An article published by Adweek describe a bright future for outdoor visual communication, especially on LED billboards. Very interesting. Here's exactly what Laureen Miles writes:

"More than ever, consumers are spending more time away from home. Technological advancements, particularly in the way of digital billboards, are opening more revenue streams."

That already sounds good, but if you want more precise figures, Ms Miles continues.
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The reason why these last few days I haven't published anything, is because unfortunately last week I lost a very dear friend in a terrible car accident - and I haven't been focused very much these days.

I guess when tragedy strikes, the sadness and reflection on life, leave very little space to work related topics - which suddenly seem to be so futile and unimportant.

This dear friend used to tell me that time helps in healing all wounds. He also used to tell me that life's not easy, but that you must face it with courage, day after day. And never ever give up.

He lost his father when he was younger. He needed crutches to walk since he was a kid. I think he really knew what he was talking about.

Ciao Antonio! It has been an honour and a privilege to meet you and to share part of your path. And thank you for your daily example of courage. I'll try to follow it as much as I can.

Love Always,
Fabio

I realized that most of the time I dont have time to make a post to comment all the news, articles and interesting information I find on the internet.

My RSS reader is constantly packed with interesting articles that I would like to share, but that inevitability end up under the pile of newest information before I had the time to report it to you.

Therefore I decided to dedicate one post a week to all these "wanna-be-post" that I could never write about, but that I still think might be interesting for you. And I decided to call this kind of post, the "Weekly Digital Billboards Summary". So now you know what to expect every time you see this title.

What's the RSS reader I just mention above?

Let's start the first Weekly Digital Billboards Summary with this video that explains you what a RSS reader is and how it works. I know that's not about Digital Billboards and LED screens, but if you read blogs and you don't know what an RSS is yet - it's time to find it out.

New USA Legislation (good news)

So the first news that caught my attention this week, is the fact that the in the United States, the Federal Highway Administration ruled that digital billboards are allowed! In particular the key sentence says: "[digital billboards] do not violate a prohibition against ‘intermittent’ or ‘flashing’ or ‘moving’ lights as those terms are used in the various FSAs [federal-state agreements] that have been entered into during the 1960s and 1970s.”

Could it be the consequence of the study that found out that accidents are not more likely to occur because of digital billboards?

Anyways, that's of course a great news both for advertising companies and digital billboards manufacturers. I think the USA are the first country to allow the usage of outdoor LED screen with a clear national regulation. Let me know if otherwise.

Consumers

Another good news is that consumers seem to be more interested in billboard ads than in any other forms of advertising, even more than TV (49% vs. 43%)!
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Here's the second round of our virtual match between, on the right corner, the electronic billboard manufacturers from China and, on the left corner, the potential Customers from the rest of the word. Today I'm publishing a second message I got from Tom (see the first email here) and another message I received from Asia (and Edwin seems to be more a Customer than a Vendor).

Following the suggestion of a friend, I removed the comments I initially posted.
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It seems that a large number of readers are interested in the Chinese LED billboards debate going on the blog these days. So today I'd like to publish the contrasting opinions sent by two of you.

From Tom (no email address available)

It's possible to find reliable LED manufacturer in china! They force all other to low the price and it's good!

Reliable china companies buy LEDs from same manufacturers like others with trusted brands so don't believe in "BAD" china companies - they are like all others in the world  - you can find reliable and not.

From Juan Carlos (email address available)

We have two Korean LED video walls from [brand name], the been a problem since we give money to the sales man, the screens arrived weeks late, the technicians did not know how to setup them and burned the power supplies and boards, scratched the screens while carrying them.
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