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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.


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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