Department of Engineering Computing Digital Signage Project
To get this running I just have a computer boot up into ubuntu and log in automatically, then start firefox and open it to a locally hosted page (the google javascript code in particular requires that you access the page through a web server, rather than simply as a file). I run "unclutter -root -i 5" (available in ubuntu with the unclutter package) to hide the mouse, and use the R-kiosk add-on for firefox to make it full screen. In the configs/ directory there is a custom userChrome.css that gets rid of side bars and status updates, just drop it into the firefox profile directory.
NOTE: you will probably have to tinker a bit with the drivers and settings to keep the monitor from blanking due to inactivity.
I use a cron job to turn the monitor on every weekday morning and off again every night.