In which fields Mini-PCs can be found?

Computers in general are mostly associated with the pure office routine. But only few know that Mini-PCs are mostly used in other fields. In the following text we want to give a little insight where, amongst others, the Mini-PCs of spo-comm can be found.

Digital Signage

Digital Signage (or just: DS) describes the playback of media content on screens, signs, steles and more. Probably one of the best examples for digital advertising is the Times Square in New York. With Digital Signage Players not only the size but also the performance is very important. The solutions are usually installed within displays. They often have to perform 4k content or have to be able to control multiple screens.

##spo-comm Digital Signage Players

Machine control

Whether milling machines, weighbridges at the recycling center or automated storage systems. In the industry most machines are connected to Mini-PCs, either in order to receive information for further processing, or in order to deliver data for analyzing the information. Due to the often quite harsh working environments (like dust, sawdust, moist air our outdoor installations in general) passively cooled industrial PCs are a reliable and important partner.

##spo-comm industrial PCs

Music-Player

No matter where you go shopping today – supermarkets, car dealerships or clothing shops – everywhere you will be able to hear appropriate and pleasant-sounding music in the background. In these cases, you might have already guessed it, Mini-PCs are the basis for playing the songs you’re listening to. The durability, energy efficiency and also the compact design of the PC systems are the main reasons to use them in this field. One textbook example for such a system is the spo-book WINDBOX II Quad (fanless).

Kiosk systems

At the airport, railway station, at the bank or at exhibitions -  everyday we encounter kiosk systems., We use them in order to get information or we work with them. Even if you rather have the feeling of working with a display than with a computer (mostly you will find kiosk systems with touch displays), you are actually working with a Mini-PC hidden under the screen. The solutions of spo-comm not only provide the appropriate software in order to please its user but also need to be able to stand the poor heat loss conditions inside the kiosk system and also to cool down to moderate operating temperatures.

Vehicle Computing

As the name already suggests, vehicle computing refers to the use of Mini-PCs in vehicles of all kind. Among other things Mini-PCs are used in ambulances, police cars, ships and also public transports. All these examples are equipped with control units which are in turn dependent on the small Vehicle-PC systems.

##Vehicle PCs from spo-comm

Retail

On the one hand we encounter Mini-PCs in supermarkets in the field of Digital Signage (as mentioned in the text above). On the other hand they can also be found at the checkouts. Scanners and monitors, just to mention a few examples, are connected to the, mostly passively cooled, Embedded-PCs to form the usual working environment.

Logistics and production

Especially in the field of warehousing and production Mini-PCs fulfill its purpose in several places. As already mentioned above, machine control and the processing of information are two of their purposes, but also diagnosis of errors, for instance, on the assembly line. Since it may happen that an assembly line is no longer running because it is jammed somewhere and prevents the line from moving. The Mini-PC can then ensure that the appropriate software can do its job, display the error and maybe also eliminate it in the same turn. You can find one possible solution for logistics in our reference hama and spo-comm - Logistics made easy.

Office routine

Nevertheless Mini-PCs did not leave their original purpose behind them. Even in offices more and more Mini-PCs are used. They are not only saving a lot of space but also provide a high performance and are a lot more energy efficient than usual desktop PCs. In addition: Passively cooled solutions also contribute to a quiet and pleasant atmosphere. Due to its technical specifications the spo-book WINDBOX III Advanced is a popular solution for the office.

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