Mobile Rear Projection Whiteboard

Grant's Perspective on ... Da-lite's new rear projection whiteboard cart for interactive projectors.

Da-Lite has introduced the IDEA Interactive Cart (a new mobile whiteboard cart designed for use with interactive projectors). The cool feature is that the ultra-short throw projector is mounted to the back side of the cart so that the whiteboard becomes a rear projection screen. This eliminates the shadows caused by someone standing between the projector and screen.

I look forward to the opportunity to get my hands on this and try it out.

Grant

New Hitachi Energy Saving Projectors

Grant's Perspective on ... the new Hitachi ImageCare lamp power control function.

Hitachi has introduced a new lamp power control function that will lower the total cost of ownership, save on electricity consumption and lengthen lamp life. It does this in two new ways: Intelligent Eco mode and Saver Mode.

Intelligent Eco automatically adjusts the power to the lamp depending on the brightness of the images being projected. This can lead to a 35 - 70% less energy being consumed.

Saver Mode reduces the amount of power when a screen has a static slide shown for a length of time. The thinking is that people watch the slide as it changes, read the slide and then not view the slide until it changes. In a classroom, a teacher would advance the slide and then talk about the slide. he students would read the slide and then focus on the teacher until the slide is changed. This can save up to 48% of electricity consumption. The user can set how long a slide will remain at full power before the projector reduces the power.

 Grant

Hide AV Equipment In a Credenza

Grant's Perspective on ... hiding boardroom AV equipment in a credenza.

There are many impressive looking boardrooms that are blemished by audiovisual equipment and wiring. Often the AV equipment can be racked in a credenza so that the boardroom aesthetics can be maintained.  Middle Atlantic makes credenzas that are specifically made for AV equipment. The credenza fits around the rack. It is designed for ease of cable management and proper equipment ventilation.

The rack is put in place, equipment is installed and cabled and then the credenza doors, sides and counter top are installed.

See the YouTube video below for a quick look.




Contact us for more information on how to design your boardroom audiovisual system that will match the look of the room.

Grant

New Music Fees For Canadian Events

Grant's Perspective on ... new music fees for Canadian events.

The Copyright Board of Canada recently introduced fees for using music in live events. This includes events such as parades, weddings (fees with or without dancing), conventions and other events. Business's like restaurants, bars (extra for karaoke) and gyms will also be required to pay these fees. Re:Sound is the organization that will be collecting the fees.

These new fees are in addition to the current Socan fees. Socan fees are collected on behalf of composers and publishing companies. Re:Sound will collect fees on behalf of musicians and recording companies.

The Copyright Board of Canada has posted a copy of the Sound Tariff. The chart below (from the Copyright Board of Canada document) is for calculating recorded music fees for "receptions, conventions, assemblies and fashion shows".

Fee Structure for receptions, conventions, assemblies and fashion shows

I suggest that anyone that puts on events, look at the sound Tariff and understand what it means to their event planning.

Grant

Chief eBeam Makes Sharp Monitors Interactive

Grant's Perspective on ... eBeam integrates with Sharp monitors.

I reviewed the Chief eBeam back in February. One of the issues with the system was that you needed to use a  monitor that was designed so that the screen glass could withstand the constant touching.

There are several Sharp monitors that have a protective layer on their glass, making the eBeam an option to make the monitor interactive. The Sharp model PN-E521P, PN-E471RP and the PN-E421P have an approved protective coating.

More options are always a good thing.

Grant