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

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, 2^nd 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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Canadian Tire Cloud 9 Touch Screens

Grant's Perspective on ... the new Canadian Tire Cloud Nine Digital Innovation Centre.

We have been hard at work installing the Canadian Tire Cloud Nine Digital Innovation Centre's AV system. Local media and politicians were recently given a tour.

click the above graphic to go to Winnipeg Metro News article

To see more photos at the Winnipeg Free Press click here.

The main feature in the AV system is the 191" x  54" interactive touch video wall. The impressive video wall can be seen in many of the Winnipeg Free Press photos.

Other cool features include:

• The AV system is controlled by an intuitive wireless touch-screen system controller
• State-of-the-art boardroom including a video conference system
• Interactive design room monitors can be rotated 90 degrees to mimic a cell phone screen

 Grant

Sharp PNL802B Now Compatible With Crestron RL/Microsoft Lync

Grant's Perspective on ... Sharp PNL802B monitor now compatible with Microsoft Lync

The Sharp PNL802B interactive monitor is now compatible with the Crestron RL unified communication system. Crestron RL control systems are designed with Crestron hardware and Microsoft Lynx software.

This compatibility is welcomed by Microsoft Lync users as it provides an additional monitor choice of monitor that will be supported by Microsoft.

Contact Inland AV for more information on Sharp Aquos interactive display.

Grant

Super Bowl LED Tuques

Grant's Perspective on ... the Super Bowl half time show.

Like many other people around the world, I think the Super Bowl half time show is as important as the game itself. I settled in to watch Bruno Mars and immediately noticed the lights in the crowd. My first thought was that people had their cell phone light on. That did not make sense as the people were too far away for the light to work and would quickly empty their cell phone battery. Then the lights started to change colour and it became apparent that the crowd lights were a part of the show!

The Montreal company  PixMob was responsible for creating the LED show which included handing out 80,000 LED tuques to the fans. The LED lighting was controlled by infrared transmitters so the LED's could turn on or off and change colour. Each person wearing a tuque was like a single pixel on a video monitor.

The London Olympic Opening Ceremony had LED panels fixed to every seat in the stadium and now each person's head can be a part of the show.

Grant

Dalite IDEA Screen - Projection Screen Whiteboard

Grant's Perspective on ... the projection screen that doubles as a whiteboard.

Usually you find whiteboards that double as a projection screen. The Dalite IDEA Screen turns this "idea" around by developing a projection screen that also doubles as a whiteboard.

The IDEA Screen is a proper projection surface featuring a 2.5 gain and 25° viewing half angle, which seems like more. The projection coating also diffuses the light so there is no glare or hot spotting and the brightness is uniform across the entire screen surface. It is also an amazingly simple to erase dry erase marker board, but a proper projection surface first.

There are many iterations of it, standard, thin bezel, panoramic and magnetic. Any size is available, limited only to 4’ tall (46” viewable due to frame). I really like the panoramic model that is available in 12', 14' and 16' widths. The center of the screen is a 16:9 or 16:10 projection area and the side areas are available as a whiteboard space so a projector can be used simultaneously with collaborative brain storming.

This is a screen to consider when projection is the top priority and  a whiteboard is a secondary use.

Grant

 

New Shure Wireless Microphone BLX & GLX-D Series

Grant's Perspective on ... the new Shure wireless BLX and GLX-D microphone series is great for schools.

Shure has recently introduced two new  microphone series that I can see as being attractive to the education market. Both systems are available with a choice of hand held mic, lavalier mic, head set or instrument input models.

The BLX  series has up to 16 different channels so multiple microphones can used simultaneously in different classrooms. The BLX microphones also have a great price point (contact us for a quote).

The GLX-D series microphones are available with 8 different channels and come with a rechargeable battery. The body pack system also includes a guitar receiver that mounts on guitar pedal boards and includes a guitar tuner.

See the GLX-D video below.



Grant

SMART Software Now Available With BrighLinks

Grant's Perspective on ... the SMART software now available with Epson BrightLink interactive projectors.

Here is some news many clients will find exciting.

But first, go back a few steps...

Years ago Epson came out with a line of projectors called Brightlink.  They are bright!  They are widescreen!  They are interactive!

Whether used in education or assisting to increase productivity in business, this ultimate solution has been very VERY popular.  Thinking more about this I realized I have never heard a negative remark about these state-of-the art workhorse interactive projectors.  We have these units installed in schools everywhere, training rooms, emergency operations, offices, corporate boardrooms.... such a variety of ways these are utilized!

No wonder Epson is the #1 selling projector brand worldwide and the Brighlink line is the #1 line of interactive projectors worldwide.

Now the news:

Just recently SMART announced their agreement with Epson to license SMART Notebook software for use with Epson BrightLink interactive projectors. 

Major advantage for all who just love their Epson Brightlink!

This means that teachers who have developed curriculum content with the SMART Notebook software can use the Epson BrightLink projectors instead of the SMART electronic whiteboards.

And, no waiting.  This has already started as of a few days ago on October 1^st

For more information please view the Inland AV news article.

Grant