Sharp PNV601 At Digital Signage Expo 2011

Grant's Perspective on ... the Sharp PNV601 video wall monitor bezel mirror.

I was sent a link to a video made on the floor of the Digital Signage Expo 2011. I had earlier posted on how impressive this monitor is for video wall applications with the "world's thinnest" bezel. Sharp has added a mirror bezel which reflects the image from the monitors so that at a distance the bezel is nearly invisible. How cool is that!

Below is a screen capture from the video with a close up of the mirror. Click through to have a look at the entire 1 minute video.

Grant

Hitachi Introduces the iPJ-AW250N Interactive Projector

Grant's Perspective on ... Hitachi iPJ-AW250N interactive projector.

Hitachi has announced that they will be soon adding the iPJ-AW250N interactive projector to their product line-up. This ultra-short throw projector is a 2,500 ANSI lumen projector with a resolution of 1280 x 800 (16:10).

Their preliminary information refers to this projector as being "software agnostic". This means that any software that you run on your computer will work with the projector. You are not restricted to using proprietary software that is licensed by the hardware manufacturer.

I was pleased to see that Hitachi has included an HDMI input. HDMI is a cable standard for high definition (HD) equipment that carries both audio and video signals.

Below are Hitachi photos of the projector and infrared pen.

We are anticipating the release of  this interactive projector soon.

Grant

Future of AV System Control & Touch Screens

Grant's Perspective on ... the future of audiovisual system control and touch screens.


I came across this Corning video of where they see the future of system control. I really like the "video phone" chat. The "phone" is placed on a table and the screen jumps onto the table so the image can be larger and the whole family can participate in the call (1:48 mark). Control of window tinting and using the bathroom mirror, fridge, counter, car, bus stops and everything at the office as a touch screen and monitor.

If this is really what’s in store for us, then this is cool.

Grant

Telepresence Foreshadowed On Star Trek

Grant's Perspective on ... telepresence foreshadowed on Star Trek.

I was surfing the other night and noticed that howstuffworks.com had a post on "Top 10 Star Trek Technologies that Actually Came True". The Tricoder was number one and telepresence was second on the list.

Below is a photo of a telepresence room. The idea of telepresence is that all participants feel like they are really meeting face-to-face. The photo below illustrates this. The people on the video monitor are at eye level with the other people in the room. The background and lighting are the same so they feel they are in the same room. The audio is ideally stereo and comes from the direction of the person who is on the monitor.

Beam me up Scotty!

Grant

$1.3 Trillion on Business Travel & Videoconferencing

Grant's Perspective on ... radio "Tough Trivia" contest reminds me that videoconferencing can save money.

I was listening to the local 92 CITI FM Winnipeg radio show this morning as I got ready to leave for the office. They have a Tough Trivia contest every weekday morning and today's question was "1.3 trillion dollars is spent on this annually." The winning answer was business travel.

This reminded me of the travel savings that videoconferencing can deliver. I encourage anyone interested in spending less time on the road and/or in the air to look at the online Videoconferencing Business Advantage Calculator to see how much money  they can save (never mind the improved family life!) by using technology.

Videoconferencing Business Advantage Calculator

 Grant

Sharp 60" Touchscreen At Inland AV Winnipeg Show

Grant's Perspective on ... touching the Sharp 60" monitor.

At last week’s New Wave of AV event (Inland AV’s annual Open House) one of the products featured was the Sharp PN-L601B 60" Touchscreen.

This item is a 60” LCD monitor with built in touch screen – a fantastic tool for interactive communication.  It is designed for presentations, meetings, training seminars, videoconferencing, etc, etc, etc.

Pictured below is Mr. Joe Ng from Sharp doing a product demonstration of this unit.  

 

I noticed there was a lot of interest and many questions. It quickly became a common topic of discussion throughout the event.  Some of the topics, in no particular order of popularity, were:

• Everyone liked that it’s a monitor and touch screen all-in-one.
• The unit looks really good and it’s not bulky.
• It’s impressively large yet everything is within arms reach.
• The image quality is amazingly sharp (no pun intended).
• Very bright!  “It’s bright enough to work in our boardroom with the blinds open!”  And on that note, this unit is Mercury Free – no fluorescent tubes. think Green.
• People took note of the energy savings – cool how so many attendees are concerned about this.  This is accomplished by the backlighting (where these units get their light from) done with a full array of LED’s.  That’s where the energy saving comes in as LED’s use way, way, way less energy
• Everyone liked the technology involved in the interactive abilities. There are multiple infrared sensors that detect one infrared LED light in the pen.  This means the system can precisely detect detailed touching points. It also works with your finger!
• Everyone liked the simple and intuitive user interface.  Some mentioned that the folks back at their office would be able to use it with ease, and therefore be more effective in their presentations.  In the photo, on Joe’s left, you can see that Joe moved his selection of favourite tools to the left side of the board.
• It was asked if this unit was shipping now, and it is!

So definitely a winner product – and a one of a kind in the market place.

Thanks to Joe for his stamina with answering all the questions all day.

Grant

Boardroom Light Fixture & Projector Mount

Grant's Perspective on ... architects placing a light fixture where a projector will be hung.


It is time for me to get on my soap box and ask why do architects want to include a light fixture in the exact spot that a projector is to be installed?  Or above a screen washing out the projected image? Including a bulkhead over the presentation area of the room for the sake of décor causes the screen to be located lower on the wall (the screen needs to be high up so it can be seen when the room is full of people!).

I’ve seen situations where a screen is included in the blueprints, and often it’s known that a projector is to be installed on the ceiling, but the positioning of the projector is not considered.  In the past I’ve seen light fixtures hanging very low and right in the path of the projection, causing the lights to cast a shadow on the screen.  How many ways can you say “Argg!”?   The issue with light fixtures near the screen is more pronounced lately now that ultra-short throw projectors are available.  Bottom line; the room would look much better if the projector location was taken into account before the room was built or renovated.

The picture below is an Epson BrightLink 450Wi ultra-short throw, interactive projector installed into a corporate boardroom.  Note the pot light and bulkhead above it.   I wonder if the client feels that their clients will think they’re sloppy?

 

But, more and more I’ve noticed Architects and AV integrators waking up to these concerns and communicating so we can all provide a much better product in the end for the client.


Grant

Sharp 60" Touchscreen at New Wave of AV Show

Grant's Perspective on ... Sharp PN-L601B Touchscreen coming to Winnipeg January 28, 2011.

I was privileged to have been invited to a sneak preview of the Sharp 60" touchscreen monitor, A.K.A. an LCD Whiteboard, at the 2010 InfoComm last June and again more recently at the Canadian introductory event.  Now this impressive unit will be featured at the Inland AV New Wave of AV event.  It will include a seminar for the PN-L601B touchscreen conducted by everyone’s pal Joe Ng from Sharp.

The touchscreen will be on demonstration all day and our clients will love the opportunity to get their hands on this interactive  monitor - literally get your hands on the pen and take it for a test drive! (no digital obscenities please - LOL)

I think the unit will be a huge hit for boardrooms.  The monitor when wall mounted will look quite elegant and with the excellent video image will be worthy of any high-end décor.

They can also get their hands on the Epson BrightLink interactive projector that will be on display as well.

Grant

The Snow Must Go On!

Grant's Perspective on ... Edmonton rental technicians deliver in blizzard conditions.

I received some photos from the Edmonton Inland AV manager that were taken hours before the sun came up.

"We had to walk 500 meters to get to the shop as the access road was impassable. We then towed the vans to 178 Street and then another tow into the hotel parking lot. At the end,  we had to tow the vans back 500M into the shop... It's a miracle that the show went off on time."

There is enough work to staging a show without battling through blizzard like conditions. Hats off to Edmonton Rentals staff  for believing that the show must go on!

Grant

Music Priority and Ambient Noise Detector

Grant's Perspective on ... audio technology used in marketing.

One of the interesting areas of designing AV systems is adding features that can generate revenue or additional marketing opportunities that previously did not exist.  Two recent examples come to mind:

A - Music Priority 

I recently updated an audio system for a restaurant/sports bar venue that included a music priority system.  The facility provides background music, which is always constantly playing, and also a juke box for their patrons.  Both music sources are broadcast over the house sound system for all to hear.  When coins are inserted into the juke box and the songs are selected, the audio system will turn off the background music and play the selected songs from the juke box.  This added feature will allow the juke box to play at a higher volume.  Then, and typically, when the juke box is done and the background music returns at the original volume level, more coins will get inserted into the juke box to get the place hopping again with music. Ka-ching!

I explained this to someone who didn’t realize this was the idea and their eyes opened wide with realization. The client, who was watching this conversation, smiled and vehemently offered confirmation of the additional source of revenue.

B - Ambient Noise Detector

Another example of including features, this time for the benefit of marketing, is the use of ambient noise detectors in sound systems.  Many times a sound system will broadcast pre-recorded messages for the purpose of marketing/advertisements.  The problem is messages are too loud when there isn’t much going on, like the non-busy hours in a store, but then can’t be heard when the area is busy.  The ambient noise detector will automatically adjust the volume of the advertisement in accordance of the area’s noise level.  The message gets heard and product & service awareness is increased.

There are so many ideas that AV systems designers can contribute when we understand the clients world and the client is open to new ideas.

Grant