Volume 15, Issue 5.2 — March 8, 2017
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Industry News Audio Projection Unified Collaborative Conferencing Media Players, Recording & Distribution Control & Signal Processing Cables, Cases, Furniture, Mounts, Racks, Screens & Accessories Digital Signage Lighting
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Unprofessional, Incompetent or Collateral Damage?
By Frederick Ampel President & Principal, Technology Visions Analytics
Suggested by a conversation with John Mayberry – Emmaco
Engineering history is replete with decisions that, upon any kind of reasonable reflection, would prove at best questionable or at worst disastrous — for example, the rapid and urgent deployment of the legendary Boeing designed, engineered and constructed B-29 Superfortress in May of 1944 during WW II. Like many things that are rushed into use or deployed before they are thoroughly tested, the B-29’s engines caused massive and deadly failures until all the problems that should have been solved before use were finally corrected (which did not occur until after WW2 was over and the fully tested and revised engines were used in the now iconic Douglas DC-7).
The story goes like this:
It’s May 1944 and the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) is battling with the U.S.Navy over how to bring the war to a close and trying to convince the President to choose their option. The USAAF plan was based on a controversial strategy devised by now legendary cigar-chomping Major (later General and creator of SAC) Curtis LeMay. LeMay had designed and eventually implemented a controversial systematic carpet bombing campaign of Japan. His weapon of choice — the single most expensive weapons project undertaken by the United States in World War II, exceeding the cost of the Manhattan Project by between 1 and 1.7 billion 1940s dollars, was the B-29 Stratofortress, a plane that could finally reach targets in Japan from recently captured Pacific island bases.
The problem was that the plane was never tested in the high temperatures of the tropical airfields where the B-29s were to be based. Added to that, the early B-29 tactics of maximum weights, when combined with operating conditions produced overheating problems in the brand new Wright Duplex Cyclone’s R3350 piston engines
that were never completely solved until replaced with a competitor’s engine. Sadly, the R-3350 engines had an unfortunate tendency to swallow their own valves, catch fire and demolish the engine (often on take -off when they were under maximum stress). Because of a high magnesium content in the potentially combustible crankcase alloy, the resulting engine fires — sometimes burning with a core temperature approaching 5,600 °F (3,100 °C) fed by the burning crankcase alloys — were often so intense the main spar could burn through in seconds, resulting in catastrophic wing failure. What eventually occurred is shown in this photo from sometime in 1945, wherein hundreds of failed engines are just lying in scrapheaps to be salvaged for whatever useful parts they might have.
Doomed to fail!
This cautionary tale relates to our industry because we too often deploy products and install designs which are shall we say politely — unproven. Now to be fair, that is not always the integrator, designer or engineering folks’ fault. Manufacturers bear blame as well for pushing products out well before validating and verifying their real world performance in field operation and functionality — essentially leaving the beta testing to the users — (any large northwestern U.S. software company come to mind?). This would be the collateral damage caused by making an assumption of truthfulness or validation which simply was not viable.
There are numerous stories not all that dissimilar to the B29 debacle in the audio/video industry. They continue to arise far too regularly. I’m sure you can name companies who had and may still have a ‘standard’ practice’ of sending product out the door they knew didn’t work as described or at all.
This practice is often blamed (there is always a scapegoat somewhere) on some ill-defined ‘management’ decision that arrived in the form of a dictum from on high to meet promised production and billing milestones. Thus, product was shipped under the assumption it would be fixed in the field (more collateral damage?). This is chiefly found when the relationship between manufacturer and integrator(s) was less than professional. I don’t know about you but in the last 30+ years I certainly can recall more than one project where large numbers of amplifiers, or digital audio processors, or control hardware/software left the factory untested and were simply doomed to failure but not in the company’s hands.
BUT… that’s not the whole story folks!
Now let’s add in the other half of the equation. The often-ignored truth is that the quality of some of our work is awful. Inescapably it usually boils down to poor education and bad management and the aforementioned questionable products. Think about it — do you need more than 10 fingers to count the number of times have you walked into a room with a dead monitor, unintelligible speech or push buttons that don’t work? I certainly do, and I bet you do as well.
I think it’s well past time for the industry’s integrators, designers, consultants and specifiers to rise up and take a firm stand! We must insist — nay, demand — that every product (hardware or software) is fully tested and documented prior to leaving the factory. I don’t recall seeing that statement /requirement on very many if any purchase orders, design specifications or dealer/reseller agreements but it should be automatic boilerplate, just like payment terms. I don’t think that anyone should ever again sign any document that “holds harmless” any supplier or manufacturer, and puts us squarely in the crosshairs. Start shredding your old paperwork right now!
If we don’t fix this, the recent market analysis (I will not mention who is responsible to protect the guilty) that purported to show that 54 percent of their respondents assert that a lack of systems integration was a big challenge for marketers this year might well prove to be real data.
When shielded (no names used in the reporting) interviews show, repeatedly, that well over 50 percent (closer to 65 percent) of our own people selling our work to a client think their own firm is a major impediment to their own success we have a crisis to handle, and right now. You many argue the point, but ultimately it’s really hard to use real world feedback from actual end-users to dispute this claim (AV — the “stuff that doesn’t work” mentality).
OK, so Houston, we have a problem — what needs to be done?
The AV/IT/IP industry needs to mature — now! Let’s start with something simple and doable with off-the-shelf solutions. All of our components should automatically report their failures and real time performance back to industry standard ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) compatible management products like SAP and Microsoft Dynamics. Via their computer dashboards, our end customers should be able to encapsulate the overall system performance of our hardware and software in seconds. It’s not fantasy land, aircraft, telecom systems in buildings, and tons of other systems already do this every day, 24/7/365.
Don’t think it will work? Let me point out that our security brethren have provided many of these capabilities for years. They have no problem remotely dialing up a CCTV camera in Poughkeepsie and watching from their desk in Bismarck, Berlin or Baku.
Unfortunately, the same is not true for a large amount of the audio/video world. A school principal is not able to tell from his desk that the system is ready for the annual holiday pageant. Exceptionally few systems even report failures back to the integrator, let alone total system performance to the end client in real-time.
How many of you provide ERP data to your clients? My guess is a few percent at best, but I truly hope I am wrong and someone has already blazed the path — if you have, please comment on this column and let me know. Virtually every principal financial, healthcare infrastructure and security company uses ERP dashboards now to manage their other disciplines or to manage their cash flow, measure and monitor their development, and maximize the efficiencies of their resources. Imagine if our systems by design reported what messages were sent and the quality of them as reproduced in the actual space!
An AV dashboard indicating system up-time and failures (particularly across an enterprise network) tied to standard management tools would prove informative, useful and not the least hugely enlightening.
Our systems need to account for imperfect processes, people, technologies, designs or specifications do not actually exist. Remember, Murphy was an optimist and it is without doubt that any mission critical imperfections will show up, at the most inconvenient point in time.
We have to accept that our buyers, customers and their employees are self-governing; will act under the influence of internal and external forces we can’t possibly imagine; have at best a massively limited knowledge of our systems and no concept of their impact on our carefully implemented designs; and often do the unanticipated or unexpected. It’s the 21st century update to the old adage about idiot-proofing: “The problem with idiot proofing anything is that they keep making smarter idiots.”
To quote Mr. Mayberry, “It’s time to put on the big boy and girl pants” and make our systems work properly for years to come. Leave a Comment
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Is VRTC the Next Big Thing?
By Mark Coxon rAVe Blogger
There has been a lot of discussion lately about the use of Virtual Realty (VR) technology. One of the applications being touted as ripe for VR is virtual meetings — a Virtual Reality Telconference (VRTC) if you will.
But will VRTC be the next big leap in meeting technology?
Imagine getting ready for your next meeting at work. You are at home, so you put on your VR headset and launch the meeting application. You are transported to a virtual room where you take a seat at the conference table. Others also join the table, some that are in the office together as well as others in remote locations like yourself.
Each participant is represented by a computer generated avatar inside the room. The animated presenter starts the meeting and triggers content that seems to float in front of you. Then a 3D model of your latest product appears over the table and the participants in the room can manipulate the object in 3D space to explore it’s form and functionality.
The meeting ends, and you remove your headset finding yourself back in your living room.
On the surface, it seems like a no-brainer. The efficiency of a video teleconference coupled with immersive content and interactive 3D visualization seems hard to find much fault with. However, does the VRTC experience actually promote better collaboration and teamwork?
Upon closer inspection, VRTC may actually be less effective than current video teleconferences. In what way?
No live video of participants.
The main draw of adding video to traditional teleconferences is to be able to actually see the other participants. We’ve all heard that communication is 7 percent words, 38 percent tone of voice and 55 percent body language. Adding video added the other 55 percent of communication by allowing participants to see each others facial expressions and body language as they speak and listen to one another, thereby creating more effective communication than is achieved by audio alone. A virtual avatar does not offer the same advantages or convey the real time expressions and body language of the participants.
Observed participation.
Many companies also leverage video in their conferences as an accountability tool. In a standard audio conference and employee can call in to the conference and then leave the room, go eat breakfast, answer email, etc. and the meeting organizer would never know the wiser. Adding video adds accountability to each participant as they know they are on camera. This means that participants are more likely to pay attention and be present at their computer during the conference. Again, a virtual avatar would be present in the VRTC room, but wouldn’t create the same accountability for the participant. Just like with audio, no one would know if participants are actually engaged in the meeting and the content.
Eye Contact.
There has been a lot written about eye contact and its importance in communication so I won’t rehash all that here. I do have a couple quick notes on the subject though. “Increased eye contact is associated with credibility and dominance and lack of contact and blinking are interpreted as submissive.” A virtual avatar won’t make genuine, expressive eye contact and essential communication may be missed altogether.
The Benefit of One to the Detriment of Many.
Depending on the businesses office set up, this could be a real concern. Imagine six people are in the office and put on headsets to get into the virtual room. One remote participant also joins the VRTC from their home. For the person at home, the VRTC experience, even with the drawbacks of digital avatars discussed above, may get a net benefit from being “transported” from the distractions of their home into a virtual room. However, the six people that are in the office are foregoing an in-person, face to face meeting around the table. They are losing out on the opportunity to interact face to face with their peers, all so one person can have an immersive experience remotely. In these cases, I would say the headsets become more of a barrier to good communication than a value added piece of the puzzle.
So is there a way to get the advantages of an immersive, interactive experience and minimize the negative consequences of digital avatars listed above?
The answer may lie in a Mixed Reality (MR) or Augmented Reality (AR) based system instead.
This type of system would utilize a camera on the VR headset to feed the display, or a pair of glasses like HoloLens that impose digital images in the near field over actual items in the real world. Devices like HoloLens use a clear plastic lens, which means for the people in the conference, they can continue to see each others eyes.
If wearing a full VR headset for deeper submersion in a remote or foreign environment, Google has created a way to recreate the semblance of eye contact with people wearing VR headsets.
They utilize a camera that scans the face and saves the image. Then a QR type code is placed on the front of the VR headset. Anyone looking through their own headset will see that code, and the scanned face is transposed over the headset so they can see each participants full face. The recorded expressions are fixed, so there is still no visual feedback during the communication other than a stare, which can imply hostility. Regardless, the MR/AR scenarios seem like they would allow for immersive and interactive content while still allowing for a more natural face to face meeting and keeping the video portion of the VTC to assure participation as well.
The other question here is does eye contact matter to Millennials and GenZ as much as it has meant to previous generations? Does a generation that uses text and social media as a primary source of communication even care about seeing the other person? Is a digital avatar more acceptable to them? I don’t know that answer, but I do know that there is something visceral about face to face contact, not only for humans, but for animals in general. The digital generations may not actually transcend their nature, and if not, seeing the person they are talking to will still facilitate a better experience.
So what do you think? Is VRTC the next big thing in communications or is it a fun gimmick that will trend for a short time before returning to a traditional camera based environment coupled with MR/AR instead? Weigh in below in the comments section.
Second image courtesy of http://vrscout.com/author/jonathan360/ Leave a Comment
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Almo Professional A/V Unveils Almo Hospitality Division Almo Professional A/V today unveiled its new Almo Hospitality Division. The new division provides a customized combination of expertise, products, services and support for the hotel and lodging industry. The Almo Hospitality Division enables integrators and resellers serving the hospitality market to equip every major area of a hotel, ranging from guest rooms and common areas with comprehensive AV to restaurants, bars, ballrooms and meeting rooms.
According to STR, the U.S. hotel industry is projected to experience continued demand growth through 2017, which has outpaced supply growth each year dating back to 2010. “In line with the data, Almo has achieved dramatic growth in the hospitality market segment in the last several years,” explained Sam Taylor, executive vice president and COO for Almo Professional A/V. “We’ve assembled a group of seasoned internal and outsourced hospitality experts from which we create customized teams based on the project requirements of our hotelier suppliers and integrators.”
Taylor continued, “The new division offers distinct offerings such as design and technical support, logistics and revenue-generating services. And in addition to Almo Pro A/V’s hospitality product portfolio, we are also able to leverage products from Almo Corporation’s Appliance and Electronics divisions so that all areas of the hotel are covered.”
The Almo Hospitality Division is hosting a conference for hospitality resellers and integrators in conjunction with the Almo E4 AV Tour, an award-winning traveling event that incorporates AV education, workshops, new products and networking. It will take place in Chicago on March 21 and in San Jose on April 18. The conference features a keynote session on the future of smart buildings and hotels, plus a full day of hospitality-dedicated sessions led by Samsung, Steven’s Digital, Comcast Business Solutions, TeleAdapt, Kube Systems and more.
Almo is also hosting several free hospitality-themed webinars, focusing on topics such as hospitality charging trends, the secret weapon to winning larger hospitality projects, creating a positive guest experience, hotel TV streaming, commercial or consumer vs. hospitality displays and more.
More information about Almo Hospitality Division is here. Leave a Comment
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MC2 Audio Debuts Delta Series Amplifiers MC2 Audio has launched six models in a new Delta Series of networkable audio processing power amplifiers. Incorporating XTA’s 96kHz DSP, MC2 Audio says the line are DSP-enabled and have three input options: analog, AES3 and Audinate’s Dante networked audio. The units have four inputs and eight outputs and four of the outputs driving the internal power amplifier channels and four available via analog XLR outputs on the back panel. The AUX outputs can be used to drive additional non-DSP Delta amplifiers and can also be made available as outputs to a Dante network. DSP enabled models offer Ethernet, USB and RS485 remote connectivity. Remote control is via their DeltaDirect iPad app and via the industry standard AudioCore platform.
In addition, there are four non-DSP versions that all have Dante networking (a four channel 96kHz Dante input card) allowing the amplifier input sources to be switched between analog and Dante audio. This option adds flexibility, allowing non-DSP Delta amplifiers to be incorporated into any centrally processed Dante audio network where the amplifiers do not require local processing.
You can see the entire line here. Leave a Comment
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New PAVIRO Public Address and Voice Evacuation Features from Bosch
The PAVIRO Public Address and Voice Evacuation System from Bosch now offers users new hardware and software features for enhanced usability and for use in larger applications. Using IP technology, PAVIRO provides a highly flexible, reliable and secure system solution with low latency. As installers can use existing networks in the building infrastructure, relying on IP technology also results in faster installations and lower implementation costs. Furthermore, PAVIRO can be interconnected with other devices such as PCs or laptops over IP protocol, allowing for efficient remote control, diagnostics and maintenance via the Internet.
The PAVIRO Public Address and Voice Evacuation System IP functionality and connectivity is achieved via the Dante network interface module (OM-1) from Bosch. Now it is possible to create a 16-channel Dante audio network between the individual controllers. Bosch says this IP networking architecture allows users to create multi-controller network topologies for larger areas via up to four de-centralized controllers. At the maximum configuration level, the PAVIRO system can now address up to 984 zones with a total of 164,000 watts of amplifying power in one system, making the system suitable for bigger installations in which a large number of zones and loudspeakers are needed. It also caters to existing installations whenever the infrastructure of a building changes and additional rooms have to be addressed. In addition, the network configuration provides redundant channels for safety purposes – in case of an emergency these channels will always work for evacuation signals, even if a controller loses network communication.
PAVIRO is a Public Address and EN 54-certified Voice Evacuation System and here are the details. Leave a Comment
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RTS Debuts ROAMEO Wireless Intercom System at ISE
ROAMEO, from RTS, is a wireless intercom solution based on the license-free DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) standard with a protected frequency band. It provides high-quality audio over a seamlessly integrated digital wireless beltpack and associated access points. Featuring a rugged design, ROAMEO is suitable for a wide range of professional intercom applications where wireless communication is critical, including broadcast production studios, theater and sport event productions, houses of worship, commercial buildings and outside broadcast (OB) trucks. Operating like a wireless keypanel, ROAMEO can be fully integrated into all existing wired digital RTS matrices. The system allows users to address either individuals or specified groups. The system consists of the TR-1800 beltpack, the AP-1800 access point and accessories including charger, holster and pole-mount kit. Connection to a digital matrix is easily established via a single Ethernet cable. In addition, the system can use standard IT infrastructure, which ensures easy installation and low maintenance costs; the access points can be daisy-chained.
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K-array Intros Compact Full-Range Speaker Line Called Domino
K-array’s new full-range speaker line, Domino. These compact stainless steel speakers with plug and play capabilities do not require presets and can be driven by any amplifier making them the perfect solution for applications from intimate restaurants to live concert settings.
The new line consists of three speakers: the KF26, the KF210 and the KF212. The KF26 is the smallest of the trio measuring less than 12 centimeters deep. It is comprised of a 6” and a 2” neodymium magnet woofer coaxially mounted plus one 6” passive radiator to extend the bass response. The KF26 has a selectable impedance (8/32) and 90° coverage, horizontally and vertically. Designed as a passive speaker, the KF26 can be transformed into a self-powered speaker just by inserting the specific amplifier accessory, KA1-FF. With a max SPL of 109dB, the KF26 is the designed for smaller installations.
The KF210 is the mid-sized option of the Domino line that has a 10” and a 3” neodymium magnet woofer coaxially mounted in addition to a 10” passive radiator. Like the KF26, the KF210 has selectable impedance and wide vertical and horizontal coverage.
The largest and most powerful of the Domino line is the KF212. Comprised of a 12” coaxial transducer with a titanium dome and a 12” passive radiator, the KF212 really packs a punch. With a depth of 20 cm, the KF212 is the ideal solution for clubs and lounges to live concerts.
The Domino line also has several accessories. Wall brackets are included while other useful tools are available for purchase, like the flush mount recessing frame, K-WF26 and K-WF210, used to further hide the speakers. Domino is available in a 24 K gold plated finish and brushed or polished stainless steel finishes, in addition to the standard black and white. Here are all the details.Leave a Comment
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Crestron Ships Avia Multichannel Amplifiers Crestron is now shipping Avia multi-channel amplifiers. The new AMP-8075 and AMP-8150 are designed to work natively with Crestron Avia DSPs and have eight channels of audio power in a single rack space, with a choice of 75 or 150 Watts per channel. Each channel is individually configurable for either low-Z (4/8 ohm) or high-Z (70V or 100V) and they are networkable for configuration, monitoring and control via the Avia Audio Tool software, a Crestron control system or Crestron Fusion Cloud.
The new amps are Class D and feature front panel status indication and output meters and rear panels include balanced inputs and level adjustments. Crestron says their internal universal power supply with power factor correction ensures consistent performance with varying line voltages.
Complete system configuration is easy using their Avia Audio Tool software which is designed for drag and drop programming of channel strip objects (from the DSP and amplifier) for control and to generate a touch screen UI.
Here are all the technical specs. Leave a Comment
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Sennheiser Ships New All-Digital System in 6000 SeriesDigital 6000, the latest member of Sennheiser’s professional wireless microphone range, is shipping now. Incorporating their Long Range transmission mode and proprietary audio codec from Sennheiser’s Digital 9000 series, is aimed at rental companies, theatres, broadcasters and houses of worship that need a flexible two-channel wireless solution that allows the use of existing accessory infrastructures.
The Digital 6000 series comprises a two-channel receiver that is available in two different versions, a bodypack and a handheld transmitter, and a rack-mount 19” charging unit. The receiver’s switching bandwidth of 244 MHz (470 to 714 MHz) is covered by three transmitter versions (470 – 558 MHz, 550 – 638 MHz, and 630 – 718 MHz). Up to eight receiver units can be daisy-chained without the need for an additional antenna splitter; the multi-channel system will work with a single pair of antennas. System latency is 3 milliseconds.
The Digital 6000 features switchable AES 256 encryption, with the transmitters also supporting the proprietary encryption of the Digital 9000 system.
Existing antenna infrastructures can continue to be used as the system works with standard active and passive wideband UHF antennas, with the highly frequency-selective input filters being contained in the EM 6000 receiver.
The Digital 6000 transmitters use the same high-performance rechargeable accupacks as their Digital 9000 counterparts. The SKM 6000 handheld transmitter features Sennheiser’s standard capsule interface – it can therefore be used with any microphone head from the evolution wireless Series, the 2000 Series, and also with the special 9000 Series heads.
The receiver’s operating controls have been modeled on the EM 3732 and a new menu control with white OLED display gives an overview of the RF signal, link quality, audio signal, battery status, frequency, transmitter name and encryption. Several home screens provide access to further information, without the user having to navigate through submenus. Critical operating conditions and error messages are directly indicated on the display.
The series’ L 6000 charging unit is a 19”/1U mainframe device that can be fitted with up to four charging modules as required, each of which recharges two bodypack or two handheld batteries, respectively. Three-colored LEDs on the front panel give a quick overview of the charging process for each battery, while two additional LEDs monitor the device status. More detailed information as well as additional parameters such as battery runtime, charging cycles and remaining capacity can be accessed via the Wireless Systems Manager. The L 6000 charging unit can also be used for Digital 9000.
The EM 6000 receiver is fitted with a digital AES-3 output with wordclock in/out, a transformer-balanced analog XLR-3 outputs and ¼” (6.3 mm) jack outputs. Its Dante counterpart, the EM 6000 Dante offers an additional Amphenol RJ-45 connector for integration into a Dante network.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Eiki Launches EK-100 Series of Classroom Projectors Eiki International just debuted the EK-100 Classroom Series projectors. Common to all four models in the EK-100 Series is a 10,000-hour lamp life (in economy mode, 4,000 in normal mode), 10,000:1 contrast ratio, corner keystone correction and each have HDMI and MHL (Mobile High-Definition) inputs. They also include a 1.48-1.78:1 throw to width manual zoom and focus lens.
Eiki’s new EK-100 Classroom Series projectors are shipping now. Here are the details:
- EK-100W: WXGA (1266×768), 3,600 lumens, $995
- EK-101X: XGA (1024×768), 4,200 lumens, $995
- EK-102X: XGA (1024×768), 3,300 lumens, $845
- EK-103X: XGA (1024×768), 3,300 lumens, $695
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Sony Hits the Jackpot for Creativity With New Surface Projector Integrated With Embedded TouchIn one of the most creative uses of projection in the history of the industry the Sony Mobile Phone Group comes something they are calling Xperia Touch — a projector with an embedded Android projector. Xperia Touch is an interactive projector that turns any flat surface into a 23” HD touchscreen, with either horizontal or vertical ultrashort-throw projection. The interface is fast and responsive to physical touch – it’s built using Sony’s SXRD projection display technology, and touch is made possible through a combination of Infrared light and real-time detection via its built-in camera, at a rate of 60 frames-per-second.
This hit the jackpot for creativity.
The projector itself is a WXGA (1366×768) resolution 3LCD using a laser as a light source. Spec’d at a 4000:1 contrast ratio and embedded with a 13 megapixel camera, the Xperia Touch is only 100 lumens but the projection distance is so short that it looks brighter on a surface like a table. Input is USB-C (with an HDMI adapter) and it uses Miracast as well as NFC for wireless connectivity. Touch Control uses an IR sensor and camera and it is 10 point multi-touch.
This is a big deal, in case you haven’t noticed.
Here are all the details. Leave a Comment
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IBM and Ricoh Partner for Watson-Powered Whiteboards IBM and Ricoh have partnered for a cognitive-enabled interactive whiteboard which uses IBM’s Watson intelligence and voice technologies to support voice commands, taking notes and actions and even translating into other languages.
The Intelligent Workplace Solution leverages IBM Watson and Ricoh’s interactive whiteboards to allow to access features via using voice. It makes sure that Watson doesn’t just listen, but is an active meeting participant, using real-time analytics to help guide discussions.
Features of the new cognitive-enabled whiteboard solution include:
- Global voice control of meetings: Once a meeting begins, any employee, whether in-person or located remotely in another country, can easily control what’s on the screen, including advancing slides, all through simple voice commands using Watson’s Natural Language API.
- Translation of the meeting into another language: The Intelligent Workplace Solution can translate speakers’ words into several other languages and display them on screen or in transcript.
- Easy-to-join meetings: With the swipe of a badge the Intelligent Workplace Solution can log attendance and track key agenda items to ensure all key topics are discussed.
- Ability to capture side discussions: During a meeting, team members can also hold side conversations that are displayed on the same whiteboard.
IBM says they are currently installing 80 Ricoh interactive whiteboards in its new global Watson headquarters in Munich, Germany.
Here are specific details on the Ricoh product. Leave a Comment
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Bosch Expands DICENTIS IP-Based Conference Line
Bosch announced the expansion of its IP based conference system portfolio with four new, wired devices under the DICENTIS name. As part of this expansion, Bosch will integrate its DCN multimedia system into the DICENTIS Conference System family.
The DICENTIS Conference System is part of Bosch’s open media networking architecture, OMNEO. With OMNEO, the DICENTIS Conference System makes use of fully standardized network technology for ease of integration, cost-effective installation and simple maintenance. In addition, the system enables easy expansion with OMNEO audio devices and a wide range of audio products supporting Dante networking. The system is capable of connecting a network of up to 750 conference devices and integrating with other systems sharing the network such as IP video streams or content management systems.
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New Lecture Capture Capability for WolfVision Cynap
WolfVision showing a new enhanced version of its vSolution Cynap collaboration system at ISE. Cynap now has a Capture Pack, a lecture recording capture agent which uses Opencast technologies to provide secure, reliable, scheduling, processing, management, and intelligent distribution of academic and corporate video recordings.
Cynap is marketed as an ‘all-in-one’ collaboration product with a built-in media player, WebRTC web conferencing, streaming, BYOD mirroring, plus whiteboard and annotation functionality. It can be used either with or without a connected Visualizer system. Cynap offers BYOD compatibility with all iOS, Android, Windows, Chrome OS, and Mac devices, and with app-free support for AirPlay, Google Cast and Miracast mirroring protocols, multimedia content materials from any smartphone, tablet, or laptop can be easily displayed, shared and recorded, together with any content from network, web or cloud sources.
In addition to the central video recording options, WolfVision’s vSolution Capture app for iOS and Android also enables multiple users to simultaneously receive and record a wireless stream from Cynap onto their own mobile devices. Here are the specs. Leave a Comment
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DELTACAST Debuts HDMI 2.0 Capture Card DELTACAST has a new HDMI 2.0b capture card with two inputs with support for any HDMI formats, including HDMI 2.0 (600 MHz TMDS) with 4K 60Hz 4:4:4 8-bit simultaneously on both ports.
Designed for applications such as dual 4K (and UHDTV) 60Hz capture and HDR formats (GB 4:4:4, YUB 4:4:4, YUV 4:2:2, YUV 4:2:0), the PCIe Gen2 x8 card, a low-profile, half-length PCIe, has on-board color processing, embedded audio support,and HDMI metadata support. Including EDID management with custom content support, the the card allows for any HDMI signals to be sent to a media server with a PCIe card slot.
Here are all the tech specs. Leave a Comment
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Aquantia New FPGA Programmable PHY Means We Will See Smaller Video-Over-IP Products Using AptoVision Technology
Aquantia is a high-speed Ethernet connectivity chip company and they have partnered with AptoVision to build a single-chip solution for video-over-IP on a 10GBASE-T infrastructure. The combination of Aquantia’s AQcite FPGA-programmable Multi-Gigabit Ethernet PHY with AptoVision’s BlueRiver technology means that we will soon see smaller products for sending video and audio over Ethernet. Right now, the only option for manufacturers is to take a programmable Xilinx chip and use the AptoVision IP and program a video-over-IP system — resulting in a system where most companies using the AptoVision technology (like ZeeVee and DVIGear) have two chips in their processors — now this single-chip solution will be smaller. The AQcite product line, and specifically the AQLX107 can be used to transmit true 4K60 (4:4:4 at 8-bit video with some compression) video across off-the-shelf 10G Ethernet networks and standard CatX cable.
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Wisdom Audio Introduces New Premium-Quality Audio Interconnect Kits Wisdom Audio today announced standard and custom interconnect cable kits as part of its high-end audio product lineup.
Each kit features what they says is “oxygen-free,” high-conductivity copper conductors and the highest grade of foam polypropylene insulation for high-speed transmission and resistance from cracking and wear. The cables’ advanced Star-Quad design offers maximum protection against electrostatic interference. Each wire is numbered for ease and efficiency of installation.
The Wisdom Audio WWK-BB kit includes 10 balanced XLR female to XLR male numbered 1.0 meter cables; 17 balanced XLR female to XLR male numbered 1.5 meter cables; six 1/8-inch mini DC trigger cables; and two balanced XLR Y-adapter female to dual male XLR. The WWK-CUSTOM is a special ordered kit that can be customized to any length and/or termination to fit any application.
All of them are here. Leave a Comment
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Luxul Ships Epic 4 Routers Luxul has announced today the availability of its new Epic 4 routers — all commercial-grade routers that the company says are optimized for smart homes, SMB and retail. One unique feature is their integration with third-party embedded software including content filtering from Router Limits and a remote management tool from Domotz. Additional applications, including Ihiji’s remote network management tools and Luxul’s Roam-Assist wireless controller technology are on the way. Any of these advanced features can be implemented at the integrator’s discretion.
The Epic 4 is available in a traditional ports-on-the-front design and an AV Series ports-on-the-back design with switchable blue/green LEDs for integration with AV racks (see XBR-4500 and ABR-4500). Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Altinex Adds USB-C Connectors to Table Top Interconnect Boxes Altinex has announced three new USB Type C connectivity products for use with the company’s Tilt ‘N Plug, Pop ‘N Plug and Cable Nook interconnect boxes. USB Type C started on MacBook computer but has since been adopted by Dell, Microsoft, Samsung and HP.
The new Altinex CM11380 incorporates a USB Type C (socket) connector to a USB Type A (plug) connector in a 6-foot cable assembly designed for Keystone snap-in compatibility. The CM11380 allows fort charging or data access when used, for example, with the Altinex TNP128 interconnect box.
The Altinex CM11381 is a USB Type C (socket) connector to USB Type A (plug) 6-foot cable assembly with full support for the USB 3.0 specification. The panel mount USB Type C cable is mounted into any D-sub location. Altinex’ online table top configurators are now offering this cable for units’ customization. Like the Altinex CM11380, the new CM11381 supports the USB 3.0 specification.
Designed for use with the Altinex CNK200, CNK221 and TNP530 interconnect boxes in addition to stand-alone applications, the new RT300-160 is designed for managing USB Type C cables. Designed to provide optimum performance, the RT300-160 supports USB 2.0 and has 4 feet of retractable cable and 4 feet of fixed length cable. The cable and the retractor have been tested to over 10,000 extensions/retractions. Here are the specs. Leave a Comment
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SI Launches Tiles Screen Tiling System for Video WallsScreen Innovations (SI) at ISE launched something called Tiles, a new screen tiling system for the video wall category. Tiles can go as large as 288″ W by 162” H (330″ diagonal), and is 4K/8K+ rated and UHD/HDR ready. To build a Black Diamond video wall, panels are placed next to each other with a very small seam and stacked in a running-bond pattern. To ensure that the installation process is as time-efficient as possible, SI has designed a system that is 75 percent pre-fabricated; each panel then snaps into place with an attachment system that utilizes neodymium magnets. This installation process allows integrators to assemble a video wall of any size. All panels are precision-cut and stocked in three sizes: 45″, 50″ and 55″ for 16:9 and 43″, 48″ and 53″ for 16:10.
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CDS Intros Slimline Android-Based Digital SignsIntegrated with an Android-based media player, the new Slimline Series of displays from Crystal Display Systems (CDS) ranges from 19” to 55” and is available in either wall-mount or table-top configurations. Each is at least 450 cd/m2 of brightness and the entire line is native 1920×1080 resolution.
But the big differentiator here is that they are already pre-integrated with everything you need for digital signage — the display includes a built-in router, cloud connection, an Android-based media player and a CMS (content management system) for all the content. The integrated Android media player not only plays content via the built-in CMS but, it also allows you to display a live website (from a live URL feed provided by a third party to any social media profile) in real-time. Connectivity to the internet/cloud is provided via LAN, Wi-Fi or 3G.
Since the LED-backlit displays are exclusively — and purpose-built — for digital signage, they are all button-less, use tempered glass, have rounded corners with edge-to-edge glass and are surrounded by an aluminum frame.
The CMS itself includes integrated display design templates, a scheduled playlist, remote management and control and a media library that’s easy to access.
The entire line is located here. Leave a Comment
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Crestron Is WELL Certified Now Crestron announced today that its commercial lighting now includes circadian lighting solutions. Manipulation of artificial light as the primary circadian stimulus in buildings that meet the WELL Building Standard (WELL) architectural lighting standard.
According to WELL, in office spaces, circadian lighting control can help drive greater concentration, productivity and creativity among workers. In healthcare environments, such as in a patient’s room, it can promote faster healing, which translates into better outcomes, faster patient out-time and cost savings. In classrooms, it can lead to better student behavior and concentration. And in hotels it can help guests acclimate their natural body rhythms to local time and thereby mitigate the effects of jet lag during the day.
In addition to the physical benefits, the new WELL Building Standard provides building owners and managers cost-saving deployment guidelines for building features that impact health and well being, including lighting.
Crestron control systems and graphical user interfaces (e.g., touch screens, desktop or mobile apps) enable users to control the color, intensity, and dosage of light in their space to elicit a particular circadian effect. Features such as graphical color pickers and user selectable time clock events enable people to understand and get the most out of their tuned environment. Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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New Crestron Zūm Is Aimed at App-Based Control Systems Crestron announced today it is now shipping Zūm (pronounced “ZOOM”), an app-based (uses a network bridge, instead of a controller) lighting controller. Crestron says the “building block” devices (wireless dimmers, switches, sensors, etc.) needed for dimming and automation work together wirelessly and you set it up on the keypad, dimmer, or mobile app itself. Scaling from standalone systems to centralized building-wide control and network management is capable using traditional control systems. The Zūm Network Bridge simply snaps onto the Zūm Load Controller to add remote setup, daylighting, time clock scheduling, temporary overrides and other capabilities.
A single Zūm load controller can support up to 32 devices. Each device has a wireless communication range of 150 feet in every direction. Communication hops from one device to the other to create a mesh network of up to 2.25 million square feet. There’s no need for interface boxes or exposed antenna hanging from the ceiling. Centralized building-wide lighting control can be deployed using the same devices as standalone systems.
All Zūm devices offer standard mounting and consist of:
- a choice of four Load Controllers (0-10v, relay, plug load and universal phase), which enable all system devices to communicate with each other
- wireless wall box dimmer and keypads
- battery-powered keypads, which allows placement anywhere – even on glass or brick
- occupancy sensors for automation and data collection
- a daylight sensor
The Network Bridge simply snaps onto the Load Controller already installed in spaces throughout the building to enable remote Bluetooth setup from the iPhone app. The Network Bridge pairs with the Zūm Hub to communicate wirelessly with traditional Crestron centralized lighting control systems, AV, shades and HVAC for a complete enterprise solution.
The Zūm Network Bridge enables remote management, including time clock scheduling, executing temporary overrides, daylighting and building-wide on/off. Direct communication with Zūm Cloud services centralized network management. For example, it can easily identify all vacant rooms with the lights turned on and then those lights can all be turned off remotely. Zūm Cloud also provides instant alert notifications for remote support and room usage data collection and reporting.
Crestron seems to be aiming the Zūm system to both home and small businesses. Here are the detailed specs. Leave a Comment
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