SELECTING FIDS
Advice for identifying display needs, finding the products that meet them
By Lindsay M. Hitch, Assistant Editor
September 2001
With the recent influx of companies offering flight information display systems (FIDS) and related products, sorting the good from the bad can be a challenge. Consultant Les Bohush of Apple Designs, Inc. offers some tips for airlines and airports to consider when reviewing new systems.
"No matter how beautifully your airport
is decorated, one of the most important issues, what every passenger wants
to have is: How do I get to my flight, is it on time, where [in the terminal]
is it going from, and all those kinds of things. There is never enough
signage," explains Bohush, a senior associate with the Orlando-based
consulting firm.
Bohush helps evaluate way finding and information
display systems. The first step in a new project, he says, is to try to
understand the architecture of the building. Second is, get involved in
the operation of the airport. "By understanding their operations,
we do a way finding analysis for all different types of passengers: the
greeters, the departing passengers, the arriving passengers," says
Bohush.
The third step is to work with the airlines
to find out how they update flight information, what they expect of the
system, and how many flights they prefer to display at a time.
One other issue that Bohush says is often
overlooked is determining how to meet ADA compliance.
Once those needs are layed out, Bohush says,
"We come up with a system performance which would match the criteria
we just discussed with all the participants.
"We do the document, which describes
hardware and software specifications, and also we do the actual documentation
which shows the location of each display: how it’s going to be mounted,
where it’s going to be installed. And we also show the typical block
diagram called the data-line diagram: how those things are connected with
the server and with the info device."
WINDOWS OR UNIX
According to Bohush, with information management
systems the options are essentially Windows- or Unix-based systems.
"It’s either Windows or Unix.
And there is really not an advantage; it’s like when you choose between
white and red wine," says Bohush.
"The selection’s only based on
the support. If the airport already has other Windows-based systems, it’s
go for Windows. Unix is still a more reliable system, but it’s less
popular with the vendors of FIDS than Windows."
DISPLAY DISMAY
"Displays — it’s a very long
subject," says Bohush. "It’s very difficult to compare
displays as apple to apple because each one is different." As a result,
when comparing display media he recommends evaluating ...
• Life expectancy
• Reliability — Time before failure;
Time to repair
• Contrast ratio
• Viewing angle
• Colors available
• Relative cost per pixel
• Energy consumption
• Operating cost
• Matrix capabilities — line-oriented,
character-oriented, or "electronic chalkboard"
• Message and graphics verification
• Display modes — video display
capabilities, etc.
• Maintenance costs
• Environmental restrictions —
Indoor vs. Outdoor, Direct sunlight
• Airport application — Ability
to run 24 hours/day, seven days/week
• Longevity of technology — Will
it be obsolete next year?
The list ranges from most to least important,
with life expectancy the most important.
Display technologies available include:
CRT, fiber-optic, liquid crystal, LED, incandescent lamp, reflective disk,
liquid cell, plasma, scroll signs, rear-projection, light reflecting capacitor,
vacuum florescent, electro-polymer, and high-intensity florescent discharge
— to name a few.
"There are too many choices,"
Bohush says. Looking at the growing list of companies with FIDS products,
he adds, "And they’re growing like wild mushrooms. But you know
what happens with wild mushrooms ... you buy the wrong ones, you get poisoned."
For more information, email [email protected]
or call (407) 566-2775.