SOLUTIONS: VISUALISATION CENTRE, WOLVERHAMPTON SCIENCE PARK UNITED KINGDOM A clear vision
Touchscreen technology is boosting business prowess in the West Midlands, writes Tom Bradbury
[INSTALLED]
AUDIO Biamp Nexia VC digital processing system
VIDEO Paradigm AV rear- projection screen Extron DXP DVI Pro matrix switcher Panasonic PT-DZ770 and PT-AE7000U projectors Polycom videconferencing system Polycom HDX 4000 HD desktop VC solution Wow Vision wireless presentation system
The multitouch display measures 3,545mm x 2,232mm
CONTROL AMX Enova presentation switchers AMX 19in Panoramic touchpanel
THE UNIVERSITY of Wolverhampton’s new six-zone Visualisation Centre opened in mid-March and is the brainchild of the university’s ‘Innovation 1st’ project team. The futuristic technology suite has been repurposed out of existing space in the Business Solutions Centre on Wolverhampton Science Park.
A giant multitouch glass
screen, purpose manufactured by Bedford-based specialists Paradigm AV, has taken centre stage at the facility. Installed by AVM Impact, which won a competitive EU tender, the Paradigm AV display – measuring 3,545mm x 2,232mm, and billed as the largest Windows 8 touchscreen in the West Midlands – will allow
[ABOUT THE INSTALLER]
In December 2012 AVM acquired Impact to create AVM Impact
The merged company focuses on design, installation, support and maintenance of AV, collaborative and videoconferencing solutions
AVM Impact partners with leading VC and AV brands, including Cisco, Polycom, Sony, Crestron and AMX
www.installation-international.com
the business community to interact with it collaboratively. The facility is designed to provide local SMEs in the West Midlands with a minimum two days (12 hours) of fully funded business assistance. Made possible by a European
Regional Development Fund, the new centre was co- designed by AVM Impact technical designer Paul Marshall and Paul Burrow, project manager, Innovation 1st Business Solutions – who said the idea of a glass screen had been suggested by a sister operation at the Telford Campus. However, they wanted to extend the Telford concept, and so Marshall presented the multitouch idea to Paradigm. Dave Stephen, Paradigm’s
projection & interactive technologies consultant, states: “Paul initially contacted us regarding the requirement for a large rear-projection screen with the possibility of interactivity. I suggested that the best route for this would be to include glass as this would respond better to touch than direct interaction with projection material. It would also give the impression of a super-large LCD screen and look fantastic.” Paradigm AV duly provided a full survey, designed the glass support structure, rear- projection screen and frame as well as the mirror rig. “We also surveyed the route into the
building for a large single piece of glass, which was the main obstacle,” said Stephen. The company approached touch integrator Displaylite, which supplied the multitouch interactivity overlay using proprietary software, with Paradigm adding the measurements into the design. The system runs on a
Windows 8 platform, which is compatible with the multitouch sensors. This presentation room, as with the entire Visualisation environment, operates under AMX Enova master control. For source switching (including PC, full Polycom videoconferencing and Wow Vision wireless presentation system), AVM Impact chose the Extron DXP DVI Pro high-performance matrix for single link DVI-D signals.
FULL SCREEN
With the optical quality glass surface facing the viewer, the Paradigm solution helps the client achieve full compliance up to all four viewing categories of the new ANSI Standard Projected Image System Contrast Ratio. In this application the rear-
projection display is optimised via the use of a Paradigm Easy- Erect twin mirror rig. This cradles a Panasonic PT-DZ770 single-chip DLP projector, fitted with ET-DLE80 power zoom lens, using precision geometry to achieve high impact. The
projector was chosen as the best for maximising image quality based on ambient lighting conditions, screen material and budget. “It is a fantastic feature,” said
Burrow. “This screen is our wow piece and something that small businesses will readily identify with. We wanted multitouch to get people involved in using the technology and to make it fun in a business application.” Finally, AVM Impact has
detailed a high-specification audio system, with wireless mics and ceiling speakers. All audio sources are managed via a single Biamp Nexia VC digital processing system, that will allow any audio source to be selected within that space independently of video. In addition to the Paradigm
glass screen in the main presentation room, AVM Impact also worked with Paul Burrow to conceive the other five rooms.
The first of these is the
boardroom. This features a Panasonic PT-AE7000U Full HD 3D projection system with 1080p resolution. This delivers both stunning 2D images and a comfortable and immersive 3D viewing experience. The PT-AE7000U features 480Hz-driven LCD panels, which lengthen the time that the shutter is open about 1.5 times the duration of a 240Hz drive system. Together with Panasonic’s original high- precision overdrive technology, this improves the brightness of
the images viewed through 3D eyewear. The room is also fitted with a 65in interactive display. A Polycom videoconferencing
system has been provided with a VC codec system fully integrated into the system. All cameras offer full pan, tilt
and zoom functionality, controllable through the touchpanels with appropriate direct control interfaces being provided from each camera into the AV control system. Finally, the boardroom also
features a 19in AMX Panoramic touchpanel control (whereas in all other rooms a wall-mount 7in AMX touchpanel or iPad have been provided to offer full control).
MEETING ROOMS
Opposite this is an entry-level room equipped with a desk- mounted standalone Polycom HDX 4500 HD all-in-one videoconferencing system, along with a resident PC and a laptop input. A touchpanel, located within, provides room- booking information. A further meeting room contains a Future Automation motorised sliding panel mechanism enabling the screen to disappear into the wall when not in use. This has been equipped with the AMX Enova unit (which is also used for controlling two of the other rooms), and Polycom VC codec as used elsewhere, with the addition of a motorised sliding panel mechanism to hide the display when not in use. The reception area is equipped with two wall mounted displays connected to digital signage players, along with a standalone Microsoft PixelSense (surface) table. The Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface unit enables people to communicate, collaborate and connect by easily interacting with digital content using touch and physical objects. All these viewing rooms, independently and collaboratively, ensure that there is plenty on offer in the Visualisation Centre to stimulate local businesses.
www.amx.com www.avmimpact.com www.biamp.com www.extron.co.uk www.futureautomation.co.uk www.panasonic.net/avc/projector www.polycom.com www.rearpro.com www.samsunglfd.com
May 2013 57
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