Volume 3, Issue 10 — October 16, 2017
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Editorials Editorials Editorials Editorials
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A Thoughtful Approach to Active Learning
By Scott Tiner rAVe Columnist
Active learning has been on the rise in American college classrooms over the past several years. In general, active learning usually takes place in a classroom that is designed for more group work and discussion and less lecturing from the front of the room. There are dozens of varieties of active learning, and most furniture and AV manufacturers have been trying to get into the growing market.
At Bates College, we have carefully approached active learning. Over the past few years, we have had guest speakers from other colleges who practice active learning, we have had consultants come in a look at space and (most importantly) we have had faculty who have told us what they are looking for in an active classroom. Last winter several of us participated in writing a grant to renovate a classroom and make it an active learning space. Fortunately, we were awarded the grant and over the summer the room was completed.
I will get to the technology in the room in a moment, but first I think it is important to recognize how we approached the design of the room, and how faculty were assigned to teach in it. The room we renovated was a tiered classroom, that sat about 40 students. Due to the size of the room, the fact that it had no external walls and that it was tiered made it rather unpopular with instructors. This was key to choosing a room. We did not want to take a room that people felt was already functioning well and force a re-design. Our second decision was that faculty would not be randomly assigned to the room, but rather, they would have to request it. This would allow us to design a room that was really different and no one would be forced to adapt to it. Rather, faculty would WANT to adapt to it. This is an important key for any integrators or designers who are putting together active classrooms. Make sure you understand how the institution is going to use the room. Make sure you know how the faculty intend on using the room. Design your space from that knowledge, rather than from what you did in the last install, or what may be the most profitable for you.
Our room has a significant amount of technology in it, as many active classrooms do. Our designer (our own Senior AV Analyst Ben Lizzotte) was very careful not to make the room ABOUT technology. The technology is there to enhance what is happening in the room, not to dictate what happens in the room. The room has six televisions to pair up with the six octagonal tables in the room. In our rack are six corresponding Kramer VIA devices. Students are able to connect to the VIA’s with any device they chose and project that content onto any, or all, of the monitors. The classroom lectern houses a Crestron touchpanel that also doubles as the computer monitor. The computer is located in the rack, so that the lectern can maintain its small size. Over the podium is a ceiling mounted document camera. There are two cameras in the room, one for web conferencing and another for classroom capture. Finally, several microphones are in the ceiling to tie in with the previously mentioned uses. One sticking point in our initial discussions about the room was whether there would be a projector. Several felt that a projector would cause instructors to fall back to the “front of the room” lecture. However, after listening to our faculty, it was clear that there are times that a front to the room is needed. This may be to watch a video clip or to watch presentations from students.
Due to the very flexible technology design the room can be used any way a faculty member, or other users choose. The only technology that sits on the floor of the classroom is the small lectern. This can be easily moved by disconnecting a couple of CAT5 cables and a power cord. This is important for our users, because too often we have seen rooms designed to be flexible. Unfortunately, this “flexibility” often takes several minutes in order to achieve and may not work. That is, we can not expect faculty or students to spend 10 minutes at the beginning of any class, rearranging the room, moving portable walls, or rolling technology in or out of the room.
In the first several weeks of the use of the room, the feedback has been excellent. Because the work was paid for with a grant, we have been purposeful in collecting data from faculty and students about the room. Interestingly, some of the students were initially apprehensive about the room. This was the first time for them to walk into a space that did not look like your typical lecture or seminar room. It took some time to understand that they had an active role in this setting. The faculty were very interested in exploring how to use the room and technology. One interesting thing that we noted immediately is that the students preferred using the monitors near their table, over the central projector, when they needed to view common information.
Data collection is an area where integrators and designers could also assist and provide services. Even if installs are not grant funded, schools are using data more than ever. Being able to understand what students and faculty thought of the spaces, along with how and if the room improved learning, is a critical piece of knowing whether to install more rooms to allow for active learning. This is where the integrators could provide value, after having been involved in several other installations. A well vetted data collection method would help us understand how the room compares to what other schools have done.
Through the process we learned the valuable lesson that moving carefully and thoughtfully can produce an excellent result. Most importantly, listening to the people who will use the space, before design, during design and after installation is critical to fulfilling their desires for the space. Listening to what others have done is also important, but you need to design for the cultures and uniqueness of your institution. Leave a Comment
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Eleven Simple Habits to Improve Collaboration With Your Team Today
By Tricia Whenham Nureva
Collaboration isn’t new – in fact, recent research has revealed that the ability to share goals and work together might just have been a turning point in human development. But if you’re feeling like the word collaboration is everywhere these days, you’re not alone. Organizations are realizing that in this competitive landscape, a strong team can make the difference between a good idea and a great one.
The prospect of becoming more collaborative can seem abstract and daunting, but small actions add up. Here are some practical steps you can take to move in the right direction.
1. DON’T PRESS SEND
A recent study found that each day knowledge workers send or receive an average of 86 work-related emails at work – and 25 at home! Our obsession with email drains productivity and wreaks havoc on work-life balance, but there’s also a hidden cost to collaboration. Email keeps people trapped in linear, back-and-forth conversations that solidify silos. Try looking for alternatives – an online messaging tool or just a simple conversation.
2. THINK COLLABORATIVELY
Could strengthening collaboration be mind over matter? A 2013 Harvard study found that simply imagining positive team interactions sparked better team relationships, reduced anxiety and increased empathy. If you devote just a couple of minutes a day to picturing how you want to interact with your team and the positive results you’ll experience, soon your real interactions could match the imagined ones.
3. ASK TWO SIMPLE QUESTIONS
When it comes to collaboration, the language you use can actually drive new behavior and build a collaborative mindset. Try asking these two questions more often: “What do you think?” and “How can I help?” This simple act can shift your focus from yourself and onto what other people need, broadening your perspective and bringing your team together.
4. KEEP REMOTE TEAM MEMBERS TOP OF MIND
In many offices, the people you work with are as likely to be around the world as they are to be at your side. But without a physical presence, it’s still easy for them to be sidelined and forgotten. Find ways to keep them top of mind, like turning on video during conference calls, choosing an audio solution that makes it easy for them to participate or keeping a clock displaying their time zone.
5. VISUALIZE YOUR THINKING
So many collaborative efforts are burdened by unspoken assumptions and misconceptions, making it tough to get on the same page. Visualizing your thinking can help. Try sketching out any ideas on a collaborative platform to make your perspective clear, and encourage others to do the same. Then use those same tools to watch your ideas evolve together.
6. JUST SAY HI
When working with remote teammates, sometimes we forget the small things – like asking about the weekend or seeing a pic of the new puppy. I’ve caught myself launching into an online conversation with my colleague in Europe without even saying hi. Strong teams take the time to connect outside of the tasks and to-dos, whether they’re in the same office or not. Try setting aside online “coffee breaks” devoted to catching up and sharing.
7. DO MEETINGS DIFFERENTLY
Teamwork should, by definition, be collaborative. So it’s disappointing how a small handful of voices sometimes dominate. Commit to doing things differently. Next time you have a meeting, keep track of who speaks and who doesn’t – and then hold yourself accountable to ensuring that everyone feels encouraged to share their perspectives.
8. AVOID GROUPTHINK
During brainstorming sessions, does everyone on your team converge on the same ideas? That’s groupthink, and it makes it incredibly hard to innovate. Instead, try brainwriting. By building in time for individual thought and contemplation before everyone gets together, collaborative work becomes more original, interesting and likely to produce results.
9. DON’T DO ALL THE HOMEWORK
Being prepared is an important quality of collaborative work – being overprepared is not. If you work out every tiny detail before anyone else can have input, you’re like a horse with blinders on – you only see one direction to run. While you’re planning a project or kicking off a new initiative, make sure to leave room for amazing ideas you never would have considered.
10. FOLLOW THROUGH
We’ve all worked with people who fight collaboration and think it’s easier just to get it done themselves. And they’re right – if they’ve been stuck with teammates who don’t follow through. For highly effective collaborators, dreaming big dreams together is always followed by executing their part well. Make sure you’re holding up your end when people are counting on you.
11. STAY CURIOUS
When someone has a vastly different perspective and is arguing for something that just seems wrong, highly effective collaborators don’t argue back – they simply ask why. And then they listen. By staying curious about what other people think, you’ll always be learning, a key quality of innovative people. Plus by focusing on the idea, not the ego, more gets done faster, and everyone feels open to share and discover.
This column was reprinted with permission from Nureva and originally appeared here. Leave a Comment
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Digital Advertising Screens – The Profitable Business Anyone Can Start
By Lee Gannon TrouDigital
When people think of digital advertising screens, they think of giants like JCDecaux. They think of bus stop displays, large motorway billboards or those slideshows you see on escalators in the Underground. They think of household brands and celebrity-centered campaigns.
They don’t think of something more akin to a commercial TV you might have at home. They don’t think of locations like the windows of small independent shops in the high street, car parks, hotel lobbies or veterinary waiting rooms.
Advertising is simply about attention. If you have an audience, or at least access to somewhere with footfall, you have an opportunity. Advertising connects businesses with people. It works most effectively when these people are an organization or brand’s target audience. When this correlation is achieved, the value of communication for all involved increases. The owners of an advertising platform, in this case a screen network, can charge premium for ad space and advertisers will see ROI.
You don’t need to be a household name to attract advertisers and you don’t have to own a nationwide network of screens either. Digital signage for advertising is the profitable business anyone can start with a single screen. How? The key is to think local. If you are an independent shop on the main street, perhaps the only one with a screen in your window, other local businesses are likely to be interested in advertising to people walking past just as much as you are. There’s no need to sell ad space to direct competitors but focus on fostering a local network. Your favorite family-run restaurant or your local barbers might love access to the main street, particularly if they are located more remotely. A hotel might want to sell screen time to local attractions like the zoo. This way they would be delivering content genuinely of interest to their audience.
Most small businesses are yet to invest in their own screens for marketing because they think they are too expensive. But the reality is, in most deployments, a commercial grade display will do the job just fine for a few hundred dollars. When it comes to selling ad space, there’s no rule of thumb for how much to charge so think first of covering your costs and then adjust to align with your ambitions. You might just want to sell enough screen time to cover your costs, and then dedicate the rest of your time to your own marketing. That’s absolutely fine.
Even with a network limited to a single screen, pitching ad space to the smallest of local businesses, something like $50 per month in sponsorship is a highly accessible price. Most restaurants would only need to generate a customer paying for a family meal to profit from the venture. This might not sound like a lot but secure ten plus advertisers and a single advertising screen can provide a significant source of recurring revenue. Depending on the market and location, sponsorship fees can increase dramatically, especially as the size of an advertising network grows. It’s good practice to offer a tiered selection of sponsorship packages to accommodate all advertising budgets.
Digital signage can be a vehicle that brings local businesses together. Many organizations, including councils around the country, are investing in screen networks to create unique communication platforms where they can both distribute localized messaging and sell sponsorship space. As long as a reliable and easy to manage signage platform is chosen, digital advertising screens can be a low maintenance and highly profitable business model that anyone can start today.
This guest post was contributed by TrouDigital. Visit the company’s website for more information about digital signage advertising. Leave a Comment
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Using Video and the Internet of Things to Lead Remote Teams
By Chip Manning VDO360
Videoconferencing is not new, but recent technological advancements—including mobile videoconferencing and telepresence—have led to more widespread use. On the other hand, the Internet of Things (IoT) is a relatively new idea, one with implications across a wide variety of industries and aspects of business.
When the two technologies—videoconferencing and the IoT—come together, business managers will discover new, more efficient ways to bring teams together across far geographical distances, and to manage remote workers more effectively, while gaining the luxury of working remotely themselves, too.
This flexibility and mobility of both workers and managers has become a necessity for many growing organizations in the modern business world. Fortunately, the technology tools are availability to make it happen.
Leading via Video
Videoconferencing has proven to be one of the most effective tools to manage teams remotely. Videoconferencing provides a number of well-documented benefits over email, texting, and even voice-only phone calls—especially when it comes to meetings with a large number of participants.
Nonverbal communication is important for conveying mood and intent, and only videoconferencing or telepresence can bring this element into remote meetings. Additionally, being on camera helps keep remote meeting participants fully engaged. Videoconferencing also makes meeting more efficient. With the right system, it permits screen-sharing, slide-sharing, and the ability to collaborate on written documents or spreadsheets remotely, in real-time.
Videoconferencing—and its more robust cousin, telepresence—lends itself well to the key tenets of managing teams more so than any other form of remote communication available today.
Some of the most important parts of managing teams – remotely or locally – are:
- Communicating daily. A manager should at least touch base every day with key members of his or her team. This gives the team members the opportunity to give and receive feedback, receive praise to stay motivated and inspired, brainstorm new directions or ideas, and generally stay on the same page regarding a project or initiative.
- Building rapport. Building a professional rapport with team members helps managers keep employees happy and successful as individuals and as part of the team.
- Talking one-on-one. Dedicating time to talk to each member of the team helps the manager build rapport, share information, and hear concerns.
- Being available. Managers need to be available to their team members. If team members cannot reach the manager at a critical juncture, work may stop until the manager brings employees into the loop.
These aspects of team management can be incredibly difficult for managers working off-site or managers who have team members working remotely. However, videoconferencing helps managers overcome these difficulties, opening lines of communication between team members and managers.
Combined with the Internet of Things, which allows connectivity between mobile videoconferencing devices, on-site meeting rooms, technology tools that enhance meetings (such as document cameras or electronic whiteboards), and company databases, today’s videoconferencing solutions can enhance efficiency, productivity and even human-to-human interaction like never before.
Managing with the Internet of Things
The IoT refers to the increasing number of devices capable of sharing information with one another. These devices can send location information, usage statistics, sensory data, on/off status, settings, and more. A manager no longer needs to be physically present to control or discuss presentations or access data. A manager on the road, for instance, can be working from a hotel room with Wi-Fi and stream information onto an electronic whiteboard or presentation screen in the company’s boardroom for on-site attendees, while the same images appear on the screens—desktop or mobile—of other remote participants, as well.
Newer, voice-activated Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology that connects to the IoT allows managers and employees to look up information by asking a voice-activated device a question and receiving an answer immediately, preserving the flow of the meeting. If you’ve ever paused in a presentation to look up a fact on the internet or search for a file, it’s easy to see how convenient this technology can be. We are approaching the day where—much like the captain on the bridge of the starship Enterprise—managers can address an AI device verbally and receive an instant answer regarding nearly anything in the Universe.
Businesses also use IoT technology to track movement within the business place for scheduling, energy management, and cost savings. Sensors can detect the presence of people in a meeting room, and a display screen outside the door can let other employees know a meeting is going on. The information can also be sent to a scheduling app so employees can look up meeting times and locations. A remote manager waiting to dial into a videoconference can receive a notification when attendees start showing up, improving efficiency.
Sensors may also detect that lights, HVAC systems or audiovisual equipment is still running in an empty room and can remotely power it down to conserve energy, save money and prolong equipment life.
Other Technologies for Remote Team Management
In addition to videoconferencing and the IoT, a host of other technologies makes it easier for managers and employees to access information from anywhere at any time.
Many businesses have already adopted cloud computing to some degree. Using the cloud, managers and team members can easily access the same information and applications regardless of physical location. Managers can use the cloud to easily set up and distribute tasks, set up new software for the team, keep track of employee time and schedules, and more.
Mobile apps also help managers and employees manage increasing flexible work schedules and telecommuters. Apps can send notifications to a desktop workstation or any mobile device, so an employee can receive the notification—and respond in a timely manner—even if they aren’t at the desk.
Videoconferencing, mobile apps, cloud computing, AI, and the IoT are fantastic tools for remote team management. As we approach the reality of a fully mobile, flexible workforce, smart managers will adopt technology that not only enables them to manage their teams from a distance, but to manage technology from anywhere, too. Managers will reap the rewards of a more engaged workforce, a better work/life balance, and the ability to work from anywhere, themselves, while effectively managing employees across town or across the world.
This column was reprinted with permission from Chip Manning and originally appeared here. Leave a Comment
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AVI-SPL Acquires Sharp’s Audio Visual in Canada AVI-SPL today announced the acquisition of Canadian integration firm Sharp’s Audio Visual (aka: Sharp’s), becoming the first national provider of AV and collaboration technology solutions in Canada. With the addition of Sharp’s to its existing operation in Canada, AVI-SPL will significantly enhance and expand its ability to design, build, manage, and support collaboration technology deployments for organizations throughout Canada and around the world.
Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Sharp’s has eight locations across six provinces in Canada. Founded in 1923, the company is a trusted technology solutions partner for many of today’s most recognizable organizations worldwide. Sharp’s 94-year history of success is linked to its dedication and track-record of innovation, and commitment to its customer’s needs. Together as one, AVI-SPL and Sharp’s will optimize these values to provide transformative technology that creates meaningful experiences and brand value for its clients across Canada and around the world.
Following the merger announcement, current Sharp’s’ customers will be provided 24/7 Global Help Desk support and new remote monitoring and management capabilities via AVI-SPL’s Unify ME Symphony platform to proactively assess the health and usage of their collaborative environments worldwide. The companies’ unification will form the industry’s most certified team of engineers and technicians in Canada and worldwide, a valuable offering that intrigued each firm from the beginning.
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Eiki Announces EK-815U 8500 Lumen Laser ProjectorEiki International has announced the new EK-815U WUXGA (1920×1200) laser projector. Spec’d at 8,500 lumens, a 100,000:1 contrast ratio and using both blue and red lasers, the EK-815U is IP6X Dust Ingress Test rating for long-term reliability. It’s aimed at both rental and install applications.
Compared to more traditional laser-based projection systems that incorporate a blue laser only, the addition of the red laser results in what Eiki claims is greater brightness (8,500 lumens with a 16:10 aspect ratio), a higher red color ratio without diminishing either blue or green performance and increased Gamut Area Ratio performance.
The new Eiki EK-815U includes content connection via LAN, HDBaseT, HDMI, VGA and USB.
Eiki’s EK-815U has both horizontal and vertical lens shift and keystone correction, edge blending and a warping engine. There are six optional lenses available for use with these systems, encompassing throw/width ratios from 0.36-15.24.
The EIKI EK-815U lists for $15,995 without a lens. More information is here. Leave a Comment
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Sharp Claims Industry’s Largest Monitor Specifically Designed For Video Walls with New 70″ Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America (SIICA), a division of Sharp Electronics Corporation, today introduced what it says is the largest monitor specifically designed for video walls in the industry, the PN-V701.
The newest addition to Sharp’s family of displays is designed for use in stores and shops that are looking to affordably create wow factor. With a bezel of just 4.4 millimeters, large images on the video wall appear natural and seamless. The 70″ Class (69.5″ diagonal) monitor allows integrators to assemble video walls with fewer monitors and less bezel lines, minimizing the non-display areas and maximizing value for users. Developed specifically for use in multi-monitor installations, the PN-V701 display is rated for 24/7 operation and can be arranged in portrait or landscape orientation. It’s also approximately 16 percent lighter in weight than the 60″ Class (60″ diagonal) PN-V601A display.
The PN-V701 comes equipped with Sharp’s Inverse Scan function. Designed to correct image misalignments by alternating the scanning direction between vertically adjacent monitors, Inverse Scan creates smooth, natural images on the large video wall. Additional features include SHARP Advanced Uniform Color Calibration Technology (UCCT), which can deliver uniformity of color and brightness across the entire video wall. The monitor also has an HDBaseT Receiver Board. By installing the optional receiver, the PN-V701 display is able to receive HDMI video, audio signals and control signals sent up to 100 meters away through a single Cat6 cable.
The PN-V701 is scheduled to ship this month and here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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ClearOne Debuts VIEW Pro Streaming System ClearOne’s new VIEW Pro line has expanded to include a new series of media encoders and decoders with a PANORAMA videowall software license. With various rack-mount components, the system is designed to offer H.264 compression, 24-bit color, up-to 1080p resolution at 60 FPS, ultra-low latency, video windowing and content control. The mass proliferation of H.264 endpoints (IP cameras, mobile devices, PC streaming, digital signage players, video recorders) means that many businesses and organizations already have compatible componentswi and by sending the video signal over IP, the VIEW Pro system eliminates the need for additional encoders, decoders and other hardware. The VIEW Pro line also includes PANORAMA and CONSOLE software that allow operators to manage any display of any shape, size or resolution. These software controls allow companies to manage multi-panel videowalls, multi-display distributed video networks, and even turn a single display into a videowall by displaying multiple sources in windows. VIEW Pro in these situations lives in the nodes or endpoints, so as the system grows, its windowing and video wall processing power grows too. Here are all the tech specs. Leave a Comment
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Sennheiser Debuts HeadSetup Pro Manager Product Tracking System Sennheiser has launched HeadSetup Pro Manager, a cloud-based IT management solution developed to track, monitor, update and configure settings on multiple Sennheiser devices from a single, easy to use dashboard that can be accessed anytime, anywhere.
HeadSetup Pro Manager is a cloud-based enterprise SaaS (Software as a service) hosted on Microsoft Azure cloud services and Microsoft Azure SQL/NoSQL databases. This solution allows for secure control of remote devices, even across multiple sites through encrypted communication with a client on each user’s computer. No sensitive data is stored. Sennheiser’s client application, HeadSetup Pro, works in the background to manage connected headsets or speakerphones with minimal distractions to the end user.
According to Sennheiser, HeadSetup Pro Manager delivers benefits in three main areas – Asset Management, Update Management and Configuration Management.
Asset Management
The new software solution offers a detailed overview of all headsets and speakerphones installed in the company. From one location it is possible to receive an overview of both active and inactive audio devices to identify the registered owner and user. By offering visibility of assets, IT departments can more effectively manage resources to improve productivity.
Update Management
HeadSetup Pro Manager provides a flexible and cost effective way to push out latest software updates to all an organization’s Sennheiser headsets, at a time that’s most convenient to IT and users alike. It is possible to push new updates to an unlimited number of users or defined user groups from a single easy to use dashboard and to schedule automated updates in a way that causes minimal downtime and disruption to the business.
Configuration Management
The centralized configuration option allows all settings to be controlled from the IT department, while headset users experience a simple plug and play solution. HeadSetup Pro Manager makes it possible to centrally push configurations or lock specific specifications on wired and DECT wireless headsets to comply with regulatory compliance settings for specific groups or individuals from one single dashboard tool.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Barco’s New 4K F80 Laser Projector Is Aimed at Museums and Large VenuesTo complete its offer for the fixed installation market, Barco is extending its F-series platform with a flexible new projector, the F80. Marketed as “the silent” F,” it’s designed for museums and venues that require brightness under 10K lumens, 24/7 up-time and 4K resolution (4096×2400).
The F80 builds on the fundamentals of the other Barco F-series phosphor laser projectors. The constant brightness and long-life color performance is managed by Barco Pulse’s unique Single Step Processing (SSPTM) technology that delivers 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) resolution in only one step. So users can offer their audiences a sharper image and much higher overall image quality with less latency compared to other products on the market.
The Barco F80 will be available from the fourth quarter of 2017. The F80 specs are here. Leave a Comment
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NEC Europe Intros New C Series Commercial-Grade Displays NEC Display Solutions Europe today unveiled a new range of large format displays for commercial applications with the introduction of the NEC MultiSync C Series. The latest additions to its range of fully commercial displays consist of three models, ranging in size from 43 to 55 inches — C431, C501 and C551. All three models have a mechanical depth of only 45mm. With a modern and slim design, high-definition image brilliance and multiple inputs, C Series models are ideally suited as digital signage displays for informational and advertising purposes, as well as presentation devices for smaller conference rooms and huddle spaces.
The C Series range features a display brightness of 400 cd/m², allowing good visibility in controlled light surroundings.
Thanks to its integrated media player, the C Series range also supports auto content playback and management of image and video media files. Auto play settings allow content playback to be scheduled according to the user’s individual needs. The standalone solution requires no additional cabling, ensuring a neat and seamless result with the only additional hardware required being a USB drive or MicroSDHC card.
These new models include full external control through both the LAN and RS232 interfaces, which enables easy integration into existing control systems. The C Series displays can be installed in both landscape and portrait orientation, further expanding how users can deploy them.
If coupled with NEC’s all-in-one remote control and management software suite NaViSet Administrator 2, multi-device installations can be centrally controlled. The NEC MultiSync C Series large format displays will be available from early December 2017 and with additional larger sizes expected to be launched in early 2018. Here are all the specs for the MultiSync C431, MultiSync C501 and MultiSync C551. Leave a Comment
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JBL Pro Intros JBL PRX800 Series of Wireless PAsThe JBL PRX800 series from JBL claims to be the most advanced PA in its class. Wi-Fi technology and DSP give you control over system tuning and performance via the free PRX Connect app. An efficient 1500-watt class-D amplifier and patented JBL Differential Drive technology provide best-in-class power and reduced weight. And the rugged all-wood cabinets feature a redesigned input panel and universal power supply for operation worldwide.
JBL Pro says the PRX800 is the first PA system in its class to feature complete wireless control via Wi-Fi. The PRX Connect mobile app for iOS and Android connects wirelessly to every speaker, offering full control over the powerful built-in DSP.
Walk around the venue during sound check and fine-tune your speakers to sound better as a system. Use the 8-band EQ, speaker delay, mute, gain and more to make sure your audience hears great sound from every corner of the room. It’s easy to configure shows offline and save presets. You can even find any connected speaker instantly with the useful Locator function.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Delvcam Introduces a 4K Media Player with 10 HDMI Outputs Delvcam has introduced the DELV-4KMP110 Media Player with ten 3840×2160@60Hz HDMI outputs and an Android 6.0.1 operating system. Buyer beware: Delvcam isn’t publishing a chroma subsampling rate — it’s likely to only be 4:2:0.
The Delvcam DELV-4KMP110 media player allows for video source selection between its built in 500GB SATA hard drive, a USB stick or a HDMI input feed from a camera or recorder. It also has built-in Wi-Fi to bring in video streams from the Internet. USB ports can be utilized to add a keyboard and mouse to simplify browser based searching.
The DELV-4KMP110 Media Player features a 2.2 GHz eight-core GPU with 2GB of RAM and includes IR remote control, Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections as well as ten HDMI outputs with a maximum resolution of 4Kx2K@60Hz. Supporting multiple video and audio formats, the Delvcam Media Player can be used for audio/video playback, gaming, digital signage, classroom instruction and point-of-sale displays.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Altia Systems Just Blew Us Away By Adding HDR to 180° Panoramic-4K USB Video Camera System Altia Systems, creators of PanaCast 2 180° 4K Plug-and-Play video camera system, today launched PanaCast Vivid, a newly-developed real-time HDR (high dynamic range) technology being delivered as a fully integrated high performance engine running in the PanaCast Video Processor within the PanaCast 2 camera system, which automatically and continuously improves video quality under varying light conditions to enhance participants’ collaboration experience.
PanaCast Vivid is built with a patented biomimetic signal processing algorithm which enables the camera system to mimic how the human eye handles the vast changes in luminance in the real world by autonomously optimizing video quality in any lighting condition. It is particularly useful in environments with a high variation or dynamic range in luminance, as it automatically adjusts it to deliver an optimized video stream for any video conferencing environment. Vivid autonomously enhances contrast, displays realistic colors, shows details even in dark areas and delivers a video stream that mimics how the eye naturally perceives light.
PanaCast Vivid is now available here for a one-time $149 license per PanCast 2 device.
And details on the PanaCast Vivid license and features are here. Leave a Comment
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Crestron Adds Modular Amplifiers and Loudspeakers to Its Enterprise Audio Solutions Crestron announced today it has expanded its enterprise audio solutions with two new modular amplifiers, the AMP-225 and AMP-150-70 and its new line of Vector loudspeakers for large commercial spaces.
The AMP-225 (two channels @ 25 watts each 8 ohm) and AMP-150-70 (one channel @ 50W 70V) have EnergyStar certification, built-in fault protection, and modular construction. Using a slide-rail design and measuring a quarter-rack size, multiple units can be ganged together in a single rack space. These new amps can also be combined with Crestron half-rack amps, the AMP-1200 and AMP-2100, for a 1 RU solution, or surface-mounted under a table.
The new line of Vector medium-throw loudspeakers are designed for use in large commercial spaces, such as auditoriums, lecture halls, corporate town halls and divisible rooms.
Crestron says the Avia Audio Tool provides a workspace that streamlines audio design and programming. New controls and functions can be added on-the-fly so programmers no longer need to “re-wire and recompile” to make changes. Here are all the specs of each. Leave a Comment
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NanoLumens Adds LED Digital Posters for Less Than $200 NanoLumens today announced the market introduction of NanoLumens LED Digital Posters. The NanoLumens Digital Posters are embedded with the cloud-based NanoLumens AWARE platform, which allows retailers to route new content to any digital poster in their network around the world. NanoLumens AWARE also seamlessly combines diagnostics and support functions with a variety of apps, services and content sources and these Digital Posters can now be purchased for less than $200 per month, making them a reasonable purchase for any brick-and-mortar location.
At 2.55-mm pixel pitch, NanoLumens Digital Posters give content the utmost clarity, creating a deeper level of customer engagement. They are also incredibly simple to install, and ship direct to any warehouse or store location. Purpose built with the retailer in mind, Digital Posters are plug-and-play, making content changes and additions a breeze.
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Extron Adds to Huddle Room Line With New HC 404 Meeting Space Collaboration SystemExtron just introduced the HC 404, marketing it as an easy-to-use AV system solution for small collaboration environments. This switching transmitter and scaling receiver work together to extend video, audio, and power up to 230 feet over a single CATx cable. The HC 404 features two HDMI and one VGA input at the transmitter, and one HDMI input at the receiver. Built-in control capabilities facilitate automatic source switching, display control, and integration with occupancy sensors.
An Extron ShareLink wireless collaboration gateway can be integrated to support BYOD – Bring Your Own Device environments, enabling users to share content from a wide variety of personal mobile devices for effective collaboration. The HC 404 provides high quality extension of video and audio signals for maximum performance and reliability. Ethernet connectivity facilitates management, monitoring, and control of AV devices over a standard network infrastructure, while built-in control functionality eliminates the need for additional equipment. Designed for professional integration, the low-profile HC 404 transmitter and receiver enclosures are ideal for discreet placement in lecterns, beneath tables, behind a display or wherever the application requires.
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NEC Launches New C SeriesNEC Display Solutions of America today announced that it has launched its new, fully commercial C Series displays, offering customers a slim profile and sleek design at an economical price point.
The new C Series includes three models — the 43″ C431, 50″ C501 and 55″ C551 — all of which have a mechanical depth of only 45mm. This slender profile allows for a lighter design as well as unobtrusive mounting and easier accessibility in situations where ADA compliance is of importance.
These models provide many commercial-grade features, including full bidirectional external control through both the LAN and RS232 interfaces, which enables easier integration into control systems. They can also be installed in both landscape and portrait orientation, expanding the ways in which users can deploy them.
The C Series models are ideally suited as digital signage displays for informational and advertising purposes as well as presentation devices for smaller conference rooms or huddle spaces. They contain anti-glare screens that scatter incidental light and allow customers maximum visibility of the content being displayed on the screen, which is of utmost importance for digital signage applications. Each C Series display will also have an optional IR touch overlay that will allow users to easily turn each display into a touchscreen for wayfinding and other interactive uses.
The C Series were all here. 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
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