How long should an on-screen message be?
Screen text needs to make sense in the time available. A fixed word count matters less than whether people can understand the message and next step from where they stand or sit.
Give each display one main message
Decide which question the message answers and put the answer first. Include the date, price, location or contact alongside it whenever that detail is needed to understand it.
Split the text without losing the meaning
A long paragraph can become several displays. Each must make sense independently because visitors may see only one. Do not separate an offer from its price or an invitation from its date.
Example: turning one paragraph into three displays
| Display | Short text | Standalone message |
|---|---|---|
| Directions | Welcome to Hotel Panorama. Please check in at reception. | Where guests check in |
| Offer | Dinner in the hotel restaurant: 18:00–21:00. Book at reception. | What is offered, when and how to book |
| Outing | Planning an outing? Reception can help with current travel information. | Where guests can get further information |
Test the timing in the actual setting
There is no single number of seconds that suits every screen. Ask someone to read and explain the text from the usual distance. Check the actual content change in SUISSE-VIDEO. If time is too short, simplify the wording first, then adjust the sequence.
Make screen content easy to read · Inform visitors at reception