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

Sharp Timeline: Calculators to 108" Monitors

Grant's Perspective on ... a visual history of Sharp Electronics and their new 90" monitor release.

I noticed a neat graphic that displays the history of Sharp Electronics on their website. I got a real good chuckle seeing the 1989 vintage LCD projector.

Sharp 

screen capture from Sharp electronics website

Sharp has also announced the LC-90LE745U 90" commercial monitor will be available soon. The Sharp Viewmongous campaign.



Grant

Ladibug Document Camera Goes 3D

Grant's Perspective on ... Lumens 3D document camera.

We have seen many 3D monitors and projectors in the last few years so it is great to see some 3D devices such as the Lumens Ladibug 3D. This stereoscopic document camera can work in 2D as well as 3D.

Ladibug 3D photo from Lumens website

This would be a great tool to have in a science class.

Grant

Hologram Videoconference Development At Queen's University

Grant's Perspective on ... 3D hologram telepods at Queen's University.

Holographs are certainly in the news. Professor Roel Veregall, Queen's University, Human Media Lab will unveil the TeleHuman and BodiPod at CHI 2012 in Austin Texas this week.

They report that the life-sized cylinders create 3D life sized images so that videoconference participants can stand directly in front of the person they are talking to.

See the Queen's University  YouTube video below or view this video and more at the Queen's webpage.



A further example of things envisioned on Star Trek.

Grant

Walk-in Telemedicine

Grant's Perspective on ... telemedicine now available for Ottawa walk-in patients.

As a supplier of Cisco and Polycom videoconference solutions, I am always interested in new, innovative uses of technology. Telemedicine is not new but  I did notice a CBC report on an Ottawa walk-in clinic that offers patients the option of videoconferencing with doctors in Toronto. Obviously not an option in all cases but there are many times it is viable.

Grant

Get Your Own Microphone - Audio Technica Humour

Grant's Perspective on ... Audio Technica's "Get your own mic" campaign.

I came across this new "Get Your Own Mic" campaign from Audio Technica. These two YouTube videos will hit home to anyone who has ever performed at an open mic night or used a club PA system.





I feel like I need to shower and brush my teeth (twice) after watching those videos.

Grant