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What is GPIO-triggered signage?
With Yodeck, you can now make your digital signage react to physical signals, like sensors or controllers, using the GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output) pins on a Raspberry Pi.
This means your screen content can change based on real-world events without relying on the Internet, APIs, or cloud-based automation that can add sensors and custom logic outside Yodeck.
How It Works
When you connect a Raspberry Pi to a physical input (like a switch or sensor), that signal is received through the Pi’s GPIO pins. A custom Yodeck app running on the player reads those signals every second or two and adjusts the content it displays based on what it sees.
- The content logic lives inside the app itself
- GPIO signals are binary (ON/OFF) — simple, fast, and reliable
- Works fully offline once installed
🧪 Want to try it?
Check out our ON/OFF demo app – a basic widget that shows or hides a message based on an input signal.
What You’ll Need
| Raspberry Pi | Running Yodeck Player software |
| Physical signal source | Sensor, controller |
| Safe wiring | 3.3V logic required — use opto-isolators or voltage dividers |
| Custom Yodeck App (HTML App) | Built to read GPIO signals and update what’s displayed |
| Developer or integrator | Technical skills required |
| Enable GPIO on screen | Use the “Interactivity” tab in Screen Settings |
What It Can Do (and Can’t Do)
- React to ON/OFF inputs from real-world sources
- Show different messages, layouts, or content within the app
- Work fully offline
- Change app content dynamically
❌ What It Cannot Do
- ❌ Change the screen’s playlist or layout.
- ❌ Interpret complex signals (e.g., RFID codes, barcode scans).
- ❌ No support for I2C or SPI protocols – Plain GPIO pins.
What’s Next?
Depending on your role or goal, here’s where to go next:
ON/OFF Demo App — A basic app that reacts to GPIO input.
Developer Integration Guide — Complete technical documentation on GPIO APIs and app setup
Need Help?
We recommend having a technician or integrator assist with hardware setup. If you need guidance or want to propose a new use case, get in touch with us.
✨ Tip: Keep It Simple
Start with one pin, one switch, one app.
Once that works, you can scale the logic up.
Safety Reminder
- Only 3.3V signals are allowed on GPIO
- Max 16mA per pin, 51mA total
- Never connect high-voltage lines directly to the Pi