Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Gordie Howe Tribute to Mr Hockey

Grant's Perspective on ... Edge Blending and Video Mapping at the Gordie Howe Tribute to Mr Hockey.



I think the staging at the recent 55th Annual Kinsmen Sports Celebrity Dinner, Gordie Howe: Tribute to Mr Hockey hosted at TCU Place in Saskatoon was spectacular! Our Inland AV, Saskatoon Rentals division did a great job helping stage the event.


The edge blended graphic made a great backdrop for the round table discussion of hockey greats. Attendees certainly knew they were honouring Gordie Howe the second they stepped into the room.


 The video mapped #9 banners looked real and added intrigue when the "printed banner" graphics changed.


Filling in for Grant

Ken


Thursday, February 26, 2015

Plenum-Rated Ceiling Storage for Audio Visual Components

Grant's Perspective on ... hiding AV components from view with Chief ceiling storage kits.

Chief participated in our recent Collaboration 2015: Educational Seminars and Demonstrations event in Winnipeg. I visited our amazing Chief rep and asked her what the box at her booth was all about (see photo below).

She told me it was the "CMS491- 1' x 2' Plenum Rated Storage Box that conceals AV equipment above a 1' X 2' ceiling tile to provide a clean professional look for classrooms and conference rooms."

CMS491- 1' x 2' Plenum Rated Storage Box

Features from the Chief website:

  • Drop carriage door improves accessibility and serviceability providing full access to equipment
  • Detachable power housing can be pre-installed with electricians on site and assembled to the storage box at a later time
  • Inside the plenum box or facing the room
    • Up to 2 single gang or 1 dual gang outlet
    • 4 nested knockouts for 1-1/4", 1", & ½" diameter conduit
  • Built in ventilation
  • AV tray supports a variety of AV components
    • Ships with 1 shelf, 2nd shelf sold separately see CMSUNV1
  • Overall weight capacity 100 lbs (45 kg)
    • 50 lbs (22 kg) for projector ceiling plate
    • 25 lbs (11 kg) per shelf location
  • Ships with speed connect installation hardware
  • Lightweight construction, one man installation
  • Plenum rated, UL approved in accordance to 2043
  • TAA Compliant


The CMS series has 4 different products available to help hide AV components in ceilings. Check out the different options by clicking through the links below.


CMS492 – 2 x 2’ kit

CMS492C – 2 x 2’ kit with column drop plate

CMS491- 1 x 2’ kit

CMS491C – 1 x 2’ kit with column drop plate
Options:

CMSUNV2 – 2’ x 2’ AV Component Shelf if you need a second shelf for the CMS492 or CMS492C


CMS1RU – 1 RU Rack Mount Brackets, compatible with the CMS492 and CMS492C only


CMSFAN – Plenum Rated Fan Kit, compatible with all kits.






Ken
(filling in for Grant for the next short while)


Friday, February 13, 2015

Lumens CT-C50 iPad Charging Cart

Grant's Perspective on ... the Lumens Rhino Charging Cart.

With many schools providing iPads and other similar devices to students instead of textbooks, there is a need for efficient charging stations in today's classroom. With space at a premium Lumens has added a great option with the CT-C50 Charging Cart. It is a mobile podium that can charge up to 42 portable devices internally and has 2 external USB connections so the instructor can charge while they use their device.


The YouTube video below provides a good 3 minute overview of the CT-C50.



Grant

Monday, January 26, 2015

Lights in the Way, Epson Saves the Day!

Grant's Perspective on ... boardroom light fixtures getting in the way of projectors.

Some of the common obstacles when installing an AV system into a boardroom are lighting fixtures. Placement of lights and other room design elements can be a hindrance to an AV system.

Often a light is immediately in front of the screen or light fixtures are hanging where a projector should be placed.

The photo below is a good example of these issues. We are thankful that many Epson projectors can be installed with (in this case) a short throw lens so that the cool looking lighting and the projector can live in harmony both from an aesthetic and functional point of view.


When building or renovating a boardroom we encourage people to consult with their AV company ( Inland Audio Visual) in the early planning stages so that the room design and AV design can work together. Notice the lighting pot immediately above the projector in the photo below.



Grant

Friday, September 19, 2014

Updated Aquos Board Training Video

Grant's Perspective on ... the updated Sharp Interactive Aquos Board Training video.

Sharp has updated their interactive Aquos Board Training/Overview YouTube video. This is a great introduction on how to use the interactive monitor to deliver a presentation.


Grant

Friday, August 29, 2014

Sharp Interactive Aquos Board Videos

Grant's Perspective on ... one short video and one long video by Sharp Electronics.

I came across two new videos on the Sharp Aquos interactive display.

The fist video below is a short one minute video and celebrates the return to school with a "teacher" painting an apple using the Aquos display.

The second video is a 34 minute full product demonstration. I liked watching this YouTube presentation when she opens up another Sharp Aquos YouTube video as an example in the presentation. This happens just after the 5 minute mark.

The first video is entertainment and the second video is a great overview of the interactive capabilities of the Aquos display.

Back to School

Full Product Demonstration

Grant

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Download Updated Sharp Aquos Board Software

Grant's Perspective on ...updated Aquos interactive software now available for download.

Sharp has posted software updates for the interactive Aquos displays that have been very popular with our clients. They are available at www.Sharp.ca website download page.

 
Grant

Friday, July 18, 2014

Community Outdoor Audio Demonstration

Grant's Perspective on ... the demonstration of Community outdoor speakers.

We had a couple of educational sessions covering new audio products and software from Community and Ashly. Kyle, our Community representative did an in depth classroom training session as did Todd from Ashly.

Kyle and Todd then took advantage of a beautiful Winnipeg summer morning to demonstrate the outdoor speaker systems in our back parking lot. It was great to hear the different products and the different dispersion patterns and throw distances in action.

Kyle & Todd demo the Community indoor and outdoor speakers
We encourage people looking for outdoor audio systems to contact us (Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon or Winnipeg locations) for information on Community audio solutions.

Grant

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Bose Audio System in Brasilia World Cup Stadium

Grant's Perspective on ... the new Bose audio system in the Brasilia World Cup stadium.

I wanted to share the YouTube video of an AV company in Brazil that designed and installed a new Bose audio system in preparation for the World Cup. As a system designer I liked the simulation graphics that appear at the 1:44 mark of the video. We also use the same software (and other audio simulation software). The video footage taken from the installation technicians perspective takes my breath away.

Grant

Monday, June 9, 2014

Reduced Glare Whiteboard for Interactive Projectors

Grant's Perspective on ... the new Draper Scribe whiteboard with reduced projector glare.

Many organizations are using whiteboard as projection screens. This is often the case with interactive projectors. You want to be able to "write" on the surface with your finger or the projector's pen. The problem is that whiteboards utilized as a projection screen can create glare that makes the image hard to see.

Draper has now introduced the Scribe™ to minimize the glare by up to 80% (Draper's claim as I have not yet demo'd this product). The Scribe's matte surface is what reduces the whiteboard's glare.



The screen will be demonstrated at InfoComm starting on June 14.

Grant