Volume 9, Issue 4 — April 12, 2016
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ITIL: Service Strategy
By Scott Tiner rAVe Columnist
Last month, I wrote about the ITIL guidelines and the powerful changes implementing them can drive. As I wrote, ITIL is divided into five lifecycles. As one begins to look into the learning and certification process, it can be a bit confusing. How do you know which lifecycle you should look into? What about certain roles within your organization, what lifecycle should you point them towards? This month’s article focuses on the Service Strategy lifecycle.
I am particularly interested in this life cycle because it is where everything we do, whether in IT or AV begins. I often see or hear questions that are asked late in the process because no one ever considered strategy. By the time questions such as, “what is a reasonable response time?” get asked, it is usually too late. Often, it is being asked because someone has complained about service and the service provider is in the hot seat. While it may seem tedious and unnecessary, had the provider and the customer worked through the strategy lifecycle, they would not be asking this question. It would be clear what the reasonable time is, and whether that time was met.
Going forward I will refer to the provider and the customer. Depending on your view these could be different. If you are an integrator, you are the provider and person you deal with is your customer. If you are internal to an organization (say a tech manager at a college) then you are the provider and your users are your customers. The initial concept of the strategy lifecycle is that the provider must be able to create value for their customer. Sounds pretty simple right? In many ways this is the relationship we all have with people we buy something from, yet how often do we really question the value? What is the actual value of having a document camera in every classroom? What is the value of having a five-minute response time? As a provider, you must be able to understand what your customer values and how to make sure you give them that value. What the customer values should be revealed during the strategy lifecycle. A good model to use during this phase is the service triangle (price, functionality, performance) and understand from the customer where they are willing to spend and where they are willing to sacrifice.
Too much of the value of a typical AV system is considered to be the equipment itself. ITIL will advise you that while the equipment and costs are important, they provide no value themselves. It is what the customers do with that equipment that provides value. Therefore, the most significant parts of the value conversation are about what the customer wants to do. How they expect the equipment to perform when they complete their tasks, and finally, how reliable is the equipment? In ITIL terms, this is referred as to whether services are fit for utility, and fit for warranty. In other words, don’t talk about equipment with customers, talk about needs and expectations. Additionally, make sure you understand the difference between what is a core service that you need to provide and what is an enhancing service. A beautifully designed touchpanel does no good if there is not an input for a laptop, and that is what the customer needed.
The service strategy lifecyle is probably the most important lifecycle, yet, to be frank, it is also likely the most boring if you would prefer to be out fixing things. If that is you, then perhaps you should show this column to your boss and have her look into this lifecycle. Without taking the time to work through the strategy of WHY you are doing a specific service, it will be very difficult to improve on, or eliminate the service. Each subsequent lifecycle builds upon the strategy lifecycle so having clear documented strategies makes the rest of the work possible. Leave a Comment
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On Language, AV/IT, Teaching and Learning
By Leonard Suskin Pixel and Ink-Stained Wretch
“Include Kodak in this room.” That’s the line in the client’s system review memo which confused me, and one with which I eventually opened an internal training seminar at SMW. What were they talking about? And what was the bigger message? Read on!
The memo in question came in a fairly late design phase of a project I’d inherited from one of my departed colleagues. It’s one with which I was familiar, having assisted with the design, but I’d not yet met any of the users and was quite honestly confused by this line. Was it some kind of legacy device from the Eastman Kodak company? A zombie-brand that was somehow leasing the Kodak name? Something to do with film, or old-school photography?
After a brief chat, it became clear that what they wanted was a video-teleconference appliance. My colleague had referred to it as a codec and the client, with no context for this word, heard it as “Kodak.” Mystery solved. This was a very much engaged client who understood what they wanted but appeared more ignorant than they were because nobody had taken the time to share the correct language with them. Using words correctly is not solely a matter of being understood, but of positioning oneself as someone who knows what they’re talking about. In the case of a client it’s not a serious issue; it’s our job as professionals to help give them the tools to navigate technical choices. When a client doesn’t know – when they say “Kodak” because someone else didn’t do a good job of educating — we have the opportunity to help guide them towards greater understanding.
The problem comes when we in the AV industry try to talk about IT matters. Too often we use words imprecisely and without understanding them. In a discussion of network-based AV systems we need to position ourselves as experts. We cannot afford to be the ones who say “Kodak” and wait for someone else to educate us; it’s our job to do the educating. Which means that first we need to educate ourselves.
Network has become a basic requirement. When I’m asked how to protect a system against complete network failure, my answer is that it’s the same as protecting against a complete power failure; the network is as much a basic requirement for a modern AV system as electricity. To carry the analogy a step farther, think about you we specify electricity. We might ask for technical power on a common phase. We might ask for it to come from a common breaker panel. In some cases, we might even ask for an isolated ground. These choices may impact the performance of an AV system and they’ll also cost somebody a measure of money and effort. It’s incumbent on us to understand these things so we can make reasonable choices which meet AV design requirements without wasting resources on over-design. How much bandwidth do we need? How many networks will we need? How many hosts will each of those networks need?
What do those last statements mean?
Another wake-up call came in submittal review. I’d find submittal items that look like this:
Working for a multidisciplinary firm, it’s quite easy for me to walk down the hall and show this sort of thing to an IT designer who can both translate it into English for me and confirm that it meets the project requirements. In the longer term, however, we all need to be able to present ourselves as experts which, increasingly, means at the very least speaking the language of networks and IT. If you are reading this and do NOT understand CIDR notation then you need to educate yourself before you end up being embarrassed with a question you not only can’t answer but that you also don’t even understand.
I’m fortunate in that I work for a firm which has a strong commitment to education and development. As part of our internal training program, I prepared an introductory “IT for AV Designers” session focusing on broad concepts and — in what should be no surprise to anyone here — on language. Why those of us in the habit of saying “TCP/IP” when we mean “network” sound ignorant. What “reliable” and “unreliable” transport means in the context of transport protocols. What this thing called “AVB” actually is. What QoS is and — in general — how it works.
There’s a great deal to learn — a great deal which we need to know.
I’ll aside that the Wednesday afternoon training and education program is one of the fun things about working where I do. We’re treated to a wide variety of viewpoints, of teaching styles, and of subject matter. Some presenters sit at a teaching desk. Some stand. I tend to pace about the room, while others pace across the front of the room, waving the power-point clicker casually about. Those who know me can likely guess into which category my presentation style falls. What’s best as a presenter is that it gives me the opportunity to refine my knowledge and understanding; I can take various sources — the notes I took from Paul Ziele’s QoS presentation at InfoComm 2014, my study material for my aborted attempted to get an entry-level Cisco certification (that’s another post!), and whatever else I’ve learned and distill it into a coherent story. By teaching we also learn, and by learning we learn.
This started the ball rolling, and was — I hope — a step towards having more of my fellow AV designers start to think like AV/IT designers. The next step is to drill down more deeply and put our newfound language to use. I already have a second session planned in which we walk through more details of basic network design, subnetting, etc. What’s important for now is that we all know the broad concepts and that we all have the correct language.
After all, if you’re reading this you are most likely an AV professional. We are the experts, we are the ones counted on to offer guidance and direction. We can’t be the ones saying “Kodak” and still keep our position of expertise. Leave a Comment
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Matrox Maevex H.264 Encoders and Decoders Certified with Utelogy AV Control Platform for Use in Higher EducationMatrox Graphics today announced that Utelogy has validated Matrox Maevex H.264 encoders and decoders for use with its AV control and management platform. Matrox Maevex provides a flexible streaming and recording hardware enhancement to the Utelogy software, which on its own provides simple, comprehensive control of an institution’s AV systems. The combined solution is ideal for applications such as distance learning, lecture streaming to overflow sites, classroom and lab recording for later editing or video on demand, campus-wide broadcasts of sports and events, and digital signage.
Matrox Maevex H.264 encoders and decoders deliver exceptional quality AV streaming at low bandwidth over standard IP networks for display or for storage anywhere on the LAN. Maevex encoders can be combined with Maevex decoders or a third-party software decoder to stream up to Full HD digital signage, education and training materials, camera footage, desktop screen capture and other AV content to one or more displays and to collaborative video walls. Maevex encoders can also be used to record live AV content to network-attached storage (NAS) or network-shared drives at resolutions up to 1080p60. The zero-latency pass through allows realtime monitoring or connection of another device to stream at the same time as recording. Maevex units come bundled with Matrox PowerStream software, allowing for easy remote device management, stream switching and streaming/recording parameter adjustment, including user-definable bitrates between 100Kbps and 25Mbps.
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Alcons Introduces Smaller LR18 Pro-Ribbon Line-Array Speaker Alcons has debuted its LR18 pro-ribbon line array. The three-way, “compact-mid-size” format line-source sound system implements Alcons’ pro-ribbon technology for mid and high frequencies and a fast impulse response with up-to-90 percent less distortion. This enables the LR18 to offer a fully intuitive linear response, with very high intelligibility and non-compressed identical tonal balance at any SPL.
The all-natural cylindrical wavefront of the purpose-designed RBN702rs 7″ pro-ribbon transducer and the acoustically and electronically symmetrical component configuration bring a remarkable pattern control in both the vertical as well as the horizontal plane, without any distortion-inducing horn constructions.
The pro-ribbon’s power handling of 1500W and RMS-to-peak ratio of 1:15, caters for what Alcons says is “a superb intelligibility and throw with maximum dynamic headroom reserve.” The MF-section features a high-efficiency 6.5” mid-range transducer with Neodymium motor-structure co-axially mounted behind the RBN702rsr pro-ribbon driver.
The LF section consist of two extended-excursion, reflex-loaded 8” woofers with oversized 3” voice-coil Neodymium motor-structure. Alcons says this 8” surpasses the output of even larger drivers in higher-category line-array systems.
The LR18 is driven by two channels of the Sentinel amplified loudspeaker controller, optimizing the system’s response by LR18-specific drive processing and feedback for each array configuration, including presets for phase-matched low-frequency extensions.
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Our Digital Signage Expo Coverage Is HUGEThe largest, dedicated digital signage show, the Digital Signage Expo, was held last week in Las Vegas. And, we were there — covering it all. We sent reporters to EVERY booth on the show floor and shot videos of EVERY new product launched — over 300 of them. In addition, we shot over 360 photos of the show floor, we recorded podcasts from DSE and we wrote over 120 news stories on new digital signage gear and software.
And, we put it all in one dedicated microsite that is searchable a bunch of different ways. So, check out all our DSE coverage here. Leave a Comment
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Extron Retractor Series/2 Adds DC Power for Most Laptop ManufacturersExtron has announced they are shipping their new Retractor Series/2 Lenovo DC and Retractor Series/2 XL Lenovo DC cable retraction systems, which supply DC power to Lenovo laptop computers. These patented, variable-speed cable retraction systems are designed to work with AVEdge100 and Cable Cubby Series/2 cable access enclosures, and the TMK 120 R Table Mount Kit. Retractor Series/2 cables extend up to three feet (90 centimeters) and Retractor Series/2 XL – Extended Length models support cable extension up to five feet (152 centimeters).
All Extron Retractor Series/2 cable retraction modules are engineered for long life and reliability and tested to exceed 7,500 cable extension and retraction cycles. The mechanism is designed to withstand frequent use in schools, libraries, conference rooms and other high-utilization environments.
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InFocus Releases New Ultra-Mobile Projectors in IN1116 and IN1118HDInFocus Corporation has launched two new mobile projectors in the form of the IN1116 and IN1118HD, WXGA (1366×760) and HD (1920×1080), respectively. The IN1116 and IN1118HD each weigh only 3.5 pounds and are spec’d at 2400 lumens and both are spec’d with a lamp life of 10,000. Inputs include HDMI, VGA and USB with 4GB of built-in memory as well as a PC-free player allowing you to present without anything connected but a USB stick.
InFocus IN1116 and IN1118HD are available now for $888.00 and $1,149.00 USD, respectively. Get all the specs here. Leave a Comment
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AtlasIED Ships New DPA Series DSP Power AmplifiersThe new AtlasIED Series DPA series of amplifiers are network-ready DSP power amplifiers designed for both 70/100V and 8/4 ohm systems. Available in three models: the 600-watts DPA602, the 1200-watt DPA1202 and the 2400-watt DPA2402, all three incorporate on-board DSP and the graphical user interface (GUI) is embedded into the amplifier. You can configure and operate the amplifier using any standard web browser and does not require a standalone application.
To expand even further on the flexibility of the DPA Series, an expansion slot enables two card options. The DPA-DAC4 card provides four Dante digital audio inputs. The DPA-AMIX card provides 4 more analog input channels. Both increase the inputs from four to eight channels.
Features:
- Configurable for use as two-channel 70.7V amplifier
- Configurable for use as four-channel 4Ω amplifier
- Configurable for use as single channel 70.7V and two-channel 4Ω amplifier
- Networkable with on-board GUI
- Configurable DSP via GUI
- Site manager software with network auto-discovery fault reporting, input and output status, standby
- Status and remote activation via a scheduler timer
- User page with assignable input and output level control
- Mute assignments triggered via audio signal or contact closure
- Audio sense turn-on/off
- Four balanced inputs
- Optional accessory card slot for four-channel Dante receiver card or two mic / line, two aux input card
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FSR Expands Project Wall Box Line With Upgraded PWB-450 Larger Size BoxFSR is expanding its popular Project Wall Box Line (PWB) with the new PWB-450 — one of the industry’s largest ETL Listed multi-purpose Project Wall Boxes. The PWB-450 is designed for applications where users need to mount larger interfaces or equipment in a wall box behind a display or in other custom applications. Its optional bracket has also been designed to mount Crestron’s larger DM-RMC-4K-SCALER-C 4K receiver/room controller, but FSR has also even more bracket options for Crestron and AMX/SVSi digital interfaces.
The PWB-450 mounts in a typical 4-inch deep wall between the studs in a standard 16-inch stud bay. It provides connectivity, internal device mounting and power in a secure and invisible manner. The cover is flush to the wall allowing the display to be mounted as close as its mount will allow. The cover is ventilated top and bottom to provide convection cooling as well as a cable exit slot to pass cables from the box to the display.
Inside the PWB-450 are four pre-wired AC outlets along one vertical side of the box which are isolated from the four accessory plate mounting brackets to allow AC and low-voltage connections within the same box. There is a 1⁄2-inch to 3⁄4-inch concentric knock out on the top and bottom of the box for the AC conduit connections. One-inch KOs in the divider plates allow the use of one or more accessory plates for additional AC connections.
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Extron Unveils New Versions of DTP Switchers With Audio Embedding and HDBaseT CompatibilityExtron just launched new versions of the DTP T USW 233 and DTP T USW 333 three-input switchers now featuring analog stereo audio embedding and compatibility with HDBaseT-enabled devices. The DTP T USW switchers send HDMI or analog video, audio and control up to 230 feet (70 meters) or 330 feet (100 meters) over a shielded CATx cable. The switchers can embed stereo analog audio onto the digital video signal for transport over DTP. This streamlines integration and is particularly useful when connecting to displays without analog audio inputs. Additionally, a selectable HDBaseT output mode offers the convenience of sending digital video and embedded audio, plus bidirectional control signals over a shielded CATx cable to any HDBaseT-enabled display. The new DTP T USW versions with audio embedding and HDBaseT compatibility are now available.
Extron says the DTP Systems product family is the industry’s most comprehensive integration platform for small to medium-sized AV systems. This family includes a number of different extender models in a wide variety of form factors and video formats, plus a broad offering of distribution amplifiers, switchers, and matrix switchers with essential AV signal processing and control features. DTP Systems allow complete flexibility in designing systems precisely to application and budget requirements.
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Kramer Launches VS-62HA, 6×2 4K Matrix SwitcherThe Kramer VS-62HA is a 4K@60 UHD (4:2:0) matrix switcher for HDMI (3D, Deep Color, x.v.Color, Lip Sync, ARC, HEAC pass-through, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD and 7.1 multi-channel audio) and analog audio signals that includes auto-switching and control. The VS-62HA reclocks and equalizes the signals and can route any input to either or both outputs simultaneously and the maximum data rate is 8.91 Gbps data rate (2.97 Gbps per graphics channel). Audio features include independent (breakaway) audio routing of embedded HDMI and analog audio content to two balanced audio ports.
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BenQ’s New S-Series Projectors Offers 7K LumensBenQ America today announced two new additions to its line of S-Series high-brightness professional projectors, the SU931 and SX930. They are designed for houses of worship, training and conference rooms as well as higher education settings. The new projectors are part of BenQ’s Integrator’s Choice program, designed to offer dealers professional-grade display solutions backed by education, training and support.
The SU931 is a native resolution WUXGA (1920×1200) projector with 6,000 lumens and a 3000:1 contrast ratio, and the SX930 XGA (1024×768) resolution projector is 7,000 lumens with a 2500:1 contrast ratio and feature BenQ’s Colorific technology. The new S-Series projectors feature a 1.6x big zoom feature, opening up a wider range of installation possibilities and making it easier to achieve the desired image size from nearly any location. Additional flexibility includes a vertical lens shift, vertical and horizontal keystone correction and corner fit geometric correction. Both models feature a microphone input, 20-watt stereo speakers, variable line level audio out and dual HDMI ports.
BenQ’s SU931 and SX930 are here. Leave a Comment
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Milestone Buys VaddioMilestone AV Technologies today announced that it has acquired Vaddio. Vaddio, based in Minnetonka, Minn., was purchased by Milestone for an undisclosed amount, and will now join the Milestone family of brands including Chief, Da-lite, SANUS and Projecta. Milestone is majority owned by the Pritzker Group, alongside management and The Duchossois Group.
“Adding Vaddio to our leading portfolio of commercial and consumer AV brands gives us the opportunity to deliver even greater value to our combined dealer base,” said Scott Gill, CEO of Milestone AV Technologies. “We are excited to further expand our product and service offerings. Vaddio and Milestone share not just a heritage of successful growth in Minnesota – the businesses both focus on making technology work for our customers with an unrivaled combination of installer-focused innovation supported by exceptional service.”
“We are very excited to have the Vaddio team join Milestone and continue delivering innovative products to market,” added Gill. Vaddio will continue to be based in its current Minnetonka, Minnesota location.
J.B. Pritzker, Pritzker Group managing partner, added, “Pritzker Group acquired Milestone because of their great team, industry leading brands and exceptional focus on customers and innovation. The acquisition of Vaddio represents a continued commitment to investing for the long-term behind the innovation and service that have made both companies a key partner to their customers.”
Milestone AV Technologies is here and Vaddio is here. Leave a Comment
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Altinex Debuts UT260-052 Under Table 5×2 HDMI SwitcherAltinex just launched the UT260-052 Under Table 5×2 HDMI Switcher. The UT260-052 is a five input, two output switcher and is designed to be used with Altinex ShareTime controllers that enable shared control of multiple inputs on a single monitor. It uses all HDMI inputs and outputs.
The UT260-052 switcher has five HDMI video inputs that can be routed to two outputs. In addition to the five external inputs, there is a sixth internal media player input available to play MPEG files from a USB flash drive that can serve as a simple digital signage media player.
TV power (or power for a video display with support for CEC commands) and input selection on the UT260-052 is controlled through the use of CEC commands from the switcher. At power up or upon waking the system, the switcher turns on the TVs and then sets the TV inputs to those connected to the switcher outputs.
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Nureva Releases Span 1.2 softwareNureva has announced a new release of its software for the Nureva Span system. Span 1.2 software, which customers receive automatically through the cloud, further enables collaborative activities in several key ways. The addition of familiar business-analysis templates makes it even easier for teams to leverage the Span system as part of their established processes. An upgrade to the software’s digital ink automatically smooths pen strokes to improve the appearance of annotations and sketches, while visual cues and new menu options make the use of groups and subgroups more intuitive.
These software enhancements enable familiar business processes and activities. For example, the ready-made templates offer a selection of proven models for business analysis, including SWOT analyses, fishbone diagrams and Kanban boards. Each familiar framework helps guide thought processes and enables easy organization of ideas during collaborative sessions, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing the amount of preparation required. Along with tightening the focus of idea-generation and planning activities, templates also automate certain actions to bring visual consistency to content shared on the Span system’s digital canvas. For example, sections in color-coded templates serve as active hot spots that transfer their own color to the digital notes placed inside. Similarly, enhancements to grouping mean that a group or subgroup will now glow when content is added to indicate precise placement, and subgroups can now be pinned in place inside larger groups. Finally, calligraphic ink produces graceful, flowing pen strokes that are reminiscent of pen on paper and enhance any form of writing or drawing in the software.
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New Crestron DMPS3-4K Series Are Designed for Small Meeting RoomsCrestron said its expanding expanding its line of DigitalMedia 3-Series Presentation Systems (DMPS3) with two new models designed specifically for single-display applications. The three DMSP3-4K models feature a built-in Crestron 3-Series Control System, analog and digital AV switching, 4K scaler and direct LAN connectivity with Crestron Fusion software for network management.
All three models feature built-in Crestron .AV Framework technology, which provides several powerful and vital features right out of the box, including auto-switching, plug-and-play installation with Crestron Connect It cable caddies, automatic display on/off via CEC, and intelligent connectivity with Crestron AirMedia presentations gateway for wireless BYOD capability.
Using .AV Framework from the touch screen or web-based tool, integrators can do system setup. They can choose sources and display control and automatically generate the touch screen GUI, to deliver an intuitive, consistent user experience in every room, without any programming, according to Crestron.
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Comprehensive Intros 3×1 and 5×1 4K HDMI SwitchersComprehensive Connectivity has launched a new series of HDMI Switchers that are all specified at HDCP 2.2 (4K@60 4:2:0). The CSW-HD301K and CSW-HD501K allow for three or five sources, respectively, to be switched to one HDMI-capable display.
Comprehensive’s CSW-HD301K and CSW-HD501K are designed to support HDMI 2.0, HDCP 2.2, 3D, 12-bit Deep Color as well as High Definition Lossless Audio. In addition, the HDMI Switchers scale HD video signals to UHD 4K@60Hz (chroma sampling rate is 4:2:0) and audio signals up to Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio with the ability of receiving and transmitting up to 10.2Gbps of bandwidth with no claimed data loss. They are HDCP compliant for compatibility with HDCP protected devices.
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Proxima Intros 3600-Lumen WXGA Portable ProjectorProxima Displays has announced the release of the C436W WXGA projector. The C436W is their first small and portable model and features a brightness spec of 3,600 lumens and WXGA 1280×800 resolution with LCD display technology. Inputs include two VGA, two HDMI, USB and RJ45 inputs and it lists for $899.
Featuring a 10,000-hour lamp life in eco mode, the C436W has automatic or manual keystone correction. Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Nureva Creates a 30′ Surround Version of SpanNureva announced the creation of a 30-foot (9.1 meters) immersive collaboration environment that surrounds teams with their digital content. The surround experience is created by three panoramic projectors installed on adjoining walls and enabled by a multi-display setup tool in Span software. This tool links the computers and merges the cloud-based canvas across the three systems. The resulting immersive environment gives teams a truly expansive view of their content, which comprises digital sticky notes, sketches, images and flip charts.
This configuration transforms huddle rooms into rich environments for creativity and innovation. As in any project room, team members benefit from being close to their content. Every detail is within easy reach, and content can be fluidly and efficiently moved across walls and around corners. Panning at any location seamlessly moves the whole canvas and its contents around all three walls. The result is more efficient collaboration and an enhanced sensory experience with users reporting reduced distractions and a heightened focus on their content. Team members can quickly identify connections, fill in gaps and see relationships that spark new ideas. In addition, the system’s cloud-based software enables in-room and remote participants to access the material any time through personal devices.
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BenQ Intros New WXGA Short Throw ProjectorBenQ’s new MW883UST is a native WXGA (1366×768) resolution single-chip, short-throw projector.
Spec’d at 3,300 ANSI lumens and a 10,000:1 contrast ratio, the MW883UST has something BenQ calls PointWrite, an interactive module aimed at adding collaboration capabilities to the classrooms of budget-conscious schools. PointWrite allows teachers and students to interact easily with and annotate course material on-screen. Additionally, BenQ QWrite interactive software allows teachers to capture and save lessons easily so that students can be more fully immersed in the class and get the exact notes as they appear on the board. Wireless connectivity and content sharing is enabled via an optional QCast dongle.
Featuring dual HDMI ports (one being MHL-compatible), a USB reader for PC-less presentations and document saving, an integrated wireless docking port to house accessory dongles and powerful 20-W audio, the projector is a stand-alone entry-level system for schools. The MW883UST can be placed just a few inches from the projection screen and can project images up to 140 inches.
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Kramer Releases VIA Site ManagementKramer today released something they are calling VIA Site Management (VSM), an enterprise-wide management platform that lets VIA administrators control and configure all VIA devices in a network from a single window. VSM is part of the Kramer VIA family of Wireless Presentation & Collaboration Solutions.
VSM’s web-based interface gives users at-a-glance visibility from any PC, laptop or tablet across the entire VIA environment. With an integrated dashboard, administrators can monitor real-time performance data and usage, perform simultaneous firmware updates, and optimize every VIA device in the network.
The platform’s pricing model is based on the number of VIA units being managed and VSM supports both Windows and Linux systems.
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FSR and Connectrac Partner to Sell and Support Wireways LineFSR has announced its partnership with Connectrac, manufacturer of Wireways. Wireways is a floor-based series of cable management solutions for bringing power, data and communications from the wall to all interior commercial applications. The newly branded partnership, FSR+Connectrac, will allow FSR to extend its product line and offer customers the ability to run cabling across the floor in an organized fashion, while the wiring remains unseen.
FSR+Connectrac offers users in the professional AV market two options: In-Carpet Wireway, which furnishes discreet and elegant power and technology connectivity in open interior spaces of all kinds, and the On-Floor Wireway, which installs directly on top of any type of flooring.
The In-Carpet Wireway combines an extruded aluminum central wireway flanked by ultra-low sloping floor transition ramps, creating a subtle, powerful and beautiful cable pathway solution for virtually any need. Extremely durable and flexible, the FSR+ Connectrac In-Carpet Wireway offers a multitude of power options and telecom capabilities. FSR+ Connectrac is ideal for open space connectivity.
The FSR+Connectrac On-Floor Wireway system installs directly on top of any type of flooring. Also durable and low-profile, it offers a wide array of power/AV/telecom connectivity options. The FSR+Connectrac On-Floor Wireway leads the industry in both ease of installation and capacity for telecom/AV cables. In-Carpet and On-Floor Wireway are the best solutions when aesthetics, speed of installation, flexibility and value are critical.
For use in conference rooms, workstations, training rooms and classrooms, both Wireway options offer such features as: low-profile extruded aluminum wireway, cable pathway with no core drilling or trenching, a multitude of power and telecom/AV options, pre-wired power components for speedy installation, removable wireway top cap for ease of changing cables, multiple finishes and ADA-compliance. In-Carpet Wireway offers moisture-resistant MDF floor transition ramps; On-Floor Wireway installs directly on top of any type of flooring and is ideal for low-traffic areas.
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Extron Ships 4K DTP Twisted Pair Extenders for DisplayPortExtron is already shipping its new DTP DP 4K 230 and DTP DP 4K 330, transmitters and receivers for sending DisplayPort, audio, as well as bidirectional RS232 and IR signals over a shielded CATx shielded twisted pair cable. They extend signals up to 230 feet (70 meters) or 330 feet (100 meters). Both DTP DP 4K models provide an effective means for incorporating higher resolution DisplayPort signals with embedded audio into Extron DTP Systems. They support video signals at resolutions up to 4K. The DTP DP 4K 230 and DTP DP 4K 330 also accept analog stereo audio signals for simultaneous transmission over the same shielded twisted pair cable. The compact enclosure size and remote power capability make the DTP DP 4K models good for discreet placement in lecterns, beneath tables, behind flat-panel displays, or wherever needed to meet application requirements.
The DTP DP 4K 230 and DTP DP 4K 330 streamline integration by supporting bidirectional RS-232 and IR pass-through for AV device control at remote locations. For added installation flexibility, a single external power supply can be used to remotely power the transmitter or receiver over the twisted pair cable. DTP DP 4K receiver models support Type 2 dual-mode DisplayPort, which allows source signals to be sent to a 4K-capable HDMI or DVI device with an appropriate adapter. DTP DP 4K transmitter models offer an HDBaseT output mode that provides the additional integration convenience of a twisted pair output that can send video and embedded audio, plus bidirectional control signals to any HDBaseT-enabled display.
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LG Intros 86″ “Stretch” 7-foot Wide by 1-foot Tall, 4K Resolution MonitorLG introduced an 86-inch “Ultra Stretch” digital signage monitor at DSE aimed at transportation, retail stores, banks and museums.
Using an aspect ratio of 58:9, the Ultra Stretch Signage monitor measures seven feet long and one foot wide. Dubbed the LG 86BH5C, it’s a 4K Ultra HD resolution and uses LG’s Picture-by-Picture technology, which allows the user to divide the long, rectangular signage into four seamless screens in landscape or portrait installations.
Offering integrators a range of customization options, the monitor supports lateral tiling by linking together 1×4 or 4×1 landscape or portrait installations, and up to a 4×4 installation with a daisy chain configuration. The LAN daisy chain allows users to control and monitor devices, distribute content and update firmware. These unique features empower users to customize the display to maximize content and impact.
LG’s 86-inch Ultra Stretch Signage monitor has a host of other features including LG’s SuperSign media editor that allows users to easily edit images or video clips of original content without the need for additional editing programs.
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Elite Screens Debuts Whiteboard Projection ScreensElite Screens recently announced the launch of its new line of whiteboard projection screens. The multi-role combination of a whiteboard and theater-grade projection screen is interesting for a classroom or training facility. The Whiteboard Screen-TE or “Thin Edge” classroom projection screen combines the two most vital classroom visual aids by providing theater-grade imagery and a dry-erase writing surface within one well made design. A standard whiteboard is ill-suited to be a projector screen. Between surface glare and distracting color shift, regular whiteboards impede the instructor’s attempts to present a clear message. The Whiteboard Screen TE provides superior picture quality free from glare and with full color neutrality.
The Whiteboard Screen TE is the latest in Elite’s line of whiteboard-projection screens designed to work with Standard, Short Throw & UST projectors. It uses Elite’s Versawhite dry-erase material over a magnetic backing. The Versawhite material is made of a 1.1 gain matte white projection surface that gives clear color reproduction and a wide viewing angle for limitless training/classroom applications. The material is coated with a scratch-resistant optical nanotech resin. This allows the screen to also serve as a dry-erase board. Lastly, this product is GREENGUARD certified for indoor air quality compliance. It is important to make sure that the synthetic products you use are not emitting potentially harmful chemicals into the air that you and your students breathe. This certification guarantees that this product meets the strictest safety requirements for indoor air quality emissions.
The thin-edge design serves two purposes. First, it’s 5mm edge bezel protects the screen’s exterior while allowing the instructor to maximize presentation space. Second, it has an aesthetically pleasing appearance that also supports a utility tray. Also referred to as an accessory tray, it has a stout design that not only holds all the dry-erase essentials but can act as a support for the various interactive whiteboard accessories on the market today, in essence, turning your projection surface into a large interactive video display.
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Extron Ships VNM EC 200 Enterprise Controller for VN-Matrix SystemsExtron’s VNM EC 200 is a dedicated enterprise controller for VN-Matrix systems. It is designed to simplify management of large VN-Matrix deployments, efficiently configuring, managing, and dynamically controlling large VN-Matrix systems from a single user interface. VN‑Matrix devices can be selected in groups, and common configuration properties can be applied to all devices. Firmware can be uploaded to all devices or any group of devices in one action. Multiple VNM EC 200 controllers can be deployed in VN-Matrix systems, providing control over the entire system or independent clusters of VN‑Matrix devices or creating redundant systems for mission-critical applications.
Every VN-Matrix system includes a basic embedded Web browser interface for the configuration of encoders and decoders. This embedded interface is useful in small systems limited to a few units or systems that will be left in a fixed operational state. The VNM EC 200 provides greater processing capacity for efficient management, configuration, and dynamic control over large VN-Matrix systems. Its embedded web interface quickly organizes and sorts all devices in a system based on properties such as: unit status or type, operating mode, source, controller, or firmware version. Multiple VNM EC 200 controllers can be applied in VN-Matrix systems, providing control over the entire system or independent clusters of VN-Matrix devices.
The VNM EC 200 can also create streaming and recording system presets that can be recalled directly from an external control system. Each preset captures all device settings and defines specific streaming connection and recording actions. Recall of various streaming and recording presets greatly simplifies management and control of VN-Matrix systems.
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Christie Adds Four Laser-Phosphor Projectors with New GS Series Using Rec. 709Christie has announced new 1DLP lineup GS Series of laser-phosphor projectors, including two HD models with BoldColor Technology. The line is aimed at corporate meeting rooms, trade shows, entertainment venues and rental staging.
More advanced than previous GS models, the four professional-grade models use a grid-based warping and blending processor and also have an option for camera-based warping, blending or stacking to make setups faster and simpler. They can also be rotated 360-degrees and used in portrait orientation, making them ideal for complex setups in rental staging and medium-sized fixed applications. At only 35dBA, users won’t be distracted by projector noise and the new, sleeker design blends seamlessly into any environment. Lightweight and compact, the four new models deliver stunning images using a laser phosphor light source with a 20,000 hour life for low maintenance and a low cost of ownership.
While all four models tout improved color performance, the 850-GS models incorporate Christie BoldColor Technology for premium color performance. The increase in color balance to improve color accuracy results in the extreme bold colors audiences prefer. With two new HD and two more WUXGA laser phosphor models, Christie has a wide-ranging 1DLP lineup including both lamp and laser phosphor options ranging from 3,000 to 13,000 lumens without limiting options to one technology or another.
Featuring bottom-side HDMI connectivity and rear cover, the new Christie GS models can be ceiling mounted and have a very clean look without all the unused connections, cables and keypad being exposed. All RJ45 connections are fully compatible with the rugged and lockable XLR-shell connection to protect and avoid having to re-terminate cables onsite.
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