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![]() The Latest Picture Show The Room, Part 4: Display &
Projection
By
Julie Hill
The projection and
display portion of a presentation room is the lifeblood of
multimedia. Companies now have more options than ever for
equipment that will provide high-quality images, so there's no
reason why a DVD multimedia show for a client can't look just
as crisp as Dan-from-accounting's spreadsheets. But how does
one go about deciding whether front-projection or
rear-projection will work best in a conference room? Or
whether plasma is the best option? Or a videowall, an LCD
display or a CRT monitor? There are many factors to consider,
but the room itself will give clues as to what display devices
will work best.
As with all areas
of AV integration, the function of the room is the first and
foremost consideration. But according to Ted Pallas, southwest
regional manager for systems integrator Spinitar, a close
second consideration is the condition of the room. "We need to
know if this is a design build or an existing room to find out
what kind of impact the display will have on the environment,"
he explains.
Pallas says he
prefers projects that take the audio-visual equipment into
account before the room has been designed. "A lot of the
architects haven't caught on to AV integration," he says.
"Some still think it involves a pull-down screen and an
overhead."
Front or back?
For high-end boardrooms, most
integrators prefer rear-projection displays because the image
is clearer, the installation looks elegant, and more ambient
light can be allowed in the room. But when deciding between
front- and rear-projection displays, the main question is
whether a company can sacrifice the space behind the wall
needed for rear projection. According to Pallas, the latest
short-throw lenses – lenses that allow a shorter distance
between projector and screen – have reduced that
behind-the-wall space requirement down to 3 or 4 feet, making
rear-projection more popular than ever. But in many cases,
that's precious room that can't be spared.
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An unobtrusive option to a rear-screen projection
system is a ceiling-mounted projector that retracts into
the ceiling when not in use, along with a retractable
screen. |
| Though Pallas prefers
rear projection, he is quick to add that it's not a
one-size-fits-all solution, particularly if the room's
function doesn't require it. "A training environment is a
vanilla type of room," he says. "A roll-up-your-sleeves
mentality prevails in these environments," so the more elegant
(and more expensive) look of rear projection isn't
required.
Also, if the room is
large and requires a large screen, rear projection may not be
a viable option. Many large rooms require front projection to
ensure that all participants can see the screen.
The plasma option
Beyond projection technology, many
companies are developing an appetite for a dazzling display of
a different sort – gas plasma. According to Jim Hackett,
vice-president of sales at Digital Factory, a systems
integrator based in Ceres, Calif., the reasons for plasma's
popularity surge are three-fold: dropping prices, better
quality and increasing versatility.
"Plasmas used to be so expensive that the only
people who bought them were from large companies who wanted a
trophy for their conference rooms," says Hackett. Nowadays,
the price for an average 42-inch (diagonal) gas plasma display
has dipped below $5,000, which makes it comparable in price to
many mid-range projectors.
Another factor pushing the popularity of plasma is
the increased interest in videoconferencing after Sept. 11,
says Hackett, who works closely with Pioneer Electronics'
plasma division. People like the "clean look" of plasmas
during videoconferencing, he says. And because
videoconferencing setups often require two screens – one
displaying the participant on the other end and one for shared
data, charts or other info – plasma's slim form factor makes
for an elegant solution.
Another
feature selling a lot of plasmas is their ability to do
double-duty as an interactive whiteboard using overlays such
as those sold by Smart Technologies and PolyVision. "Not only
can you use the plasma for teleconferencing, you can put an
overlay on the same plasma and use it as a learning tool.
That's a pretty powerful feature," Hackett says.
Fifty-inch gas plasma displays are
by far the most popular in boardrooms because they're the
perfect size for many rooms in that category, he says. The
only drawback is when the room is so large it requires a
larger screen, in which case you're back to a choice between –
you guessed it – front projection and rear projection.
Coming soon
Currently in the minority of display
choices, CRT monitors, LCD displays and even videowalls are
still options to consider, depending on how the room will be
used. Also, a number of manufacturers are busy working on much
more space- and energy-efficient options, such as
light-emitting film-like emulsions, larger LCD screens and
laser-based projection technologies. For now, though, those
who want the latest and greatest display will have to settle
for what's available – which doesn't look bad at all.
Julie Hill is
managing editor of Presentations magazine.
Originally
published in the June 2002 issue of Presentations
magazine. Copyright 2002, VNU Business Media.
Other articles
from the series "The Room":
Introduction
The
Big Wow (The Room: Executive Meeting Centers) Shhh,
We're in a Collaboration (The Room: Collaboration) Putting
It All Together (The Room: Systems Integration) The
VC Factor (The Room: Videoconferencing) Sound,
Without the Fury (The Room:
Sound) | |
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