FEATURE: EDUCATION
TOA’s N-8000 IP intercom system, which has been designed to provide “a total sound and security solution for educational buildings to use for internal comms as well as external, such as police, fire brigade and ambulance”. Harrison picks up on the theme, noting that “as security threats have increased, and as students and staff have come to expect a more unified communications environment, Biamp Systems has embraced this trend by providing campus-wide integration of audio systems that used to be standalone”. The Biamp Audia and Nexia product families, he notes, deliver provision for the incorporation of background music, sound reinforcement and tele- or distance learning.
UNITED APPROACH Integral to the unification trend has been the emergence of scalable audio DSP – increasingly to be deployed across conventional network infrastructures. “DSPs have basically evolved from standalone one-trick ponies to scalable network infrastructures that use the same TCP/IP network that we use for everything in life,” says Mark Ullrich,
international sales manager at Symetrix, whose new SymNet DSP platform “can deploy hundreds of channels of audio across a standard network that any IT professional would recognise”.
CRESTRON AIDS HD DISTRIBUTION IN ABU DHABI
Crestron control equipment, DIS conference systems and Yamaha digital mixers were selected as part of an impressive recent installation at Paris-Sorbonne University (PSU) on Abu Dhabi’s Reem Island. Fundamental to the project – which was carried out by UAE-based Genesis Integration, under contract with Case Technology – was the implementation of HDMI on a traditional converged network UTP infrastructure. Enabling the delivery of high- quality video to teachers’ display devices, the installation incorporates Crestron’s DigitalMedia solution, which is able to manage, control and distribute
It’s pretty clear, therefore, that as Harrison remarks, we are heading firmly in the direction of “a unified communications model that includes all modes of communications, including visual systems, SMS and email”. But while networking and skilful integration of separate audio and video systems will be integral to this process, one-box solutions able to combine multiple disciplines will surely have their place, too. From the AMX range, VP and MD for Europe, Kevin Morrison, singles out the Enova DVX-3150HD, a combined controller, AV matrix switcher, scaler, analogue-to-digital signal converter, twisted pair transmitter and amplifier with built-in audio processing. “Universities are realising that, through standardisation and consolidation, they can
all analogue and uncompressed HD digital content over twisted pair or fibre.
Among other
devices, the Crestron installation
includes 52 MPC- M10 and two MPC-M20 media presentation controllers, 69 DM-RMC-100 DM room controllers, four DM-MD 8 x 8 matrix switchers, and 58 DM-TX-300N HDMI transmitters. Another key objective of the installation – the specification of a flexible translation solution – was satisfied with a wireless infrared simultaneous interpretation system
simplify technological installation, operation and maintenance,” says Morrison, adding that “simplicity is key nowadays”. Not only do multifaceted solutions hold the promise of significant cost savings, they can help to boost efficiency and reduce maintenance requirements by ensuring “fewer possible points of failure”.
Distance education is helping to fuel demand for these consolidated AV solutions, particularly in the Middle East. “Multi- institutional campuses, collaboration with overseas colleges, global corporate partnerships, and the use of highly specialised tutors has resulted in remote teaching becoming a prime education tool in [this region],” says Jon Lane, MD of Smart-e. Demand for ‘multilayer’ systems has seen Smart-e
manufactured by DIS (Danish Interpretation
Systems). Elsewhere, multiple music rooms were equipped with interactive displays and Yamaha mixing consoles, while the Robert de Sorbon lecture theatre was fitted with high- spec sound reinforcement, videoconferencing facilities and large display screens. Tony Abou Jawad, director of Genesis Integration,
commented: “This education
supply several universities with multiple-source to multiple-display AV solutions, “so that a tutor located anywhere in the world can display themselves and content to multiple classrooms simultaneously. A variety of source devices can be used including a mix of PCs, DVDs, visualisers, videos, internet links and TV stations.”
But simpler solutions have their place, too, with Lane pointing to the selection of Smart-e’s SLX-100 single- source to single-display transmitter and receiver pair at Dubai Men’s College. “It was chosen because its transmission range reaches 300m, allowing the ‘nuts and bolts’ to be hidden out of view, reducing the temptation for students and staff to ‘fiddle’ with equipment,” explains Lane.
The UK’s Staffordshire University opted for Epson EB-Z8000WU and EB-G5450WU projectors
project was a pleasure, although it had all the hallmarks of a tough project, with very serious deadlines. It is not often that we have the chance to bring best-in-class technology teaching aids to help such a celebrated teaching institution as Paris- Sorbonne University. We are proud to have played such a role to help PSU bring its heritage to its UAE-based school graduates.”
MIDDLE EASTERN MOMENTUM
An abundance of case studies hailing from the Middle East confirms that this is where the epicentre of the university ‘super installation’ trend currently resides. Vincent Philippo from Crestron – which is continuing to generate interest in its DigitalMedia integrated AV distribution, system control and management solution across the education market – reckons that the “biggest potential is in the Gulf countries. But there is also [scope for growth] in the Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt”. Morrison reinforces the
impression that considerable investment” is continuing to take place, particularly in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, and this “in spite of the economic climate, budget cuts and reductions in federal spending”.
And although the mega-
‘The use of smart devices and tablets in education is growing at a tremendous rate’
Graeme Davidson, Epson UK
www.installation-international.com
projects are clearly more numerous in one particular region, Downing believes that with time “you will see more and more projects similar to the ‘super’ university installs – not only in the Middle East but elsewhere in the world as well”.
www.amx.com www.biamp.com www.crestron.com www.dis-dk.com www.epson.co.uk www.futuresource-consulting.com www.smart-e.co.uk www.symetrix.co www.tannoy.com www.toa.eu www.vivitek.eu www.yamahaproaudio.com
January 2013 23
STUDY CASE
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