Jabu is an advertising tool that plays videos in a loop and transmits audio on videos via FM, making it easy to reach a diverse audience. The cheaper and more convenient advertising device will launch in Johannesburg on 2 April 2016.
It uses an operating system that is modified to boot up a program that scans all connected flash drives for video files and plays them in a loop if found. The Raspberry Pi was the device used to implement a video player on, as it only requires 5v to run and outputs full HD video quality via HDMI output. Currently Jabu uses a computer monitor to display the video content playing on the Pi. However, newer builds will use 32" LEDs. The program used to do this is an open source project from Adafruity.
The device also displays the graphical user interface on boot up. The open program is started straight from the boot process and it scans for any connected USB drives immediately and then does a 10-second countdown until it plays the discovered videos.
Currently, the A prototype can be seen on display at J's Barber Shop and Men's Clothing Shop at 86 Athol Oaklands Rd, Melrose, Johannesburg.
