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| A Primedia Property | |
| September 9, 2004 | |
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Table of Contents Corporate A/V Top Story To flourish, digital signage must 'get dynamic' Installation News National Australia Bank HQ banks on 140 channels of ARX amplification The Systems Group builds new communications center for Morgan Stanley Product News Christie DS+25 DLP projector now shipping Kell Systems introduces new range of soundproofed server rack furniture Epson introduces 'affordable portable' XGA projector Corporate A/V Top Story To flourish, digital signage must 'get dynamic' "The digital signage industry is a very strange one," says Stuart Kirkpatrick, CEO of DDC Group International, based in Waterloo, Ontario. "I liken it to gold fever. Everyone sees this huge potential, but it isn't happening yet." In August, TFCInfo, an industry research firm, launched an effort to recruit vendors, integrators, and others into a new Dynamic Signage Consortium, designed to promote the medium. "Why has dynamic signage not yet taken off?" TFCInfo asks in its announcement. The group answers the question at least partially by blaming "the dearth of market research and dynamic signage metrics." The distinction between "digital" and "dynamic" signage, though, may itself be an obstacle. After all, among the theoretical appeals of digital signage is the ability to connect many displays to a network that automatically, and frequently, updates the messages being shown on them. But not everyone is ready to seize that advantage. Ian Forbes, channel partner international development manager at Mercury Online Solutions, Bainbridge Island, Washington, says deployment of signage systems "has to be driven by a commitment to the content development, to using the medium to communicate." That, in turn, means clients "must have someone specifically tasked to keep the content current. That is the biggest issue." In other words, if all you show on your network of LCD and plasma panels is a static, outdated image, you might as well just hang posters on the wall. Kirkpatrick sees another difficulty hindering wider adoption of dynamic signage: the sales channel and the business model haven't really sorted themselves out yet. "The pro AV channel is probably the ideal channel to take digital signage into the market, but the pro AV channel has no experience in that kind of install," he says. "[When it comes to] the actual management of a network on someone's behalf, there are only a few companies that do that, and it's hard for the pro AV guys to get into this part of the business," Kirkpatrick adds. "It's very experience-intensive, even though the actual labor is minimal." In the meantime, many firms try to approach the business through alliances. However, Kirkpatrick warns, "When you piecemeal a bunch of people together and everyone has to get their cut, there's not enough margin to go around." Opportunities still exist for AV firms to work with signage network management companies like DDC Group since, as Kirkpatrick points out, DDC clients often are incorporating their signage networks into broader AV strategies, including conference rooms, presentation centers, and other venues in which DDC is glad to have capable partners. "We're very happy to let the AV companies get their traditional margins on their traditional business," he says. As various obstacles are overcome, industry players still see a bright future for digital/dynamic signage. One prime beneficiary audience is the "undesked population," according to Mercury Online's channel marketing officer, Bob Sullivan. The "undesked," Sullivan explains, are people who don't have a PC in front of them through which email and intranet messages can reach them. In product terms, the industry is equipped to prosper. "LCD panels are a great boon to digital signage, especially as we're seeing the larger sizes," says Forbes. LCDs are lighter, brighter, and use less power than plasma screens. They present no image burn-in problems, product life is also longer than ever. "People feel the reliability is there," Forbes says. "Bandwidth is also pervasively available at a pretty reasonable price." What persists as a major influence on the market, Forbes says, is the issue of making digital signage really dynamic. "The biggest single factor now," he says, "is the company's commitment to keeping it going." Installation News National Australia Bank HQ banks on 140 channels of ARX amplification Leading Australian installation and integration company IBS Audio Visual has completed the installation of 140 channels of ARX ZA power amplification into the new National Australia Bank corporate headquarters at the Docklands precinct in Melbourne. Using 18 units of ZA 600 six-channel power amplifiers and four units of ZA 800 eight-channel power amplifiers, the new headquarters features leading-edge concepts in architecture and office planning and includes a variety of audiovisual-based meeting and conference rooms with FOH and distributed ceiling speaker systems. The speaker systems can be zone-controlled via ClearOne control platforms. The ARX multi-channel amps provided a one-box, high-performance answer for amplification that was also viewed by IBS and its client as being space- and cost-effective. The National Australia Bank is the largest financial institution listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. By the end of 2004 over 3,500 employees will be situated in the new "modern office campus"-styled NAB Docklands headquarters. Melbourne Docklands is a new 200-hectare waterfront development site located close to Melbourne's central business district. The Systems Group builds new communications center for Morgan Stanley There is nothing more gratifying to a company than to have satisfied customers come back. That is exactly what Morgan Stanley did last year when it contacted The Systems Group to rebuild the television and corporate communications center for its sprawling new headquarters campus in Purchase, New York. Only a half hour north of New York City, Morgan Stanley's new home is clearly a place where compromised quality or inefficiency would never have been acceptable. A landmark building located on 159 lush acres, erected in 1975 as Texaco's world headquarters, was to be renovated to house corporate offices, an ultra-modern trading floor, and a worldwide communications center for this renowned commercial and personal financial investments giant. In 2000, The Systems Group was engaged by Morgan Stanley to build a comprehensive corporate communications center in the World Trade Center, but less than a year after the systems went online, it was gone. Morgan Stanley immediately came to TSG to build temporary facilities while it rented existing studio space in Manhattan. Once things settled down, planning for the new headquarters began and TSG's consulting group was called in to assist in the early development of the project plan under a three-month planning effort. The prime directive from Morgan Stanley management was to replicate the operation of the lost facility into the architectural program for the new headquarters and to capture the advances in technology regarding efficient workflow models, lower maintenance costs, and simpler operation. TSG's Consulting Group went to work to outline the project master plan, research technology, and solidify a budget for Morgan Stanley. The rapid advancement and lower cost of digital broadcast gear and the application of file-based systems were leveraged to support the needs of Morgan Stanley's corporate communications user group. Along with a focused operational analysis, TSG began the tight coordination with the architects and sub-contractors to advise and coordinate all requirements and intrusions to building infrastructure. The studio, control rooms, and other operating spaces, as well as technical office areas, had to be programmed into a pre-determined space allocated by the master building plan. In addition, television production capabilities had to be extended to a 500-seat auditorium as well as the bistro-style corporate dining facilities. Final coordination documents were compiled into a formal presentation for Morgan Stanley management. It covered operational analysis, space planning, mechanical and electrical systems support, technology budgeting, and even some structural and plumbing issues. Once the overall plan was approved by Morgan Stanley, the TSG integration group was mobilized to execute the plan. Product News Christie DS+25 DLP projector now shipping Christie, a major provider of visual solutions for business, entertainment, and industry, announced that it is now shipping the new Christie DS+25 digital projector, the smallest, highest-resolution single-chip DLPT projector available on the market. Using the latest DLPT Darkchip2 technology and ready to use out of the box, the Christie DS+25 is based on the Christie DS30 platform and features 2500 lumens brightness, a 4:3 aspect ratio, and 2500:1 contrast ratio to deliver one of the sharpest and clearest images in its class. It is ideal for conference rooms, simulation, boardrooms, high-resolution modeling, and training rooms. Offering powerful performance with native SXGA+ resolution (1400x1050) in a compact design, the Christie DS+25 projector is up to 73 percent lighter and 85 percent smaller than the competition. It also features up to 4,000 hours of operation from a single lamp, providing an exceptionally low cost of ownership. The Christie DS+25 digital projector is compatible with almost all analog, digital, and video sources. The projector features integrated, on-board network connectivity for ChristieNETT, which provides network-enabled monitoring and control over any TCP/IP network. "The Christie DS+25 digital projector is the latest evolution of our highly popular, multifunctional Christie DS30 platform. Lighter, smaller, and more powerful than its closest competitor, it provides unmatched portability and power in a truly small package," remarked Neil Wittering, senior product manager, fixed installations. "In addition to offering easy, convenient installation in almost any space without compromising on performance, the Christie DS+25 is also the perfect presentation tool for today's highly mobile workforce." Christie is celebrating its 75th anniversary as a leader in visual solutions for world-class organizations, offering diverse applications for business, entertainment, and industry. With expertise in film projection since 1929 and professional projection systems since 1979, Christie has established a global reputation as the world's single source manufacturer of a variety of display technologies and solutions for cinema, large audience environments, control rooms, business presentations, training facilities, 3D and virtual reality, simulation, education, media and government. Christie has installed over 50,000 projectors worldwide. For more information, visit www.christiedigital.com. Kell Systems introduces new range of soundproofed server rack furniture Kell Systems, UK designer and manufacturer of advanced technical furniture, announces its new Server Rack range, designed for professional applications where noisy equipment needs to be housed in client-facing areas. From the outside the server cabinets look like beautifully styled furniture, but beneath lies a fully engineered 19-inch rack complete with silent-fan cooling, soundproofing, and built-in power distribution. The range comes in a wide choice of styles and finishes. Sizes are from 12 to 54 units of rack space, as individual rack cabinets or as credenza-style enclosures incorporating side-by-side low-level racks. The Server Rack models are purpose-designed to suppress noise from equipment housed within. Active front-to-back cooling creates the optimum operating environment for electronics. The design is so complete that technical facilities can now be built without the need for space-hungry rack rooms. When the cabinet doors are closed, an acoustically sealed enclosure is created. Cool air is drawn into the cabinet from below through acoustically baffled ducts to the front of equipment in the rack. Cool air passes through equipment or over it via ventilated blanking panels, and is expelled at the back by Kell's built-in fan system. To suppress equipment noise the cabinet interior is lined with acoustic absorption foam and susceptible surfaces are treated with anti-vibration damping polymer. All cable egress ports and air ducts are acoustically baffled to prevent noise escaping. Kell's fan system typically operates at a virtually inaudible 18dBA, but is capable of exchanging the air in the cabinet around six to eight times per minute. Cabinets are available in subtle wood designs for traditional office environments, and in high-tech styles for ultra-contemporary interiors. The cabinets are delivered fully built, with accessories installed to customer specification. Retracting doors, rear rack rails, and built-in IEC socket mains distribution are standard. Where diverse power sources are in use, a secondary bank of power sockets may be ordered. The back panel unscrews for installation. The rear side panels are secured by push-fit fixings and are easily detachable, to expose cabling and power points. This latter feature means that if a device in the rack locks up, it can be cycled at the mains very easily, without having to power down the whole system and without having to pull the cabinet away from the wall. For more information, visit www.kellsystems.co.uk. Epson introduces 'affordable portable' XGA projector Picture a well-lit room or environment where colorful presentations and detailed digital images need to be projected clearly on a screen or wall from a variety of distances. Add to that challenge a business or school in need of a portable projector that is quick and easy to set up using several video sources, features extremely quiet fan noise, and loud and clear audio capabilities. The Epson PowerLite 821p is an LCD projector that solves all of these presentation challenges and more for just $3,099 (estimated street price). It offers 2600 ANSI lumens of brightness to overcome high levels of ambient light, XGA (1024 x 768) resolution for sharp detail, and a 1.6X power zoom lens that can project a large and clear image from either long or unusually short throw distances. This projector also features two computer and two video inputs to switch easily between video sources, as well as four dedicated audio inputs to manage different sound sources. Audio is further enhanced through the projector's specially engineered, built-in 5W speaker that can project content clearly throughout a room, while its quiet-running fan (as low as 30dB) provides a virtually unobtrusive environment for more effective communications. "We've really broadened our entire segment of portable projectors recently to meet an increasing demand for more connectivity, flexible setup options, XGA resolution and lower cost of ownership," said Aaron Marinari, product manager, Epson America. "This projector is an ideal 'affordable portable' solution for any business or classroom because it addresses so many setup and installation issues that other manufacturers haven't been able to solve with just one product. It's also the best value in its class when you factor the combination of 2600 ANSI lumens and the setup flexibility that comes with a 1.6X zoom lens." Startup and shutdown procedures are quick and easy. A setup feature called "Auto Source Selection" automatically searches for a valid input source signal and lets the user know the setup process is complete. Setup is further simplified with the inclusion of color-coded cables and a verification tone that sounds whenever the "Power On/Off" button has been selected. The projector is also Ethernet-ready with third-party network compatibility that allows the user to plug into virtually any existing platform, giving them a unique interface for control, monitoring, and security. The PowerLite 821p uses three Epson LCD panels to project a wide variety of computer and video images with unmatched rich color saturation and full-time color. The projector uses a 2,000-hour replaceable bulb priced at $299. Because the PowerLite 821p also offers two brightness modes, bulb life can be extended up to 3,000 hours by using the lower setting. The EPSON PowerLite 821p will be available through authorized pro audiovisual, national distribution, catalog, and direct PC dealers throughout the country this September. Epson's PowerLite projectors come with a two-year limited warranty that includes three elite technical support services -- two-year Epson PrivateLine, two-year Road Service Program, and two-year International Warranty. Through the PrivateLine, projector owners can directly access an expedited support telephone line (typically in about one minute) by using a phone card that is included with the product. Epson offers an extensive array of award-winning image capture and image output products for the consumer, business, photography, and graphic arts markets. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Epson America is available online at www.epson.com. |
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