Volume 3, Issue 5 — May 26, 2017
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Editorials Editorials Editorials
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Make an Affordable Interactive Videomapped Installation
By Meghan Athavale CEO, Lumo Interactive
Have you seen walls and floors that look like they’re coming to life, pulsating and casting shadows in ways that seem to defy the laws of physics? You’re probably seeing video mapping (AKA projection mapping) in action — a technique that uses carefully aimed light to make illusions. While they first began as high-end light shows for DJs and performers, they’re starting to show up all over the place.
In this post, I’m going to explain what they are, how they work and how you can make your own (and make it interactive).
HOW CUSTOM-SHAPED INTERACTIVE PROJECTIONS ARE MADE
Interactive floors and walls are becoming a more common lighting feature of architectural installations. Digital displays make great design elements: They bring architecture to life, can be easily updated seasonal and event-based themes and can be used for dramatic, high-contrast lighting in otherwise poorly lit or bland areas.
But what you may not know is that digital displays can also be created to suit a wide variety of shapes and designs.
You can use a projector or custom LED panel to light 3D elements, irregularly shaped surfaces, and architectural features like sculptures and brickwork really creatively. Later in this post, I’ll explain how to use a simple design tool like Photoshop to create a custom interactive projection (a pond) within a 3D architectural feature.
VIDEO MAPPING AND PROJECTION MAPPING
Lighting a 3D object or an irregular shape with a digital display is called video mapping or projection mapping. There are a large number of solutions on the market designed to make the process of video mapping easier. These include VJ software like Resolume or Modul8, advanced media server software/hardware combinations like Christie’s Pandora’s Box or Green Hippo, and even consumer-level hardware solutions like Lightform. (Here’s a video that demonstrates Lightform’s simple sensor allows you to video map 3D objects easily using a number of pre-built effects.)
HOW DOES VIDEO MAPPING WORK?
There are many different ways to wrap a display around a 3D object, but the basic principle is the same: You have to change the image you’re projecting so it fits the 3D world on which you’re projecting it.
In traditional projections, the image coming from your computer is designed for a flat surface. For example, if you’ve lined up your projector with a wall, what you’ll see on your computer’s screen will be what you see on the wall, as long as that wall is relatively flat, and the output image is the same aspect ratio as the target display.
But what if that wall isn’t flat? That’s where projection mapping comes in. When you video map or projection map an irregular shape or a 3D object, your computer modifies the video or image so that when it’s projected, it looks normal. This means that what you see on your computer screen is a distorted version of what you’re projecting.
Without this distortion, you won’t get the kind of illusion you’re after. Below, you can see what a straight, flat, unmapped image looks like when projected on 3D boxes (as opposed to a properly mapped, distorted image). It’s basically just a flat image, and the boxes distort it.
Credit: VJFit. See his full tutorial here.
To make the image on your screen “fit” the object you’re projecting on, you need to distort it and crop it so that the finished projection will wrap properly around the edges and won’t project outside the borders of the object. And that takes work.
The web is full of tutorials that show you how to create 3D video-mapped display graphics using all kinds of software solutions (or combination of solutions). Usually these techniques combine a media player (to play the video) and a 3D design tool (to figure out how to bend and crop the video so it lines up properly with the thing on which you’re projecting.) Unfortunately, the learning curve for these applications can be super high.
VIDEO MAPPING IS HARD WORK—USUALLY
If you have the time to learn 3D modelling, and money for a media player, the creation of a complex 3D mapped experience can be super rewarding. One of the coolest things about this skill set is how well it scales. From small boxes in your living room to entire buildings and stages, the techniques and creative process are pretty much the same.
Once you’ve learned to map small boxes, bigger boxes are a piece of cake. Watch this example from Fabrik Madrid.
But what if you don’t have the time to learn a bunch of sophisticated software applications? This is often the case with members of our Lumo Play community, many of whom are agencies and audio-visual professionals tasked with creating an interactive floor or wall that will fit inside an irregular space, or wrap on top of a 3D surface. Lumo Play can do the hard work for you, so you can focus on the design.
Here are some instructions to help Lumo Play users create amazing, 3D-mapped interactive displays without having to go back to school to learn 3D modelling and invest in expensive media server solutions.
Lumo Play interactive display software used on a projection mapped car.
(An added bonus is that what you make will be interactive, reacting to the movements of other people. While most projection mapping is controlled by a computer, or an artist, Lumo Play-based 3D video-mapping can respond to the audience!)
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE AN INTERACTIVE 3D VIDEO-MAPPED DISPLAY
In order to design an interactive video-mapped effect, you will need:
- A projector
- A computer
- A web camera or Kinect for Xbox One sensor
- Lumo Play software
- Adobe Photoshop or a similar graphic design software
STEP ONE: INSTALL YOUR PROJECTOR AND NEVER MOVE IT AGAIN
Because you will be designing your distorted graphic effect using regular old graphic design software (instead of an expensive live mapping media server that can adjust when the physical world moves), it’s important that you start by installing all the things exactly where you want them. The image you create will fit exactly on the installation once it’s created, but it won’t work if anything gets moved.
If you’re creating a temporary display, this can be a problem for complex 3D sculptures or objects like cars. But it’s not as critical for mostly flat displays like ponds, where all you’re customizing is the shape and size of the display.
For more complex shapes, you definitely want to have your display, and the object you’re projecting on, firmly in place before you begin. Even small movements will throw your image out of whack. Source
The basic requirements for an interactive projection display system. Make sure all these things are installed in their final location before you begin.
STEP TWO: MAKE YOUR DISTORTED DESIGN
This step actually has a few sub-steps. Here they are:
- Make sure you know exactly what the final resolution of your projector is. In pixels.
- Connect your computer to the projector you’re using.
- Go to your computer display settings and make sure your displays are mirrored (the projector and the computer are showing the same thing) and that they are the resolution of the projector. If you aren’t sure how to do this, google ‘change display settings for [insert your computer’s operating system here]’.
- Open Photoshop (or whatever design software you want to use. You don’t need anything fancy. This guy uses MS paint.)
- Create a new image that is the exact resolution of your projector. Make the background white.
- Choose the painting tool of your choice, and make the ink color black so it’s easy to see.
- Fullscreen your image so that it takes up the whole screen.
- Draw on the object you plan to project on.
STEP THREE: SEND YOUR CUSTOM SHAPE DESIGN TO LUMO PLAY
Save your custom shape. If you’ve created a complex shape (of a 3D sculpture, for example) you should also take and send a photograph of the sculpture from the viewpoint of the projector (as closely as possible). For mostly flat surfaces, the outline file is sufficient.
We’re working on adding custom masking layers to our patented online Motion Maker template tools so our community members can create the final designs themselves, but right now we still create these irregular shapes as custom orders. That means that, at this point, your work is done! Send us the image and, if you have one, the photo.
We’ll use your custom projection mapping design file to create an interactive display that will exactly fit the dimensions of your irregular display area. This file will be added to your Lumo Play account when it’s finished, and you will be able to load it in your Lumo Play software.
Here’s a custom shaped videomapped pond created using Lumo Play software.
DO YOU HAVE A CUSTOM VIDEO MAPPING PROJECT?
We’d love to help! You can send you project details here and we’ll let you know how much it will cost to create something magical.
Let us know if you have questions. We’re happy to help!
This column was reprinted with permission from Lumo Interactive and originally appeared here. Leave a Comment
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Interactive Floor Systems for Tradeshows and Events
By Meghan Athavale CEO, Lumo Interactive
We’re contacted by a lot of agencies and businesses that want to set up an interactive floor at a tradeshow or event, but don’t quite understand how it all works, or what kind of equipment they’ll need. To help you decide if an interactive floor makes sense for your project, here are some basic ground rules about equipment, setup options, and content.
Usually, an interactive floor involves a display of some sort, a sensor (which may or may not be built into the display), and a computer. Here, in order of highest to lowest cost, are the three main types of interactive floors available, with pros and cons.
Rear Projection or High Definition LED LED Panels
- Rental cost: $$$
- Ease of installation: very difficult and time consuming
- Pros: No shadows, most realistic display, works great in well lit environments, highly customizable, often includes remote content creation/management so updating content is relatively easy
- Cons: much longer setup time, expensive, most likely to break if incorrectly installed, shortage of installation experts means labour costs are high
Description of technology
In this type of setup, a display is installed directly on the floor, either by rear projecting on a raised surface of rear-projection acrylic, or by using monitors or LED panels, usually with a surface of impact resistant plastic or glass above them (since you obviously can’t walk directly on a flat screen TV or an LED panel).
These displays either use sensors mounted above the floor area (as is the case in the above picture) or they use an IR array at floor level to track the motion and interaction of people. In some cases, capacitive film can be used, which essentially creates a giant touchscreen on the floor, but this is not recommended unless you have a significant budget for maintenance and repairs, as capacitive film is easily damaged by day-to-day use, and is typically designed for touchscreens on walls, not as something people walk on.
Where to get this
These types of installations are highly customized, and are normally provided by experienced, specialized AV teams. Here are a few companies you can reach out to if you want to look into an installation like this (they’re also worth checking out for other cool ideas):
Simple LED Panel Floors
- Rental cost: $$
- Ease of installation: Fairly easy. Pre-made panels can usually be assembled within 24 hours
- Pros: No shadows, can work in well lit environments if LED panels are bright enough, super fun and easy for the audience to use
- Cons: setup time is still fairly long, limited number of rentals available, can break if incorrectly installed, difficult to repair broken tiles during a show, low resolution limits what kind of graphics you can use
This video by AvWuff is one of the best breakdowns ever made of what’s involved in making an interactive LED panel floor from scratch, and also does a great job of illustrating why these systems are still few on the ground and expensive to rent.
Description of technology
Unlike most interactive floor systems, each panel reacts to pressure. The software included with these installations is typically custom designed for the specific floor, and can be limited in what it can do content-wise. There will usually be significant software development costs for customization.
Where to get this
There is a growing number of rental agencies that carry solutions specifically for tradeshows and events. While the cost is significantly more than a projection based system, this solution is a really good choice for venues that need something super durable, like parties or promotional events.
Projection Interactive Floor Systems
- Rental cost: $ – $$
- Ease of installation: Easy; most audio-visual installers can install a system within 2-4 hours
- Pros: Can work in well lit environments if projectors are bright enough, highly customizable, easy to find DIY or turnkey options in any country, most flexible option in terms of budget, can be scaled to almost any size using multiple projectors/sensors, flexible equipment mounting options
- Cons: works best in moderately lit environments – the cost of the installation is largely based on the brightness of the projector, shadows can be a problem if the content is not well designed
Interactive projection floors are among the most common and easiest to implement solutions on the market. This is because the interactivity is usually based on motion capture using a camera or IR sensor, which means the display itself can be made using any kind of projector, and can be set up in a much wider variety of ways than the other options, where display hardware must be installed on the floor and must be durable enough to withstand people walking all over it. Walking on a projection is, by comparison, a lot less worrisome.
The way these systems work is pretty much the same, no matter which solution you choose. All systems involve a computer running software that takes information from a sensor and outputs an interactive video display.
Because this is a relatively simple solution compared to the first two options, there are a lot more choices on the market, each with different advantages and disadvantages. For this reason, it’s a good idea to shop around before making a decision.
Where to get this
Here are some of the big players in the interactive floor display industry. Unlike the previous two options, where the solutions are pretty much always offered and delivered in the same way, these solutions can differ quite a lot in terms of price and flexibility, so a description of what differentiates them has been provided.
GestureTek — The grandfathers of this technology, GestureTek has been offering interactive floor and wall solutions for over 25 years and has patented hardware solutions that are licensed to companies like Sony.
Unfortunately, their website can be difficult to navigate. They focus primarily on turnkey solutions, which include hardware and software and are designed to be plug and play. To rent a GestureTek solution for an event or show, you may need to connect with an AV company that has one.
Customization of the games and effects is achieved through an SDK, which means you’ll still need to hire a developer to do anything more complex than adding a logo to your effect or game.
GestureTek offers a solution called The Cube, which is probably the best turnkey system available for portable installation, since it sits on the floor and uses an ultra-short-throw projector. This means it can easily be packed and unpacked, and nothing needs to be suspended from above.
EyeClick — Based out of Israel, EyeClick has offices across North America and the rest of the world. You’ll find their interactive floors in retail locations like McDonalds, in airports and museums, and increasingly, in schools. While they offer many options, their main focus is a turnkey device called Beam. They typically sell their solution on a subscription basis, making it difficult to rent for a limited engagement unless you can find someone who already has a system.
A huge advantage to the Beam system is that it can work really well on tables as well as floors, and it comes with a pile of high quality 3D games. Customization is possible, if not intuitive. Most of the content is developed with kids and families in mind, and EyeClick arguably offers the largest number of high quality educational games of all the companies in this arena.
Lumo Play — A software-only solution, Lumo Play is a good choice if you have a dedicated AV rental and installation team for your event. Because it works on any computer, with any projector or digital display, and supports a wide variety of sensors, Lumo Play’s software can be used to create and control interactive floors, walls and touchscreens. It can also be used in installation designs from overhead truss to small, portable ultra-short throw setups, and even pico projector installations.
The software is free to try, and includes patented tools to make and customize twelve types of games and effects on the website or through a downloadable app. Mostly this involves uploading your own images and tweaking some sliders to adjust how the effect behaves, but the live preview feature makes it a lot easier to see what you’re making in real time.
A distinct disadvantage to Lumo Play is that it’s definitely not turnkey, and it may offer too many options. Unless you’re familiar with all the projectors, flatscreens and sensors the world has to offer, designing your hardware solution can be a bit of a challenge. On the bright side, the trial is free, and the software itself is a one-time purchase (unlike the subscription models offered by most of the competitors), so the actual cost of the software is relatively low, and you have more choice regarding what you want to spend on the hardware and how you can set it up.
This column was reposted with permission from Lumo Interactive and originally appeared here. Leave a Comment
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The Skinny on Stretch Displays
By Mark Coxon rAVe Blogger
It is InfoComm season and the new products and their associated press releases are flooding the AV airwaves. With the plethora of information circulating, it is hard just to keep track of what’s new, let alone wrap your head around what it may take to actually integrate it into your next project.
One category of products that seems to be opening up right now are “stretch” UHD displays. I have seen quite a few press releases for these already this year starting around DSE, including new products for mounting them as well.
I have somewhat of a reservation about calling these displays “stretched” as to me, stretching something would maintain your vertical resolution and add pixels in the horizontal orientation. These panels actually maintain the horizontal resolution and then decrease the vertical resolution to create a new aspect ratio screens.
Many manufacturers are really just cutting a standard 16:9 panel in half to create a 32:9 aspect ratio screen. These are really more like “half panels” than “stretch displays.” The dead giveaway here are the resolution specs: 3840×1076 (it’s like a 1080p double-wide). The vertical resolution is actually slightly less than half of 2160p, as these manufacturers are cutting existing standard UHD panels in half, which means they lose a few pixels at the cut, hence the 1076 vertical resolution.
These panels are also typically using off the shelf UHD controllers as well, meaning that you feed them content from a 3840×2160 source and create content that leaves the bottom half black. The controller however has no idea it’s panel doesn’t have those extra pixels.
Half panel stretch displays are nice replacements for applications where you would normally be building a 2×1 with small displays and creating customized content or side by side 1080p content. They are also great for portrait style installations as the narrower shape and tall appearance can be more eye-catching than the traditional horizontal layout.
Some other manufacturers are taking stretch displays up another notch. Take LG for instance with it’s 86″ UltraStretch display. The horizontal resolution is still 3840, but the vertical resolution is 600. This is essentially equivalent to four small 960×600 displays in 16:10 aspect ratios. These screens actually have custom controllers and content creation software that allow for four images to be displayed side by side by side by side, something LG calls Picture by Picture (PBP). The content creation software allows one of those four PBP images to be video with three others being still images.
Now add in the ability to daisy-chain multiple units together, light sensors for auto adjusting brightness and internal memory, and you can quickly see the value of these types of displays start to multiply over their half panel counterparts
These 85″x13″ displays are perfect for creating content in a continuous stripe around a venue or stacking to create content towers on interior columns. Of course the traditional menu board market is a home run for these as well.
So the skinny on stretch displays?
They all help break through the monotony of the traditional 16:9 format and eliminate bezel interruptions that would be prevalent in smaller monitor “arrays.” They are not all created equal however. Some are stock 16:9 panels cut in half, while others offer even more unique aspect ratios and content creation suites. At the end of the day, they all have a place in our digital world. As one of my project managers always used to say, “Horses for courses.” Leave a Comment
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Gefen Ships 4K AV-Over-IP Solution Gefen from Core Brands today announced that it is now shipping its two new 4K Ultra HD Video Over IP products. The sender and receiver KVM units (the EXT-UHDV-KA-LANS-TX and EXT-UHDV-KA-LANS-RX) that are designed to send 4K video (and audio) content up to 3840×2160 at 60 Hz and 4:2:0 Chroma subsampling. This new pair utilizes a compression codec and support HDMI input resolutions up to 4K 60Hz 4:2:0 and output resolutions up to 4K 30Hz 4:4:4, HDCP 2.2 and 1.4, and 7.1 channels of HBR (High Bit Rate) “lossless” (this is the term Gefen uses) and LPCM digital audio up to 330 feet. These products are basically converting 4K video (at 9 Gbps based on their compatibility) to a 1 Gig Local Area Network distribution system — so, obviously, there is compression — in the range of 9:1.
One of the unique features of these new AV-over-IP products is that they include videowall control functionality in that they can create customized videowalls in any combination up to a 16×16 display array.
Additionally, both the sender and receiver units support the concurrent connection of a VGA and HDMI device. The sender acts as a switcher, allowing the user to select either the analog VGA input or digital HDMI input as a source for the video over IP network. A local VGA output is also available to monitor either selected signal. On the receiver, the VGA and HDMI outputs are both active and function as a video splitter, providing analog and digital outputs for nearly any display present. The VGA input and output support VESA resolutions up to 1920×1200 at 60Hz (WUXGA). This product also provides RS232 and two-way IR routing between the Sender and the Receiver units, allowing the transfer of IR commands and RS232 communications among all sources and the displays.
Both products can also take advantage of Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) so both the Sender and Receiver units can be powered through a standard PoE-enabled IP network switch, without the need for external power supplies.
In addition to the current generation’s analog audio output capabilities, the new products feature an optical digital output that supplies audio. The new digital and analog audio break-out feature allows the audio from the HDMI output to be sent to a separate audio system. The receiver’s four USB outputs accommodate touch panels, keyboards and mice and a variety of other supported devices.
The cable run from a sender to a receiver can be up to 330 feet (100 meters). The receiver features a built-in 1-Gigabit switch, allowing the connection of additional receivers to provide daisy-chaining functionality. In applications such as digital signage, where there may be a need to replicate content on multiple displays throughout an installation, the ability to cascade receivers removes the requirement for additional cables to be connected directly to the main network switch, thereby optimizing cable runs and extending the range of these units far beyond the limits of a point-to-point video distribution system.
The sender and receiver can be used as KVM extenders in a one-to-one system, or as nodes in a virtual matrix environment where any source can be routed to any or all displays. The sender is in a 1U tall and half-rack-width enclosure. It can also be surface mounted or be placed on a shelf. The receiver can be surface-mounted or placed on a shelf. It is also rack-mountable using the rack tray, but features a low-profile enclosure that can fit in tight places when hiding the receiver is not an option. When using a Gefen IR Extender module, this receiver can be hidden away behind a display or in the equipment closet while still retaining IR access.
The EXT-UHDV-KA-LANS-TX and EXT-UHDV-KA-LANS-RX specs are here. Leave a Comment
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Nomadix Media Launches New iWalker Digital Signage PlatformThe iWalker from Nomadix is what the company is calling an experiential digital signage platform. Basically, what it is is a digital signage display mounted over a person’s head (while the person walks around. I can’t think of a better way to describe it — just look at the photo I have included with this.
And, no, this isn’t an April Fools Joke.
Mark Evans, the CEO and founder of Nomadix Media told me that their plan is to establish a global networks of iWalkers within high traffic retail destinations like shopping malls and reply them to walk around with digital ads. They are positioning themselves to be the first ‘pay per eye’ automated Digital out of Home network in the world where customers only pay for who views the content.
The new iWalker also offers interactive ‘bridging capability’ to allow instant connectivity with iWalker screen content via mobile phones to drive instant rewards and promotions, redeemable both online or in-store.
Nomadix has already established international partners in Columbia, South Africa, Brazil and France which are upgrading their existing systems to the new 2017 iWalker technology.
With recently granted full US and European Patents, Nomadix Media is seeking investment over the next few months to accelerate its international growth plans.
If you’re interested in learning more, go here: http://bit.ly/2pisieb Leave a Comment
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Epiphan Video Adds Workplace by Facebook IntegrationToday at the annual F8 developer conference, Facebook announced new partnerships and integrations for Workplace, its collaboration platform, to help organizations simplify day-to-day workflows and enable richer collaboration with live video. Epiphan Video also announced integration of their video capture and streaming products with Workplace.
Using either Windows or Mac OS, desktop users can use Epiphan’s AV.io family of portable capture cards to share any camera or device to their Workplace Timeline, Groups, or Work Chat.
Also, dedicated encoders like Epiphan’s Pearl-2, Webcaster X1 for Facebook Live, and new Webcaster X2 are also now capable of live streaming to Facebook Workplace.
Here are more details on their integration of Epiphan’s products with Workplace by Facebook. Leave a Comment
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Canadian Volkswagen Dealership Goes Digital With Advanced’s HelpIn the constantly-evolving world of consumer tastes and purchasing trends, static signage and advertisements often leave retailers behind the competitive curve — particularly when it comes to selling automobiles, where full motion video is becoming a requirement to present and market the latest new car models to a style craving audience of buyers.
At the Humberview Volkswagen dealership in Toronto, Ontario, recent renovations provided the perfect opportunity to amaze customers with a massive new videowall and nine individual digital displays. According to the installation experts at Advanced, one of North America’s leading audiovisual and collaborative communications companies, this state-of-the art digital installation is a game changer for the dealership.
“When conducting renovations, retailers often look for the best way to improve on-site advertising and informational displays,” said David Weatherhead, president and CEO of Advanced. “Humberview Volkswagen recognized that the static, printed advertisements of the past simply cannot compete with a digital display’s ability to be updated at a moment’s notice, for negligible cost. We built a massive videowall that is guaranteed to capture the attention of every customer who walks into their showroom, and outfitted the entire dealership with digital displays that provide unlimited messaging possibilities.”
The main attraction of the dealership’s technology upgrade is the nearly 27-foot by four-foot videowall mounted above the customer welcoming area designed to stop customers in their tracks. Comprised of 16 ultra-thin-bezel 46” HD monitors in a 2×8 configuration, the display can present a single large image or up to four advertisements side-by-side.
Advanced designed the videowall to have seams of just 5.5 millimeters and offer a maximum resolution of 7680×1080 for a single image. To maximize the videowall’s utility, the team installed a digital video matrix that includes five distinct video sources and allows the dealership to split the display into four 2×2 sections, each with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and maximum resolution of 1920×1080, or two 4×2 sections with 32:9 aspect ratios and maximum resolutions of 3840×1080. With all these different display possibilities, it was paramount that the system be easy to access and adjust quickly to respond to changing customer attitudes and desires.
“What’s truly amazing about this A/V installation is that it’s so simple to use,” Weatherhead continued. “With a modest addition to the system, we were able to organize control of all 13 separate displays that is easy enough for anyone to operate and adjust. That includes the audio played through the two speakers on either side of the videowall, the feeds for all four 2×2 sections of the videowall, and the feeds for the other HD displays located throughout the dealership.”
In addition to the videowall, the installation includes nine individual HD displays throughout the building that each have a dedicated video feed delivered through the matrix switcher. This affords even greater flexibility so the managers can decide what images or video they want on each screen throughout the day. The digital video matrix, audio amplifier and all the source input devices are conveniently located in a single equipment rack, completely hidden from view in the building’s telecom room. The signal for the two audio speakers adjacent to the videowall originates from the matrix switcher, so they can play audio from any one of the six input sources.
“The retail environment is constantly changing, as are consumer attitudes,” Weatherhead concluded. “With on-demand advertising made possible by captivating digital displays, retailers can quickly react and capitalize on trends to increase sales. To put it simply, paper is out, and digital is in.” Advanced is here. Leave a Comment
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Yamaha Intros CS-700 Video Conferencing SystemThe Yamaha CS-700 video sound collaboration system is specifically designed as an all-in-one unit to equip huddle rooms with audio, video and screen sharing capability. The Yamaha CS-700 combines ultra-wideband audio with video to fulfill video, audio, and collaboration requirements in one, wall-mounted system addressing all communication and collaboration requirements of the huddle room. Audio, video and screen sharing is accomplished through one USB cable. The integrated remote management capability enables IT departments across the world to remotely monitor and manage their huddle room installations.
The Yamaha CS-700 enables remote monitoring and management of the units as well as configuring units in bulk, and upgrading them remotely and automatically through the IP interface.
In most huddle rooms, participants sit close to displays and cameras in these rooms, in the past requiring panning of video cameras to see the whole room. The Yamaha CS-700 as a 120 degree wide angle camera to capture all meeting participants in one field of view. The CS-700 camera covers 80 percent more area in the whole room, removing the hassle of panning and zooming cameras to see everybody in the room. The high pixel count of the CS-700 ensures that every expression is captured clearly for people up to 10ft/3m from the camera.
The CS-700 features a beamforming microphone array and supports UC applications such as Microsoft Skype for Business, Google Chromebox for Meetings, BlueJeans, Zoom, GoToConference, Vidyo and others. In addition, the CS-700 provides a SIP interface to the corporate call manager, replacing the need for a separate conference phone in the huddle room. USB and SIP communications can be easily bridged in the CS-700, expanding the communication opportunities even further. And Bluetooth allows for fast and easy audio connections, instantly turning a mobile or computer call into a conference call.
The Yamaha CS-700 is a wall mount system, eliminating any need for table-top equipment in the huddle room. Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Have You Joined the AV Industry Professionals (AVIP) LinkedIn Group?The industry’s only dedicated-AV LinkedIn Group needs you to join. It’s called the AV Industry Professionals and it’s free (to AV professionals and users) AND it’s ALL ABOUT AV services.
And, the best part about it is that it’s a moderated discussion/posting group (that also includes a JOBS listing service) — that means it’s not filled with ads and that they posts are organically from AV’ers. People asking for advice on products, details on new technologies and anything AV, digital signage or AV/IT related. No ads!
So, head over to the group and join today! Leave a Comment
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Display Summit 2017: Expanded Focus and New Date – rAVe to SponsorInsight Media, the organizers of the annual Display Summit conference, announced today that the event will now expand its focus and move the date one week further out to October 4-5, 2017. The location remains the same; the Rockwell Collins facility in Sterling, Va.
“The expanded focus is best described as Immersive Displays,” noted Chris Chinnock, founder of Insight Media. “That means projection-based solutions for simulation, training, visualization and entertainment on flat, curved and domed screens as well as body-worn immersive systems such as augmented, virtual and mixed reality systems. This includes commercial, military and professional applications.”
Many of the projection-based solutions are multi-projector so the event will profile advancements in resolution, blending and warping, solid state light sources and more. But the event will also look at competitive solutions that are beginning to emerge for these markets including LCD and LED video wall technology. And just as importantly, related technologies and products from other application areas in ProAV and cinema are important to include in the program.
For body-worn immersive solutions, the focus will be on the hardware solutions along with emerging professional and commercial applications for augmented, virtual and mixed reality applications. But here again, the event will draw upon the full range of applications so attendees can get a broader understanding of the status and future of these technologies.
The event is also likely to feature a session on light field display and capture and its emerging use in a number of applications. In addition, CPU, GPU and other hardware solutions for generating the large images for these immersive solutions will be explored along with the future of physical connections between sources and displays.
“I have been consistently told by previous attendees at Display Summit events that the value is the exposure to a broad range of relevant, but lateral technologies and solutions to the person’s primary area of focus,” continued Chinnock. “That, along with the networking and business development opportunities are why we are now in our 16th year of this event.”
rAVe is the media sponsor of the Display Summit. rAVe Founder Gary Kayye says, “Chris is a display genius — no one is more knowledgable than him and this is a must-attend if you need to keep up with the future of displays.”
Industry experts are invited to submit an abstract to deliver a PowerPoint presentation at the event. There will also be an exhibit area. For more information, go here. Leave a Comment
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Cisco Has Most of Its Collaboration Videoconferencing Products in Revit Now Cisco has posted its videoconferencing collaboration products for use in all Revit programs created by Autodesk. These CAD program tools are used by architects, integrators and design consultants in building design and are required in the Smart Building Technologies (SBT) market. Now Cisco video solutions can “drag and drop” in those designs. The modules are found in the Bimobject.com online database. Products that have Revit modules developed include the Spark Board, Spark Room Kit & Room Kit Plus, MX, SX and DX Video products.
The modules are found in the Bimobject online database here. Cisco products that have Revit modules for BIM already developed include:
Collaboration Room Systems:
- Spark Room Kit
- Spark Room Kit Plus
- Spark Board 55
- Spark Board 70
- The MX200 G2 (4 mount options)
- MX300 G2 (3 mount options)
- MX700 (Dual camera option only, 3 mount options)
- MX800 (Dual camera option only, 3 mount options)
- MX800 Dual (3 mount options)
- SX10 Quick Set
- SX20 Quick Set
- SX80
Desk Systems:
Peripherals:
- SpeakerTrack60
- Precision 60 Camera
- PrecisionHD Camera – 12x
- Touch 10
Cisco tells rAVe that the following products will be added this summer:
- Spark Room Kit
- Spark Room Kit Plus
- Spark Board 55
- Spark Board 70
All of the Cisco collaboration product line can be found here. Leave a Comment
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Metra Home Theater Group’s Hybrid Security Surveillance DVRs ShipMetra Home Theater Group is now shipping their new line of hybrid surveillance DVRs. This new product line includes options for four-, eight- and 16-channel DVRs, each available with or without hard drives.
The 16-channel hybrid DVR (SPY-DVR16HYB2) provides dealers with more flexibility due to its compatibility with four types of video technology, including AHD, TVI, analog and IP. Dealers can utilize any combination of the video technology across all 16 channels, combining four components into one, versatile system. In addition, the 16-channel DVR is available in two options: with or without a hard drive (SPY-DVR16HYB2ND), allowing dealers to offer a customized storage solution and create a larger profit margin for their services. The 16-channel DVR features a robust 1080p resolution for recording and playback quality, with up to 15 frames per second for TVI, AHD and analog and up to 25 frames per second for IP.
Spyclops Surveillance Systems also offers 4 and 8 channel options, with and without hard drives:
- SPY-DVR4HYB2 – Four-Channel Hybrid DVR With Hard Drive
- SPY-DVR4HYB2ND – Four-Channel Hybrid DVR Without Hard Drive
- SPY-DVR8HYB2 – Eight-Channel Hybrid DVR With Hard Drive
- SPY-DVR8HYB2ND – Eight-Channel Hybrid DVR Without Hard Drive
The security DVRs can be utilized with the free Spyclops Surveillance Systems app, allowing remote viewing and monitoring of functional cameras from desktop, tablet or smartphone devices. The Spyclops mobile app is available for both Android and iOS devices in Google Play and Apple stores.
All the details are here. Leave a Comment
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Premier Mounts Debuts Line of Earthquake-Safe Mounts
Ten of Premier Mounts’ products have been added to the list of products meeting the rigorous standards for pre-approved seismic certification by OSHPD, California’s Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development.
Included in the newly OSHPD Certified products are the LMV and LMVS Video Wall Mounts. LMV and LMVS are engineered to simplify the video wall installation process and to expedite maintenance by providing instant and immediate access to any display in the matrix.
This qualification gives architects, consultants, engineers, and owners confidence at the very start of the design process that their project will comply with critical, OSHPD seismic requirements for California hospitals and California Building Code (CBC) projects in the U.S.
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New Prysm Go Is Designed to Turn All Meeting Rooms Into a Collaboration Room Prysm today announced Prysm Go, a new product that turns any meeting room into a collaboration room. For meeting rooms that are already enabled with video conferencing codecs such as those from Cisco, Polycom and Logitech, Prysm Go enables meeting participants to accept or reject incoming calls, control meeting room volume, share content with other participants, and dial another video codec-enabled room. This means advanced video collaboration rooms can share content while eliminating the need for separate remotes and complicated, one-off dial-pads.
Other Prysm Go features include:
- Digital whiteboard: Write down ideas, draw diagrams and share whiteboard content via email quickly
- Wired and wireless screen sharing: Multiple participants can share their laptops or mobile-device screens via HDMI, Apple AirPlay or Google Cast.
- Integration with video conferencing and unified communications tools: For meeting rooms that are already enabled with video conferencing codecs such as those from Cisco, Polycom and Logitech, or for users of users of Skype for Business, beginning in early Q3 2017, Prysm Go is expected to enable meeting participants to accept or reject incoming calls, control meeting room volume, share content with other participants, and dial another video codec-enabled room, all from the Prysm display.
- Video integration: Connect live video, audio or data feeds for always-available access to key people and information.
With Prysm Go, no sign-in is required, including access to the digital sketchboard, sharing devices – both wired and wireless, and integrating HDMI outputs. In addition, Prysm Go integrates with Skype for Business and video conferencing platforms, allowing users to join scheduled meetings with an invitation from the host.
Prysm Go is available in two versions. For use with existing displays and hardware, the first version includes the Prysm X30 appliance and a free trial of Prysm Application Suite license, allowing companies to use their existing displays and third-party meeting set-ups whether they are interactive or keyboard- and mouse-driven displays. The second version is for those in need of a display and offers an 85” display Collaboration Board system with the Prysm X30, 85” 4K LCD display and a free trial of the Prysm Application Suite license.
Built on a hardware-agnostic platform, Prysm Go allows for instant meeting start capabilities while also offering an upgradable path to the full Prysm digital workplace platform without additional infrastructure requirements. Companies now have the flexibility to grow with the complete Prysm solution at a user-personalized scale, which supports individual participant content repositories and project persistence. Once the solution is deployed, enterprises can purchase individual licenses with no extra hardware or added implementation required.
Here are all the details. Leave a Comment
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Barco Ships New ClickShare CSE-800Launched at this year’s Integrated Systems Europe in Amsterdam, the new Barco CSE-800 is now shipping. Designed for large meeting rooms seating 15 people and up, the CSE-800 is, like eat current generation of ClickShare products, a wireless BYOD system but it is different in that it has dual 4K DCI outputs (4096×2160).
The CSE-200 won our ‘Best of ISE award’ in the category ‘Best New Wireless System Product’ here by rAVe.
The CSE-800 allows up to eight users’ screens to be shown on two 4K displays simultaneously (while up to 64 can be connected). And, this version of the ClickShare is the first to offer speaker/instructor moderation, whiteboarding and annotation. The outputs to the displays are both HDMI and the frame-rate is 30 fps.
The CSE-800 can be connected to and managed via the network using WPA2-PSK in stand alone mode or WPA2-PSK or IEEE 802.1X using the ClickShare Button in network integration mode. And, it’s compatible with IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n and IEEE 802.15.1 networks working on both the 2.4 GHZ and 5 GHz frequency spectrum. Connections are via 2x Ethernet LAN.
The CSE-800 also has two USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports on the back and on the front and audio analog line out and in on mini jack socket (3.5 millimeter), digital S/PDIF connectors.
Here are all the tech specs. Leave a Comment
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Displaylite Unveils Smart Interactive Mirror Displaylite launched a new 32” Smart Interactive Mirror last week. Dubbed the Displaylite Reflect 32, it’s a digital sign mounted behind a real mirror meant for touch-insertion applications in digital signage or retail. Using a 32” 1920×1080 display, 12 point PCAP touch, stereo speakers, a camera and motion detector, it’s all housed in a mount case that can be positioned portrait or landscape.
Smart Mirrors can be used in in-store fitting rooms, enabling the customer for example, to change the lighting in the fitting room, request a different size, browse through other items in the store or interact with a sales assistant through the mirror. Other applications include: retail store, hotels, restrooms and hair and beauty salons.
Here are all the tech specs. Leave a Comment
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BTX and Reach Announce the Release of the Bee3 Recording and Streaming Production Switcher BTX Technologies announced today that Reach is launching the Bee3 all-in-one content recording and streaming live production switcher to complement its line of Bee series AV over IP solutions.
The $3650 Bee3 is an all-in-one, purpose-built appliance for the recording of content that needs to be simultaneously streamed to a CDN service. Content including training, meeting, sporting events or other knowledge transfer material can be uploaded directly to YouTube, Wowza, Anystream or for on-demand viewing as well as streaming directly to Facebook Live.
This compact product has a seven-inch touch screen and comes with 2 HDMI inputs and has a built-in production switch quality transitions including cut, and dissolve.
The Bee3 and entire Reach product line can be seen at InfoComm in Orlando, June 14-16 in the BTX booth #3901 but here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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BrightSign and Felbro Partner for Turn-Key QSR Self-Order Kiosk BrightSign today announced that it has teamed up with Felbro Displays to develop a new self-serve ordering kiosk aimed at the QSR market. The kiosk itself measures 18 inches wide, 40 inches high and just 4 inches deep. Felbro Displays designed the kiosk with a variety of installation options for restaurants to consider. The unit can be freestanding, attached to a wall, pole-mounted, integrated with countertops and offers various ADA options.
Specific components include:
- 27-inch ELO PCAP touch screen
- BrightSign XT1143 digital signage media player
- Verifone UX-series transaction-processing software
- Star Micronics SK1-32 POS receipt printer
BrightSign says that, once installed, the kiosk is easy to maintain and can be completely customized. In addition to customizing the shape, color and installation method when initially installed, graphic overlays can be added and taken off to support marketing messages and other promotional campaigns. Additionally, the kiosk’s chassis has the ability to add side-mounted modules, including table buzzers, card readers and brochure displays. Long-term maintenance is hassle-free, with minimal internal parts and easy access to replace or upgrade individual components.
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Acoustic Geometry Ships CornerSorber
Acoustic Geometry’s new Acoustic Bass Management (ABM) line, the CornerSorber, is now shipping. This corner-placement bass absorber utilizes a Mass-Loaded Vinyl (MLV) absorption membrane in a cutting-edge design that mitigates low-frequency room modes for accurate sound reproduction in a room.
The CornerSorber is a bass absorber design that allows maximum pressure-zone room-mode reduction due to close-corner placement. The uniquely-shaped bass absorber is beveled on two sides and the top, allowing a pair of CornerSorbers to be set up three inches from, and parallel with, each corner wall, either vertically or horizontally, for the most efficient and effective reduction of low-frequency room-mode pressure waves.
Acoustic Geometry’s ABM system allows for a high level of low-frequency performance when utilizing both CornerSorbers and Curve Diffusors, which also feature accurate, lab-tested low-frequency MLV membrane absorption. The combination has a complementary range of frequencies that produces consistent bass-energy absorption from 45Hz to 200Hz, which corresponds to room-mode dimensions from 5.5 to 25-feet. The CornerSorber’s form factor of 24 by 42-inches, with a 6-inch depth, allows both a small footprint and either vertical or horizontal orientation. With the Curve’s smooth phase-coherent diffusion, the combination of Curves and CornerSorbers will evenly control frequencies below 200Hz, as well as evenly diffuse mid and high frequencies, which is the ideal acoustic treatment solution for nearly any room.
This cost-effective system can be used in many applications, including recording and mastering studios, video production and post houses, audiophile listening rooms, home theaters, live-performance and event venues, concert halls and auditoriums. Acoustic Geometry’s ABM CornerSorber will also complement any room design. Various finishes are available, including black-painted oak (stock), custom stain and paint colors, and several wood veneers (including clear-finish maple, cherry, and walnut).
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Middle Atlantic Upgrades L5 Series Lectern and Streamlines Ordering ProcessMiddle Atlantic Products has added the integrator-focused L5 Series Lectern to its lineup. Users can customize the L5 and streamline the ordering process through the website, addressing any system requirements with the products and accessories available for the series — including new storage, shelving, and cable management options. If a simpler solution is needed, customers can choose from a selection of easy-to-order, pre-configured lecterns that incorporate current design trends.
Within the company’s online design experience, users will be guided through the process step-by-step, selecting from size, styles, finishes, frame top and cutouts, flip-up shelves and other component options to ensure unmatched aesthetics, systems flexibility and reliability. The tool will automatically calculate pricing and generate a new, unique part number for the frame’s wood kit to determine exact costs.
The easy-to-order, pre-configured L5 Series Lectern models are an ideal option for integrators looking for a standard design with no customization. Customers simply choose from limited design options. The pre-configured lectern ships in only two weeks.
Here are all the details.Leave a Comment
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Google and BenQ Ship Jamboard Collaboration BoardThe category of Collaboration Boards really became big earlier this year with the launch of 10+ new brands into the space at ISE in Amsterdam. One of those was Google. The Google Jamboard is a 55″, 4K (3840×2160) digital whiteboard that teams can use to brainstorm, write notes, sketch plans and receive immediate feedback from remote team members via the integrated video conference and collaboration features. Jamboard brings a team together with the same real-time co-authoring that powers Google’s G Suite of apps including Google Search Docs, Sheets and Slides — even add photos stored in Drive.
So, if you are 100 percent tied, as an organization, to G Suite, you will likely love the Jamboard. The Jamboard is available in Cobalt Blue, Carmine Red and Graphite Gray. It’s being exclusively distributed by BenQ. Here are all the details. Leave a Comment
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dnp Launches Projection Furniture Line dnp denmark has once again teamed up with Danish furniture designers clic to create a new line of AV furniture solutions.
The new dnp LaserPanel Business range offers a manually operated drawer, as opposed to the automatically operated Executive projector cabinet. This reduces manufacturing costs and enables a lower price point without sacrificing the stylish Danish design and quality finish.
The dnp LaserPanel Business solution is available in three pre-configured versions: The Basic version combines a 100” LaserPanel display with a projector cabinet. The Classic and Plus versions comes with side cabinets for storage of presentation equipment and meeting accessories. Leave a Comment
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For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe AVBuyers.Club out there, hopefully you enjoyed another opinion-packed issue!
For those of you NEW to rAVe, you just read how we are — we are 100 percent opinionated. We not only report the news and new product stories of the ProAV and HomeAV industries, but we stuff the articles full of our opinions. That may include (but is not limited to) whether or not the product is even worth looking at, challenging the manufacturers on their specifications, calling a marketing-spec bluff and suggesting ways integrators market their products better. But, one thing is for sure, we are NOT a trade publication that gets paid for running editorial or product stories. Traditional trade publications get paid to run product stories — that’s why you see what you see in most of the pubs out there. We are different: we run what we want to run and NO ONE is going to pay us to write or say anything good (or bad).
To send me feedback, don’t reply to this newsletter. Instead, write directly to me at gary@ravepubs.com or for editorial ideas, Editor-in-Chief Sara Abrons at sara@ravepubs.com.
A little about me: I graduated from Journalism School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (where I am adjunct faculty). I’ve been in the AV industry since 1987 where I started with Extron and eventually moved to AMX. So, I guess I am an industry veteran (although I don’t think I am that old). I have been an opinionated columnist for a number of industry publications and in the late 1990s I started the widely read KNews eNewsletter (the first in the AV market) and also created the model for and was co-founder of AV Avenue, which is now known as InfoComm IQ. rAVe [Publications] has been around since 2003, when we launched our original newsletter, rAVe ProAV Edition.
rAVe ProAV Edition is our flagship newsletter with what we believe is a reach of virtually everyone in the ProAV market. rAVe HomeAV Edition, co-published with CEDIA and launched in February 2004, is, by far, the largest ePub in the HomeAV market. We added rAVe Rental [and Staging] in November 2007, rAVe ED [Education] in May 2008 and then rAVe DS [Digital Signage] in January 2009. We added rAVe GHGav [Green, Healthcare & Government AV] in August 2010 and rAVe HOW [House of Worship] in July 2012. rAVe Radio, our podcast network, was launched in 2012. AVBuyers.Club, our first publications targeted at end users, launched in May 2015. You can subscribe to any of those publication or see ALL our archives by going to: https://www.ravepubs.com
To read more about my background, our team and what we do, go to https://www.ravepubs.com. Back to Top |
Copyright 2017 – rAVe [Publications] – All rights reserved – All rights reserved. For reprint policies, contact rAVe [Publications], 210 Old Barn Ln. – Chapel Hill, NC 27517 – (919) 969-7501. Email: Sara@rAVePubs.com
rAVe contains the opinions of the author only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of other persons or companies or its sponsors. |
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