracy, allowing for smooth interaction even in outdoor conditions. It’s also more resistant to environmental wear and tear compared to resistive touch screens.
Waterproofing: Entrance systems are exposed to rain, snow, and other elements. Water-resistant or waterproof touch panels are crucial for ensuring uninterrupted operation.
Vandal Resistance: Public systems need to be resistant to potential vandalism. Reinforced glass, rugged enclosures, and strong touch surfaces protect the display from damage, adding another layer of security.
3. Temperature Resilience
Temperature extremes are a significant factor, particularly for systems deployed outdoors. LCDs and touch panels need to maintain performance across wide temperature ranges, as fluctuating temperatures can affect both visibility and functionality.
Wide Temperature Range Displays: Panels capable of functioning in temperatures ranging from -30°C to 70°C ensure reliable performance regardless of environmental conditions.
Heating and Cooling Elements: Some designs incorporate internal heaters or fans to maintain optimal temperatures for the display, avoiding any impact from cold winters or hot summers.
4. Software and User Interface Design
A powerful display system requires an intuitive user interface (UI) that guides visitors through various options, such as searching a directory, contacting residents, or following instructions for package deliveries.
High-Resolution Graphics: Full-color, high-resolution graphics make the interface engaging and easy to understand.
Icon-Based Navigation: Large, simple icons facilitate navigation for users of all ages and abilities, making the system more accessible.
Personalized Messaging and Branding: Customizable UIs enable property managers to brand their entrance systems, displaying building-specific colors, logos, and messages, giving the building’s entrance a polished, professional look.
Security Benefits and the Future of Entrance Solutions
Beyond aesthetics and usability, modern full-color displays provide enhanced security features. Many systems incorporate facial recognition and motion detection, which allow for additional layers of verification and tracking. Additionally, integration with mobile apps or cloud-based platforms enables remote access control, real-time monitoring, and data analytics, offering building managers valuable insights into entry patterns.
With smart displays, entrance management is no longer just about facilitating access — it's about creating a secure, streamlined experience that’s visually appealing and highly functional. As building technology continues to evolve, we can expect entrance solutions to become even more interactive, secure, and user-centric.
Conclusion
The transition from call boxes to full-color, touch-enabled displays is more than a technological upgrade; it’s a shift toward a better user experience and enhanced security. By paying close attention to display specifications, touch technology, and user interface design, these systems deliver far more than a traditional call box ever could.
If you’re considering a modernization for your building’s entrance, look no further than the advanced LCD and touch panel solutions available from DCL Technologies. These displays don’t just manage access; they set the tone for what visitors and residents can expect inside, blending form, function, and security seamlessly at your building’s threshold.
DCL has predesigned high brightness, wide temperature, robust solutions for these applications in the following sizes:
7.0” 1024x600, 1280x800 and 1920x1200 Resolutions
8.0” 1280x800 and 1920x1200 Resolutions
10.1” 1280x800 and 1920x1200 Resolutions
12.1” 1280x800 Resolution
15.6” 1920x1080 Resolution
21.5” 1920x1080 Resolution
32.0” 1920x1080 Resolution
Contact us to day to learn more!
Visit our website dedicated to the best LCD solutions for any outdoor project: Outdoor Use Displays | Dcltek Web
About DCL Technologies
DCL designs high quality display solutions that meet our clients' overall objectives.
Our mission is to be the easiest display solution provider to do business with.
Our differentiator is a focus on delivering the best experience to our clients, at every desk. Our core value strategies are focused on making it easy for Engineers, Designers and Purchasing to get things done.
Contact:
Andrew Blum
DCL Technologies
800-407-8917
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