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Workshop

An overview of the Kaptive hardware setup, screen control, use cases, and user roles before starting the onboarding.

The Kaptive Player is a small device that connects to your screen and runs your content. It requires the following connections:

  • Electricity: the power supply.
  • Ethernet: the network connection.
  • HDMI: the video output to the screen.
  • RS232: the serial connection used to control the screen, turning it on or off and switching the input source.
  • USB: the connection for touch input on touch-enabled screens.

Never unplug any cable from the Kaptive Player. Disconnecting power, Ethernet, HDMI, or RS232 sends a message to the technical service office.


Kaptive controls the screen over RS232. When an Alert is activated, Kaptive automatically switches the screen to the correct HDMI source. Schedules can turn the screen on, switch to the right input, and start showing content at a configured time.

To switch to a different source such as a laptop, change the screen input manually.


Kaptive covers three categories of use.

Passive content displayed on screens without user interaction.

  • Simple information screens
  • Train and bus schedules
  • Cafeteria menus

Touch-driven interfaces that users navigate directly.

  • Interactive museum exhibitions
  • Building orientation screens
  • Interactive presentations
  • Interactive information boards: upcoming events, next departures, cafeteria menus
  • API-based applications: dashboards, data visualizations, etc.

Content that instantly overrides all screens when activated.

  • Precise on-demand information screens in chosen locations
  • Guided evacuation instructions
  • Fire alarms
  • Amok alarms

  • Editor: can edit existing Projects and Schedules and publish changes.
  • Manager: can create and manage Projects and Schedules, and assign them to Players.
  • Admin: full access, including Alerts and member management.

See Roles for the full reference.


  1. Turn the screen on via Kaptive.
  2. Show the default assigned Project playing on the screen.
  3. Switch the screen to a different source, such as a laptop.
  4. Trigger a test Alert. Kaptive automatically switches the source back and displays the Alert content.
  5. Deactivate the Alert. The screen returns to its previous content.
  6. Turn the screen off via Kaptive.

Follow the Onboarding Guide to set up your first Project and publish it to a screen.