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Why do Synagogues use or not use them?
Bonus:
What are some of the companies that make these digital wall displays for synagogues?
How much do they cost?
Does anyone know where I can find info online about them?
Feel free to add screenshots and pictures.
We have one of these in our Synagogue (based in the UK) and it was cheap and easy to set up. Here's some details on how we did it...
We have a large flat-screen TV (that can also operate as a computer monitor) on the wall. This was donated. On the other side of the wall is a regular, old Windows XP PC, with internet access. The PC runs internet explorer in full screen (kiosk mode) permanently looking at our own special website.
The website is built on Joomla, which is an open source content management system. The TV in the synagogue displays the front-end (public view) and we can use the administration view to edit the content from any internet connected computer.
We wrote some really simple Joomla components to display display static images (GIFs) and Flash Animations. When you upload each file to the system you can specify how long to display it for, dates for which it is valid etc.
We have ours in the foyer and it is primarily used to advertise events / announcements etc.
While it's not like the one that I've seen in shuls, the cheapest way of doing it would probably be to buy a decent sized screen (20"+ should be great and costs around $150 now) and hook it up to an old computer running this program: http://www.kaluach.com/?page_id=147 (which costs $225). If you have someone with decent carpentry experience, you could make a coherent and presentable system for under $400. I'm sure that this would be much cheaper than the typical shul device.
The toll free number to get one is 1-877-J-Calendar
I cannot think of any reason Shuls would not use them. [Unless they are a distraction?] Who said there are Shuls who don't use them? It's quite possible Shuls don't have them because of the cost. In every Shul I've seen them in, they were donated...
(I'm assuming you mean the displays that contain things like the date, parsha of the week, and selection of zmanim)
The Shtiblach Katamon shul in Jerusalem has the Shtibluach Electronic Luach for Synagogues. www.shtibluach.com.
It's windows-based, can be configured to display any number of davening schedules and zmanim, popup messages, daf yomi, parsha, etc.
I'm going to make an exception, and answer this question with a product of my own, since it's relevant.
I've written an app for iPad that does precisely this. It's called Gabbai, and I think that it's really the best that there is. Gabbai for iPad requires an iPad and a mount and that's it. It uses your GPS location to calculate zmanim on the fly, and it use the internet. You can customize zmanim to show text and pictures.
luach nissan - http://www.zmaniayom.co.il/English/index_english.htm Schedule today - digital computer board your synagogue.
Today, it's easy to lay all the necessary information in a synagogue praying the prayers of my time and my time Torah classes, times and changes in prayer today tocommemorate deceased and all computerized smart board, Your synagogue! Easy, resting and user-friendly.
Try DigiZman.com The easiest, comprehensive and nicest graphical interface. They also have a corresponding app
Schedule today - digital computer board your synagogue
Schedule today - digital computer board your synagogue.
Today, it's easy to lay all the necessary information in a synagogue praying the prayers of my time and my time Torah classes, times and changes in prayer today tocommemorate deceased and all computerized smart board, Your synagogue! Easy, resting and user-friendly.
