As of late January, the construction fences that are currently still located at the end of the Limbopad (see main picture), will cease to function as displays on which associations, sports clubs and other TU/e organizations can advertise their events. The three digital information screens that were recently placed on the terrain will take over this task. One of the screens is located next to the Limbopad, near De Zwarte Doos, one along De Zaale on the Laplace square, and one between Gemini and Flux.

Hannie Horvath, working at the Communications Expertise Center and involved with this project, says that the screens are being put up to make the campus look less disorderly. "These screens will contribute in an attractive way on the perception of the campus for employees, students and visitors," says Horvath.

The screens are not in use at the moment, and a very long extension cord is currently used to supply the screen on the Laplace square with electricity. Thijs Mooren, working at Real Estate Management, explains why: “The computer hardware in these panels is located beneath the screen, and at this time of the year we need to make sure that the panels are instantly connected so that the interior stays dry, because this equipment is very moisture sensitive.”

People who want to use the three digital screens to communicate will have to comply with the same basic principles as the users of every other screens on campus. The Federation of Study Associations Eindhoven (FSE) sent out the guidelines for this to the associations last week. The new screens will replace all banners and posters the associations are using now to announce their events or other matters.

The associations aren’t obliged to comply with TU/e’s house style on the screens. Besides the associations Studium Generale will be allowed to make use of the screens and other TU/e organizations.

Events

Horvath stresses that the screens will be primarily used for communicating information about events. A message will be put up on the screen for a maximum duration of two weeks, and no more than thirty messages will be shown each day. The average duration of each message is five seconds - eight seconds when there’s more text - and the maximum duration of video messages is thirty seconds. The screens are switched on between 7:00 am and 11:00 pm.

Horvath says that it’s probably unavoidable that associations will still mount banners on campus, “but these will be removed immediately once they’re noticed. The construction fences will also disappear from campus at the end of January. We will start with a broad information campaign one week before the screens are activated.”

The FSE was involved in the preparations for this change in an early stage, Horvath says. “The FSE board at the time saw no problems, and it was even said that the screens looked more orderly than the construction fences that are used today.” Leonie Copraij, secretary of the current FSE board, confirms that the issue was indeed discussed with the former board. She says that the current board takes a neutral position, “starting in January, we will of course evaluate what kind of experiences the associations have with these screens.”

Student associations will have to send their messages to imsservices@remove-this.tue.nl as of next year. This mail adress is connected with CEC, where student assistants will decide, on the basis of the guidelines, what will be put on the screens and what not.