Systems Integration Asia August & September 2011 by Spinworkz Pte Ltd

Vol. 10 Issue 6 ~ AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2011

AUDIO • VISUAL • LIGHT • CONTROL SYSTEMS MICA (P) 014/04/2011 PPS: 1669/11/2011(028311)

Queensland Emergency Operations Centre features top notch AV Technologies InfoComm 2011 Review Boosting Retail Sales with Digital Signage and Emerging Technologies w w w . s y s t e m s i n t e g r a t i o n a s i a . c o m

CONTENTS 70

Vol. 10 Issue 6 ~ August/September 2011

29 04 FIRST WORDS

06 NEWS

77 INSTALLATIONS

VOICE BOX

68 Queensland Emergency

77 Boosting retail sales with

Operations Centre

Digital Signage and Emerging

complemented with top notch

Technologies by Jeff Hastings

AV Technologies EXHIBITION REVIEW 29 InfoComm 2011 52 INSTALL Asia

70 Chinese University pioneers

56 INTEGRATE Australia 58 InfoComm Middle East & Africa

73 Haivision delivers HD Signage IPTV to Galaxy Macau Hotel and Casino 74 Crestron Solutions at the InterContinental Qingdao Hotel

62 SOLUTIONS UPDATE

Ungerer of Kramer Australia

theater-sized advanced visualization

EXHIBITION PREVIEW

81 Tricks of the trade by John

SPECIAL FEATURE Kramer 30th Anniversary Supplement

FIRST WORDS

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Endorsed by:

OUR TEAM

PUBLISHER / EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

I must admit that the long journey from this part of the world to Orlando for the

Thomas Richard Prakasam

InfoComm 2011 exhibition was worth it. There were a number of solutions unveiled

thomas@spinworkz.com

that were really interesting. Christie’s MicroTiles have gone interactive; eyevis omniSHAPES promises creativity with almost infinite configurations and we will wait with anticipation for Biamp’s first truly scalable media system for digital audio networking using AVB, when it is launched in early 2012. AMX had its largest product launch for some time now and Crestron introduced its next generation DigitalMedia

EDITOR James Bose james@spinworkz.com

8G+ and Kramer showcased a future proof Boardroom solution. There were tons of other stuff as well - you can read all about it in our 15 page InfoComm 2011 review.

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Jimmy Chin

In a recent trip to India, I stayed at a Boutique hotel

jimmy@spinworkz.com

and was most impressed with their control system – they used an Apple iPod which controlled the TV,

ADMIN & CIRCULATION

lighting, air-conditioner and could even activate a

Julie Tan

camera to see who was at the door. I mention this

admin@spinworkz.com

because this just goes to show the immense potential for AV solutions. By the way the iPod control worked really well. Upcoming next in the exhibition calendar is Integrate in Australia which will feature over 500 brands and

PRINTED BY Print & Print Pte Ltd

PUBLISHED BY

of course InfoComm Middle East and Africa (IFMEA).

Spinworkz Pte Ltd

For an inaugural event the exhibition has already attracted 70 pioneering exhibitors.

51 Bukit Batok Crescent

The show though a little stretched (5 days) compared to our regular InfoComm

#06-10 Unity Centre

shows, should be interesting as for the ﬁrst time I think an InfoComm show would

Singapore 658077

be skewed with a mainly vertical market crowd.

Tel: (65) 6316 2716 Fax: (65) 63162715

Finally do read about Queensland’s Emergency Operations Centre where integrator

www.spinworkz.com

Advanced Video Integration developed a totally new approach to a control and user interface application compared to a typical operations centre AV solution. Enjoy the read.

Thomas Richard Prakasam Publisher/Editorial Director

Disclaimer Systems Integration Asia is published 6 times a year. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine is to be reproduced, whether mechanical or electronic without the prior written consent of the publisher. Views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reﬂect those of the editor or the publisher. Unsolicited contributions are welcome but the editor reserves the discretion to use them. Whilst every care is taken to ensure the accuracy and honesty in both editorial and advertising content at press time, the publisher will not be liable for any inaccuracies.

NEWS

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Mitsubishi Electric installs world’s first large-scale spherical OLED screen JAPAN: The world’s first large-scale spherical OLED screen was unveiled on June 11. The OLED “Geo-Cosmos” display at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo, Japan is a six-meter organic light-emitting display (OLED) globe that was installed by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. Hanging 18 meters from the floor, the globe is an aluminum sphere covered with 10,362 OLED panels, each measuring 96 x 96 millimeters. Mitsubishi Electric

used its scalable OLED technologies to create the globe, which replaces a globe comprising light emitting diodes (LEDs) to commemorate the museum’s 10th anniversary. The globe displays scenes of clouds and other visions of the earth taken from a meteorological satellite. Projections feature resolution of more than 10 million pixels, about 10 times greater than that of the LED display. In addition to Mitsubishi Electric, which created the OLED system, three other companies helped to make the OLED Geo-Cosmos display: Dentsu Inc. undertook project planning, Go and Partners, Inc. developed the image-

processing and transmission system, and GK Tech Inc. created the spheroid design. Going forward, Mitsubishi Electric will continue to expand OLED screen sales by leveraging its scalable OLED technologies enabling all types of nonlinear display applications. www.MitsubishiElectric.com/ news/2011/visual.html

Milestone AV Technologies and Da-Lite Screen Company merge INTERNATIONAL: Milestone AV Technologies, manufacturer of Chief and Sanus brand AV mounting and display solutions, and Da-Lite Screen Company, manufacturer of Da-Lite, Projecta and Procolor brand commercial and residential projection screens, have merged. The combination of Milestone and Da-Lite creates an industry leader in mounting solutions, AV furniture, and projection screens across both commercial and consumer AV markets. With nearly 1,000 employees worldwide and eight major operating locations around the globe, the combined business is optimally positioned to continue delivering the customer service and product innovation that have been hallmarks of both Milestone and Da-Lite. “We are pleased to announce the combination of these two great companies,” said Scott Gill, CEO of Milestone AV Technologies. “Through the strength of this combination, we will be able to offer a more comprehensive product line to our joint customers, open up new sales channels for our brands, and provide growth opportunities for our employees. We look forward to expanding our reputation for innovative products and market-leading customer service.”

(L-R) Scott Gill with Richard Lundin

Milestone, headquartered in Savage, Minnesota, was formed from the successful merger of Chief Manufacturing and Sanus Systems in 2004. Da-Lite will continue to be based in Warsaw, Indiana as an operating subsidiary of Milestone, under the leadership of current Da-Lite President Richard Lundin.

“Da-Lite has a 100-year heritage of product innovation in the AV market,” added Lundin. “Combining Da-Lite and Milestone allows us to continue our commitment to innovation while bringing the beneﬁts and enhanced opportunities of increased global scale to our customers and employees.” www.milestone.com

NEWS

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Polycom acquires HP’s Visual Collaboration business In conjunction with this acquisition, HP and Polycom have agreed to establish a strategic relationship in which Polycom will serve as an exclusive partner to HP for telepresence and certain video UC solutions, including both resale and internal HP deployments. The two companies have also agreed to make available Polycom’s video applications for HP’s WebOS platform. Under the terms of its agreements with HP, Polycom will provide expertise in software technology and UC infrastructure, covering the full continuum of integrated and secure mobile, desktop, room and telepresence solutions. HP will provide its expertise and leadership in go-to-market strategies for UC solutions and will resell Polycom’s UC solutions including: personal and group UC devices, UC infrastructure, UC managed services, and audio/video software. Andrew Miller, Poylcom president and CEO

INTERNATIONAL: HP (NYSE:HPQ) and Polycom, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCM), have entered into a deﬁnitive agreement under which Polycom will acquire the assets of HP’s Visual Collaboration business, including the Halo Products and Managed Services business.

“This announcement is a truly groundbreaking development in the UC industry, creating a path for Polycom and HP to offer customers an end-to-end UC solution with an unparalleled user experience, interoperability, investment protection, and ease of deployment,” said Andrew Miller, Polycom president

and CEO. “The transaction makes the most of the strength of two industry leading, customer-centric organisations to offer a seamless UC experience with high-quality, enterprise-class telepresence solutions to millions of customers. Our broadened relationship with HP underscores Polycom’s focus and commitment to bring the most advanced and innovative UC solutions to market.” “Customers will beneﬁt from this transaction and alliance because they will receive the focus of two world-class technology companies through greater service and product opportunities,” said Shane Robison, HP executive vice president and chief strategy and technology ofﬁcer. “This transaction and alliance allows us to focus on executing our strategy in cloud computing and connectivity, while ensuring the long-term care of our customers and development of our services business.” The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close in Q3 2011. www.hp.com www.polycom.com

AMX announces acquisition of SchoolView Technologies

INTERNATIONAL: AMX®, has announced its acquisition of SchoolView Technologies, LLC., a Plano, Texas based company specializing in building comprehensive software that consolidates management and control of diverse school technologies at the district, building and classroom level, on a single, comprehensive platform. AMX introduced a partnership with SchoolView Technologies in February of 2010 and launched in the USA, AMX|SchoolView solutions combining hardware and software that integrates disparate building systems to deliver a central command center in a single location using existing data networks, and capable of scaling for future technology integration. AMX|SchoolView solutions are hugely successful due in part to its reputation within the education market of controlling

costs while providing the highest quality of service – all despite a soft economy. This complete, scalable solution consolidates management and control of traditional bell, clock and PA systems, while addressing the management and control needs of classroom audio, video and presentation tools at the district, building and classroom level. As a result, innovative institutions have found the key to controlling cost is simple;capitalize on their existing disparate technologies through automation and control. “We have been impressed with both the quality of the products and the people at SchoolView over the past 18 months and are glad to ofﬁcially welcome them to the AMX family. AMX is capitalizing on the success of this partnership with a solution that aims directly at controlling costs at a time when schools are being challenged more and more to show a true return on their investment,” said

AMX President and CEO Rashid Skaf. “AMX|SchoolView is the only scalable education solution set that allow schools to start with certain critical components and continue to add more later to eventually take full advantage of our ‘uniﬁed control’ solutions to manage connected technology, automation, security and energy utilization.” “SchoolView is excited to be a part of a world-class organization like AMX that has successfully installed solutions in tens of thousands of classrooms around the world,” said Michael Yonks, SchoolView Technologies, Inc., president and CEO. “As evident over the past year and a half, we realize AMX is the type of company that mirrors our commitment to growth, quality, and personal integrity.” www.SimplifyYourCampus.com

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

NEWS

Actis wins Biamp dealer of the year 2010/2011 for India, Middle East and Africa segment

(L-R): Meraj Ul Haq and Abhimanyu Gupta of Actis with Graeme Harrison and Prashant Govindan of Biamp

INDIA: For a third year in a row, Actis Technologies Pvt Ltd has won the Biamp dealer of the year for the India, Middle East and Africa segment. Actis, based out of Mumbai, has been representing Biamp for more than 7 years and was in fact the ﬁrst certiﬁed Audia partner in India. “Actis is a valued partner for Biamp. They have passion for the brand, are very committed and have the expertise

to sell the brand. In fact our biggest international export territory outside USA is India and this is due to the excellent work of Actis”, says Graeme Harrison, VP of International Sales, Biamp. Abhimanyu Gupta, Director of Actis, adds, “We receive excellent support and training from Biamp and have a mutual understanding and trust that allows us to push the brand in India. Their solutions are great, versatile and can be used in

many applications. Their solutions are also very reliable and rugged. We have hundreds of their boxes in India and there is rarely a breakdown. Our team members love working with the product and what is more important is that our customers are happy with the Biamp products as well.” www.biamp.com www.actis.co.in

NEWS

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Haivision acquires KulaByte and MontiVision INTERNATIONAL: Haivision Network Video, announced that it has acquired both KulaByte Corporation of San Marcos,Texas, and MontiVision Imaging Technologies based in Germany. The technologies of both companies, including advanced encoding, transcoding, cloud computing, and workflow solutions, will be combined to form Haivision’s new Internet Media Division. “All market segments now demand access to a high-quality live and on-demand HD media experience regardless of network or platform,” said Mirko Wicha, President and CEO of Haivision Network Video. “With KulaByte and MontiVision, Haivision can now deliver end-to-end rich media solutions for both inside and outside the enterprise firewall. The new division is also focused on addressing the challenges of effective social media networks for the enterprise.” KulaByte Corporation is a technology leader in providing live softwarebased encoding and transcoding technologies. KulaByte’s H.264 encoding software and systems deliver the highest quality Internet streaming of HD content to Flash® RTMP and HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) for the iPhone®/iPad® and other platforms. KulaByte’s HyperStream is one of the world’s first live cloudbased video transcoding services. It’s capable of transforming live video source streams into all of the many formats and data rates required to distribute live video via the Internet to every screen, regardless of device, player, screen size, or bandwidth. HyperStream reduces the cost and complexity of live video streaming by using the cloud to transcode source streams into multiple formats and bit rates needed for diverse media

distribution. HyperStream is available as a cloud-based service, a managed server within the cloud, or a stand-alone server appliance. KulaByte, founded in 2004, has an extensive customer list across many market segments, including over-thetop (OTT) broadcast, HD Internet TV, live church streaming, education, corporate event broadcasting, live sporting event streaming, and military and defense applications. MontiVision Imaging Technologies, founded in 2003 and a partner in the development of Kulabyte products, is an advanced development company focused on delivering technologies for video acquisition, machine vision, surveillance, and medical imaging applications. The MontiVision Development Kit provides a development environment allowing high-performance media solutions to be built rapidly. MontiVision boasts an extensive client list including vertical market solutions providers and top education and research facilities globally.

50-percent growth for the last ﬁve years, and we continue to increase our market share dramatically — all without venture capital investment,” continued Wicha. “Our executive management group is the best in the industry with an amazing track record, and together with a dedicated and driven team of more than 150 people, we expect to surpass revenues of $50 million next year.” Haivision has now acquired four companies in just over two years, combining IP video distribution, digital signage, and now Internet streaming expertise with the company’s acclaimed H.264 hardware technology. www.haivision.com www.kulabyte.com www.montivision.com

KulaByte and MontiVision now form Haivision’s Internet Media Division. The division is focused on developing technologies to deliver OTT media and to power enterprise social media networks. Haivision has appointed Chafye Nemri as Executive Vice President of this new division and KulaByte CEO Peter Forman as Vice President of Internet Media, responsible for developing the division’s cloud services. Key initiatives of the division will enable the creation, distribution, and management of media assets for organizations regardless of user location. “Haivision is unique in the IP video industry in that we have been proﬁtable for many years, experienced more than

Mirko Wicha, President and CEO of Haivision Network Video

Barix Passes 100,000 Sales Milestone INTERNATIONAL: Barix AG, a pioneer in IP audio, monitoring, control and automation, announced that it has surpassed the 100,000 device threshold for sales as part of a highly successful 2010 that also saw major project wins and double-digit growth.

revenue increase. Barix contributed more than 1,200 devices to the largest Audio over IP project for live sound ever at a sports event in India, while securing key customer wins in security, transportation, healthcare and other markets.”

“2010 was a huge success for Barix,” said Johannes G. Rietschel, CEO and Founder of Barix AG. “We passed a major sales milestone and experienced a substantial

Barix supplied the 1,200-plus Audio over IP devices for the Commonwealth Games in India in 2010, handling IP contribution from all the venues to

the control room; and distribution to a large number of broadcast studios. The company also continued to develop technology and business partnerships with key manufacturers for the purpose of delivering full IP system solutions to customers, notably in security and transportation. www.barix.com

NEWS

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Matrox and Trenton partner to provide Integrated Hardware Systems for Video Walls

INTERNATIONAL: Matrox Graphics Inc. and Trenton Systems have announced a new technology partnership to deliver video wall solutions for the AV market, beginning with the Trenton TVC4401 4U rackmount system. The new Matroxcertified system can combine up to six, single-slot Matrox Mura MPX display controller boards—for up to 24 highdefinition inputs and outputs—while leveraging the board’s 64 Gbit/sec duplex data transfer to ensure flawless display of HD input captures, at full resolution and frame rate. Matrox Mura MPX hardware can be controlled using network commands or a fully-integrated video wall software suite.

UNITED KINGDOM: The United Kingdom Patent Ofﬁce has granted TV One a patent on their new CORIO®3 Video Processing Technology. US and International Patents are pending and expected soon. CORIO®3 debuted at the InfoComm International Exhibition in Orlando, USA. Designed to enable AV integrators deploying video wall solutions across a wide range of project sizes, Trenton systems with Matrox Mura MPX boards meet collaborative display wall requirements for small-scale corporate boardroom and digital signage conﬁgurations to large-scale control rooms. www.trentontechnology.com. www.matrox.com/mura_display_ controller_boards

Digital Projection International announces Three Year Warranty on entire product line INTERNATIONAL: Digital Projection International, has announced a fantastic update to its product line, which will beneﬁt Digital Projection customers worldwide. Due to the proven reliability and long-term performance of their precision displays, Digital Projection is enhancing its product warranty to provide a full 3 years of parts and labour coverage for projectors and accessories employed in standard use applications*. This major announcement is effective as of June 15th, 2011, and applies to all Digital Projection projector’s and accessories delivered on or after that date. Nick Cottiss, International Sales and Marketing Director of Digital Projection International comments, “ It has become

TV One issued Patent on revolutionary new CORIO®3 Video Processing Technology

clear in the last few years that we have very few issues related to warranty on any of our products. If we analyse the warranty statistics the figures are virtually zero. This should be reflected in what we offer to the market, so I am very pleased to announce this 3 year deal. We hope that it will enable our customers to buy with confidence and security, in what is a market leading initiative.” *The term “Standard Use Application” is defined as any application that employs the projector up to a maximum of 8 hours per day, or up to a maximum of 40 hours per week.

CORIO®3 is a radically new approach to video scaling, incorporating such advanced features as Simultaneous Multiple Image Processing, Real-time, 360° Rotation (independent for all PIPs and outputs) and Image Warping to allow Off-Axis and Curved Screen Projection. These are in addition to all standard features previously present in CORIO®2, such as Any Resolution or Format In or Out, Up/Down/Cross Conversion, Video Wall Processing, Edge Blending, Windowing and Multiviewing. Remarkably, CORIO®3 allows all of these functions to happen simultaneously with a maximum of two frames delay. CORIO®3 technology allows a single product to do the work that was previously done by numerous pieces of equipment, such as routers, seamless switchers, multi-viewers, video wall processors, edge blenders, image rotators, image warpers. At InfoComm International, TV One demonstrated the ﬁrst CORIO®3 based multi-function product, called CORIO®master, which provides a new approach to Video/Audio Systems design. CORIO®3 based products will bring environmental responsibility to a new level for professional video users. By combining the tasks of many products into a single unit, power consumption can be reduced by as much as 90%. Even though TV One’s CORIO®master will be the ﬁrst product utilizing CORIO®3 technology, licensing agreements will allow other manufacturers to leap into a greener future.

www.digitalprojection.com www.tvone.com

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

NEWS

Chief’s automated projector lifts receive UL and TUV designations INTERNATIONAL: Chief, has announced that its line up of automated projector lifts has received UL and TUV compliance, important designations recognizing product safety and compatibility.

*UL – Veriﬁes that a product is physically and environmentally safe for public use, as determined by the Underwriters Laboratories.

The lineup includes three models: SL151, SL220 and SL236. The SL151 is designed to ﬁt perfectly inside a standard 2’x2’ (600mm x 600mm) suspended ceiling grid. The SL236 is used when extra extension is needed, as it provides up to 36” (91 cm) travel. The SL220 is recognized for ease of install, snapping inside a 2’x2’ ceiling grid, and its ability to be mounted in a fraction of the time of conventional projector lifts.

*TUV – Validates the safety of products to protect humans and the environment against hazards.

All three automated projector lifts provide exceptionally smooth and quiet movement. Featuring high-quality materials and design, they are ideal solutions for finished ceilings in homes and corporate offices. With the compliance certification of the SL220, all models in the series have now received the following designations:

The newest in the series, the SL220 projector lift makes installation up to 10 times faster than conventional ceiling lifts. Made of lightweight aircraft-grade aluminium, the SL220 requires a single technician to install, with the process consisting of three simple steps. It ships completely assembled from the factory. More than just an easy install, the SL220 outperforms conventional projector lifts in its category and offers multiple control options, including push-button operation, a low-voltage controller and

SL151

an infrared remote control. The SL220 is compatible with a wide range of Chief custom and universal projector mounts, allowing users to customize the unit to their speciﬁc needs. In February the SL220 was honoured with a 2011 InAVation Award, recognition given to the most innovative products in the audiovisual industry. www.chiefmfg.com

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

NEWS

Kramer development in Asia presentation signal processing solutions and distributing them worldwide with an uncompromising level of service and support. They have ofﬁces all over the world able to serve each market, with local support and expertise for the one million Kramer Electronics products in use worldwide.

HONG KONG: On the 31st May 2011, Media-Go held a “Kramer Development in Asia Presentation” at their ofﬁce in Hong Kong. The presentation was hosted by Mr. Edward Ho, the new Marketing & Business Director from Kramer Electronics, Ltd. Kramer Electronics is committed to developing creative, reliable and value-oriented audio, video and computer

Hewshott International posts impressive results

INTERNATIONAL: Hewshott International’s figures for the 2010/11 financial year in June shows a dramatic upturn in both turnover and profit. The company has returned to pre Global Financial Crisis figures with better than expected turnover up 250% and back to 2009 levels, returning to a healthy profit before tax of 17%. Hewshott’s CEO, Peter Hunt comments, “We know that the whole industry felt the impact of the financial crisis, so I am very proud of everyone at Hewshott who worked so hard to ensure that the company emerged from the worst financial crisis in living memory in good shape. These results are very pleasing, They are testament to the people in all six of our offices worldwide, and the faith our clients have shown in us.” Hewshott’s UK Director, Jim Barrett adds: We took difficult decisions early and ensured we tightened the belt to hold on for a turbulent ride. Above all, we have remained independent of any external influence and funding, and have emerged stronger, more determined than ever and true to our independence, something Hewshott is renowned for and will never compromise on.” Hewshott International is a global independent consultancy practice with 22 members of staff operating in six countries: United Kingdom, USA, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and India. The company provides independent consultancy in audio visual, acoustics and now in IT. www.hewshott.com

During the introduction there were presentations of the company background, a product range introduction and introductions to various successful job references in different market sectors. The features and advantages of the new Kramer’s VP-729 presentation Switcher were also covered in the presentation, this being one of many high-edge Kramer products that has proved to be very popular in the AV installation market place. www.kramerasia.com www.mediago.com.hk

NEWS

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Cabletime MediaStar Product Range Introduction

HONG KONG: On 24th May 2011, Media-Go held a “Cabletime MediaStar Evolution Product Range Introduction” at their Kwun Tong ofﬁce in Hong Kong, which was hosted by Mr. Ivan Lai, Product Sales Specialist, from Cabletime Asia.

MediaStar Evolution is the straightforward, powerful IP based solution for DIGITAL MEDIA / TV/AV content distribution over LAN, WAN and Metropolitan networks. Usable ‘straight from the box’, reliable and versatile, it can be used to deliver TV, multimedia and digital signage to any audience over IP networks. The introduction included presentations and associated practical demonstrations of the Evolution product range of components, to show how incoming digital or analogue video could be encoded to network streams either at HD or SD resolutions and streamed over an IP network to any networked device. www.cabletime.com www.mediago.com.hk

Linkx comes to Group Technologies with Sound Field Solutions AUSTRALIA: Group Technologies is delighted to announce their appointment as the exclusive Australian distributor for Linkx Sound Field Systems. The Linkx range of products delivers an innovative solution geared towards educational facilities where the audibility of the teacher at the head of the room is distributed equally throughout the entire classroom. A spokesperson for Group Technologies comments, “We are genuinely excited about this range of products as we feel it addresses a very important and often overlooked application of audio in the educational sector.” www.grouptechnologies.com.au

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

NEWS

CEDIA NZ Expo 2011 exceeds expectations

NEW ZEALAND: CEDIA New Zealand Expo which took place at Auckland’s SKYCITY Convention Centre on 17-18 May 2011, exceeded all expectations. Overwhelming feedback from the inaugural event last year indicated that the show was destined to grow, but by how much was the question. In anticipation the show moved from a hotel venue into a purpose built convention centre to allow the floor plan to double in size. Not only was the show growing but CEDIA were thrilled to report that more than a month prior to the show the floor space was sold out. CEDIA were delighted going into this year’s event with an exhibitor line up of 32 companies. This was a significant 60% increase on last year and offered CEDIA NZ Expo visitors the opportunity to witness first hand, the most diverse range of products and services available to the residential CI sector ever seen before. “Being the only dedicated industry trade event for New Zealand’s electronic systems professionals we have a responsibility to deliver, and we did not fall short” says CEDIA Asia Pacific Exhibition Co-ordinator, Lauren Clegg. Overall attendance of this year’s expo increased by 28%, with a total of 473 industry professionals including 300 attendees and 173 exhibitors. Exhibitors were impressed with the steady flow of traffic and the good quality of attendees that came through the doors. Visitors, both members and non-members benefited from the high standard and diverse range of products showcased which was complemented by world class training and education on offer. Many visitors have also identified the expo as the industry networking event, imperative to their professional development.

The CEDIA NZ Expo 2011 was generously supported by sponsors who contributed towards this year’s Expo being an outstanding success. CEDIA would like to pay special thanks to their major sponsors: Digital World NZ and CHIEF. www.cedia.com.au

NEWS

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

The Open Control Architecture Alliance (OCA Alliance) announces its formation INTERNATIONAL: Eight professional audio manufacturers have formed a group whose mission is to secure the standardization of the Open Control Architecture (OCA), a media networking system control standard for professional applications. The Alliance has been formed to complete the technical deﬁnition of OCA, then to transfer its development to an accredited public standards organization. The standards organization will render the OCA speciﬁcation into an open public standard for control of professional media network systems. The eight founding audio manufacturers in the group are: Bosch Communications Systems, d&b audiotechnik, Duran Audio, LOUD Technologies Inc, Media Technology Systems, PreSonus, Salzbrenner Stagetec Mediagroup and TC Group.

OCA Developed recently by Bosch Communications Systems, OCA is descended from AES-24, a system control protocol developed by the Audio Engineering Society in the 1990’s. OCA deﬁnes a ﬂexible and robust control

standard that covers the entire range of pro media networking applications, from the smallest to the largest. OCA is not a media transport technology, and does not replace evolving media transport standards such as AVB. Instead, it is intended to complement such standards by providing a reliable and rich system control environment. Together, media transport and system control standards will enable complete multi-vendor media network solutions in the future. By adding system control to the media network equation, OCA will allow devices from multiple manufacturers to share a common management regime, thus allowing system designers and owners the freedom to specify the components they want without compromising overall integration and usability. OCA is speciﬁcally designed to address the full range of professional media networking use cases, from small to very large, including cases where media networks have critical security and/or life safety roles. OCA is adaptable and future-proof, and will support multivendor media network applications now and in the future.

It is the hope of the Alliance that OCA will become widely adopted, leading to a new era of multi-vendor interoperability in which media network customers have an increased range of choice, and engineered media networking solutions offering new levels of functionality, ﬂexibility, and overall value.

Participation Alliance work will be done in two phases. During Phase 1, which began on 15 June 2011, the eight founding members will refine the OCA specification and prepare it for passing to a public standards organization. Phase 1 is a fast-track exercise, in which active membership will be restricted to the founding members. Other companies may become Observers on request. During Phase 2, the OCA specification will be transferred to the public standards organization, and the Alliance will continue with ancillary OCA promotion and support work. Active Alliance membership will be open to all in this phase; as well, companies will have the option of participating in the standards organization in the usual way. www.oca-alliance.com

Televic Conference confirms continued availability of its Confidea® wireless product range INTERNATIONAL: Televic Conference has confirmed that it continues to supply Confidea®, its multi-band wireless conference system, and that it has no intention to prematurely discontinue this product. The official announcement followed an earlier statement of Sennheiser to its partners that their WiCOS product was discontinued with immediate effect. The Sennheiser WiCOS labelled product is an OEM version of Televic Confidea® Wireless. The Sennheiser announcement in no way affects the status of the original Televic product as an available and current product. “As the manufacturer and having developed Confidea® we can confirm that we have ample supply of key components. Confidea® Wireless is one of our flagship products and given its success we have no reason to discontinue

this product in the foreseeable future.” says Bart Deschodt, General Manager of Televic Conference. Current owners of the Sennheiser branded WiCOS product can rest assured that their product has not become obsolete overnight. For any questions about their product and its compatibility with the Televic product range, owners of Sennheiser WiCOS product can contact the local Televic sales representative or contact the head ofﬁce directly by sending an e-mail to conference@ televic.com. www.televic-conference.com

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

NEWS

Media-Go to distribute LifeSize Communications solutions

LifeSize Conference

HONG KONG: Media-Go Technology Ltd. has announced sealing an agreement with LifeSize Communications, a division of Logitech, to distribute LifeSize HD video communications solutions. The agreement enables Media-Go, to offer the award-winning LifeSize products in Hong Kong and Macau, delivering to customers a superior quality communications experience in industry-leading price performance solutions. “We are pleased to have Media-Go join our partner network to expand the availability of LifeSize solutions,” said Joseph Yip, General Manager of Greater China for LifeSize Communications. ”We realize the tremendous value our reseller partners bring to LifeSize and we will provide them with a fully encompassing channel program that supports their efforts and contributes to their ultimate success. We are looking forward to working with Media-Go to deliver the LifeSize HD experience to customers.” “LifeSize is a leader in HD video communications,” said Mr. Kanny Leong, Executive Director of Media-Go. “Now we are equipped with the solutions customers demand: immersive HD quality and the flexibility to easily adapt and integrate into today’s network environments. We are pleased to team with LifeSize to deliver video communications that enable face-toface meetings with anyone, anywhere at anytime.” LifeSize pioneered high definition video communications to deliver the telepresence experience from the desktop to the conference room with up to Full HD 1080p video. With the ability to provide HD video communications under 1Mbps, as well as the highest resolution available at any bandwidth, LifeSize systems enable customers to cost-effectively deploy HD video communications. The full suite of LifeSize solutions is immediately available for order from Media-Go. Established in 1988, Media-Go has a staff of over 300 and a regional network of offices in Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, China. www.lifesize.com www.mediago.com.hk

NEWS

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Kramer Electronics Asia and Da-Lite sponsor InfoComm Academy Day in Singapore

Magenta Research and TV One form “Commercial Technology Group” INTERNATIONAL: Following its recent acquisition of TV One Broadcast Sales Corporation, Nortek, Inc. announced that TV One and Magenta Research are cornerstones of the newly formed Commercial Technology Group.

SINGAPORE: The InfoComm Academy Day held on 26th May 2011 in Singapore at the Furama River Front hotel attracted 45 participants from end-users to those within the AV industry. Sponsored by Kramer Electrtonics Asia and Da-Lite, InfoComm Academy Day is designed to provide an inexpensive seminar based educational and networking event. The full day Academy had ﬁve presentations that ranged across a variety of topics:

*Digital Video was presented by Nat Cha, CTS of Kramer Electronics Asia. *Projection Screen Applications was presented by Adam Teevan, CTS from Da-Lite Screen. *Cloud AV by Dr Dinesh Tripathi, PhD from WOW Vision. *Vertical Markets for AV Industry by Zane Au, CTS-D, LEED AP of Shen Milson Wilke. www.infocomm.org

*What is AV Today and how to get the most of your SI and Consultant was presented by Ranjit Singh, CTS-D, CTS-I, THX (TechII) of RST Technologies.

Magenta specializes in providing large-scale switching, extension and distribution projects to the pro AV and digital signage markets, while TV One dedicates itself to providing video, audio and multimedia processing solutions. Together, the two companies boast a rich, 40 year history of providing advanced technology-based solutions to the professional AV and broadcast communities. Commercial Technology Group Chairman, and Magenta Research CEO, Keith Mortensen stated, “The ability for TV One and Magenta technology to be cross-integrated into broadcast and commercial AV projects offers integrators and consultants exciting new alternatives to approaching projects, while streamlining the overall process. Thus the two companies are a natural ﬁt to be the ﬁrst two companies positioned under the Commercial Technology Group umbrella.” www.magenta-research.com www.tvone.com

Crestron selects Clear-Com for integrated intercom automation INTERNATIONAL: Clear-Com®, is pleased to announce that Crestron Electronics, has chosen Clear-Com’s popular intercom matrix to be integrated with Creston’s touchpanels and control solutions. By embedding the Eclipse Digital Matrix module into Crestron’s automation devices, the company’s control systems will be optimized for managing voice communication capabilities. Creston’s automation devices streamline and simplify technology by providing an easy-to-use, comprehensive interface for automating everything from lights to screens, as well as audio and video equipment. Clear-Com’s Eclipse Digital Matrix, designed for direct or oneto-many user communications, is highly reliable, feature-rich and easy to integrate with other communication systems. When integrated, Crestron and Clear-Com users will be able to manage

Clear-Com’s digital intercom technology through a central Crestron control panel. Customers of both companies will have more space and save money because the improved integrated automation system will reduce the need for additional intercom equipment. Crestron’s automation systems will access Clear-Com’s Eclipse Digital Matrix from its control apparatus so that it can function as a Clear-Com intercom control panel wherever it is installed. Therefore, having an integrated automation device eliminates the need for users to purchase and mount an intercom control panel in the room or to carry a beltpack. “By integrating Clear-Com, we’re able to offer easy-to-operate intercom communication options to our customers,” says Dominick Accurso, Crestron Electronic’s Integrated Partner Program Manager.

An interface module for Clear-Com’s entire Eclipse Digital Matrix platform, including system and interface frames, as well as IP-control panels, can be integrated into Creston’s automation panel based on clients’ needs. More people will be able to connect to one another while enjoying the convenience, unmatched functionality and clarity of high quality, full-duplex communications. “Through our partnership, Clear-Com brings exceptional intercom functionality to Crestron’s already superior control systems,” says Bob Boster, Vice President of Worldwide Sales. “The integration of the Eclipse Digital Matrix will enable clear, quality communication at the touch of a button.” www.clearcom.com www.crestron.com

NEWS

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Kramer Electronics enters into International Licensing Agreement with InfoComm for educational content INTERNATIONAL: Kramer Electronics has entered into an agreement with InfoComm International to offer InfoComm licensed courses throughout the world. Up until now, Kramer was the only manufacturer offering InfoComm licensed material in the U.S only. This agreement expands the original agreement to include all markets, in all countries, around the world. Under the umbrella of the Kramer Academy™, Kramer is leveraging the incredible success which was gained with the licensed content from InfoComm in the United States, in order to roll out the curriculum on a global basis. Kramer is proud to be the only manufacturer that offers InfoComm Licensed Content to their partners around the world. Kramer is also pleased to be offering more classes that carry CTS Renewal Units (RUs) than any other manufacturer in the industry. “We are extremely happy to now be able to professionally deliver InfoComm licensed content around the world,” states Dave Bright, President of Kramer Electronics US. “We are committed to providing this valuable content to our customers and potential customers wherever there is a demand for it around the globe, and we are specifically intent on helping as many AV professionals around the world as possible to become InfoComm CTS holders.” Over the past two years, Kramer has developed a niche by successfully offering the CTS Prep Course from InfoComm regionally in the United States. Since the inception of the CTS Exam Prep class, Kramer has provided CTS Exam Prep training to more individuals preparing for the new CTS Exam, than any other entity in the industry. Students who have attended the Kramer led CTS Exam Prep class have a very high pass rate on the exam itself. As a result, many more people are taking and passing the CTS exam and the amount of CTS holders in the United States is growing rapidly. Now, Kramer hopes to mirror this success around the world, driving the number of professional CTS holders even higher. Recently, Kramer Asia Pacific held its first CTS Exam Prep course under the new agreement which was conducted by David Penrose. The 3-day course was held in the offices of Electronics and

Engineering (E&E) Singapore, and six participants from E&E spent the three days going through the same content given by Kramer US. These participants will be taking the CTS exam in the near future. This is just the start of CTS Exam Prep offerings in Asia. Kramer hopes to be offering more classes, in more countries, in the very near future. “A strong AV industry is dependent on a well-trained workforce,” said Randal A. Lemke, Ph.D., Executive Director and CEO of InfoComm International. “Kramer has worked with InfoComm in the United States to train and help industry members to attain the CTS certiﬁcation. As we begin this joint effort to take the same training around the world, it is important to say how appreciative we are of Kramer’s efforts as a leading company in training our industry and being a strong supporter of the CTS and InfoComm.” As always, the Kramer non-licensed course offering is continuing to expand including new courses on sales and technology. For example, Kramer has recently added courseware on Digital Signals in AV (Plug and Pray), Understanding the Analog Sunset and Twisted Pair Cabling Best Practices. “We are committed to the InfoComm curriculum and to offering our own educational programs that support the CTS renewal program,” states Clint Hoffman, Vice President of Marketing for Kramer Electronics U.S. “We are also committed to making the educational experience as accessible as possible anywhere we can around the world. We often bring our educational offerings, especially the CTS Exam Prep class, directly to our customer’s location or to an area nearby that is an easy commute for the students.” www.kramerelectronics.com

Local boost for CEDIA in Asia ASIA PACIFIC: CEDIA Asia Pacific has set up an official Shanghai Representative Office located at RM1014, 10/F, 381 Huai Hai RD, Shanghai 200021, China. Robin Cai will take the chair of Chief Representative for this office. “Not only is this a sign of the confidence CEDIA has in Asia being a strong emerging market, but is a solid foundation for CEDIA to support the Asian region moving forward. This advancement enables CEDIA to provide better local service and support to not only our members, but the extended industry in Asia,” says CEDIA Asia Director, Robin Cai. To assist Robin in coordinating and implementing local initiatives CEDIA have appointed Ms Lily Cai to the position of Operation Coordinator of Asia. Lily has more than eleven years work experience in operational tasks and worked for Klipsch for four of these as customer service supervisor for the Asia Pacific region. “With her sophisticated customer service background, and understanding of the Asian market, we are confident that we will be able to deliver strong support to the association and member companies throughout Asia,” says Robin. www.cedia.com.au

NEWS

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

ISE inks new ﬁve-year contract with Amsterdam RAI of Schiphol airport, and these areas represent some of the most developed and sophisticated economies in the world, as well as some of the most dynamic in terms of recent and future growth. Beyond the hard numbers, the city of Amsterdam is a welcoming, relaxed and culturally diverse city in which it is easy for people of almost any background to come and do business. These factors combine together to provide the backdrop for a truly international tradeshow at which every link in our industry’s value chain is represented by companies from dozens of different countries.” Blackman also notes that as ISE has grown down the years, the RAI itself has also evolved and continues to develop as a venue.

‘RAI Live!’ digital signage system

INTERNATIONAL: Integrated Systems Events is delighted to conﬁrm that it has signed a new ﬁve-year contract with Amsterdam RAI for the hosting of the Integrated Systems Europe exhibition. The contract will run from 2012 until 2016, inclusive. “Our previous contract with the RAI was due to expire next year, but we have decided to renew early in order to provide a clear business path for our exhibitors, to facilitate our forward planning as

organisers, and to enable the RAI itself to plan for the future growth of ISE,” comments Mike Blackman, Managing Director, Integrated Systems Events. Aside from its inaugural year in Geneva (2004) and a single iteration in Brussels (2006), every ISE show has been held in Amsterdam, and Blackman says the city has no obvious rival for an event such as Integrated Systems Europe. “More than 600 million people live and work within a direct three-hour ﬂight

Errata In our InfoComm China coverage relating to Christie Digital we had unfortunately written the wrong names in the picture caption relating to Frank and Jonathan. We apologise for our oversight. It should read as follows:

“Since we ﬁrst held an ISE show here in 2005, the RAI has continued with an ambitious programme of new building and refurbishment. This has given us new exhibit space and conference rooms in the shape of the Elicium building, enhanced organisers’ facilities at the Europa entrance and the ‘RAI Live!’ digital signage system which is such a big hit with our industry – to name just three developments. “Our new longterm commitment to Amsterdam is matched by the RAI’s own expansion plans, and we believe that the best years of our relationship are still to come.” www.iseurope.or

Congratulations to Gary Tay on achieving double specialised certiﬁcation SINGAPORE: Gary Tay from Extron Electronics Asia becomes only the second person in Asia to achieve double certiﬁcation (CTS-D and CTS-I), which he attained earlier this year.

(L-R) Frank Xiao, Jonathan Lim, Lin Yu and Henry Khang

EXHIBITION REVIEW

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

NEC Asia Paciﬁc establishes competency centre for display solutions

Meyer Sound becomes InfoComm CTS program provider INTERNATIONAL: InfoComm has recognized Meyer Sound as a Certiﬁed Technology Specialist (CTS®) Program Provider. Offered by the company’s worldwide education program, the two-day seminar on “Fundamentals of System Design, Implementation and Optimization” is now a CTS-accredited curriculum. Participants completing the seminar can earn six renewal units (RUs) toward the program’s requirements for maintaining certiﬁed status as CTS general, CTS-D (design), or CTS-I (installation). The “Fundamentals of System Design, Implementation and Optimization” seminar encompasses all aspects of sound system design and application, including theory and practice of line arrays, tools for optimization, system equalization and delay, use of acoustical prediction software, digital loudspeaker management systems, and methods for controlling low frequency directivity.

Vincent Koh to spearhead APAC DSCC

SINGAPORE: NEC Asia Pacific (“NEC APAC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation (“NEC”, HQ: Japan), has established the Asia Pacific Display Solutions Competency Centre (APAC DSCC) which started operations officially in Singapore on 1 July. Since 1980s, NEC has been developing and providing cutting-edge and innovative display products and solutions such as LCD monitors, projectors and digital signages, which are now a common sight and essential digital tools used in corporations, governments, and schools around the world. To meet the changing demands of society, NEC continues to evolve to provide world-class innovations required to meet the growing technological needs fuelled by the growing convergence of IT and communications. It is for this reason that NEC established the APAC DSCC within NEC APAC in Singapore, to collectively drive the growth of the display solutions market in this region. Through a common regional strategy, the APAC DSCC aims to consolidate the display solutions businesses, thereby establishing a more consistent, efficient and effective regional operations. Spearheaded by Vincent Koh, who is also currently the Vice President of the Multi Media Platforms Business Unit in NEC APAC, he will be assisted by Masashi Takaya, Director of the Business Planning, who is also a veteran in the display solutions industry. The

DSCC will focus on expanding its display solutions business, as well as strengthening its relationships with the display solutions business community in the region. Starting with Indonesia and India, the APAC DSCC will have its product experts share technical, customer service support and marketing expertise with the display solutions business communities in these countries, to drive greater momentum in sales. Technology workshops and product training programmes are also special endeavours to educate partners on NEC’s product features, product segmentation and positioning. Vincent Koh, Head of APAC DSCC at NEC Asia Paciﬁc shared, “NEC’s display solutions and products are known for its quality and reliability, testiﬁed by the numerous awards and accolades our products had garnered over the years. With this DSCC, we hope to achieve greater synergy with our other NEC companies in this region, as well as with our channel partners and distributors who are an extension of NEC in the display solutions community, to jointly present the best and eco-friendly technologies, ideas, products and solutions to our end-user customers.” www.nec.com.sg

Serving the audio community for more than two decades, the comprehensive science-based education program from Meyer Sound offers close to 20 seminars at introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels. Recently, Meyer Sound has extended its education efforts through a series of webinars that provide comprehensive training in the use of the Galileo® loudspeaker management system and the MAPP Online Pro® acoustical prediction program. The full schedule of offerings is available at http://www.meyersound.com/events/ seminars/. AV industry professionals who have completed the requirements for initial CTS certification must earn a total of 30 RUs over a three-year period in order to maintain their status. Programs eligible to grant RUs are approved by the InfoComm Certification Committee. More information is available at http://www.infocomm.org/cps/rde/ xchg/infocomm/hs.xsl/certification. htm.

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

EXHIBITION REVIEW

33,001 Visit the Center of IT All InfoComm Projected Image System Contrast Ratio Standard Approved InfoComm International®’s latest standard, 3M-2011 Projected Image System Contrast Ratio, has been approved by the InfoComm Board of Directors. The standard provides metrics for measurement and requirements for minimum contrast ratios for rear and front projection audiovisual projected image systems.

Visitors eagerly waiting for the doors to open

33,001 AV professionals from more than 90 countries visited InfoComm 2011 held in Orlando making it the largest InfoComm event in Orlando as well as the second largest commercial AV show ever. There were 925 exhibitors participating at InfoComm this year. Exhibitors occupied more than 475,000 net square feet of exhibit and special events space.

a ﬁve-phase approach to planning, implementing and measuring the impact of a project. Conducted by the providers of technology and the building owner, SYEP engages the best practices and standards for sustainability for a particular project. Without the constraints of a ﬁxed-point sysem, the rating scale is adaptable to any technology project within the built environment.

“InfoComm continues to be the one tradeshow where most professional AV service providers make their important buying decisions for the year,” said Randal A. Lemke, Ph.D., Executive Director & CEO, InfoComm International. “The AV marketplace has enthusiastically embraced InfoComm as the place to make their purchasing choices, network with product and service providers, and enhance skills through our robust educational program.”

STEP project teams will be composed of the providers of electronic systems for the audiovisual, building automation, communications, IT and security industries. These trades and their afﬁliated professional associations are creating the STEP Foundation to advance the cause of sustainability.This non-proﬁt foundation will further develop STEP and provide the necesdsary resources to serve the project teams and owners.

InfoComm releases its Sustainable Technology Environments Program with CompTIA

To learn more about STEP, its rating system and associated criteria, visit www.thestepfoundation.org

3M-2011 Projected Image System Contrast Ratio, which applies to both permanent and temporary installations, defines projected image system contrast ratio and its measurement. This standard defines four contrast ratios based on content viewing requirements. The system contrast ratio refers to the image as it is presented to viewers in a space with ambient light. Metrics to measure and validate the defined contrast ratios are also provided. A one-page overview can be found on InfoComm’s website. “This standard puts the needs of the viewer ahead of all other considerations,” said Randal A. Lemke, Ph.D., Executive Director and CEO, InfoComm International. “The standard’s requirements move beyond individual performance factors of a projector and a screen, because the contrast ratio they can deliver is ultimately affected by the light in the space.” 3M-2011 Projected Image System Contrast Ratio provides important metrics for evaluating, planning and designing projected image system installations, setting minimum contrast ratios, and a procedure for measuring the contrast ratio provided by the system. Digital copies of the standard is available for purchase at www.webstore.ansi. org.

The Sustainability Technology Environments Program (STEP) has been created by manufacturers, designers, integrators, programmers, and the users of technology to guide project and building owners to implement practices that will produce economic beneﬁts to their organisation, while preserving our planet. STEP focuses on the electronic systems that operate within sustainable buildings – bringing them to life. STEP employs

Randal A. Lemke, Ph.D., Executive Director & CEO, InfoComm International announcing about STEP

EXHIBITION REVIEW

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS AMX unveils Groundbreaking Modero X Series Panoramic and Widescreen Touch Panel Line

The new Modero® X Series Touch Panels is a family of frameless, panoramic and widescreen touch panels featuring edge-2-edge glass, low-proﬁle design, and more usable space for control, applications, video and a richly engaging user experience that will be released later this year. The Modero X Series will completely change your perspective on touch panels; literally. The panoramic models will be released ﬁrst and available in both a 20.3”, measuring an impressive 18.7” long by 7.75” tall with over 145 square inches of usable control surface and a 19.4”, measuring an equally impressive 18.7” wide by 5.15” tall using over 96 square inches of usable control surface. Both 20.3” and 19.4” models will be available in table top as well as portrait and landscape wall models.

The table top models are speciﬁcally designed to be very low proﬁle to minimize the possibility of the touch panel obstructing the user’s view. The wall models can be effectively used in podiums or outside conference rooms to provide a room schedule, digital signage and even a way of communicating with building personnel. In portrait mode, the Modero X Series display offers a longer control surface creating a cuttingedge look with limitless interactive, audiovisual options for corporate settings. Another plus is that when in portrait mode, the touch screen meets a wide array of height installation requirements.

impressive 16x9 aspect ratio and include the same advanced technologies as the panoramic models. Designed for the unique needs of enterprise customers, the Modero X Series is hardware-ready to employ the newest technologies, specifically applicable for supporting technically savvy boardrooms, meeting spaces and end users. Integrated high definition camera for video chat and conferencing, Bluetooth and USB external phone connections, high definition video streaming and support for Near Field Communications technologies are just a few of the many advanced technologies that make the Modero X Series truly outstanding.

To support an even wider range of applications, three additional Modero X Series sizes will be available in 2012. 5”, 7” and 10” models will feature an

www.amx.com/Xseries

Atlona launches 16x16 HDMI matrix switcher featuring HDBaseT technology The Atlona AT-PRO2HD1616M-SR is a true 16x16 high-speed HDMI matrix switcher, featuring 16 HDMI 1.4 inputs and 16 independently switchable twisted pair outputs to feed 16 separate receiver modules (included). The unit has the ability to equalize, amplify, and reclock the signal to ensure HDMI-accurate

signal transmission through long cables without quality loss. Featuring HDBaseT technology, the switcher extends HDMI sources up to 330 feet at 4Kx2K resolution over a single Cat 5/6/7 cable, in addition to providing analog two-channel stereo, bidirectional RS-232, and zone-speciﬁc bidirectional IR pass-through up to

60 KHz. In addition, the unit provides support for Deep Colour, HDCP, and full 3D, while preserving 7.1-channel digital audio, including DTS-HD and Dolby® TrueHD. www.atlona.com

EXHIBITION REVIEW

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

AVIOM premiers AllFrame Multi-Modular I/O SYSTEM with new Accessories the RK6 rack mounting kit for on-wall or inwall mounting using a standard NEMA Type 1 enclosure or rack-mounting, with connectors facing the front or rear. Other mounting kits include the FK6 and SK6, which allow for AllFrame I/O boxes to be installed in existing ﬂoor pockets or used as drop-boxes on stage.

The AllFrame Modular I/O system brings the flexibility of the company’s powerful Pro64® audio network to the wall box, stage box or floor pocket. At the center of the AllFrame Multi-Modular I/O System is the F6 Modular I/O Frame, a multipurpose network frame with six fieldconfigurable I/O card slots and integrated Cat-5e and fiber optic connectivity. The F6 can be outfitted to meet the audio I/O requirements of nearly any application. Mounting options for the F6 include

The F6 can be powered through a four-pin XLR connector, a Euroblock connector or one of the Cat-5e A-Net ports. Installations that use Power Over A-Net will require the POA-80 80watt Power Over A-Net power supply which is a new accessory. Other new accessories for completing AllFrame installations are the PST-80 2U rack tray for mounting multiple POA-80s; the Fan6, a replacement fan assembly for F6 and the LabelKit, which includes Trimm® label strips for AllFrame I/O cards. Since the AllFrame requires only a single Cat-5e or ﬁber connection, plus DC power (which can also be supplied over the Cat-5e cable), it eliminates the need for soldering, terminating and testing scores of analog connections as well as installing conduits and pulling separate cables for each audio signal, signiﬁcantly reducing setup time.

The AllFrame system offers users multiple connectivity options via modular I/O cards. The C4m Mic/Line Input Card provides four remote-controllable analog mic- or line-level inputs. With the same mic preamp circuitry found in Aviom’s 6416m Mic Input Module, the C4m provides clean, transparent, archival quality sound. Inputs from the C4m can be controlled from an MCS Mic Control Surface, select Yamaha® digital consoles or Pro64 Network Manager™ software. The C4o Output Card provides four XLR analog outputs with variable output levels, controllable in 1dB increments. For those looking to stay digital throughout the signal chain, there is now the C4dio Digital I/O Card with 4x4 AES3 I/O with Word Clock I/O. This card provides greater channel density and offers twice as many channels in the same amount of card space as the previous 2x2 version, making it more cost-effective while offering more flexibility all within a single frame. Every AllFrame device supports Cat-5e cable runs up to 400ft (120m) between devices, with no loss of fidelity. With integrated fiber optic connectivity, cable runs can be extended to over a kilometer (multi-mode fiber) or tens of kilometers (single-mode fiber). The AllFrame can be used in conjunction with Aviom’s complete line of Pro64 audio networking products and Pro16® Series Personal Mixers. Because Pro64’s Auto Mode supports any combination of serial and parallel wiring topologies, without affecting signal flow at any point, I/O points can be placed anywhere the application requires. www.Aviom.com

Biamp rocks InfoComm with Tesira Tesira is the ﬁrst truly scalable media system for digital audio networking using Audio Video Bridging (AVB) — Tesira delivers smarter system modularity, breakthrough performance and boundless expansion potential, with Modular scalable I/Os, DSPs and networked end-points, a scalable digital media backbone (AVB), up to 8 DSP cards in a single chassis and up to 420 x 420 digital audio channels. Tesira also features intelligent compilation, SpeechSense and AmbientSense Technology. By the way Tesira means “Founder” in Greek and Biamp feels that Tesira is the founder of a new world of opportunity, on a scale as big as you can imagine as it changes the scale of possibilities for the way AV systems are designed, installed, networked and experienced. Tesira is expected to be shipped in January 2012. www.biamp.com

Prashant Govindan of Biamp with the Tesira solution

EXHIBITION REVIEW

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Bosch Security Systems, Inc., Communications Systems Division announces OMNEO media networking technology OMNEO has two components: (1) an audio program transport protocol suite that offers low-latency, high-quality multichannel audio stream exchange; and (2) a robust control protocol suite that provides reliable and secure system control for pro media networks of all sizes, from small to intercontinental. OMNEO’s program transport component is the result of a partnership between Bosch Security Systems and Audinate. OMNEO uses Audinate’s Dante networking technology to provide standards-based, rout-able IP media transport. OMNEO’s system control component is an open Bosch Security Systems development descended from the Audio Engineering Society’s AES-24 protocol architecture. Named OCA, for Open Control Architecture, it includes many features for ﬂexibility, reliability, security, and compatible growth over the years.

Bill Scott, VP of Engineering & Technology, comments, “The intent of this project was threefold. Firstly, to develop technologies which provide full interoperability of all communications systems from Bosch network-enabled equipment; secondly, to allow Bosch Security Systems customers to use standard, off-the-shelf Ethernet infrastructure; and thirdly, to merge the Bosch Security Systems solution with emerging public standards such as AVB as soon as possible, allowing Bosch Security Systems customers to enjoy fully standardized media networks in which equipment from many manufacturers interoperates smoothly.” Over the last three years, Bosch Security Systems and Audinate have been developing OMNEO as a future open public pro media networking solution that will be compliant with emerging program transport standards such as AVB, and with emerging system control

standards as they are announced. OMNEO’s program transport will be based on Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP), a widely adopted IP streaming protocol. Dante (and therefore Bosch Security Systems media networks) will comply with this standard. Thus, the Bosch Security Systems solution will be compliant with public standards, including AVB. Speciﬁcations of OCA, OMNEO’s system control architecture, will be published in the near future, and Bosch Security Systems will be working with industry and with public standards organizations to ensure OCA’s ratiﬁcation as an open public standard for pro media network control. *Ed note: You can read about OCA in our news page in this issue. www.boschsecurity.com

Passive processing and image warping from Calibre UK to boost 3D applications The latest version of Calibre UK’s PVProHD-IW Image Warping video processor/scaler is a product destined to improve the technical and commercial prospects for dual-projector passive 3D in cinema and themed attraction applications. Shown for the first time at InfoComm 2011, the PVProHD-IW works by extracting left or right eye data automatically from 3D HDMI content and is compatible with BluRay and settop-box 3D formats, converting it to the native resolution of the projector and warping it to suit the screen shape and to align with the second projector. This is all undertaken by one processor per projector, a Realta scaling engine with up to 1024-tap video filtering ensuring exceptionally high image quality, even on very large cinema screens. The latest version of the PVPProHDIW can extract left and right projector images from all mandatory HDMI 1.4 3D formats, while alignment of preseparated left and right eye content provided over DVI or HDSDI from media servers is also supported. Dual projector passive 3D allows use of very low-cost viewing glasses and avoids the inherent flicker of active 3D, but it does require precise alignment

of the left and right eye images such that the two projectors act as one. Images are mixed optically on screen after passing through the preferred L/R selection mechanism, either chromatic or polarizing ﬁlters. This has traditionally been very hard to achieve, but Calibre’s ‘IW’ processors make it possible to warp

the image in real time to provide pixelperfect alignment. This alignment can be performed visually using the Calibre warp tools, or with the aid of camerabased automatic warp alignment software from Scalable Display, Inc. www.calibreuk.com

EXHIBITION REVIEW

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Chief showcases new Kontour Series Monitor Arms

Chief, has launched a unique line of monitor arms for a variety of workstation applications. Kontour™ Series of desk and wall arms provide maximum flexibility for ergonomic positioning and a host of features wrapped in a stylish, modern design. Kontour mounts are elegantly designed with a forged aluminum body for unmatched strength, effortlessly holding monitors weighing up to 40 lbs (18.14 kg). Variable mounting options allow installers to choose between desk and wall mounts with varying extension up to 24” (61 cm). Advanced models also include Extreme Centris™ with -10° to +75° of fingertip tilt that lends itself well to sit-to-stand or touch screen workstation applications. A hasslefree cable management system easily conceals cables beneath hinged channel covers in the K1 Series. Easy access loops keep cables tidy in the K2 Series. The Kontour series has expanded to include a new laptop accessory (KRA300), providing an ergonomic solution for everyday laptop use. Compatible with K1 Series Kontour mounts, the KRA300 holds a laptop and docking station, creating a more functional work environment. The bottom bracket of the accessory adjusts to fit laptops and docking stations up to a combined 16” (406 mm) deep, and a Quick-Connect plate is included for a fast, simple installation. When placed on a Kontour monitor arm, you get easy adjustability to achieve the perfect viewing angle. All Kontour Series monitor mounts are designed to UL specifications and are backed with a 10-year warranty. www.chiefmfg.com

Christie D4K35 delivers 4K resolution and DLP performance to Pro-AV The Christie® D4K35 projector debuted at InfoComm 2011, and with it arrives unparalleled 4K (4096 x 2160) resolution, performance, and image quality for the Pro-AV market.Targeted at applications requiring ultra-high resolution and the highest brightness available – including amusement parks, large auditoriums, museums, planetariums, virtual reality settings, and automotive designers using CAD – the Christie D4K35 projector delivers 35,000 lumens with DLP® quality and reliability. Equipped with Quad 3G serial digital inputs, the Christie D4K35 displays 12-bit (4:4:4) 4K images with uncompromising quality while its twin HDMI inputs, which deploy industrial DVI connectors, provides functionality for Blu-ray, HD and other 2K sources. And with different lamp options ranging from 13,000 to 35,000 lumens, the Christie D4K35 is adaptable for all light levels. The Christie D4K35 is the ﬁrst 4K projector released to the world for non-cinema applications. The 3-chip DLP® provides longer lifetime and richer colour reproduction than other 4K technologies thus offering the market unprecedented access

to pristine, brightness.

true-to-life

colour

and

The Christie D4K35 can also display triple ﬂash 3D with 1080p and 2K sources upscaled to 4K (2 projectors needed);the input format matches all available 3D video sources without requiring costly extra lens hardware. Other advantages include Automatic lamp alignment which optimizes lamp life, output and screen brightness; Lens can be adjusted and focused via remote control and the cleanable optical engine lowers maintenance costs www.christiedigital.com

ClearOne introduces enhanced Collaborate™

Designed for organisation’s using uniﬁed communications software or popular web conferencing services, Collaborate delivers true plug-andplay simplicity and allows small groups in a conference room to converse and interact with others while simultaneously viewing data from applications, web sites, or other local or network sources.

Collaborate originally announced in March is now available with VIEW™ Media Receiver which is an optional software application utilising StreamNet™ technology. VIEW™ Media Receiver allows Collaborate users to consume rich, high deﬁnition, multimedia content from anywhere on the enterprise network in the form of live media broadcasts, corporate presentations, on-demand videos, realtime dashboards, digital signage, etc. This versatile software encoder can be used in conjunction with any VIEW encoder to provide complete control of and unlimited access to content from varied sources such as Blu-ray players, satellite receivers, cable boxes, DVRs, cameras, personal computers or media servers. Collaborate is available in four mounting options: wall mount, foot stand, media stand or a media cart. www.clearone.com

EXHIBITION REVIEW

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

The digital revolution continues with Crestron’s next Generation DIGITALMEDIA 8g+™

Dataton launches new Version 5 of WATCHOUT Dataton released version 5 of WATCHOUT™, the company’s ﬂagship multi-display production and playback system, offering a whole host of hot new features. Fully scalable, software-based and requiring no proprietary hardware, WATCHOUT already orchestrates still images, animations, graphics, video, sound and live feeds into a single impressive show across multiple display areas, either soft-edge blended or scattered. Now version 5 takes this capability to a higher level by adding new features that meet the latest demands of event designers, systems integrators and end customers.

DMPS-300-C

Crestron introduced DigitalMedia 8G+™, the next generation of its revolutionary high output, one-wire digital AV network infrastructure technology. DigitalMedia 8G+ makes implementation of a DM network even easier by offering a choice of standard CAT5e, DM 8G® Cable or CresFiber® 8G. DigitalMedia carries virtually any mix of digital and analog AV signals over a single wire. Uncompressed 1080p HD video with Deep Colour, 3D video, and high-definition computer signals, plus HD digital audio, control, data, and Ethernet, are transmitted 330 feet (100meters) over standard CAT5e or DM 8G cable, or 1,000 feet using CresFiber 8G. DigitalMedia 8G+ provides a future-proof infrastructure and ensures that the highest resolutions, Deep Colour, 4K projectors and other emerging technologies can be efficiently distributed and managed for years to come. DigitalMedia 8G+ offers a proven solution for distributing all digital and analog signals over one-wire, using one IP address, and completely eliminates all HDCP issues. An entire DM network appears as a single device on the corporate LAN, which makes it incredibly easy to install and manage. In line with the DigitalMedia 8G+ technology Crestron also introduced its first DigitalMedia™ Presentation System (DMPS), the next generation of the legendary MPS Multimedia Presentation System. DMPS-300-C offers a complete high-definition presentation control and signal routing solution

that integrates a control processor, multimedia matrix switcher, mic mixer, audio DSP and ampliﬁer with DigitalMedia 8G+™ technology, all into a single rackmountable component. With the new generation of DigitalMedia 8G+ single-wire technology built-in, DMPS-300 intelligently streamlines wiring for remote AV sources, computers and displays, enabling any mix of digital and analog signals to be carried long distance over a single standard CAT5e wire. To bring any room into the digital world, DMPS-300-C provides high-performance matrix switching of seven simultaneous analog or digital sources to up to four HDMI or DVI display devices, plus up to three analog audio components. Integrated DM 8G+ inputs and outputs afford the ultimate in simplicity, providing a true one-wire interface for remote sources and display devices. DM 8G+ can also provide an ideal interface to a central DigitalMedia switcher as part of a larger multi-room or room-combining system. In addition to ﬂexible matrix switching, DMPS-300-C adds a builtin control processor, onboard gated microphone inputs with enhanced DSP, line and mic level mixing.

Prominent among the upgraded feature set is a new 3D Effects and Stage Preview option. WATCHOUT version 5 lets you position and rotate all media objects in 3D space. What’s more, with 3D motion paths images and video ﬂy through space any way you want. The preview can be rotated to view the stage from the most appropriate vantage point, all while staying true to the simplicity and ease of use that’s the hallmark of WATCHOUT. Still on the 3D theme, version 5 is also the ﬁrst iteration of Watchout to offer seamless Stereoscopic Playback. Since WATCHOUT already knows about all the 3D aspects of any presentation through its award-winning user interface, stereoscopic projection comes along for the ride, with little or no additional production effort. Version 5 also allows shows driven by WATCHOUT to be opened up to more interaction, allowing users to not only position, rotate and move all media objects in 3D, but also for these tools to be used interactively. WATCHOUT understands virtually any kind of device or external system, allowing you to connect sensors and control sources – like iPads – directly to on-screen elements such as images, video, live feeds and more.

DMPS-300-C takes in every source signal, processes, mixes and ampliﬁes the audio and transmits it all ﬂawlessly over a single wire.

WATCHOUT is also keeping pace with the latest developments in computer and graphics hardware. Version 5 now offers support for multi-head output cards, meaning that up to six displays can now be driven off one suitably equipped computer, all using a single WATCHOUT license.

www.crestron.com

www.dataton.com

EXHIBITION REVIEW

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Extron introduces XTP CrossPoint® Platform for Digital AV Systems

eyevis showcases omniSHAPES With the new omniSHAPES display system eyevis has developed a new visual display solution capable of realising video wall installations of the most versatile shapes. The screen comes in different formats as a 6-sided, 5-sided, 4-sided or curvature. eyevis omniSHAPES are LED DLP rear projection display modules which, thanks to their small size and their capability to combine into virtually unlimited video wall shapes are ideally suited for creating projection surfaces in almost inﬁnite conﬁgurations.

Extron Electronics new XTP CrossPoint® System, is a ﬂexible, reliable signal switching and distribution system that provides a completely integrated solution for multiple digital and analog formats. XTP CrossPoint Systems support local connectivity as well as extended transmission capability for sending high resolution video, audio, RS-232, Ethernet, and power up to 330 feet (100 m) over a single CAT 5-type cable. Extron’s proven technologies have been incorporated into the XTP CrossPoint Systems, including SpeedSwitch™ Technology, EDID Minder®, and Key Minder® for ultra-fast, highly reliable switching of HDMI and DVI signals and HDCP-encrypted content, SD Pro processing for deinterlacing standard deﬁnition signals to eliminate display compatibility issues, and Automatic Input Cable Equalization and Output Reclocking that provide digital video signal conditioning to ensure optimal performance. Extron has also incorporated extensive audio management features into the XTP CrossPoint, including HDMI audio embedding and de-embedding, audio breakaway, and downmixing multichannel formats. XTP CrossPoint matrix switchers are modular and expandable from 4x4 up to 16x16 or 32x32, and can be populated with input and output boards for long distance transmission when paired with XTP transmitters and receivers. I/O boards are also available for direct HDMI, DVI, VGA, video, and audio connections to support local sources and displays. Featuring advanced

24/7 system monitoring and hotswappable modular components, the XTP CrossPoint is built for continuous, trouble-free operation in the most critical applications. A family of long distance XTP transmitters and receivers are available for sending or receiving video, audio, RS-232 and IR control, Ethernet, and power up to 330 feet from the XTP CrossPoint matrix switcher over a single CAT 5 cable. XTP transmitters are available in desktop or Decora® wallplate models and accept HDMI, analog VGA, or standard deﬁnition video. Some XTP transmitters accept multiple inputs and feature automatic input switching. Two desktop XTP receivers are available, both with HDMI outputs. One of the models also features integrated video scaling, so that all incoming video signals can be optimized to a common output rate for the display. In a fully integrated XTP CrossPoint System with XTP transmitters and receivers, an overall transmission distance of 660 feet (200 m) is possible between two remote endpoints.

They work both as a stand alone unit but also combined together in larger display walls since every module has its own internal signal processing unit for the perfect geometrical adjustment of the input image to the displayed part. The projected images are pin sharp and in perfect, impressively bright colour quality. Furthermore, they are ideally suited for any colour temperature. The newly developed multi-cube colour brightness adjustment option allows fully automatic adjustment and balancing of all cubes in a connected video wall. This means there is no longer any need for manual readjustments. The modular concept of omniSHAPES form the three main building blocks - projection screen, base frame and projector - provides great advantages. For example, AV-suppliers only need to have a certain number of projectors in stock, which can then be ﬁtted out and supplied from a larger choice of base frames and projection screens in different shapes. The maintenance of the unit is possible both from the front and from the back. Furthermore, for maintenance and repairs which cannot be done on site it is now usually enough to replace the projector unit only, instead of having to dismantle the entire system. Simple assembly, operation and maintenance are the obvious advantages as well as the long service life expectation and high operational safety due to the use of high quality components. www.eyevis.de

The XTP CrossPoint delivers all of this integration, switching, and transmission capability in a system that can easily be set up and conﬁgured out of the box, using intuitive control software that provides straightforward system conﬁguration without complicated programming. www.extron.com

EXHIBITION REVIEW

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Gefen introduces new DVI Matrix Switcher The new GefenPRO 32x32 DVI Matrix switches enables direct connections between computers and other devices using DVI and high resoltuion displays. Up to 32 computers using DVI can be routed to any 32 outputs with this new matrix. High resolution video up to 1920x1200/1080p is delivered instantly when selected. Plug and play operation and 24/7 technical support make this a very useful addition to any demanding professional equipment. Installation is simple, requiring the connection of 32 computers and 32 displays to the matrix. Users can assign any input to any ouput using front-panel buttons, RS-232 commands, IR remote or IP control. Dual removable power supplies provide steady back-up for an alwayson reliability. The matrix can also be combined with many of Gefen’s DVI extension solutions to deliver high resolution video to remote displays over CAT-5 or ﬁber optic cables. An amazingly fast switch with no cross talk between inputs and outputs further improves performance. www.gefen.com

HARMAN’s JBL introduces commercial series mixers CSM-21 front

CSM-21 rear

In an introduction that provides quality audio performance and intuitive system control to an array of important vertical markets, HARMAN’s JBL debuted the CSM-32 and CSM-21 Commercial Series Mixers that provide an entry-level, costeffective approach to commercial audio applications such as retail, hospitality and conferencing. The new mixers can be configured for a range of uses such as paging, background music, and security applications, do not require a computer for configuration and are designed with simple analog-style controls. An included security plate can be placed over the controls to avoid uninvited changes to a commissioned system. The CSM-32 features three stereo inputs and two stereo zone outputs and the CSM-21 features two stereo inputs and one stereo zone output. Both processors are stereo throughout the entire digital processing path and can be run in stereo or mono mode. The CSM-32 offers an isolated output, specifically designed for supplying music-on-hold audio to phone systems.

The new JBL Commercial Series Mixers offer a diverse palette of processing tools, including priority override, page ducking, source and zone EQ, LevelGuard™, AutoWarmth™ and a built-in crossover. LevelGuard helps maintain optimum levels through the system by automatically applying the correct amount of compression to the source signals based upon the incoming level. Even with source material of different levels, customers experience consistency from the system. AutoWarmth helps maintain musical warmth at all operating levels by automatically adjusting the tonal balance within a zone based upon the zone output level. This helps prevent music from sounding thin at lower levels or excessively resonant at higher levels. Three wall controllers are available for the CSM-32 and CSM-21 devices, which offer volume control and source selection from convenient remote locations. www.harman.com

Haivision unleashes the Viper™ High-Definition Streamer/Recorder The Viper, Haivision’s fifth-generation H.264 technology, is an ultra-compact, integrated appliance for capturing, streaming, reviewing, distributing, and publishing multistream HD and computer graphics content. The Viper simplifies the recording and streaming of multistream content through a high-resolution touch panel. It is ideal for capturing and streaming presentations, lectures, simulations, training sessions, and other events where a single camera source is insufficient to reflect the subject matter. The Viper, supporting dual DVI or DVI with HDSDI inputs, encodes and captures rich content generated by a computer as HD H.264 at full frame rate. There is never the need to upload content files to a server. The Viper includes high-performance encoding hardware, building on

the company’s acclaimed Makito™ technology, to capture and stream two synchronous channels of HD and/or computer sources. It can be used with Haivision’s Furnace IP video system to reduce the reliance on high-powered networks and central recording servers. The Viper can also be used as a powerful stand-alone complete IP video server system (ViperMAX™). With ViperMAX, users throughout a facility can watch live multistream events or review rich media presentations on demand using Haivision’s patented InStream™ player technology. Leveraging Haivision’s latest highperformance H.264 technology, the Viper appliance combines real-time encoding, high-performance storage, abundant processing power, and a carrier grade Linux operating system with simple, task-oriented user controls for recording and automated publishing

of multistream content. The Viper’s reliability is attributable to Haivision’s proven embedded system expertise and track record of designing integrated performance hardware, ﬁrmware, and software systems. Compact and fanless, the Viper is an easy-to-use, ultra-reliable appliance. www.haivision.com

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

EXHIBITION REVIEW

Hitachi introduces its CP-X2514WN 3LCD Projector

Hitachi’s CP-X2514WN 3LCD projector delivers 2700 ANSI lumens brightness with XGA resolution and a 3000:1 contrast ratio. Featuring wireless operation and networking capability it is ideal for use in medium-size classrooms and boardrooms. The CP-X2514WN’s optional wireless capability enables a laptop or desktop computer to be connected to the projector without cables, making it much easier to start presentations and lessons and it eliminates the need to place the computer close to the projector. Hitachi’s exclusive PJMan® Projector Management software gives users the ability to operate and monitor the CPX2514WN from a remote location, and receive diagnostic information. The projector’s Campus Notiﬁcation System, which allows administrators to take control and display pre-stored images to each projector on the network, is also equipped with an audio alarm. The CP-X2514WN features Crestron RoomView™ software, providing a custom conﬁgurable interface to monitor, manage and control every device in every room remotely from any computer. Built-in network connectivity provides instant status and remote technical support so a presentation is never interrupted. The CP-X2514WN offers Multi-Projector functionality, allowing users to project the same image to up to 12 different projectors simultaneously. This is useful for meetings and lectures in large venues where a single screen would

not be sufﬁcient. In addition, the CPX2514WN’s Moderator Control Mode lets users network 50 computers to a single projector, with one computer acting as the moderator.The presenter can use the moderator computer to select and project images from the students’ computers. The CP-X2514WN weighs just 8.2 pounds and measures 12.5 x 3.9 x 11.3 inches and can project images up to 300 inches, making it easy to install in a wide variety of locations. A unique Hitachi feature is the projector’s Template function that displays white or black lines, making writing on a whiteboard or blackboard easier. The projector’s exclusive Whiteboard Mode adjusts the projector’s brightness when used with a whiteboard, reducing glare and eye strain. The Hitachi CP-X2514WN provides HDMI, S-Video and composite video inputs, RGB computer video inputs and a monitor output, two RCA audio inputs, and an audio output. It includes a built-in 16-watt ampliﬁer and speaker and has an audio passthrough function that enables the audio to play through the projector’s audio output even in standby mode when only sound is required. The CPX2514WN’s RS-232C enables it to be controlled as part of an integrated A/V system. www.hitachi.com

October 9 - 13, 2011 www.infocomm-mea.com

EXHIBITION REVIEW

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Jupiter Systems introduces Fusion Catalyst™ 8000, its highest performance display wall processor Jupiter Systems, the industry leader in display wall technology, introduces the most advanced display wall processors available today with its new Fusion Catalyst™ 8000 Display Wall Processor. The powerful new Fusion Catalyst 8000 is the newest addition to Jupiter’s bestin-class product family. The Fusion Catalyst 8000 offers superior performance, video quality, and reliability in a uniquely cost-effective, hot swappable, space-efﬁcient platform that is the ideal solution for network operations centres, public utility control centres, intelligent trafﬁc management centres, civil and military surveillance systems, public safety operations and any other application requiring large area display. Fusion Catalyst 8000 delivers superior performance with bandwidth that reaches 320 Gbps delivering more high resolution windows at full frame rates than any other product on the market today, along with the performance and quality Jupiter is known for. The new display wall processor features Second Generation PCI Express slots and a true, non-blocking Switch Fabric

communication infrastructure. It provides more expandability, faster graphics, real time HD/SD/DVI/RGB frame rates, and better overall system performance. Each 4RU rack-mountable Fusion Catalyst 8000 CPU Chassis can support up to four Fusion Catalyst 8000 Switch Fabric Chassis for a total of 80 PCI Express 2.0 4-lane slots. At a full 80 slots, the Fusion Catalyst 8000 can support up to 120 outputs at 2560x1600 pixels at 32 bits. Each Dual DVI-I Output Card has 256MB of onboard graphics memory for ﬂawless image quality. With optional Dual-Link DVI-I Input Cards, Fusion Catalyst can support up to 100 DVI, progressive scan component HD, or analog RGB inputs. Up to 400 SD video inputs can be accommodated using optional Octal SD Video Input Cards. The optional Quad HD Decoder Card delivers pixel perfect streams and lots of them: Up to 400 SD streams and up to 200 HD streams in MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MJPEG, and H.264 formats. Most popular encoders and cameras are supported, as

are desktop PC streams with real-time updates. Optional CatalystLink cards support PixelNet inputs to handle signals such as SDI, HD-SDI, and 3G-SDI. Fusion Catalyst 8000, is designed for continuous 24/7 operation. Redundant power supplies, fans, drives, and all input and output cards are hot-swappable. Jupiter’s ControlPoint software provides drag-and-drop simplicity for wall management, as well as advanced login, authentication, and other security features. www.jupiter.com

Kramer showcases their Digital Step-In Boardroom Solution

The Digital Step-In Boardroom Solution brings incredible ﬂexibility and versatility for a state-of-the-art boardroom. The system is made up of a switcher, the VP-81 SID Digital Step-in Switcher, and Step-in control modules connected by a twisted pair cable, allowing up to 10 inputs (8 twisted pair and 2 local). The system allows each of the participants to connect their laptop to the system and take control of the main display by simply pressing the Step-in button on their control module. The system provides ultimate ﬂexibility by using the same switcher with a wide range of Stepin modules, thus covering any possible mix of inputs. The control modules come equipped in a variety of interface options with a separate audio input. These include HDMI, DVI, DisplayPort, computer

graphics, and a multi-format module that combines all the interfaces. With the Kramer Step-in system solution, installation is easy because each Stepin module is connected to the switcher by a single twisted pair cable, thus eliminating the need for extra wiring. Kramer’s CAT5 cables are known for their guaranteed best performance and range, removing any distance restriction. But not only that, a single twisted pair cable carries with it all power, data and control commands from the switcher to each Step-in module. This makes the system also highly cost effective, certainly an advantage when one has to take cost into account. The single, compact, multiinterface switcher of 10 inputs in a 19” 1U design makes it a cost-effective solution on the switcher aspect as well.

The exciting news of the digital Stepin system is in its wide variety of video inputs/outputs. The advanced digital switcher can support any laptop output interface including DP, VGA, DVI and HDMI. The system is built in a way that no matter which output source is used, the system can support it, because the switcher always stays the same. Even if a different interface is needed in the future, the only part that will need to change is an appropriate Step-in module. This eliminates the need for an entire system upgrade and ensures a smooth operation for many years. The Step-In switcher supports both balanced and unbalanced audio output to ﬁt any sound system installed in the room. Switchers can be cascaded by adding more switchers, to increase the number of boardroom participants. The system has multiple control options either from the Step-in modules, a PC, from smart phones or tablets or by IR, for handheld remote control. www.kramerelectronics.com

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

EXHIBITION REVIEW

LG ‘EzSign TV’ and Cinema 3D Commercial Display earn top honours at InfoComm ENERGY STAR® 4.1 qualiﬁed, LG EzSign TV features LG EcoSmart™ technologies, including the capability to manually select your choice of brightness levels. It is also RoHS compliant, meeting directives on restrictions of hazardous substances.

LG Electronics (LG) was recognized for its leadership in commercial display technologies, earning top industry awards for two of its latest solutions, at InfoComm. The innovative LG EzSign TV received the Commercial Integrator BEST Award for new digital signage hardware, while LG’s commercial-grade Cinema 3D HDTV was named the “Best LCD Display – Specialty Application” by Rental & Staging Systems magazine. “LG’s robust portfolio of commercialgrade display solutions helps businesses create an engaging experience and improved customer interactions,” said Y.K. Cho, senior vice president, Commercial Displays, LG Electronics USA. “These industry awards are recognition that LG is succeeding in this competitive market thanks to our cutting-edge technologies.” In its inaugural year, the BEST Award was bestowed on LG’s EZSign TV as the best digital signage hardware for 2011. EZSign TV is the first LG digital signage solution to incorporate live TV without additional hardware. It is a turnkey solution that offers business owners an intuitive and cost-effective digital signage display system with the added feature of broadcast television. Content creation is simple, as owners use a personal computer to access a selection of attractive templates, add their own images and text, and then upload the content to the display via a USB drive. Based on the Pro:Centric platform developed by LG for hospitality applications, EzSign TV is a flexible, simple-to-use system that’s ideal for restaurants and hotels, hospitals and doctor’s offices, even dealers and retail stores to customize billboard TV messaging for their clients.

The Commercial Integrator BEST Awards recognize superior products and services for integration businesses. Winners were chosen by a panel of industry experts, integrators and the editors of Commercial Integrator magazine. LG’s commercial Cinema 3D LCD HDTV was awarded the 2011 InfoComm Installation Product Award for the Best LCD Display – Specialty Application By Rental and Staging Systems. The LD950C, LG’s ﬁrst commercial Cinema 3D LCD HDTV, allows businesses to take full advantage of 3D, offering customers new and exciting entertainment experiences in hotel lobbies, restaurants, sports lounges, theaters and other shared spaces. Unlike consumer 3D models that use expensive active shutter 3D glasses, this LG commercial-grade passive 3D HDTV is based on polarized eyewear, similar to those used in movie theaters. LG’s polarized glasses are lightweight, more comfortable, and continue LG’s legacy of providing amazing stereoscopic 3D HDTV effects. Considered among the top honours in the commercial staging and AV market, Rental & Staging Systems/ InfoComm Installation Product Awards recognize the most innovative commercial AV products introduced in 2010. www.lgsolutions.com

EXHIBITION REVIEW

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Planar unveils Clarity™ Matrix Touch™ Planar’s Clarity™ Matrix Touch™ provides a turnkey solution for deploying multi-touch video walls in public spaces, interactive signage applications, and commercial and government collaboration rooms. Clarity Matrix Touch combines DViT™ (Digital Vision Touch) technology from SMART Technologies with Planar’s ultra-thin LCD video wall system and proprietary ERO™ (Extended Ruggedness and Optics™) opticallybonded glass touch surface. The new integrated touch solution is ideal for adding interactivity to busy retail locations, corporate environments, collaborative meeting rooms, and military or utility mapping rooms. The Clarity Matrix Touch offers the following benefits: Easy Installation and Maintenance: Planar’s ERO glass is optically bonded to the front of each LCD, eliminating the need for a separate protective surface and enabling modular installation and maintenance. Standard configuration kits streamline installation of the touch system. Dual-Touch with Gestures: Users interact with the screen using fingertips and gestures to scroll through menus, expand

and shrink images, or create written annotations. The ERO Advantage. The proximity of the LCD screen and ERO glass reduces parallax error that can occur when interacting with protective glass surfaces mounted farther from the screen. The bonded glass screen also prevents the buildup of hot air between the glass and the screen. Excessive heat can damage LCD picture quality and

shorten the life span of the displays. Larger Digital Canvases: The modular design enables larger video walls in different sizes and conﬁgurations. The Clarity Matrix Touch will debut in three sizes and conﬁgurations: 92-inches (2x2), 130-inches (3x2), and 138-inches (3x3). www.planardigitalsignage.com

projectiondesign showcases realworld applications To showcase real-world applications for visitor attractions, museums, learning and cultural centers, the projectiondesign booth featured an impressive 3-meter curved dome display illuminated with projectiondesign F32 series DLP® projectors showing a vast range of HD content. To accurately map, warp and blend the content onto the dome, the Norwegian projector manufacturer used their only non-projector based product, the extremely versatile geometric warp and blend Multi Image Processors.

projectiondesign’s uniquely designed booth was deﬁnitely attention grabbing. The Norwegian projection manufacturer showcased an impressive array of realworld applications using their projection and multi image processing technologies working with an unprecedented range

of partners at the show that included 7thSense Design, Da-Lite Screen Company, Dataton, DNP Screens, Immersive Display Solutions, Pufferﬁsh Displays, RGB Spectrum and Scalable Display Technologies.

Designed to integrate with projectiondesign projectors, the Multiple Image Processors are capable of providing image and geometry correction on a per-pixel basis for reliable image performance. They are scalable, enabling multiple channels to be combined to produce a single image. They are also conﬁgurable to create images ranging from a simple 2-channel blend to complex multi-channel, geometry-corrected 3D stereoscopic displays for use on any projection surface.

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

The 3-meter dome was supplied by long-term partner, Immersive Display Solutions and the museum-themed Full HD content that was shown on the booth in the dome and in an area dedicated to 3D imaging was provided by 7thSense Design. Another key focal point of the booth was the assortment of Pufferfish spherical projection displays that used the F32 projectors. These are intended for the digital signage and visitor attractions sectors. Another real-world example was related to the design of operation centers and command and control rooms. Showing for the first time in a command and control configuration, the projectiondesign FR12 Remote Light Source™ (RLS) highlighted the attention to detail to address requirements such as ultra-low maintenance, high visual performance, 24/7, 365 day viewing, silent and cool operation. . The FR12 was integrated with projectiondesign WB1920 Multi Image Processors and RGB Spectrum MediaWall® 4200 to create a seamless high resolution small operation center control room image. The FR12 is a true and unique innovation in projection technology. It relocates

EXHIBITION REVIEW

the lamps from the projector to a rack-mount enclosure up to 30 meter (100ft) away from the projector head. Light from a rack-mounted RLS illuminates the projector head via a Liquid Light Guide (LLG). The result is a compact, ruggedized, virtually maintenance-free projector head with completely silent operation, perfect for ﬁtting into compact control room installations. Another projector that is perfect for the control room requirements and that was showcased was the highly acclaimed F35 wqxga. It’s renowned for its high-resolution imaging at 2,560 x 1,600 pixels - about double that of standard HD. Building systems around the F35 wqxga projector reduces complexity by reducing the number of channels that would be used with lower resolution “standard” projectors, while displaying the same amount of information. The resulting beneﬁts include reduced maintenance requirements, greatly reduced total cost of ownership, and halving of the system infrastructure requirements such as source channels, cabling, and mounting hardware. www.projectiondesign.com

QSC premieres new products which enhance the power of Q-Sys™ QSC introduced two new products which enhance the powerful capabilities of their successful Q-Sys™ integrated system platform. Both the new TSC-3 Controller and CCN32 CobraNet Audio I/O Card expand the offerings of the Q-Sys system. The Q-Sys™ TSC-3 is an elegant touch screen controller which enables simple and cost-effective control for Q-Sys systems and other devices under Q-Sys control. TheTSC-3 utilizes Q-Sys Designer software to create custom control panels (called User Control Interfaces or UCIs), with buttons, faders, custom navigation and other software tools including bitmaps and other graphical images, and then deploys those control panels to this interface. These UCIs can then be utilized to control any aspect of a Q-Sys system and other elements that are put under Q-Sys control including CD and DVD players, projectors, video switchers and other devices. Designed to be wall-mounted and ﬁt into a standard US 2-gang wall box, the TSC3 employs Power over Ethernet (PoE) making it easy to install, and utilizes a Capacitive Touch surface so it is very intuitive for the end user to be able to control any part of a Q-Sys system.

QSC also premiered the Q-Sys™ CCN32 CobraNet Audio I/O Card, which enables system bridging between Q-Sys and a CobraNet legacy platform. The CCN32 ﬁts in either a Q-Sys Core or I/O Frame and provides up to 32 x 32 channels of CobraNet audio in/out of a Q-Sys system. Designed speciﬁcally for those customers who have a very large networked legacy system, the CCN32 provides a very cost-effective means for a phased approach to bridge between an existing CobraNet platform and the conversion to the Q-Sys platform. www.qscaudio.com

EXHIBITION REVIEW

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

RTI releases new control processors

XP-3 Central Control Processor

XP-6 Central Control Processor

The XP-6 Central Control Processor offers a variety of control options such as RS-232, relay, IP, and routable IR. The processor features support for the RTI 433-MHz receivers for one-way RF communication, and ZigBee® 2.4GHz transceivers can be incorporated for more sophisticated bidirectional communication with an RTI controller. Taking full advantage of the horsepower built into the XP series control

processors, the XP-6 has an astronomical clock, support for the RTI Virtual Panel, and utilizes powerful two-way drivers for A/V, security, lighting, and HVAC systems. With a robust 532-MHz i.MX processor and 128 MB of nonvolatile ﬂash memory, the XP-3 improves the user experience by providing a much higher degree of control and automation

Sanyo launches PLC-WU3800 projector with 3800 Lumens brightness

Sanyo’s PLC-WU3800 is a compact, portable Wide XGA projector with the highest brightness in its class at 3800 lumens. Effective even in well-lit offices, conference rooms and classrooms, the PLC-WU3800 enables easy set-up, even for first-time users, with an “Auto Setup Function,” and it offers advanced display functions including Picture in Picture and Picture by Picture. Its high performance optical engine features a high aperture ratio LCD panel with 1280x800 True WXGA native resolution, with improved light efficiency and effective cooling technology that

enable its high output 275-watt lamp to produce 3800 Lumens of brightness. The 16:10 aspect ratio enables users to project images identical to the screen display of their notebook and laptop computers. The wide aspect ratio makes it possible to display more information on screen, and facilitates projector features such as Picture in Picture, which allows images from multiple sources to be displayed, and Picture by Picture, which is ideal for teleconferencing, as both the active presentation and the live view of other participants can be displayed side-by-side.

than a standalone remote control. The processor offers impressive features including an astronomical time clock for time-based events, a built-in ZigBee® RF transceiver to allow bidirectional communications with compatible RTI remote controls, and access to the same library of drivers utilized by all RTI XP series processors. www.rticorp.com

With its “Auto Setup Function” the projector automatically searches for the active video source and selects the correct input, while an ‘Auto Keystone Correction” function ensures a distortion-free image by applying the appropriate correction when it detects that the projector is not level. Once presentations are finished, the “Power-off and Go” function allows the power cord to be unplugged without requiring a cool down cycle, preventing potential damage to the projector. A high magnification 1.6x zoom lens provides users with enormous flexibility with projector placement relative to the screen, enabling throw distances of 3.25 to over 39.70 feet. Multiple inputs are available, including an HDMI 1.3b connector for best digital imaging quality. Dual D-Sub15 inputs can be used for analog Component and RGB signals, and single connectors are available for S-Video and Composite (RCA) video. Both mini and RCA jack stereo audio inputs are also provided. For control, a D-Sub 9 and an RJ45 network connector are available. An onboard speaker provides audio playback without requiring an external speaker or amplifiers. www.sanyo.com

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

EXHIBITION REVIEW

Symetrix introduces powerful, costeffective Symnet Solus Solus, couples the most powerful openarchitecture SymNet processing to date with cost-saving ﬁxed input/output counts for small to mid-size installations. With the easy-to-use SymNet Designer software, integrators can either use or modify the dozens of existing Solus templates or build entirely new designs from scratch. Currently, there are two Solus hardware units that differ only in their input and output counts. Solus 4 has four mic/line (+phantom) inputs and four outputs, whereas Solus 8 has eight mic/line (+phantom) inputs and eight outputs. Unlike other members of the SymNet family, the Solus processors forego input/output expansion in favour of reduced cost. The Solus 4 and Solus 8 share the same rich set of communications and interface possibilities. Each boasts Ethernet, ARC port, RS-232 port, two control inputs, and

four logic outputs. The Solus software and hardware fully support Symetrix ARC wall panels, and SymVue (Symetrix’ end-user control panel application), as well as popular third party control systems. To eliminate guesswork and speed the installation process, a front-panel LCD reveals system settings. www.symetrix.co

Tannoy introduces new OCV series pendant-style loudspeakers

Entitled OCV Series, Tannoy’s new pendant loudspeaker promises to deliver the renowned acoustic performance and exceptional value of the ubiquitous CVS Series in-ceiling products but in an architecturally sensitive, self-contained, lightweight cylindrical enclosure. Engineered specifically for applications where predictable high quality audio coverage is required in high or openceilinged spaces – such as airports, railway stations, malls or large double or triple height commercial floors – without compromising clarity, intelligibility and SPL. The unique cylindrical form-factor has been conceived to meet the exacting demands of the architectural sector, minimising the impact on aesthetics and allowing the systems designer to locate the loudspeakers discretely, at a desired height without regard to the physical ceiling height, and in a manner that won’t conflict with other suspended systems such as lighting fixtures and ventilation.

Available in black or white as standard and comprising of two models, the OCV 6 and OCV 8, OCV Series is by design a full-bandwidth open-ceiling speaker system. Each model is built around a mid-bass driver (150 mm (6”) or 200 mm (8”) respectively) with a coaxially-mounted 19 mm (0.75”) high frequency section – all mounted in the cylindrical steel enclosure with mild steel powder coated grille. The mineral loaded polypropylene cone material and nitrile rubber surround of the driver assembly enhances durability and provides long-term reliability, while the enclosure is IP54 rated for dust and water ingress. It is also UV resistant – making it suitable for operating within high temperature and high humidity environments. Both the OCV 6 and OCV 8 are equipped with a low insertion loss 60 W line transformer easily configurable via a top-mounted rotary tapping switch, while audio connection is catered for via an adjacent euroblock connector. Both connector and tapping switch are protected by a rubber weather boot which fits securely in place after connections has been made. Tannoy provides all the required hardware for hanging as standard, including steel wires, gripple speed clamp and 3/8” threaded rod adapter – making installation a simple and time-efficient process. www.tannoy.com/pro

MESSAGE KRAMER 30 YEARS ANNIVERSARY

FROM THE DESK OF DR. JOSEPH KRAMER It has been 30 years since I started Kramer Electronics and 14 years since I opened the first sales office outside of Israel. Our company has been a pioneer in the video era, delivering innovative audio, video and computer signal processing products. Kramer opened its first office in Asia in 2003 and since then it plays a significant role in Kramer Electronics’ presence in the Asian market. Signal technology is evolving rapidly. New technologies bring new challenges. Kramer envisions new products every day, driven by professional customer needs. Our products serve a broad range of market segments including: boardrooms, educational institutions, houses of worship, places of entertainment, medical facilities, government offices, control rooms and more. It is no secret that the latest technological developments come from the eastern market. Our industry sun shines from the east. Today, our line includes over 1,000 products. Every one of them was developed by combining extensive R&D with customer feedback. Kramer Asia Pacific (KAP) is right there where the heart of our industry is beating and since we feel the industry pulse all the time, the most advanced developments in technology find their way to our new products. We take great pride in introducing over 100 new products each year. These products are introduced to the leading communications companies of the region by our Asia Pacific office. Indeed Kramer is a leading manufacturer. But as much as introducing new products is important, our personal connection with our customers is even more crucial to our success. Every product in our line carries a personal guarantee and service commitment. Our Asian office serves the local market with local support and expertise. Every need, query or suggestion is met by our Asian team. The fruit of these efforts is our success in Asia Pacific. Our customers’ loyalty is a linear line, driven by our commitment to our customers. The world will keep changing. Kramer Electronics will continue to master the challenges of the market and lead the technology. I look forward to doing great things together.

Best personal regards, Dr. Joseph Kramer

ASIA PACIFIC KRAMER 30 YEARS ANNIVERSARY

New products update held in Vietnam together with Pave Systems

KRAMER ELECTRONICS ASIA PACIFIC Pte Ltd The Asia Pacific region has always been seen as an area of opportunity with the potential for enormous growth.To ride on this wave of huge development, Kramer Electronics Asia Pacific (KAP) started its operations in Singapore in 2003 to serve this region, covering Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India. Recently, Hong Kong has also been added to the Singapore office’s portfolio. Kramer Electronics Asia Pacific serves as the main hub for the Asia Pacific region, providing pre/post sales and technical support as well as supplying Kramer’s comprehensive range of Pro AV products and cables by keeping over a million dollars worth of stock in Singapore.

Since 2003, KAP has been growing at a steady pace and gaining a good portion of the market share in the region. Starting with only 3 staff, KAP has grown to a family of 13 members, with more additions to the team expected in the near future. KAP has also been actively organising training seminars, seminars and product updates in the following countries: Vietnam, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines. Education, the latest technology and product updates are an important part of the Kramer culture. Our partners are kept up to date so that they are always a step ahead of the competition.

With the assistance of our distributors and dealers, we jointly conduct seminars and new product updates in the various countries in APAC. These sessions are usually attended by 20-40 or more participants. These sessions also enable us to receive feedback from delegates that helps us to strive to improve in a wide range of aspects to satisfy our customers. This is reﬂected in our results annually. In Vietnam, together with our partner Pave Vietnam, KAP conducted seminars for many Pro AV system integrators and dealers in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam is a booming market with countless on-going projects and we will continue to work actively with Pave Vietnam to develop this market.

ASIA PACIFIC KRAMER 30 YEARS ANNIVERSARY

Together with carefully selected partners in Indonesia, KAP has been achieving good growth each year since 2003. With the great synergy between KAP and its Indonesia partners in both the Pro AV and broadcast market, we foresee this growth to continue for many years to come. Taiwan has always been seen as a technologically mature market and therefore a much more competitive market. However, our Taiwan partners appreciate Kramer’s strong support and quality products to compete with local brands. With the addition of a local market development executive, Mr. Jacky Lin, we are conﬁdent of increaseing our market share signiﬁcantly. In the Philippines, we have also been seeing good growth in recent years. Regular new product updates with our partners are conducted each year and KAP also participates in independent events organised by our partners to promote our products and solutions to dealers.

Training seminar conducted in Jakarta

In Singapore, a new initiative was undertaken by KAP this year together with InfoComm – the CTS Prep course. Our technical specialist, Mr. David Penrose, has been approved by InfoComm USA to conduct the CTS Prep course. Attendees of the Prep course are able to obtain not only the CTS Preparation Course Completion Certiﬁcate but more importantly, the necessary knowledge required to sit for the CTS exam. With our relentless effort to improve and increase customer satisfaction, KAP will continue to grow and develop in the Asia Paciﬁc region. Together with our partners, we intend to provide the best experience for our customers.

New Products update in Taiwan

Kramer Electronics Asia Paciﬁc Pte Ltd 69 Ubi Crescent CES Building #03-06/07 Singapore 408561 Tel: +65 6274 4474 Fax: +65 6274 4414 www.kramerasia.com

Training seminar by David Penrose held in the Philippines

ASIA PACIFIC KRAMER 30 YEARS ANNIVERSARY

Kramer seminar in Thailand

KRAMER REALISES STEADY GROWTH IN THAILAND Kramer Electronics has had a presence in Thailand since the 1990s through S.T. Communications who imported the products directly from Kramer’s headquarters in Jerusalem. In 2003, when Kramer Electronics Asia Paciﬁc was established in Singapore, an additional distributor, Green Technology Engineering, was appointed to help expand the customer base in Thailand. As we saw the potential growth in the market, a sales representative based in Bangkok was added in 2007 to facilitate operations between our distributors and the Asia Paciﬁc HQ (Singapore) as well as to provide marketing and technical support for their customers . We actively worked together as a team with not only our distributors but also local system integrators, consultants as well as end users.

In order to increase our presence in Thailand, we actively helped our distributors participate in many exhibitions, trade shows and road shows in Bangkok and across the country regardless of its size. As our customer base is expanding, proper knowledge of our products and technologies is very crucial. With this in mind, we also organised Kramer seminars which are held in a hotel or as in-house training for our customers, if requested. With our System Specialist Mr. David Penrose on board, we are able to provide a wide range of training with in-depth knowledge of Audio Visual courses, some of which are recognised by InfoComm. We recognise that Thailand is a large market with a lot of potential and we have witnessed steady growth over

the last few years despite political instability. We have built our reputation and have become a key preference when it comes to selecting professional AV products for both top notch government and private sector projects. We are best known for our innovations, product quality and excellent service which comes at a very competitive price. We have come a long way in Thailand. www.kramerasia.com

AUSTRALIA KRAMER 30 YEARS ANNIVERSARY

KRAMER ELECTRONICS AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd Kramer Electronics has been operating in Australia since 2003, and has grown at a steady pace ever since, gradually expanding their customer base and with that, adapting and changing the warehouse to suit. Of course, change is a never ending process. At the beginning of 2009 a number of signiﬁcant changes were made at Kramer. One of which was the change in management of the branch, as well as the appointment of additional staff to ensure the efﬁcient running and sustained growth of the operation. Kramer Electronics Australia has added yet more in 2011 and now consists of a staff complement of 12 including the Managing Director. The logistics controller is supported by a Warehouse

Manager, Storeman, Admin Assistant and Tech Support. We now have four dedicated Salesmen / Business Development personnel, with local support in Melbourne and Perth, to develop our business in these regions even further. The Brisbane-based salesmen are now more focused towards looking after local customers and that involves interstate travel for dealer visits and product training. In addition to sales duties, one of them has the additional responsibility of being the Marketing Manager. As the Marketing Manager, his aim is to focus on marketing related activities including the organisation of events around trade shows and product road shows. The last person to join us this year has the title

Kramer Electronics Australia Pty Ltd Unit 3, 1-5 Knobel Court, Shailer Park, QLD 4128, Brisbane, Australia Tel: +61 7 3806 4290 Fax: +61 7 3806 4295 www.krameraustralia.com.au

of Product Specialist, to pay particular attention to our Sierra video range and to assist with solutions-based outcomes for our customers. Last, but not least, we have a Finance Manager responsible for looking after money-related issues. This wave of change is likely to continue into next year, with us hopefully expanding into the next door warehouse. This will be to accommodate more bulk stock and allow us to create a dedicated training / demo facility by converting the upstairs ofﬁce space. Even though our current facility is a vast improvement from the building Kramer Australia started in, our business is doing so well we would need to expand the ofﬁce space fairly soon!

CHINA KRAMER 30 YEARS ANNIVERSARY

KRAMER CHINA Kramer Electronics entered China in late 2002 to catch the wave of China’s rapid economic growth as well as to serve China’s AV market development. Kramer China actively cooperated with system integrators, system designers and other target customers nationwide to quickly build up its base. In the process, Kramer’s solutions were ﬁnding their way into many different types of AV applications and its reputation grew in tandem with the growing number of satisﬁed customers. In the years that followed, Kramer became more widely recognised and received positive feedback from a number of major projects that Kramer solutions were used in such as the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, China CCTV and the People’s Great Hall. Today, Kramer is one of the key players and technology innovators in China’s

AV market, providing quality solutions at reasonable prices with excellent service, complemented by technical know-how. Kramer solutions are now found in a variety of segments from government units to judicial, military, public security, exhibition centres, power, finance, telecom, petrochemical, air traffic, broadcasting and television systems. It has sales offices set up in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, and has sales representatives based in other key cities such as Xi’an, Chengdu and Wuhan. To be able to serve customers with a quicker turn-around, Kramer China has also set up a large logistics center in both Beijing and Shanghai. As more and more customers choose Kramer products, it has been developing its technical knowhow and product innovation constantly to grow its business together with China’s economic development.

looking forward to having a deeper and better cooperation with all for a more prosperous future. Kramer Electronics Shanghai Add: Rm. 1405, Kunyang Plaza, NO.798 Zhaojiabang Rd., Shanghai Tel: +86 21 6445 3136 Fax: +86 21 6445 5934 Kramer Electronics Beijing Add: Rm. 1108, Jinglong Building, NO.225 North Chaoyang Rd., Beijing Tel: +86 10 6508 7775 Fax: +86 10 6508 7772 Kramer Electronics Guangzhou Add: Rm.1810, East Tower Yangcheng Int’l Trade Center, NO.122 East Tiyu Rd. Guangzhou Tel: +86 20 6508 7775 www.kramerchina.com

Kramer will continue its commitment to Chinese AV customers and provide them with the best solutions. Kramer is

Israeli pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010

INDIA KRAMER 30 YEARS ANNIVERSARY

The INS212 Installation Technician training is part of the Kramer India AV Academy

KRAMER ELECTRONICS INDIA Pvt Ltd The AV Industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the Indian economy today. To serve the ever growing demands of the AV Industry, Kramer Electronics Ltd established its subsidiary office, Kramer Electronics India Pvt Ltd in 2007. Kramer India’s office is located in the Silicon Valley of India - Bangalore. Kramer India’s set up comprises of Regional Sales and Support teams based out of North, South and West of India; a dedicated service and repair centre in Bangalore capable of servicing all the Kramer equipment on board level; a fullfledged duty paid and custom-bonded warehouse in Bangalore and also marketing and finance teams to support the fast growing customer base and market needs. Kramer India operates through its channel partners which include distributors, dealers and system integrators. Having a vast range of products which cater to both Pro AV and Broadcast segments, Kramer India has

been growing its customer base in both segments rapidly. The education initiative of Kramer Electronics has been enhanced by setting up the Kramer India AV Academy, which has been instrumental in conducting technology training in India since 2009. Kramer India has signed up for curriculum licensing with InfoComm International to conduct INS212 Installation Technician training in 2011. This is the first time ever that a 3-day INS212 Installation Technician course is conducted outside of the InfoComm, Fairfax office. Having completed 2 successful training sessions so far, Kramer India is looking forward to conducting more of the installation training and also bring more professional training courses to India. Since its inception in 2007, Kramer India has grown significantly in the Indian market by developing a huge customer base in various industry

segments. Kramer India has been catering to a large number of projects in the IT sector, hospitality segment, education segment, residential segment, government, defense and broadcasting segments. The Indian AV and broadcasting Industries is being looked up to as a growth market where technology projects will be implemented and adopted. Kramer India today stands strong and committed to serve its customers and the industry to the best of its ability. Kramer India is committed to customer satisfaction and service and will continue to make connections through its products and through its people. Kramer Electronics India Pvt. Ltd. 18/10, Suit - 205, Saleh Centre Cunningham Road, Bangalore - 560052 Tel: +91 80 4148 5388 Fax: +91 80 4148 5387 www.kramerindia.com

JAPAN KRAMER 30 YEARS ANNIVERSARY

KOIKE CORPORATION LIMITED Koike Corporation Limited (Koike) was appointed as the sole agent for Kramer Electronics in Japan in December 2009. Since then, it has been gradually spreading the Kramer name in the Japanese Pro-AV market with the help of seven distributors who have strengths in different ﬁelds. Koike dates back to 1946, when the father of the present President, Mr. Koike, established a small shop specialising in packaging materials in Shinagawa, Tokyo. After more than 60 years, Koike has grown into a global logistics company with over 800 clients from leading manufacturers to logistics companies. Koike has strengths in export and imports, packaging, warehousing, trading, and also as a real-estate agent

holding eight Koike buildings around the Shinagawa area. With the headquarters still in Shinagawa where it ﬁrst started, Koike now has warehouses in Miyagi Prefecture (near Sendai Airport), Tochigi Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture (near Narita Airport) and Tokyo Ooi Port. Koike also has a large warehouse and ofﬁce in Port Klang, Malaysia (Koike (M) Sdn. Ltd.), which has an OEM manufacturing facility for aluminum die-cast parts, plastic injection parts, semi-assembly parts and precision machining parts. Koike (M) also has strong connections in the semiconductor, electronics and automotive industries in Port Klang and Penang, and has many partners in South East Asia.

Although Koike is still relatively new to the Pro AV industry, they have a highly-trained and experienced group of engineers and staff who are dedicated to the Kramer business. By having a strong background in logistics, they have managed to lower the overall cost of Kramer products, which is a benefit to both distributors and end-users in the Japanese market. Koike’s distributors have a long history in the Pro AV industry which is a great help for Koike in establishing a firm ground in Japan. Kramer products are widely used in the Japanese market, from hospitals and schools to large broadcasting companies. Recently, Matsuda Trading Corporation Limited (MTC), a partner of Koike and one of the leading channels in Japan, managed to fill a car auction stadium with Kramer’s receivers and transmitters, as well as the cables and connectors to link the whole system. Even though there were slight delays in the installation process due to the 3 March 2011 earthquake that devastated large parts of Japan, the system is now working perfectly, and it has given Kramer a good start in the Japanese market. Koike opened up a Kramer show room at their headquarters in 2010, displaying the latest Kramer products. The show room is open to anyone by prior appointment with the friendly Kramer team at Koike at hand to assist. Every quarter Koike holds product seminars in their office, to update the distributors on the latest Kramer technology and there are plans to exhibit in Interbee, which is the largest AV exhibition in Japan, in the near future.

Koike Corporation Limited No.1 Koike Bldg. 1-1-17 Kita-shinagawa Shinagawa-ku Tokyo 140-0001 Japan Tel : +81 03 3471 4111 Fax : +81 03 3471 4179 URL : www.koike.co.jp www.kramer.jp

Kramer showroom at the Koike headquarters

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Kramer Korea had a successful KOBA 2011 which attracted more than 800 visitors to their booth.

KRAMER KOREA The Kramer Korea ofﬁce was launched in late 2006 in order to meet the explosive growth of Korea’s IT and AV market. Since then, Kramer Korea has seen a steady growth in this market. Starting off with just four employees, the company now has a staff of seven to provide technical support and product sales to meet customer demands. A warehouse facility within Korea has also minimised delivery time enabling Kramer Korea to respond quickly to customer needs. Kramer Korea works in partnership with SI companies, AV consultants and installation companies in Korea, offering its solutions to a range of market segments from government ofﬁces, military sites, houses of worship, corporations and more. Kramer Korea also conducts quarterly seminars for customers to share AV-related knowledge and experience. Kramer also participates in the annual KOBA show to strengthen its relationship with the industry and end-users. One area of particular interest for Kramer Korea is the building of integrated CCTV control centre buildings. Currently,

there are over one hundred thousand CCTV cameras installed in South Korea for security, child protection, disaster monitoring, etc. But, these CCTV cameras have been managed by different departments and organisations. South Korea’s Ministry of Public Administration and Security has decided to build integrated CCTV monitoring centres in all 230 local areas by 2015 to streamline the operations. Since 2010, these 230 integrated monitoring centres are being built progressively with a budget of USD307 million. These CCTV monitoring centres consist of multi-wall display monitors, RGB/DVI matrix switchers, control systems, servers and network systems. Until now, DLP Cube monitors have been used as wall display systems. Due to its high cost, LFD (Large Format Display) or DID (Digital Information Display) monitors are beginning to be used as an alternative for wall display systems. To capture this CCTV monitoring centre market, Kramer Korea is in partnership with Samsung Electronics which manufactures LFD wall display monitors.

With Samsung’s LFD wall monitors and Kramer’s RGB/DVI matrix, Kramer Korea and Samsung have produced a control centre package solution and are cooperating in the sales and marketing aspects of the deals. Through this control centre package solution, customers get an all-in-one package and do not need to purchase each solution separately. The upside to this is that the co-operation goes beyond the CCTV monitoring centre as the package solution can be applied to all control and surveillance segments. With this partnership, Kramer and Samsung are expecting good results in the booming CCTV monitoring center and control room market. Kramer Electronics Korea # 201 HyeopSung Bldg 309-148, Seongsu-dong 2Ga, Seongdong-gu, Seoul E-mail: info@KramerKorea.com Tel: +82 2 467 4747 www.kramerkorea.com

POINT OF VIEW KRAMER 30 YEARS ANNIVERSARY

DAVID PENROSE, CTS, ON IT IN THE AV INDUSTRY David is our chief trainer in Asia. He is instrumental in Kramer’s efforts to educate the AV industry as part of our continuing efforts to contribute to the growth in the region. This jetsetter is based in Thailand but often travels to different countries for training sessions with the local branch staff, as well as consultants, system integrators, dealers and end users. David studied Electronic Engineering at Newcastle Technical College in 1983 before joining the cinema industry as a cinema technician with Greater Union Village Technology. He rose through the ranks and became project manager in charge of the installation of new cinema complexes both in Australia and Asia. When the cinema industry in Thailand suffered a severe downturn in 1999, David became the Technical Manager for the AV Company, Vichai Trading. As the only English speaking technical person in the company, he took on the role as Product Manager and was responsible for product training for all the suppliers outside of Thailand. While in Thailand, he passed both the Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) and Certified Technology Specialist Design (CTS-D). Joining Kramer in 2007 as a System Specialist, he is now responsible for the happiness of the consultants in the Asia Pacific region, as well as his training duties. Penrose recognises the increasing pace of change within the AV industry and the emergence of integrating AV and IT systems into a total corporate solutions offering. Penrose gives us his views on this rising trend that looks here to stay.

IT in the AV industry “Almost all of the equipment that we use today has the capability of using TCP/IP for either monitoring, set up or direct control. The days of using RS-232 are fading fast. It is now very important to be familiar with TCP/IP so that we can incorporate our systems into an IT network, or even set up and maintain our own IT infrastructure.

I remember 5 years or so ago, that we were all hearing AV/IT convergence. We were being told that there would no longer be separate IT or AV departments. That they would merge into one super department. I didn’t agree then and 5 years on, and I still haven’t seen it happen. What I have seen is the need for AV technical staff to understand and use TCP/IP in many of the installs that have been done in that time. When we need to integrate our control or transport systems with an existing IT network, we come up against a lot of opposition from the IT department, and rightly so. We (and I include myself in this) were never able to give the IT professionals the information they needed to evaluate the impact of our systems on “their” networks. Remember that there are major differences between what the IT department needs the network to do, and what the AV department needs the network to do. If an email is delayed for 500ms, is that a problem or is it even noticed? For us, that is fatal. Any delay in getting the streaming data from one point to another is critical for us, but not for IT. Security and viruses are not normally a problem for streaming data, but are very much an issue for IT. The IT network must be secure, and when we ask these guys to open ports for our data they usually cringe and say ‘NO!’ This is a problem for us. So the best solution is to have a network that is closed just for the AV system, but who is going to set that up? With training, we can. And we can also better integrate with the IT professionals network, if we can speak their language. So let’s all get out there and learn about TCP/IP. It really isn’t all that hard. Once you learn, anything is possible.”

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JOHN UNGERER ON MOVING FORWARD IN THE AV INDUSTRY Whenever I meet people from our industry, I get a similar response when asking how things are going…… “Flat out!” These words keep ringing through my mind as I am faced with writing a few words on the how, why, where, etc. of our industry from Kramer’s perspective. I heard someone say on the radio the other day that it was thought, or rather “assumed” in the 70’s, that by the turn of the century we would have so much time on our hands because of the advances in technology and what it will do for us, that we will not know what to do with all this “spare” time in the new Millennia… Yeah right! Like that happened. Quite the opposite, in fact, is happening. We seem to have less time, too few skilled staff, not enough knowledge, adapting to all this new technology and the list goes on. There have been some really remarkable advances in the AV industry over the past few years and there is no reason to believe this will stop. The economic slump of a year or 2 ago had a signiﬁcant impact and we saw this in sales as it became harder to keep ﬁgures up and even more so to retain margins and market share.

Where am I going with this? My opinion is that it will become more difﬁcult to grow in this very competitive market with more and more manufacturers competing with each other and diversifying into areas they did not service before. Product ranges are ever increasing – this is certainly the case with Kramer.

With a lot of new and exciting products being launched this year, the need for knowledge and skills to back this up is getting to be more of a challenge. The influx of “cheap” eastern alternatives and sometimes blatant copies of established products is another concern that is affecting the way we do business. It is my feeling that in order to go forward in the AV industry it is going to involve paying more attention to customer service, product training and local after sales support, backing up our products with knowledge of system integration and maintaining decent stock levels amongst other things. Here at Kramer, we are finding that typical order times from customers are getting shorter with the need to attain optimistic delivery targets, which we are doing our best to accommodate. This year, Kramer Australia has added 4 new staff members to address our anticipated and expected growth. First to join was a new store man, thereby easing the load on our logistics. Next up were two business development managers for Melbourne and Perth and the final guy on board has the title of product specialist – to focus on product development, support and integration assistance. We are living in exciting times in the AV industry. There is so much to experience and design. The team at Kramer Australia are really looking forward to showcasing our products, technologies and people – to my mind, the latter being the most important component. As a good customer told me not too long ago, “People deal with people they like!”

ACTIVITIES KRAMER 30 YEARS ANNIVERSARY

KRAMER ACTIVITIES Kramer Electronics aims to continue to play an integral role in the AV industry. In Asia, Kramer Electronics has been actively involved in a number of activities to ensure that it stays engaged not only with the industry but also end-users. These activities include seminars, training programmes, product introduction days as well as participation in regional exhibitions.

Kramer at the InfoComm India Roadshow 2011

Participation at Regional Exhibitions Kramer participates at all the key exhibitions in the region in order to touch base with the industry and to introduce new solutions.

InfoComm Academy Days The InfoComm Academy Days are designed to provide an inexpensive educational seminar and networking opportunity. The program targets technical training to penetrate deeper into the employee pool of local AV companies. Kramer has been a proud sponsor of the InfoComm Academy Days in Singapore in 2010 and 2011.

INS212 Installation Technician Course in India Kramer India has signed up a curriculum licensing agreement with InfoComm International to conduct the INS212 Installation Technician Course for the year 2011. This is the ďŹ rst time that this course has been licensed and conducted outside the US. Response for the three day course has been overwhelming with Kramer having already completed two Installation Technician courses for the ďŹ rst half of the year with another planned for the later part of the year.

Kramer at InfoComm China 2011

InfoComm Academy Day INS212 Installation Technician Course

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KRAMER MILESTONES 1981

Commenced operations.

1982

Opened European distribution facility.

1982

Introduced the first PAL video processor with image

1983

2002

Opened sales offices and warehouses

2002

Expanded product line with the introduction of

in China.

enhancement and colour control.

Wall Plate Interfaces and accessories. Developed

Patented several new technologies. Automatic video

and introduced the extremely popular, ultra high

noise gate, colour processorscreen splitter, and

performance, cost effective, ProScale™

symmetrical video boost/cut circuitry.

digital scaler/switchers.

1984

Introduced the first combined video/audio processor.

1986

Achieved 14 cover stories on new products in leading

1988

Introduced the first PAL s-Video (YC) processors and

high quality digital and analog audio and video

DAs at the Photokina show.

equipment for the worldwide broadcast,

Launched the Kramer VP product line - pioneering

postproduction, presentation and professional

computer graphics conversion and distribution.

video marketplaces.

European video magazines.

1989

1990

2003

Australia and Singapore. 2003

Implemented new chip technology in the Kramer

Opened sales offices and warehouses in France,

2004

Broadcast series of products.

Acquired Sierra Video Systems, a leading provider of

Opened sales offices and warehouses in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Italy.

1992

The Broadcast series installed in five leading broadcast

2006

Celebrated 25th anniversary.

studios in Europe.

2006

Product warranty extended to seven years on all

1996

First company to develop high bandwidth TP

new machines.

(twisted-pair) products.

2006

Opened offices in Sweden, South Korea, Germany,

1997

Opened US subsidiary.

1997

Developed the markets fastest VGA graphics

2007

Opened office in Canada.

distribution amplifier.

2008

Introduced SummitView™ integrated media/room

1998

Poland and India.

Patented the Video Tester, a handheld, battery operated, tester for video signal presence.

1999

2009

Introduced Kr-isp® advanced sync processing, sync

twisted pair transmission line of products.

signal waveform restoration to ensure a wide range of

receives the Pick Hit Award from Video System

computer compatibility. 2009

Opened UK subsidiary. Finalist for the Manufacturer of the Year Award from AV Magazine in the UK.

2001

Introduced Cobra™ high resolution/long distance

The VP-800, a VGA/XGA colour bar generator,

Magazine at the NAB show in Las Vegas. 2000

2008

Patented Kramer TOOLS, which received the Readers Choice Award from Broadcast Engineering Magazine.

2000

control systems.

devices for long-distance digital transmission. 2010

Expanded product line to include scalers, scan converters and presentation matrix switchers.

Premiered first digital (HDMI, DVI) over fiber optics

Introduced high-fidelity omnidirectional flat ceiling speakers for boardrooms.

2011

30th anniversary celebrations.

DISTRIBUTION AMPLIFIERS

RANGE EXTENDERS & REPEATERS

ROOM CONNECTIVITY

SWITCHERS & ROUTERS

SPECIALTY AV PRODUCTS

ACCESSORIES & RACK ADAPTERS

CONTROL SYSTEMS

SCAN CONVERTERS & SCALERS

SIERRA VIDEO

FORMAT & STANDARDS CONVERTERS

CABLES & CONNECTORS

GLOSSARY & INDEX

presents

DES212 AV Design Level 1: Environment New Delhi 21-23 Aug 2011 | Bangalore 25-27 Aug 2011

DES213 Design Level 2: Infrastructure New Delhi 16-18 Oct 2011 | Bangalore 20-22 Oct 2011

DES312 Design Level 3: Applied AV Design New Delhi 04-06 Dec 2011 | Bangalore 08-10 Dec 2011 Hosted by

INDIA DES201 Design Online DES201 Design Online is the first of four core knowledge courses in the InfoComm Academy Design Track and contains more than 300 lessons introducing the core concepts of audiovisual systems design. This course will improve your AV design vocabulary, your understanding of design factors as they relate to design choices and teach you scientifc concepts behind AV design considerations.

DES212 AV Design Level 1: Environment Delivering audiovisual designs based on a client’s needs is an art and a science. It can be challenging to professionals new to the field as well as those with many years of experience. In all instances, proper design requires adherence to certain principles. This three-day classroom course explores elements that affect the planning and design of the environments with sound reinforcement, display, projection needs, etc. Using measurement tools, calculations and industry best practices, students will expand their knowledge of design considerations to create drawings, specifications and performance criteria. Students will create a portfolio documenting recommended design processes and sample documentation for reference when working on future AV design projects. Audience “Many designers have prepared for their CTS-D Certification exam by taking the three levels of the hands-on, onsite AV Design courses.”Design courses are valuable for anyone who works in or has the responsibility for the design of audiovisual facilities, including systems sales professionals, designers, engineers, senior designers, senior engineers, project managers and technology managers. Cost InfoComm Members: USD 700 per person per level Nonmembers: USD 1,050 per person per level Exclusive for AMX India and Kramer Electronics India partners and associates– a special subsidy is offered.

DES213 AV Design Level 2: Infrastructure This three-day classroom course explores elements that affect the planning and design of the infrastructure supporting AV environments including HVAC, electrical, cable pathways, lighting, IT connectivity, etc. During this course, you will create a portfolio documenting recommended design processes and sample documentation for reference while working on future AV design projects. DES312 AV Design Level 3: Applied Design This three-day course is a comprehensive application of design best practices as they are taught in DES212 AV Design Level 1: Environment and DES213 AV Design Level 2: Infrastructure. Students will work through the complete design process from beginning (conducting a needs analysis) to end (complete design package). DES312 focuses on how to determine and analyze the needs of the clients, collaborate with other professionals, develop AV designs and conduct project implementation activities. This course blends instructor-led training, collaborative group work and peer-to-peer learning. DES312 AV Design Level 3: Applied Design follows the CTS-D Exam Content Outline. CTS Renewal Units Each of this courses provides 24 renewal units (RUs) toward InfoComm Certification renewal. Instructor Rod Brown, CTS-D – InfoComm Staff Instructor Contact/Enquiries AMX India – Mayank Gupta Email : mayank.gupta@amx.com Kramer Electronics India – Bharath Kumar, CTS Email: bharath@kramerindia.com InfoComm International – Andy Tan, CTS Email: atan@infocomm.org

EXHIBITION REVIEW

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Install Asia which was a segment of the 23rd edition of PALME Asia that was held from the 13th to the 15th of July at the Singapore Marina Bay Sands featured a huge conference programme that was also supported by exhibits relating to the AV Install segment.

ABtUS features HDMI over single Cat-5 Extender

Taking centrestage at the ABtUS booth was its HDMI over single CAT-5 Extender transmitter. The CAT-HDX11MT/A is HDMI version 1.3b as well as HDCP compliant. The transmitter can be used for data broadcasting as well as home application as it it is able to extend full HD or 1080p HDMI up to 100 meter over a single cat-5e cable. Output includes 1 x RJ45, 1 x Monitor and 1 x IR. Also exhibited was the ABtUS full HD multimedia presentation scaler switcher

which provides high quality up or down scaling between standard computer and HDTV signals, Touch screen panels and multimedia controller switchers as well as the ABtUS energy saving speaker and digital mixer amplifier. The SPSS025A1 speaker system features an integrated 25 watts per channel digital amplifier and a DC 12V power supply output, which allows the user to connect to a switcher without the need for an additional power cable. Volume, Bass and Treble can be controlled from the back of the speaker. On the right speaker there is an output to feed the left speaker which also reduces power cabling. The AMP-S025A digital amplifier also features 25 watts per channel. It features left and right channel speaker out as well as a Line out. There are two Line inputs as well as two mic inputs. The amplifier

also features a DC 12V power supply output. Both the speaker (SPS-S0251A1) and the ampliﬁer (AMP-S025A) have an auto input signal sensing incorporated for auto power ON and OFF. www.abtussingapore.com

ABtUS showcased a power consumption comparison between an analog speaker and their eco speaker

Alioscopy showcases glasses-free 3D displays Alioscopy’s 3D screens deliver an immersive experience with unmatched 3D pop-out and depth effects on video screens. Alongside its range of glassesfree 3D displays, Alioscopy also provides innovative and creative 3D services, including content creation, training and support, as well as 3D software and licensing. www.alioscopy.sg Alexandra Martinet, Sales & Marketing Manager for Alioscopy Singapore with Laurent Fabry, Technical Director of Alioscopy.

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

EXHIBITION REVIEW

Analog Way showcases Tetra-VIO™ being used for a LED Wall

The Analog Way Singapore team

Tetra-VIO™ by Analog Way is a highly versatile A/V Switcher / Converter / Interface with 3 universal Inputs and 1 SD/HD-SDI Input. It accepts a large range of formats, from Computer to Video and HDTV, in Analog or Digital format, and provides a large range of connectors: BNC, HD15, DVI, mini DIN4, Cinch, RCA. The output provides the same diversity of formats, and the same type of signals and connectors.

The Tetra-VIO is not new but at Install Asia it gave Analog Way the opportunity to showcase the solution being used for a LED wall. Also on exhibit was the award-winning Eikos and the new Axion2 solutions. www.analogway.com

AR Visual exhibits new solutions from Comm Products Technologies provides clear information on the PSC-01 and its current operations. Users will be able to daisy-chain the RS-485 when required. The PSC-01 package includes the USB programming cables, power cord and software. The PSC-01 product will be ready for distribution by September 2011.

At Install Asia, AR Visual exhibited Comm Product’s new Power Sequence Controller PSC-01. The Power Sequence Controller PSC-01 has 6 universal Clipsal power socket with built in internal fuse, 2 relay output, 1 RS232 and 1 RS485. The new PSC-01, can power ON and OFF all equipment with just a start button or with the time-clock. Programming is made easy via the front panel or RS232 Controls. The Built-In LCD display

Also showcased was Comm Product’s new Integrated WizarSwitch IPC-5CX which is an integrated matrix control switcher, with 3 VGA + 1 Video (Composite) Input, 2 VGA + 1 Video (Composite) Output which enables users to manage more AV equipment connections. The Dual RS232 output capability makes it possible to synchronize and control 2 different projectors with just 1 set of WizarSwitch IPC-5CX. The IPC-5CX works with most projectors and plasma displays and supports HDTV Resolution. There is also a volume control for Mic input adjustments. The WizarSwitch IPC-5CX

Package includes a control panel and a separate control module. Connection between the panel and module is via a CAT5 Cable. The package also includes the brackets for rack mounting. www.arvisual.com.sg

The Power Sequence Controller PSC-01

dataton showcases Watchout version 5 Fully scalable, software-based and requiring no proprietary hardware, Dataton WATCHOUT™ already orchestrates still images, animations, graphics, video, sound and live feeds into a single impressive show across multiple display areas, either soft-edge blended or scattered. Now version 5 takes this capability to a higher level by adding new features that meet the latest demands of event designers, systems integrators and end customers. Fresh from its debut launch at InfoComm 2011, version 5 features 3D effects and stage preview, stereoscopic playback, interactivity and multiple outputs. Regular demonstrations of version 5 at Install Asia, saw many interested visitors at their booth. (L-R) Kenneth Cheung of Audio Visual Technique Ltd, Jeffrey Tan of Crescendo Media, Adela Kriland of Omagica AB, Michael Engstrom of dataton with Morgan Wong of Audio Visual Technique

www.dataton.com

EXHIBITION REVIEW

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Esco AV showcases solutions for different market segments

Dr Dinesh and Robert Yeo of WOW Vision with Ranjit Singh of RST at the Esco Education solution segment

Esco AV together with its partners divided their exhibit space to showcase solutions for the different market segments, mainly for Education, Uniﬁed Communications, Digital Signage, Interactive and Visual. Designed by T2 Consulting, the booth showcased solutions from DET, Crestron, EV, Chief, WOW Vision, Samsung, Shure, Extron, ab, condeco, EAW, Barco and Radvision. www.esco.com.sg

JM Rental’s collaboration with 3DIS Limited comes to live at Install Asia JM Rental took the opportunity to showcase at Install Asia what its collaboration with 3DIS Limited can achieve. In 2009, JM Rental worked with its exclusive partner in Japan to develop 3D technology for 3D LED Displays. Over the last 18 months and more JM Rental’s 3D Lighthouse R4 panels had been used in events in Japan and around the globe. To provide a total solution for customers, JM Rental formed an alliance with 3DIS Limited. 3DIS Limited specialises in 3D technology. Their services and products range from 3D video production to 3D interactive displays. With the ability to develop fresh 3D content and 3D interactive media, 3DIS Limited and JM Rental intend to provide 3D experience to theme parks, visitor centres, the

Kenneth Yip of JM Rental

real estate industry, automobile exhibitions and the live concert industry. www.joinmerit.com www.3DIS.com.hk

Mediaonline showcases Four Winds Interactive digital signage solutions

Jenny Loo and Dennis So of Mediaonline International

Mediaonline International Pte Ltd holds the distribution rights for the Four Winds Interactive solutions for South-east Asia. At the exhibition, the company showcased the iDS Software platform that turns LCD and Plasma displays

Quad Professional to represent Hayaco conference and interpretation system

into a flexible, reliable, easy to use digital signage network. The software enables the client to blend rich multimedia, web, and live data content to create visually stimulating, dynamic, and compelling digital signs. iDS is a complete solution empowering customers to manage the complete workflow of a digital display network including design, scheduling, deployment, playback, reporting and system monitoring. iDS is easy to use and leverages on familiar Microsoft programs; it is scalable and does not require a server and is flexible providing multiple database options and built in data integration options without the need for any proprietary hardware. www.m-int.com.sg

(L-R) Jungsik Choi President of JSC Corporation, Eui-ju Lee of Hayaco with Vincent of Quad Professional

At their booth, Quad Professional showcased solutions from their newest principal, Hayaco from South Korea. Hayaco specialises in conference and interpretation systems and on exhibit was the WSM-240 digital 2.4GHz wireless conference system. Using Picocast technology the systems provides 3 way security code technology to protect data from interception. The WSM-240 features a built-in loudspeaker and enables 4 microphones to be activated simultaneously. The main controller, the WMC-240G enables the controlling of speech time, camera tracking of speakers and electronic voting functions. The Chairman and delegate units feature voting buttons that enables participants to vote and through an optional management software (WMC-SW), results can be seen real time. Installing the WMC-SW control software onto a computer enables results to be displayed on a monitor. The software also communicates with the camera thus enabling the system to track the speaker’s face. The system features a Gooseneck condenser microphone that provides good quality sound and ergonomic design. Speakers can check the microphone status via the systems LED which when lighted indicates that the microphone is ON. The HDT-240G is the simultaneous wireless 2 channels interpretation transmitter using digital broadcasting and available up to 16 channels to accommodate 16 different languages. The RF signals is picked up by the receivers HDR-240G or MRX-240G where participants can select their native language. www.hayaco.com www.quadpro.com.sg

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

EXHIBITION REVIEW

Revolabs appoints Multimedia Maestro Pte Ltd phone that is based on Revolabs’ revolutionary wireless audio technology that for years has delivered superior sound quality for audio and video conferencing to large conference rooms and boardrooms. The Revolabs FLX™ is a combination of wireless operation, high quality wideband audio, 128-bit encryption, integrated Bluetooth® with support for both analog and IP. All the FLX microphones and speakers support wide band audio (80 -11000 Hz), delivering Anita Man of Revolabs with Ed K of Multimedia natural sounding audio in all Maestro environments. A variety of Revolabs Asia Pacific has appointed Multimedia Maestro Pte Ltd as their Revolabs microphones are available distributor for Singapore. This took effect to match the caller’s needs including from July. Anita Man, Director of Sales, a lapel microphone worn by one APAC for Revolabs Asia Pacific Limited person, an omni-directional tabletop says, “We want to ensure that we work microphone that captures the sound of with the right partner and are confident six to ten participants, and a directional that Multimedia with the leadership of tabletop microphone that enables audio Ed K will help propel our business in capture from two to three people. The Revolabs FLX system replaces the need Singapore.” for two separate desk and conference At the show, Revolabs showcased phones since the dialer works like a the recently launched Revolabs FLX™ telephone for handset calls and is also Conference Phone. Targeted at the small used to set up conference calls. Private and mid-sized conference rooms, the conversations can be held at any time Revolabs FLX™ is a wireless conference during a conference call.

In addition to phone conferencing, callers can use the Revolabs FLX as the audio interface with their video conferencing unit, providing the same high performance and freedom for video calls. Revolabs FLX is compatible with all major brands of video conferencing systems. Callers without Internet access can have their phone calls ‘bridged’ into the video session at any time with the Revolabs FLX system. Bluetooth technology integrated into the product provides a single collaboration device no matter which communication channel is used. The Revolabs FLX lets users connect the speaker and microphones to their Bluetooth enabled cell phone or computer. www.revolabs.com

The Revolabs FLX Conference Phone system

Seminars at PALME ASIA

The Houses of Worship Seminar spanned all three days touching on a variety of topics.

The full day Sound Reinforcement Design Workshop by David E. Marsh.

SIA Acoustics seminar on critically evaluating Loudspeaker candidates

The Digital Display Tech Seminar was held on the ﬁrst day of the exhibition.

Robert Michaels, Founding member of Digital Screenmedia Association and President, Signage Division of Digital View

Manlo Almagro, International correspondent for the DailyDooh.com

Jeff Hastings, CEO, Brightsign

EXHIBITION PREVIEW

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Knowledge takes centrestage at Integrate Over 500 top brands and exhibitors to showcase their solutions INFOCOMM ACADEMY A ﬁrst for Australia: six Infocomm Academy sessions will be conducted across the three days of Integrate. The InfoComm Academy sessions will focus on technology and best practices in the industry. SESSION TOPICS INCLUDE • Changes in Australian Building Code for Hearing Assistance Technology • Solving Real-Life HDMI/DVI/ DisplayPort Installation Problems • Integration: Making the Most of Individual Pieces to Create Flexible, Dynamic Systems • Display Calibration Criteria & Techniques • Advanced Fibre Optic Design • Conferencing Best Practices including lighting and acoustics

AV professionals will leave these information-packed, idea-generating sessions with practical advice, expert solutions and technical education that is designed to be 100 percent applicable to the challenges of the Australian/NZ marketplace.

INFOCOMM SUPER TUESDAY 2011 will see the return of InfoComm International’s ever-popular ‘Super Tuesday – Future Trends’. Super Tuesday is always packed with AV goodness, allowing an international and Australian cast of AV pros to provide the industry with a glimpse at the challenges and opportunities afforded by the latest technologies and techniques.

TOPICS INCLUDE • Integrated Building Technology • New Developments in Video Conferencing, SIP and SBC • Extending Uniﬁed CommunicationsBased Multimedia Services Beyond the Enterprise • Upcoming AV System Performance Standards: Avoid Surprises and be Prepared • BIM: An Introduction to Building Information Modelling and its Impact on the AV Community • AWAG (Australian Wireless Audio Group) Wireless Spectrum Update • Keynote: Randal A. Lemke, PhD., Executive Director and CEO of InfoComm International will discuss how changes to the way the IT department makes audiovisual decisions is impacting the industry worldwide.

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Secure your Super Tuesday ticket and enjoy a day of inspiration and entertainment.

HALF-DAY CONFERENCES AV IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT This half-day conference conducted by InfoComm International is tailored to the speciﬁc requirements of architects, project managers, IT managers, consultants and facility managers. Design, installation and operation of communication technology are all covered, focussing on making AV pay, while being environmentally sustainable, and entirely integrated into the venue’s design. DIGITAL SIGNAGE Installers and integrators take note that InfoComm International is staging a half-day conference that puts you in the picture of this fast-growing market segment. You’ll learn about the hardware elements, interconnection schemes, integrating digital signage into networks, content creation and measuring a network’s effectiveness.

WORLDS OF LEARNING AUDIO TECHNOLOGY WORLD AudioTechnology World will make a triumphant return to The Hordern in 2011. Last year’s popular mix of workshops, panel discussions and lectures will be reprised with a new cast of local and international audio luminaries.

TECHNOLOGY FOR WORSHIP PAVILION We’re delighted to announce the return of this special pavilion thanks to our friends at Technology for Worship Magazine. 2011 will see the return of the same lively mix of hands-on equipment training, workshops and on-stage performances and demonstrations. Church techs will love the combination of lighting, sound, presentation technologies as well as other hot-button topics. AFTRS SESSIONS The Australian TV & Radio School has partnered with Integrate to present a sound for ﬁlm and TV education program.

EXHIBITION PREVIEW

popular 101 series is a great introduction for those taking their ﬁrst steps, while working industry professionals are also covered providing insight into the latest industry and technology trends. SIMMO & STAV ARE BACK Mike Stavrou will make a welcome return to Integrate 2011, unleashing the unpredictable, ear-opening power of the Stav Session -a must for anyone who loves recording and mixing. Likewise, Greg Simmons will reprise his day of Studio Fundamentals, including: Getting it Right the First Time, Monitoring Fundamentals and MicrophonesChoosing & Using.

The sessions will be conducted by AFTRS lecturers within the state-of-theart AFTRS facilities, only a short walk from the show ﬂoor.

WORKSHOPS & MORE Keep an eye out for loads more practical, hands-on workshops and seminars, including the Smaart workshop, Rigging seminars and more.

SEMINARS & MASTERCLASSES

SPECIAL ONE-DAY CONFERENCE

DAW MASTERCLASSES Whatever your weapon of choice – ProTools, Logic or Cubase – we’ve got you covered, with in-depth masterclasses conducted by DAW gurus, drilling down into the latest features. Perfect for all power users.

EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY A full-day program for ICT administrators and educators that will leave you inspired and informed. Some of Australia’s foremost experts in the application of technology in classroom will be on hand to showcase stunning uses of education technology that will change the way you think and revolutionise the way your students will learn.

ALIA LIGHTING SEMINARS The Australasian Lighting Industry Association (ALIA) will again conduct a full program of lighting seminars. The

www.integrate-expo.com

Integrate will be held at Hordern Pavilion and Royal Hall of Industries, Moore Park, Sydney

EXHIBITION PREVIEW

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

InfoComm MEA debut event brings world class pro AV technologies to Middle East and Africa For a ﬁrst-time event, InfoComm MEA has enlisted an impressive gathering of brand leaders in the pro AV industry. Business professionals involved in information communication in the Middle East and Africa can look forward to a showcase of cutting edge systems and solutions this October 9-13. InfoComm MEA – the international trade exhibition and summit on pro Audio Visual and systems integration – will make its debut at the Dubai World Trade Centre with 70 exhibiting companies from 18 countries. InfoComm MEA 2011 is co-located with GITEX Technology Week, one of the largest and most important ICT events in the world with a 30-year track record. InfoComm MEA provides an added and complementary dimension to the visitor experience at the GITEX Technology Week with its focus on pro AV and information communication systems. With AV-IT convergence an increasing

and necessary business reality, the colocation of InfoComm MEA and GITEX will offer visitors a more complete insight into emerging business technologies that can have significant impact on their operations. For a first-time event, InfoComm MEA has enlisted an impressive gathering of brand leaders in the pro AV industry. Exhibiting companies include avid InfoComm supporters – who participate in nearly every InfoComm events all over the world – as well as manufacturers who are participating for the very first time. Amongst them are AMX, Crestron, Cayin, Elite Screens, Extron, Hitachi, Jupiter, Mitsubishi, NEC, projectiondesign, RGB, Sharp, WolfVision, and APart Audio, AUDIOPROF, Kunshan Hongjie Electronics, VenueTech, Visionaire. (See inset list of participating companies).

World Class professional AV AV manufacturers will bring their latest and best to the event. The application of AV technologies has become as diverse as there are industries. Among the broad spectrum of AV products showcased at InfoComm MEA 2011 will be digital signage and display systems, including large format video walls, widely used in retail and hospitality, banking, transportation transit points, healthcare sectors; projection, audio and conferencing technologies for corporate, training, education, medical and MICE applications; 3D, multimedia, lighting automation and control software and hardware for entertainment events ﬁxed and installed; and connectivity solutions like matrix switchers, scalers, routers and distribution devices for military, emergency and industrial or commercial network operating centers.

Visitors can expect to see the following solutions at InfoComm MEA 2011 Jupiter Systems Jupiter Systems, a leading worldwide supplier of display wall processors for command-and-control applications, will showcase its new Fusion Catalyst™ 8000 - the fastest, most powerful display wall processor on the market today. With bandwidth that reaches 320 Gbps, the Fusion Catalyst 8000 delivers more high resolution windows at full frame rates than any competitor. And with up to 80 slots, it can handle the requirements of the most demanding applications. It provides more expandability, faster graphics, real time HD/SD/DVI/RGB frame rates, and better overall system performance. Also on display will be its Warp/Blend Node™ that allows the use of front or rear projector arrays to create seamless display walls by overlapping the edges of adjacent projectors. Users can share the warp and blend features across many projectors in an easily scalable way, and in a variety of new applications including simulation, training, scientiﬁc visualization, boardroom, and digital signage installations.

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

EXHIBITION PREVIEW

CAYIN Technology CAYIN Technology offers a complete portfolio of appliance-based digital signage solutions, including media players, servers, and software, for various commercial applications, such as education, transportation, retail, hospitality, corporate use, and ﬁnancial and public institutions. It will exhibit its recently released SMP-WEBDUO v.3.0 – a powerful media player that has the capability to control two screens simultaneously, in full HD video and dual display both in landscape and portrait modes. Content displayed can be identical or different, and in clone of distinct modes. SMP-WEBDUO can integrate with 3G and GPS technology to provide mobile and place-based solutions. It can also extend to integrate with databases, web servers, RFID devices, barcode scanners, and touch screens and develops more interactive applications. SMP-WEBDUO also features remote management functions.

Crestron Crestron will showcase and demonstrate its latest products for both the home and workplace and show how peoples’ lifestyles and working days can be eased and assisted through Crestron solutions such as whole home automation or building-wide management platforms for IT/AV and facilities managers. Exhibits include DigitalMedia 8G+ – a proven solution for distributing all digital and analogue signals over onewire, using one IP address, completely eliminating all HDCP issues; AMP Series of audio amplifiers offering a unique combination of amplification power, energy-efficiency and flexibility for a multitude of commercial applications;

Crestron Mobile Apps for both android and Apple devices providing mobile access to the home or ofﬁce from anywhere in the world; and Crestron MC3 3-Series control system, developed and engineered like an IT platform rather than an AV system, to provide a foundation for powerful integrated building technology and advanced home control.

Extron Electronics Extron Electronics will introduce its new XTP CrossPoint® System, a ﬂexible,reliable signal switching and distribution system that provides a completely integrated solution for multiple digital and analog formats. XTP CrossPoint Systems support local connectivity as well as extended transmission capability for sending high resolution video, audio, RS-232, Ethernet, and power up to 330feet (100m) over a single CAT5-type cable. Extron will also present the SME100, a live H.264 encoder for streaming audio, video, and computer-video signals. By extending AV signals over networks, the SME100 signiﬁcantly expands AV system capability.

EXHIBITION PREVIEW

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Hitachi Digital Media Group Hitachi Digital Media Group is set to transform collaboration in business meetings with its new BZ-1 Ultimate Interactive projector, a quick and easy to learn solution designed with corporate users in mind. The innovative BZ-1 integrates simple to use but powerful Hitachi software to deliver a complete interactive experience on any ﬂat surface. Business users can beneﬁt from easy, fast and intuitive operation to bring a new level of interactivity and collaboration to any meeting room. The BZ-1 features one-click functions for print and email. Users in meetings or any collaborative environment are productive immediately and can instantly capture ideas and detailed outputs. As the projector acts just like any other integrated device such as a mouse, users can carry out the majority of tasks and interact with most software without returning to a PC.

Mitsubishi Electric Mitsubishi Electric will be exhibiting a selection of its latest professional display products, covering ﬂat panels, projection and rear projection cubes. Along with its new ultra short throw and advanced 8000 Series projectors, Mitsubishi will be showing its revolutionary 50” DLP™ Multi-Touch™ cube and the dual-touch LCD system. The capabilities of Mitsubishi’s ﬂagship 8000 Series high-end projectors will also be showcased. The dual-lamp projectors deliver state-of-the-art performance in large venue applications such as auditoria or in high-ambient light environments. The very latest projector on show will be Mitsubishi’s ultra short throw XD360U-EST, believed to offer the shortest throw of any lens-based projector.

WolfVision WolfVision will be demonstrating the latest version of their innovative Connectivity 2 Software. Installed on a connected PC or laptop, this powerful tool increases the functionality, ﬂexibility and usability of Visualizer units. It allows the capture of live and moving images, as well as streaming these over a network. In addition to visual images, the Connectivity 2 Software can also record audio from a microphone feed. A new integrated annotation feature offers a wide range of drawing and writing options for creating more effective and interesting presentations. Educators, presenters, and trainers alike can now deliver presentations interactively via the web with audiences located virtually anywhere, and since the presentations are recorded and stored, they can be accessed at any time – a feature especially valuable in education and training applications.

APart Audio APart Audio will introduce products which will be released for the second half of the year. These include OVO – a fresh and young loudspeaker range to ﬁt in any décor or interior style or covered outdoor applications; CMAR, a new range of low-impedance marine speakers, with a series of 3 in-wall/in-ceiling speakers designed especially for use in the most humid and hot conditions like on yachts or in saunas; and CHAMP-3D, a 3-channel fully programmable digital ampliﬁer and centerfold of our 2011 line up.

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

EXHIBITION PREVIEW

InfoComm MEA 2011 Summit

Many visitors attend InfoComm trade events for the learning programs that are organized alongside the trade exhibition. The Summit is a key component that allows professionals and personnel at all levels of involvement in pro AV or systems integration technology to beneﬁt from experts’ opinions, experiences and knowledge.

The Summit Program comprises: InfoComm Academy Seminars – these are purely educational in nature and will appeal not only to AV professionals but also to specialists in other ﬁelds such as engineering or IT who have an interest in AV. Preliminary line-up of topics include AV Installation and Design Best Practices, New and Upcoming Standards in AV, Video Signals and Video Format Conversion, 3D Projection Technology, Specifying AV Systems, Acoustic and Vision fundamentals for AV design, Green AV, and Project Management for AV projects. Industry-based Conferences are also purely educational in nature, aimed at exposing end-user professionals to new possibilities of AV technologies and demonstrating how these can work for them. Speciﬁcally, four industry sectors are targeted, viz: • IT Industry Conference, designed for IT professionals, technicians, department heads, or managers with topics such as AV on IT Infrastructure, What IT Professionals Want and Need to Know About AV, Digital Signage, Streaming Media, and many more, to

enable IT professionals to work better with AV or AV professionals. • Hospitality Industry Conference for hotel technology managers, facility managers, tourism industry professionals, to discuss topics like New AV Technologies Available for Hospitality and Their Applications, Digital Signage, Use of AV in Guest Rooms, Ballrooms, or Meeting Facilities, among others. • Education Industry Conference to support educators, education professionals, education technology managers or facility managers, and university personnel, to enhance the learning experience with discussions on Current and Emerging Classroom Technologies and Their Applications, Virtual and Distance Learning, Teleconference Applications in Education, and other topics. • Healthcare Industry Conference for the medical (or medical technology) professionals, hospital or medical center technologists, practitioners, medical research professionals, and

healthcare firms, with topics that will include Overviews of Cutting-Edge Technologies Used in Medicine Today, Case Studies on Specific Applications of AV Technology (such as 3D projection and the Blue Brain Project), Medical Display Options, Telepresence or Telemedicine. Manufacturers’ Presentations will feature detailed discussion of specific products or systems to enable distributors and installers, as well as interested end-user professionals to keep up-to-date with the manufacturers’ latest technologies. Technical Site Visits will also be organized to provide delegates with ground zero scenarios of actual AV installations and a deeper appreciation of AV technologies.

Admission InfoComm MEA 2011 is open strictly to trade and business professionals only. Admission is free but registration is required. Visit www.infocomm-mea.com to register and to get further updates on the event. www.infocomm-mea.com

Exhibitors as of 15 July 2011 Aavara Intl Corp ABtUS Singapore Pte Ltd Albiral Display Solutions and Arthur Holm AMX Middle East Analog Way AOPEN INC Audicom MEA AUDIOPROF NV Australian Monitor Aviom BXB ELECTRONICS CO LTD Cabletime Ltd Cayin Technology Co., Ltd. Clear-com Comm Product Technologies Creator Corporation Crestron Middle East DIS Middle East DV Com Technology LLC Dymo Electro-Voice Elite Screens Emmy Mount Extron Electronics Galtec GR Media Solutions

Hitachi Europe Ltd Ianiro ILS Inﬁtec Global Sales GmbH Jiangsu CLP Lamp Optoelectronics Technology Co. Jiangsu Redleaf Audio&Visual Equipment Co., Ltd Jupiter Systems L-Acoustics Lowel Magenta Research Martin Professional Lighting Mindstec Distribution FZCO Mitsubishi Electric Europe (UK) NEC Display Solutions GmbH Next Window NMK Electronics Osto Electric Pan Intellecom JLT projectiondesign Qomo HiteVision Rane Corporation Redrock Micro RGB Spectrum Roland

Sachtler Sapling Company, Inc. SCREENLINE S.R.L. Sennheiser Sharp Middle East FZE Shenzhen Aoto Electronics Co., Ltd. Shenzhen Reach Software Technology Co., Ltd. Shenzhen Taidilen Optoelectronic Technology Co., Ltd Shure Inc Sino Brilliant Ltd Smart Home Engineering Corp. SONY Stardraw.com Ltd. Strand Lighting Televic Portal Tiffen United Broadcast & Media Solutions VENUETECH LLC Vision Research Visix Technologies Winnov WolfVision GmbH XLT SYSTEMS PTE LTD Zio Technologies LLC

SOLUTIONS UPDATE

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

ABtUS innovation continues with revolutionary HDMI over single CAT5 extender

CAT-HDX11MT/A

ABtUS continuous efforts to innovate “world’s ﬁrst ever“ products persists with the all new CAT-HDX11MT/A & CATHDX11R/A pair of HDMI over single CAT5 extender that extends full 1080p signals seamlessly up to 100m. HDMI extenders are not exactly uncommon in the proAV market so why are this pair of extenders considered a new innovation by ABtUS? On ﬁrst glance, it does seem to be a regular HDMI extender. But on closer look, the ABtUS extender stands out in the market as it includes additional features outside those of a HDMI extender. ABtUS recognizes the hassle of having many different electronics, wires and cables in a usual AV environment and was determined to make life simpler. This new pair of HDMI extenders integrates the features of a splitter; RS232 control and IR pass through right into the extender to reduce the need for additional electronics and wires. Especially the all useful additional local

CAT-HDX11R/A

monitor output at the transmitter - it is an unprecedented move by ABtUS and the first of its kind in the market. Many users especially home or small office users typically find themselves having extension cords, power strips and multi plugs to accommodate the number of electronics that needs to be powered up. Recognizing this, ABtUS’s HDMI extender comes with power over LAN so not both the transmitter and the receiver need to be plugged into a power point. And to make it even better, the extender can be powered at either the transmitter or the receiver end at the convenience of the user. This HDMI extender is a truly user centric solution that considers and maximizes the convenience for the end user and is a really useful tool for signal extension. www.abtussingapore.com

DET introduces Holographic Kiosk DID with Touch Panel DET’s MTG-32HKT is a display system that combines LCD panels and touch screen to create a 3D effect. The interactive contents on the touch screen, when selected is shown on the 3D hologram at the top portion of the system. The stylish design together with the interactive aspect and the 3D hologram display makes it suitable for use in high trafﬁc areas to attract attention such as in a retail environment,

ONELAN releases v8.1.1 Net-Top-Box (NTB) software

or as an in-store promotional tool as well as an information kiosk. The robustness of the system also makes it ideal for industrial use. DET provides the entire system including the display and the components as well as the housing. The interactive aspect is achieved via a 32” LCD display with an optical glass and IR touch sensor. Internally, the computing system comprises of a 2.13GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with a 2GB dual-channel DDR2 memory and a minimum 250GB STAT hard-disk drive for storage. High impact graphics is achieved via an ATI graphic card with 256MB memory and a maximum resolution of 1366 x 768. Audio is provided via stereo ﬂat panel built-in speakers with a 40W ampliﬁer. I/O ports include a Gigabit Ethernet card as well as 2 USB 2.0 ports. AC input is 100 – 250VAC, 50/60Hz. www.det.com.sg

Increasingly ONELAN reseller digital signage installations are becoming larger and more complex, creating a need for a remote setup capability. The new bulk reconfiguration capability allows Net-Top-Boxes (NTB)s to have setup copied and updated by the network management tool, the DSM V3.0. This simplifies rollouts for large deployments. To simplify end user operations with TV and streaming content a Remote Control has been launched. The Remote Control allows volume to be altered and Ad hoc TV or Radio stations to be changed with no programming. In addition, there are four programmable buttons that can launch any specific piece of content e.g welcome videos, on demand. There is also a new Ad hoc media picker that allows only chosen TV or Radio stations to be picked by an Ad hoc user. In this way unsuitable channels can be avoided. All Net-top-boxes shipped with TV cards will now include remotes as standard. The new Wi-Fi Wireless network capability supports 802.11a, b, g, n at 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands on the NTB. This provides a cost effective solution to overcome the physical limitations of a wired network, e.g in a listed building where it is impossible to drill through walls to lay cables. Wi-Fi is ubiquitous and most organisations have wireless networks set up. This provides easier network integration than with traditional wired networks, while still providing easy access to setup and configuration through your desktop web browser. The user interface is now also supported in Thai and Portuguese. Finally the XML API 2 has been improved and extended. This makes it simpler to integrate ONELAN’s digital signage with other third party systems. www.onelandigitalsignage.com

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Kramer introduces the VS-162AVM 16x16 Composite Video & Audio Matrix Switcher The VS-162AVM is a high performance matrix switcher for composite video and balanced stereo audio signals, with an exciting addition, a unique builtin 3.5” LCD monitor with headphone jack, appropriate for a wide range of applications. The VS-162AVM can perform glitch free switch during the vertical interval when an external reference signal is connected to the genlock input or if the unit is synced to an incoming video signal as a reference. The unit can be controlled locally, using the front panel buttons or remotely, via RS-232 or RS-485 serial commands transmitted by a touch screen system, PC, or other serial controller. The unit comes with a Windows control software and can also be controlled remotely via IR signals. The Take Button can execute multiple switches all at once. The unit can store up to 60 preset switches for easy and convenient operation. These set-ups can be recalled and executed when needed.

8x8 DVI Matrix Switcher by TV One

TV One’s new MX-5288 is an 8x8 DVI Matrix Switcher that is designed to allow distribution of eight DVI-D (w/o HDCP) sources to eight devices independently or all at the same time. With the MX-5288, all video paths are buffered to prevent cross talk and 480p through 1080p HDTV signals, plus VGA (640x480) through WUXGA (1900x1200) signals are accepted as valid inputs and outputs. All inputs of the MX-5288 are processed at full bandwidth, using single link, 165 MHz (4.95Gpbs)

www.kramerelectronics.com

circuitry, delivering no compromised outputs on all paths. The MX-5288 also includes a switcher memory, which is employed to insure last selection recall should power be temporarily lost. An RS-232, Ethernet and Infrared control supplement front panel input/output selection and a rack mount kit is included with the switcher. The MX-5288 also provides output independent, per-input EDID cloning support. www.tvone.com

Gefen releases two new Digital Signage Media Players

The VS-162AVM is part of Kramer’s expanding 16x16 matrix switchers’ series that includes the VS-1616A (a 16x16 stereo balance audio switcher) and VS-162V (a 16x16 video matrix switcher). The current Kramer line of 16x16 matrix switches also includes products for component video, SDI and HD-SDI signals. The VS-162AVM is the ideal switcher for any professional system requiring outstanding value in a 16x16 MATRIX. The VS-162AVM is designed to be used in production and duplication facilities, rental/staging applications, security, CCTV, and home theater systems.

SOLUTIONS UPDATE

The Digital Signage Media Player with Wi-Fi offers 4 GB of internal ﬂash memory and the secure ﬂash card slot can host up to 16 GB of memory, if needed. Keyboards, mice, hard drives and more can be connected through the two USB 2.0 ports. Both Digital Signage Media Players with Wi-Fi offer a SMIL (synchronized multimedia integration language)compliant media player that works with any computer LAN system, either by connecting directly to the LAN or by using the Wi-Fi connection. Users can playback 1080p Full HD video for stunning visuals. These players also output component and composite video with two channel (L/R) audio and one-line scrolling text. Each player comes pre-loaded with more than ten, easy to use templates to select from, so users can jumpstart their digital signage applications with little to no design experience. Calendar-based scheduling from any computer on the LAN makes operating both players easy and convenient.

The Digital Signage Media Player with Wi-Fi Plus offers the same features but with the added ability to connect live video using a composite video input with audio. Users can also overlay content and separate the video into four quadrants for more complex systems. RS-232 for control of external displays or other connected devices is also included. Both players support today’s most popular media formats, including MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG L2, MP3, H.264/ MPEG-4, and VC-1 codec formats. Gefen provides a number of optional CMS (content management system) providers for both players. www.gefen.com

SOLUTIONS UPDATE

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

New Extreme Short-Throw Projectors from Mitsubishi Electric

Polycom announces first Room Telepresence Solution custombuilt for full integration with Microsoft Lync The Polycom® CX7000 Unified Collaboration System is the first room video telepresence solution custombuilt for full integration with Microsoft Lync. The solution takes the Lync experience customers are familiar with on their desktops and recreates it in the conference room to provide a superior level of business collaboration and productivity for room telepresence. This is another step in the strategic alliance between Polycom and Microsoft Corp. to deliver enterprise-grade UC solutions.

Mitsubishi Electric introduces another revolutionary projector line. The Leopard EST (extreme short-throw) series of ultra short throw projector that uses highquality and extreme short-throw lenses instead of mirrors. Mitsubishi Electric’s WD380U-EST and XD380U-EST projectors are built with a specially crafted lens that provides excellent short-throw focus performance, and can project a 70-inch (diagonal) WXGA image from less than 23-inches away. These new models are particularly popular for applications where space is limited. Teachers and presenters can move in front of the image without creating distracting shadows on the screen. A short projection distance also reduces the amount of ambient light lost that could affect image quality. This means that the projectors are highly capable of creating great image without a lot of space and distracting shadows appearing on screen. The ﬁrst two projectors in the new lineup are power-packed with features, including, PC-less convenience, LAN display, a built-in 10-watt speaker, audio standby, closed captioning and 3D-ready capabilities. These highbrightness models blast 2800 and 2500 lumens respectively, and their durability and ﬁlter-free design offer a low cost of ownership. The WD380U-EST and XD380U-ST are simple to operate with options for multiple video inputs. They

each have an RS232 connector as well as a built-in RJ45 input that offers plug-and-play connectivity with thirdparty remote management products such as those made by Crestron and AMX, as well as Mitsubishi’s ProjectorView Global+. The wide format WD380U-EST and XGA resolution XD380U-EST are ultra quiet at 28 dB and offer a lamp life estimated to last up to 6000* hours (in low mode). The projectors boast a 3000:1 high contrast ratio and use Texas Instruments’ DLP® technology for sharp, vivid images. Each projector comes with three-year warranty and a one-year warranty on the lamp. Like all Mitsubishi Electric multimedia projectors, these new projectors are covered by the Mitsubishi Electric Express Replacement Assistance (MEERA) Program, a value added service that offers next business-day replacement for down units that are under warranty. With this revolutionary lens-based design of Mitsubishi Electric extreme short throw projectors and its quality as well as the assurance from the express replacement assistance program, you can rely on the product’s performance. www.MitsubishiElectric.com.sg

The Polycom CX7000 solution (codenamed “Rally”) is specifically designed to integrate with Microsoft Lync. With especially tight integration between the Polycom and Microsoft solutions, customers get an intuitive interface, simplified UC experience, and more seamless telepresence. The solution offers all the Lync features customers want (presence, IM, online meetings, content collaboration) with Polycom’s industry-leading room video collaboration solutions in a single plugand-play system. The CX7000 solution is part of a comprehensive line of CX devices from Polycom that are optimised for use with Microsoft Lync to enable a superior experience. Polycom also offers interoperability with Lync across the Polycom® UC Intelligent Core™ infrastructure, telepresence family (from desktop to group to fully-immersive), and voice endpoints. Polycom is committed to working with Microsoft to ensure Polycom products, including the CX7000 system, are interoperable with Microsoft’s Office 365 cloud offering via Lync Online. www.polycom.asia

SOLUTIONS UPDATE

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

NEC introduces PA Series projectors for Installation projects

NEC Asia Pacific, has unveiled its new PA Series projectors with the introduction of the PA600X, PA550W and PA500U. This new series of advanced professional projectors is ideal for corporate conference rooms and large classrooms that require an installation projector. An abundance of new features have been included in the PA Series that improve its quality over its preceding models in the NP Installation Series. The center lens design of these three new models is an advancement that makes retrofitting existing installations easier and more cost effective. The new chassis also provides enhanced connectivity with HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, allowing greater flexibility during use.Premiering in NEC’s projector lineup is Crestron Roomview, which allows users to directly connect their projector to the managed network for monitoring and control. With a brightness level ranging from

5000 to 6000 lumens and an offering of three different native resolutions, the PA Series is a complement to any large room requiring demanding AV support. The virtually maintenance-free projectors, with up to 4000 hours of lamp and ﬁlter life, lower users’ total cost of ownership and lengthen the projectors’ lifecycle. Additionally, these three new models offer stacking capability, which allows up to four projectors to be stacked vertically or horizontally to boost the image brightness up to 24,000 lumens. This feature is an asset to larger-sized screens and environments with additional ambient light. With Integrated Device Technology HQV, a high-performance video processing and scaling system, users can present with superior image quality using the technology’s pixelbased, motion-adaptive de-interlacing to remove undesirable motion artifacts. Additionally, selectable ECO Mode

technology extends each projector’s lamp life, while eco-conscious features like quick start (3 to 4 seconds), auto power on and direct power-off further advance the projector’s lifetime. The PA Series is packed with integrated networking functions, such as RJ45 for quick connection to the LAN and high-speed wireless. Windows Network Projector, Windows Remote Desktop, Windows Network Drive Function and Windows Media Connection Function are just a few of the networking tools that allow users to connect to the shared network, control a networked computer through the projector’s USB input and display multimedia ﬁles. The PA600X, PA550W and PA500U projectors ship with a 2-year limited warranty and are available now. www.nec-display.com/ap/

DET launches 22” transparent display The 22” T-LCD display offers a resolution of 1680 x 1050p60 (WSXGA+). The display achieves 15% transparency for full colour display and 20% transparency for black & white display. Weighing 800grams, the left and right bezel are 8mm, whereas the bezel at the bottom is 10mm and the bezel at the top is 61mm. The display features a HDMI input. Possible applications include as a digital showcase, shop windows, collaborative display or as an ambient smart gadget. To get an idea of how it works visit http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6KmiFrt0-4 DET will also be releasing a 46” transparent LCD with built-in media player that supports most video and audio codes in September. www.det.com.sg

Norman Lao, CEO of DET Singapore with the 22” transparent display

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

SOLUTIONS UPDATE

Atlona introduces new professional line 4x1 and 4x2 HighSpeed HDMI Switchers Professional line of digital connectivity solutions. The perfect solutions for home theater and multimedia systems with limited display input options, the switchers provide a high-digitalperformance connection between four HDMI sources and one (AT-HD4-V41) or two (AT-HD4-V42) HDMI video displays without signal loss. Atlona Technologies®, has introduced new 4x1 and 4x2 high-speed HDMI switchers to its newly branded Atlona

To simplify installations and increase system reliability by reducing necessary wiring, the AT-HD4-V41 features an audio

return channel and an HDMI 100-Mbps Ethernet port for bidirectional HDMI Ethernet channel (HEC) pass-through. The AT-HD4-V42 offers two audio return channels and HDMI Ethernet ports for multiple displays. The high-speed switchers provide support for 36-bit Deep Colour at 1080p/60 Hz, HDCP, and Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD master audio pass-through. www.atlona.com

Sony introduces All-in-one design HD Desktop Visual Communication Systems The latest high-definition videoconferencing technology from Sony adds new levels of flexibility for set-top applications and expands the company’s full range of HD visual communication systems. Designed to deliver a seamless and easy-to-use virtual experience, the new systems include the PCS-XA80 and PCS-XA55, each offering a range of powerful and stylish enhancements for set-top communications. The PCS-XA80 and the PCS-XA55 both adopt the H.264 video codec, which enables efficient transmission of highquality images at up to 60 fps in a highdefinition resolution of 1280 x 720. Complementing this superb HD video quality, the units produce clear and natural stereo sound, using the MPEG4 AAC compression format. Since each has a built-in stereo echo canceller, which eliminates the disruptive echo often heard with other systems, communication sounds far more natural. As a result, users benefit from more effective communications with lifelike images and stellar audio. With support for the ITU-T H.239 (video and presentation data) standard, the PCS-XA80 and the PCS-XA55 can send both the video and presentation data that is displayed on one PC to other videoconferencing participants for smooth communications. Presentation data can be transferred at frame rates as high as 30 fps, providing natural and smooth presentations even when using animation effects or showing videos. This presentation data can also be shown either from a projector or a sub display, using the system’s RGB output. Both the PCS-XA80 and the PCS-XA55 have a dedicated compact HD camera (PCSA-CXA55) with eight megapixel

CMOS sensor that produces high-quality HD images at a resolution of 1280 x 720, as smooth as 30 fps. The PCSACXA55 camera covers an 80.1-degree wide angle, and features a 3x electrical zoom(x3) capability, manual pan/tilt function, and privacy shutter. The PCS-XA80 and the PCS-XA55 have a convenient Kiosk mode that can be used to provide unattended services for applications such as remote consulting or customised distance learning. This mode gives users a user-friendly interface and also makes configuration and set-up easier for system integrators. The PCS-XA80 and the PCS-XA55 both offer a useful video annotation function. This allows conference participants to clearly point out specific parts of shared data, including live images and presentation data, by simply writing on a tablet. To more easily handle the transmission of large amounts of HD video data, while maintaining highquality and stable communication over an IP network, the units incorporate the following advanced Quality of Service (QoS) functions: Adaptive FEC (Forward Error Correction); Realtime ARQ™ (Automatic Repeat reQuest); and ARC (Adaptive Rate Control). These functions work together for fast and consistent data transmission of video signals, by adapting to any changes in network condition, and correcting packet loss. Using optional PCSA-MCG80 MCU software, the PCS-XA80 can be configured to communicate simultaneously with up to five remote videoconferencing sites (six sites in total), using either an IP (H.323 protocol) or ISDN (H.320 protocol) connection. For additional user convenience, the PCS-XA80 and PCSXA55 adopt an RF Remote

PCS-XA80

PCS-XA55

Commander unit, which can be operated even if it is not pointed directly at the system. The units also have a convenient one-touch dialing feature that lets users easily connect with any registered contacts by simply touching a function button on the RF Remote Commander unit. Up to four contacts for one-touch dialing can be shown on the home menu from a maximum of 1,000 registered contacts. Video/presentation data (including annotations) and audio can be recorded onto Sony’s Memory Stick™ media for review at a later time or to archive presentations. Presentation data can also be sent as a single stream by selecting the RGB input. Other features include: built-in streaming function for multicasting to large audiences; support for IPv6 and H. 460 Firewall Traversal. Up to 100 camera preset positions can be stored, each with a thumbnail image for easy recall. The PCS-XA80 and the PCS-XA55 systems are now available in Asia Paciﬁc. http://pro.sony-asia.com

INSTALLATIONS

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Queensland Emergency Operations Centre complemented with the best available digital display and AV Technologies Advanced Video Integration develops totally new approach to control and user interface application The Queensland Department of Community Safety (DCS) represents a number of emergency agencies including the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS), Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS), Emergency Management Queensland, Queensland Health and Queensland Corrective Services. In 2009 DCS recognised the significant efficiencies and improved communication that a central disaster coordination facility could offer and the QEOC (Queensland Emergency Operations Centre) project was born. The aim of the facility was to provide a suite of high-tech services and technologies to these agencies, significantly contributing to the State’s ability to manage disaster coordination and organisational communication. This project needed to incorporate the world’s best technology and in turn would be the largest of its type in the

Southern Hemisphere. It was apparent from the outset that this world class centre needed to be complemented with the best available digital display and audio visual technologies especially in the command and control spaces where up-to-date information is vital. QEOC is not only one of the largest audiovisual projects in Australia but it is also the first purpose built facility for Emergency Services coordination and disaster management in Australia. QEOC became operational in February 2011 and has attracted significant interest from government agencies responsible for emergency services and disaster management organisations both in Australia and overseas. This facility has already played an integral role in the Japan and New Zealand earthquakes and the Queensland flood and cyclone emergencies.

The Vision Advanced Video Integration was engaged by the Queensland Department of Community Safety to deliver on the stringent requirements in this landmark facility. The experienced AVI team worked very closely with the stakeholders from Queensland Fire and Rescue, Queensland Ambulance and Queensland Health to ensure they were fully briefed on providing mission critical emergency communication centres and various disaster management spaces and understood with absolute clarity the outcomes required for the facility. This project required much more than a traditional AV integration and drove the requirement for a revolutionary new display and signal management system. Advanced Video Integration developed a totally new approach to a control and user interface application which is

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

INSTALLATIONS

attracting attention from managers of similar facilities around the world. This design stage of the project involved significant collaboration with the many stakeholders and the key considerations from a technology and design viewpoint throughout the design phase was the ability for large format displays to deliver complete flexibility and easy access to critical information for the operators of the system. A base requirement for all interconnection ‘trunks’ to be via a fiber-optic infrastructure allowed all signals switching and processing to be maintained in the digital domain and a high level system reliability, redundancy and resilience.

QEOC also boasts the ﬁrst deployment of a multiple frame AMX DGX digital switching system

‘The Vision Becomes Reality’ For the integration of a diverse range of complex devices and systems, AVI deployed AMX products in 39 presentation and management spaces within the QEOC facility. A centralized & networked AMX Control System with user interface via selection of AMX Modero® wireless and wired Touch Panels and keypads control the operation of all display devices, connected peripheral equipment and video conferencing. To deliver on the mission-critical requirements of the project AVI integrated the following: * 10 AMX Netlinx® Masters * 44 AMX Modero® Touch Panels * 10 AMX Epica DGX ﬁbre matrix switchers * 206 Input devices * 158 Display devices * 5 multi-screen video walls * AMX Vision 2 IPTV * AMX RMS Resource Management Suite A major requirement of the QEOC project was a number of mission-control style video walls and video cubes to allow supervisors, managers, directors and operational staff the ability to monitor critical state emergency coordination operations. The large LCD video wall was the ﬁrst ever of its type deployed in Australia and was integral to the capability of this mission critical facility.

QEOC also boasts the first deployment of a multiple frame AMX DGX digital switching system and Australia’s first deployment of AMX Vision2 IPTV solution. AMX Vision2 is a sophisticated fully-integrated video capture, management and broadcast system. This centralized recording system deployed at QEOC is capable of digitally storing freeto-air TV channels, video conferencing and other video and audio content. DCS staff are able to access stored content for editing for training and review. A critical part of the QEOC project was to deliver comprehensive system redundancy by providing a decentralised switching solution where each department in the facility has a comprehensive stand-alone control and signal management system that is independent from the facility wide infrastructure. To address this requirement, AVI developed a large AMX DGX signal management solution for in-room and facility wide switching with all signals delivered via fiber and also developed a dedicated control and management system to deliver redundancy and fault tolerance across the entire building. The central AMX DGX144 system ingests 10+ Foxtel channels, 10+ FTA channels, DVD & VCR players, inputs from the Vision2 archiving system and trunk lines to each of the 8 DGX32 systems. In addition to the capabilities necessary for a crisis operation centre, the technology in the QEOC facility also provided extensive facilities for staff dealing with crisis situations to be able to

take time out via personal displays and an entertainment system. To meet the diverse requirements in QEOC’s training and meeting facilities, AVI moved away from traditional whiteboard and projector screen display to a new Interactive LCD screen. This approach allows for a single display to be used for multiple -purposes and delivering a more streamlined facility and an effective presentation solution. AMX Resource Management Suite is also used to manage, monitor and schedule use of meeting, breakout, conference, brieﬁng and media rooms throughout the entire facility.

The Outcome This project has allowed Advanced Video Integration to showcase its expertise from concept to completion and beyond. AVI deployed excellence in audio visual practice for the management of emergency communications centre management and disaster coordination in Queensland and in turn this centre is the largest of its type in the Southern Hemisphere. Utilising AMX Control Systems, DGC Fiber distribution, AMX Resource Management Suite and AMX Vision2 IP TV, this revolutionary new display of signal management technology combined with Advanced Video Integration concepts and integration has produced this worldclass mission critical facility. We call this audio visual excellence. www.advancedvideo.com.au www.amxaustralia.com.au

INSTALLATIONS

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Chinese University pioneers theater-sized advanced visualization HUST Installation Helps Government and Administrators with Research and Collaboration Christie® has taken the global dimension of its higher education solutions to the next level with the deployment of an innovative ‘teaching’ theater at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) in Wuhan, China. Under the direction of HUST, Christie and its local partner – Chess Computers – installed the technologically-advanced Visdec Electronic Decision Theater at the university with a 240-degree, ﬂoor-to-ceiling curved advanced visualization display. It is the largest such installation in China and one of the biggest in the world. By displaying graphical and text content from separate sources simultaneously, it is helping university, government and business representatives who use the facility make better decisions for a range of programs, including urban planning.

The initial concept was based on the Decision Theater at Arizona State University (ASU) but the China initiative took a different path on the technology infrastructure, products used and overall size. “The system is sponsored by HUST, Public Management College of HUST, the Federal Ministry of Education, and HUST alumni,” explained Madam Wang, chief project architect and manager, Decision Theater. “The purpose of the system is to assist public management decision-making. The 3D capability of the system is to be used on urban planning and urban development. For a fast-developing country like China, it is critical to solve urban development and planning issues with advanced technology. Our theater will help the decision makers to analyze, modify and improve upon their strategies, designs, plans and decisions.

“Our thinking was to achieve the following: We want what others don’t have; what others have, ours must be better. That was our strategy,” said Madam Wang. Huazhong University of Science and Technology is ranked in the top ten universities in China. Founded in 2000 by the merger of four post-secondary institutes: Huazhong Technical University, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan Urban Construction College and Wuhan Technological Leadership College, the facility emphasizes scientific and technological innovation. Officials wanted to construct a first-rate platform for scientific and technological innovation, and to enhance the competitiveness of scientific research.

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

INSTALLATIONS

Technically-Challenging Project is State-of-the-Art A technically challenging project, the Visdec Electronic Decision Theater utilizes Christie’s integration expertise to create a seamless, high resolution “think tank” display with advanced visualization capabilities for enhanced decisionmaking, process analysis and team collaboration. The display incorporates advanced computational power and a sophisticated rear projection display with eight warped and blended Christie Mirage HD6 projectors and Christie Spyder X20 video processing. The eight projectors are mirror-bounced and rear-projected to create one of the largest curved screen displays of this magnitude in China or elsewhere. The screen, of semi-rigid material, is close to 60 feet wide, over 8 feet high, and all one piece. The system boasts a conference theater design with a seamless, rear-projected image that can operate in stereo or nonstereo mode. The theater is spacious and offers a vast display area for singular applications, or the option to run multiple applications on separate areas of the display canvas to operate in collaboration on the screen. From the beginning, HUST ofﬁcials made it clear that they saw enormous value in building the Decision Theater and in collaborating with ASU and other international institutions on joint projects related to everything from energy and the environment to urban planning and public health.

With rear-projection, the projectors are installed behind the screen, eliminating shadow effects and decreasing operational noise so users can concentrate on the display. Capable of both 2D and 3D viewing, the display provides excellent image quality and impressive off-axis viewing. The project blended North American design with integration and installation support through Christie’s local China ofﬁce. The project offered a break-through opportunity in China for both Christie and Chess Computers.

the customer and us. The decision to go with Christie was easy,” states Joe Zhang, general manager of Chess Computers, Shanghai. “The use of the Christie Spyder X20 in the HUST system is very critical. It enabled the capability that HUST required for the 8-channel stereo sync.”

“Christie’s solution was well-prepared. The attitude and effort that Christie showed, in addition to the product and solution quality really impressed both

The design and installation process was a huge undertaking. The building where the HUST Theater is located hadn’t been completely constructed and modiﬁcations were ongoing at the time of installation. The concept design for the projector locations and mounting had to be revised as the room was built.

Added Madam Wang, “The advantages of the Christie design are the size, the curvature, the height, and the radius. Viewers can sit in and get the best viewing experience.”

For now, the focus is in using the Decision Theater to assist the government in making scientiﬁc and analytical decisions. But it will also give the institution the competitive advantage in such areas as water management, pollution control, disaster management and public safety. http://english.hust.edu.cn. www.christiedigital.com.

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

INSTALLATIONS

Haivision’s Makito™ delivers HD Signage IPTV to screens throughout the new Galaxy Macau Hotel and Casino Galaxy Simplifies Digital Signage Deployment With Makito 1080p60 HD Streaming The newly opened Galaxy Macau has installed Makito™ HD H.264 encoders to simplify its signage deployment. With 4,000 set-top-box endpoints, 800 of which drive public-area displays, Galaxy chose to establish its digital signage headend and distribute dynamic graphics content over its IPTV infrastructure. This approach takes advantage of a single media distribution architecture and lowcost set-top box endpoints. The high-definition (HD) signage content originates from more than 20 signage players that are rack-mounted within the vast network-operations center beneath the complex. The players are connected directly via a digital visual interface (DVI) to the Makito HD H.264 encoders, which in turn send the HD content over IP to low-cost HD set-top boxes that are affixed to flat panels and large-format LED displays throughout the casino complex. “When distributing a few channels of signage to many displays within one facility, the economies of using IP video are dramatic,” said Peter Maag,

Haivision’s executive vice president. “Set-top boxes are available for one tenth the price of signage players, and with the Makito encoder there is no loss of visual quality. In addition, the signage channels can easily be made available to all displays, both in the public areas, and in the rooms and suites.” Haivision’s Makito HD H.264 encoder supports up to 1080p60 resolution, ideal for distributing the dynamic, highresolution graphics and video output of digital signage players. Available with DVI, HD-SDI, WXGA, and component inputs, the Makito supports advanced features such as the ability to encode a single HD source to multiple bit rates (HiLo-Streaming™) in order to deliver the best quality video to users regardless of their location.

The signage IPTV solution was designed and integrated by Haivision’s Hong Kong partner, DMN — a company with a proven history of delivering elegant network-video solutions to the most demanding clients. The Galaxy property, which opened in May after $2 billion of investment, counts more than 2,200 rooms, suites, and villas across three world-class hotels. Facilities include more than 50 food and beverage outlets, distinctive retail shopping, and lush oasis gardens covering 52,000 square meters. The property also features the world’s largest Sky Wave Pool, which covers 4,000 square meters and has a 350-ton white-sand beach. www.haivision.com.

INSTALLATIONS

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Crestron Solutions at the InterContinental Qingdao Hotel

Solutions help increase efﬁciency and reduce operational costs InterContinental Qingdao Hotel is located in the beautiful coastal city of Qingdao. The guest rooms and suites are stylishly furnished and offer breathtaking sea and city views. To provide a comfortable and relaxing ambience for guests, the hotel installed a Crestron system to control lighting and AV in the lobby, boardrooms and guest rooms, enabling InterContinental Qingdao to increase efﬁciency and reduce operational costs.

room control, such as activating custom lighting presets for desired ambience, or routing video and audio sources to desired locations within the room. For example, when the host ends a meeting, the BANQUET END button is pushed on the touch screen, dimming the lights to preset value. This creates a unique environment to conclude the event and see guests off.

Lobby The lobby displays ornate lighting ﬁxtures, while also utilizing natural light to maintain the intimate and luxurious design intended for the space. Centralized lighting control is provided by the PAC2M processor, four-channel CLXI-1DIM4 dimmer modules and eightchannel DIN-8SW8 lighting control module. Administrators can adjust lights from CNX-B12 keypads to create different lighting scenes - for morning, afternoon and evening to fully utilize natural light; therefore, saving energy.

Boardrooms The boardrooms accommodate an array of meetings and events to suit any size group. TPMC-8L wall mount touch screens provide convenient one-touch

equipment status in individual rooms.. s RoomView also gives IT administrators o an “at-a-glance” view of the hotel to m manage and control every room from n any internet-connected PC or Crestron touch screen. d Crestron was chosen as the integrated control system in InterContinentall n Qingdao Hotel because of its proven s track record of reliability. Crestron is also installed in InterContinental Hotelss e & Resorts Foshan and the corporate p ofﬁce of InterContinental Hotels Group in Shanghai. www.crestronasia.com

Guest Rooms Crestron CP2E Ethernet control system and CHV-TSTAT heating/cooling thermostats are installed in the guest rooms. To complement the CP2E control processor, Crestron RoomView™ provides diagnostics, scheduling and

SYSTEMS INTEGRATION ASIA AUG/SEPT 2010 50

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VOICE BOX

Immersive Signing – The retailer wanted to create more than just informational signage and sales, they wanted to produce an enhanced consumer experience. Digital signage HD content and ceiling LED lighting were coordinated to change with the in-store background music. The result was an installation that felt alive.

Boosting Retail Sales with Digital Signage and Emerging Technologies by Jeff Hastings, CEO, BrightSign

Looking back a few years, only the largest retailers were able to afford and manage the complex digital signage solutions that were available. In recent years, growing numbers of small- to medium-sized retailers have adopted the technology, including applications offering interactivity. Displays and controllers have become more affordable and easier to use than ever before, without sacriﬁcing quality or features. Today, millions of digital signs are in daily use, beneﬁting both the location owners and their viewers. Signage usage is growing so rapidly because consumers want, need, expect more information. Quick-serve food outlets have stimulated digital signage usage. Now they can go beyond the dull fat/calorie counts for menu items to include dynamic HD, streaming video content and attractive, interactive screens that provide a combination of compliance and customer appeal.

In addition, retailers and manufacturers are finding that digital signage provides a targeted means of presenting their messages in a way that is just intrusive enough to be meaningful and memorable for the consumer. These are just a few of the reasons retailers – across the board – are finding new, more creative ways of implementing digital signage that not only promotes sales and specials but also strengthens the outlet’s/products brand image. New technologies, simplified deployment and ease of use are empowering retailers and brand managers with solutions for connecting with the consumer. Solutions that are also more affordable to buy and more energy efficient to operate. These factors are the key reasons integrators report that they’re not only installing more new digital signage solutions for retailers but are also being

asked to upgrade installations with new, easier to use technology. Touch, gesture, geo-location and image recognition have taken us beyond a oneway digital connection to new ways of effectively engaging the customer. For example, a recent InfoTrends study reported that digital signage displays: • Provide 47.7 percent effectiveness increase on brand awareness • Actually increase the average purchase amount by 29.5 percent • Generate a 32.8 percent growth in repeat buyers • Generate not only a 32.8 percent more in-store trafﬁc but customers spend 30 percent more time in the store

Rapid ROI Not long ago, one of our integrators installed digital signage systems in two very different retail establishments. One was a grocery chain and the other a clothing store.

VOICE BOX

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Content The content strategy should be the key in the organization’s hardware and software decisions. There’s an overused phrase that “content is king” and while it is true, the consumer is the queen. In other words, the one who makes the final decision on the success or failure of the content. All too often, people settle on a specific hardware/software solution because it meets today’s needs. Then they find out – usually in a very short period – that they are locked into a design that doesn’t grow with their needs and doesn’t offer the sophistication of their content providers or the consumers.

While many retail installations use standard, full-screen images in their in-store promotion, many are now taking advantage of multi-zone software solutions to display complementary content simultaneously. The result is a more informative, eye-catching approach. For example, with a multi-zoned display, you can stream live TV or a product message, RSS or ticker feed, date/time and even current weather information. The multi-zone capability gives the retailer the optimum ﬂexibility of providing the series of news and messages that are more attractive, more attention-getting for the consumer.

Interactivity

Live End-Cap – Retail end-caps are nothing new for retailers. They provide “prime real estate” for product exposure. This grocery chain used digital signage to rotate multiple videos to test messages and consumer interest in the products to optimize their inventory turnover.

For the grocery chain, one of the signage components was an end-cap, top of freezer display. Suppliers saw a 100 percent sales lift for the speciﬁc products included in the signage promotion and four times improvement over printedsign end-cap promotion. For the clothing store example, the retailer used a smartphone promotion that was supported by the in-store digital signage message. The four-week campaign asked shoppers to sign in by dialing a speciﬁc code to receive exclusive announcements on new “rollback” offers. Merchandising managers found that they had three times as many shoppers sign up for discounts on a daily basis when SMS texting was used on the instore digital signage, compared to just the product promotion alone.

The growing use of personalized and self-service types of devices such as smartphones, tablet systems, ATMs and self-checkout areas clearly indicates that people want to obtain and control the information they need by themselves and at their own pace. More Than Moving Pictures – Today’s consumers are increasingly video savvy and they expect clean, crisp content that is designed to not only catch their attention but deliver results. Fresh content and updated messages keep customers involved with the store, department.

Vibrant, dynamic content brings the retail to life. It is important that the content be eye-catching and interesting to the customer. While historically we were able to provide virtually any quality of content because the in-store signage was “interesting and new,” today people expect high-def content that is entertaining and informative. Content should also be updated and freshened frequently, because people don’t like “stale” content in the store any more than they like being trapped by days and weeks of watching the same TV ad.

Success Factors

Work with Me – The new touch-activated screens help retailers create a positive experience for customers so they can make informed buying decisions. Using easy-toprogram software, the retailer can produce a step-by-step visual sales assistant for the consumer.

Over the past year, we’ve seen what can be synthesized into six key factors and trends that have helped integrators and retailers achieve solid success. These are: • • • • • •

Content and screen layout design Interactivity Synchronization Networking Open platform Portability

Touch screens and interactive signage applications really invite and encourage the customer to engage with the information they gather in unique, personal ways. It also provides a positive experience for the customer because he or she usually makes a much more informed decision. The purchase is usually made more quickly but there are fewer returns.

Changing Message Zones – Most of today’s advanced digital signage software makes it easy for retailers to segment the digital sign so multiple messages can be delivered simultaneously on the same screen.

Standard interactive signage solutions can range from buttons to touch screens and barcode readers that allow customers to “guide the product discussion” to the points/features they’re most interested in reviewing. With interactivity, it’s almost like having a very well-informed sales representative

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

available that can provide the customer with quick, accurate answers to speciﬁc questions. One of the more interesting interactive deployments that we’re seeing retailers using are motion sensors that recognize and respond to the customer. Over the next year, we’re certain facial recognition solutions will be available that will determine if the customer is male/ female, young/old and other criteria so the signage message can be tailored to his or her wants/needs. By implementing SMS texting with the signage solution, retailers are able to have a kiosk solution that lets the customer receive and use option codes. The interactive displays enable retailers to capture customer feedback and review the effectiveness of the promotion or messaging so they can increase sales and achieve an even better ROI with their digital signage.

Synchronization Tying mobile and in-store digital signage marketing together will provide substantial long-term growth potential for our integrators. Yes, it will develop slowly and will have a sharp learning curve for our customers, but it will arrive. The hardware/software solution our integrators tell us is producing the most sales and most proﬁtable sales right now are the synchronized multi-zone or multi screen solutions.

ties lighting, digital signage display and environmental music together to create unique moods and special look/feel to the area that is constantly changing. FNAC is an international entertainment retail chain and one of the largest retailers of its kind in France. Digital media players drive more than 4,000 displays on their digital signage network.

Living, Moving Message – Whether the retailer uses individual digital signage with messages in individual areas of the screen or a multi-screen wall as shown above, the experience is similar. Content can be linked between the zones and complete video walls can be created with the content spreading – and moving – across multiple displays

The in-store signage is used for promotions, ticket sales, TV sales and more. Their master signage controllers send serial commands to change the rotating and rolling screen messages in a controlled fashion. Custom networking in the retail outlets and across the complete chain enable authorized headquarters department managers as well as local store personnel to add and update content in near real-time. The ability to manage the messaging on a regional and specific store location basis allows them to carry out local special offerings as well as deliver corporate designated presentations at specific times and in specific areas of the store.

Multi-zone signage allows retailers to present a key product message and lead the customer to added features, beneﬁts, capabilities all on the same digital sign.

With the digital signage software the retailer can link content between the zones so the consumer experiences the continuity of one point/feature extending to the other zone. The other types of synchronization that we are seeing – and will discuss shortly with speciﬁc installations – are video walls and lighting/signage/sound syrhonization. The linked signage walls spread the content across multiple displays while the total environment sync

VOICE BOX

Two footwear installations – ODLO and MBT – have been very interesting, very creative and very results oriented. The retail floor kiosk incorporated touch screens and barcode readers that trigger the playback of information on the specific shoe type/model the customer was considering. In footwear, clothing, electronics and other industries, the consumer is faced with a wide array of options. With the kiosk example, the customer simply passes the product’s sales tag under the barcode reader and the system instantly plays back the product features/benefits information so customers know if it is the right product for them. In a slightly different digital signage kiosk installation, the company uses RFID technology to trigger the information playback. Alternatively, they can use the touch screen to “scroll” through the product offerings and find the one that meets their needs. The measure of the success of these types of installations is not only the volume of daily sales but more importantly, the dramatic reduction in customer returns. We’ve seen a growing number of manufacturers from high-end entertainment to sports/activity still/ video camera firms that are using similar digital signage kiosks/displays to promote, explain, and sell their products in stores. They’re able to precisely control their company/product feature and benefit messages so they don’t have to rely on retail sales people who may or may not be able to provide accurate information to the customer. Technology explanation, demonstrations and real use example with high-def video loops put the customers in control of their buying decision and they are increasingly looking for and demanding that control. Stand-Alone Kiosk – Integrators are helping retailers and suppliers develop standalone kiosk solutions that place attractive messages in front of consumers so they can get the information they want and make a purchasing decision immediately.

VOICE BOX

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

Portability Historically, digital signage has been a group of large screens, digital controllers, hardware network and content sent from Point A to Point B. The challenge for retailers is the environment is constantly changing. Displays are periodically moved to different locations, new clothes or other items are changed weekly, if not more frequently. Retail is not a static environment; and retailers typically do not have power and network connections in every corner of the store.

Virtual Control – By combining digital signage with a mobile device such as the iPad and iPhone, consumers can experience the product virtually and can quickly move through additional information/features.

iPhone, iPad Control One of our partners developed a unique exhibition tool for special events that we see gaining usage initially in high-end retail outlets and then more broadly as retailers begin seeing the potential. Within the retail community, we’re seeing a lot of interest in providing them with portable devices that provide effective content delivery and improve customer/message interactivity. Right now, nothing exempliﬁes this more than the Apple iPad and iPhone. The person holding the device is able to select, play, pause, and resume the video content.

Mattel has begun testing the use of this type of solution with video playback on their product displays. Buick has begun testing this approach around the country where they put the Apple device into the customer’s hands so they can test drive the car in a virtual environment. In addition, they can scroll to the correct item and view videos on the speciﬁc features of the car. There’s a world of opportunities that integrators can take advantage of that tie these widely recognized smartphones and tablets to digital signage solutions.

Several clothing retailers have begun implementing freestanding digital signage displays, kiosks and display case portable signage to give the customer new, exciting information and visuals from the moment they enter the store and in the various departments. Using reliable wireless networking, the retailer can promote new items, special offers and discounts in real-time directly at the specific display area. By tying the messages to customer opt-in text messages, they can test promotions and time-of-day offers to refine their marketing and sales activities and generate optimum results. In-store digital signage has been viewed as a way to improve the shopping experience and make shopping easier. At a time when retailers – like almost every organization – are working with reduced budgets and smaller staffs, having the ability to leverage the use of technology is becoming extremely important. We are rapidly moving beyond the use of digital signage as an extension of the home TV with specially targeted ads. Interactivity, portability and remote control are just a few of the developments and innovations now being used on a daily basis by retailers. It isn’t broadcasting or narrowcasting, it’s enabling customers and assisting them in making the best, most intelligent decision possible for the product or service they want and need. While we’ve focused on retail, virtually any industry can benefit from digital signage to effectively communicate with their targeted audiences and bring their messages to life. www.brightsign.biz

Stand-Alone Signage – Portable signage, such as the free-standing unit above, and the compact digital signage solution on the display area are becoming increasingly popular with retailers because quite often they don’t have network wiring or electrical power located close to the sales area they want to highlight.

Systems IntegraƟon Asia August - September 2011

VOICE BOX

Tricks of the trade Cable follow-up By John Ungerer, Managing Director, Kramer Australia Goodness!... here we are again, it feels like yesterday since the last article and I am facing another deadline to submit the new one. Just the other day while being on a plane, on my may back from somewhere, in-between: “Hi, this is your Captain speaking….” From John Travolta’s voice droning in my ear and “Please ensure that all devices are switched to Flight Mode…..bla, bla” I must have figured that I can surely find something more constructive to occupy my brain with until the seatbelt sign gets turned off again and the flurry of activity in the overhead lockers start, turning the plane into an airborne office for the remainder of the flight. – So, back to this dreaded statement above: Deadline! This time however it did not seem such a huge task, as I was in fact on my way back from a “please come and help us fix this….” Mission. So this is how the story goes, (and it will become a bit clearer on how I get to the “Follow up” title above) We were recently contacted by a customer who has a fair bit of perfectly fine Kramer gear installed in an upmarket and well known restaurant venue; you could say this already got my attention due to my interest in preparing good food….. ok, back to the story. As is the case with most of these “problematic” phone calls, the assumption is very often made that some piece of equipment somewhere in-between the source and display has to be the pesky gremlin that is causing all the headache and frustration for the site not working properly in one way or another. Because when said source and display is bound together as a test via a short cable for a brief moment in time, all trouble seems to disappear! Hmmmm, has to be the Kramer boxes in the middle then? If I think back on the fault descriptions over the phone for this case, it ranged from “unstable images, lines across the screen, colour differences between the different monitors and

more… very puzzling if you ask me! Now for a short (I promise) description of the system in place. A relatively simple setup of two HD off-air set top boxes, a local PC and DVD player connected to two of our Kramer VP-728 Scaler switchers in the rack room. Two additional Laptop connection points in the meeting rooms are connected to the same Scalers via sets of Kramer TP-121 and TP-122 TX/RX over CAT-6. The rack room is located in the outskirts of the facility (of course our equipment is always stuck in the dark back somewhere....sob..). The outputs of the 2 Scalers are fed back to the three plasma screens mounted on what I must say rather flashy motorised lifts! This room is some 40 meters away from the rack, so a combination of Kramer TP-41 and TP-42 was chosen to send the Component images back to the 3 eagerly awaiting displays, again over Kramer CAT-6 infrastructure. Even the short fly leads to turn the 15Pin (VGA) output into 3 x RCA connectors for connection to the Plasma’s Component inputs, are Kramer leads – so, why does this seemingly well designed system still not function the way it can and should! Out of the 3 displays, they were able to get decent images on two of them, but one refused to cooperate … bugger! Eventually I gave up trying to resolve this one over the phone, even though by the time I threw in the “telephonic support towel”, I had a fairly good idea of what was the culprit in this case, but now had to prove my theory, so as part of a planned dealer and consultant visit to the area, I offered to pop in on this trip which was only a week away, to get this sorted…… ok, you caught me – the prospect of sampling some of the fare at this restaurant was too good to resist. We were greeted by an equally eager customer and restaurant manager, both keen to get this venue up & running. It took me about the same time to figure out what the problem was (as suspected) as it took for the friendly restaurant manager to prepare a first class cappuccino for us! In fact it was “de-javu” so many times over, the classic mistake many installers make. You can specify the right equipment, good cable, etc. but if this lot is not connected together with attention to detail, it will most certainly

fail to deliver. Yes the whole point to this long story is the Connectors, or let me rather use the correct term… termination of the cables were wrong and poorly executed, that was all that was wrong with this installation! Before I ﬁnish off my story with the technical bits – so to speak, let me mention the excellent lunch we were offered by the friendly and accommodating staff – yum!..... Ok, stop thinking about food and focus on wires & things… What appeared to all involved in this installation to be faulty switching or distribution equipment turned out to be 2 incorrectly crimped RJ-45 connectors - that simple! Yes maybe simple for me, but certainly not for the electrical contractor to whom the task was left up to. Crimping the shielded RJ-45 connectors onto Shielded CAT6 cable does require a bit of skill and certainly some up-front knowledge of the “Do’s & Dont’s”. Paying attention to detail when crimping or soldering a connector on to a cable can make the difference between a whole system working or not! Now, while still being confronted with the drone of the engines of the plane and of course the looming – “please fasten your seatbelt” again, I manage to gather my thoughts to summarize this event. I cannot help but have the old saying pass through my mind: “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link”…. But let me not leave you on this note, we all know this one. This rather fun exercise showed me again that the simplest things in an installation can often be overlooked with the result of causing massive amounts of time being wasted to fault ﬁnd afterwards. Prevention is still better…….