NEC recently commissioned the University of Utah to conduct research on productivity gains of widescreen monitors versus dual or single traditional aspect ratio monitors.

This study compared 26-Inch MultiSync widescreen, 24-inch MultiSync widescreen and 20-inch MultiSync traditional format (MS LCD2070NX at 1600×1200 resolution) monitors.

Additional references were made to the findings from the 2003 multi-monitor productivity study which compared dual versus single 18-inch MultiSync traditional format monitors (MS LCD1855NX at 1280×1024 resolution).

Ninety-six respondents were randomly assigned a display sequence which included a single 20-inch monitor configuration, a dual 20-inch monitor configuration, and either a 24-inch Wide or 26-inch Wide monitor configuration.

Respondents were randomly assigned both text and spreadsheet editing tasks, which were completed on each display configuration. Time and editing performance measurements were analyzed for each respondent on each monitor configuration.

You can download the NEC case study here and find out the results.

With our APG Displays division, we are used to installations that have impact with digital signage and large plasma and LCD installations.

As is our sister company in the UK - PSCO with these recent installations.

HMV: A New Generation of Retail Technology (Merry Hill, UK)

PSCo worked with TouchVision’s Jim Ofield, Engineering and Services Director, to deploy a next generation 3 x 3 Infinite Plasma wall in the HMV’s store window to enable advertising of music promotions and other features. The seamless wall solution is perfect for use in shop windows with its new anti-reflective coating, and tiny gap between screens.

Jura: The Cutting-Edge of Technology (Mayfair, UK)

Jura, the luxury watch retailer, recently invested in a renovation which saw the addition of the world’s largest plasma screen to their Mayfair store. In addition, two 46” Vitze interactive touch screens were also installed forming an extraordinary in-store AV solution.

Extraordinary A/V for Channel 4’s ‘Big 4’ Art Project
Channel 4 launched the Big Art Project as part of their celebration of the network’s 25th anniversary. A 50-foot-high metal ‘4′ was constructed at the channel’s Horseferry Road headquarters and was unveiled by Culture Minister Margaret Hodge. The ‘4’ mirrors the channel’s on-air identity with metal bars forming the channel’s logo when viewed from a particular angle becomes instantly recognizable.

Four artists will have the opportunity to customize the ‘Big 4’ over the next 12 months. The first adaptation of the work, entitled Heart, was by British artist/photographer Nick Knight, with sound design by Nick Ryan. The current adaptation by Mark Titchner, Find Our World in Yours Find Your World in Ours, allows the public to record their own thoughts and feelings about the media. Edited footage is then played back on video monitors mounted on the structure. Mark Titchner’s design used six weather resistant AQUiVO outdoor screens to enhance the interactivity of the sculpture.

The robust screens feature a toughened glass front and an anti-reflective surface that makes them the perfect choice for temporary or permanent outdoor installations.

ref. Digital Signage Universe

InfoComm International, the leading trade association representing the professional audiovisual industry today announced that the International Organization for Standardization’s (ISO) United States representative, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), has accredited InfoComm’s Certified Technology Specialist and Certified Technology Specialist – Installation credentials under ISO/IEC 17024.ISO/IEC 17024 establishes a global benchmark for the certification of personnel. ANSI accredits standards developers, certification bodies and technical advisory groups to both the ISO and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

Many members of the Advanced team are Certified technology Specialists, adding even more reassurance when dealing with our a/v experts at Advanced Solutions, for planning and installation, and our other divisions.

Certified Technology Specialists (CTS) serve clients by creating, operating and servicing AV solutions, while meeting client’s needs, on time and within budget. A Certified Technology Specialist - Installation (CTS-I) installs and maintains audiovisual systems by following specifications, schematics, codes, and safety protocols; administering installation process logistics; troubleshooting and problem solving systems; maintaining tools and equipment; and communicating with clients, designers, other trades, other installers and staff, all while providing exemplary customer service. Ongoing professional education is required to maintain the credentials. A certification is valid for three years and certified individuals must earn 30 renewal units (RUs) within each three-year period, remain in good standing, and abide by the CTS Code of Ethics and Conduct.

The NEC 52″ MultiSync will certainly attract a crowd making it ideal for digital signage and corporate boardrooms.

The ultra-thin-frame model boasts the Digital Signage Technology Suite (DSTS) with nearly 30 feautres that enhance display management, improve screen performance and lower cost of ownership:

• Professional grade panel
• Ultra-thin bezel (19mm)
• Full HD (high-definition) display
• U-shaped bulbs allow for more uniform image
• Durable, sealed module prevents contaminants and dust
• Optional SpectraViewII™ color calibration kit
• Built-in expansion slot
• Optional speakers (AV model only) and stand

The NEC 52″ MultiSync LCD5220 is available from April 2008 from Advanced Products Group or if you may be interested in using the MultiSync in your next A/V installation?

Panasonic President Toshihiro Sakamoto kicked off the first day of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas with a number of announcements, including a new 150-inch plasma TV.

The 150-inch plasma is now the largest plasma screen available in the world coming in at 11 feet wide, with a 2,000-by-4,000 pixel resolution.

“It’s capable of an amazing picture that is four times the resolution of our current full HD plasma displays,” Sakamoto said. “It gives new meaning to the words reality TV.”

Two years ago, Panasonic unveiled a 103-inch plasma TV that was, at the time, the largest available plasma TV, which went on to sell over 3,000 units during 2007, beating any forecasts Panasonic may have had.
The new 150 inch plasma TV has been “designed especially for digital cinema and commercial installations, but might also be found in some very luxurious special homes in the future,” Sakamoto speculated.

Watch out for these coming to Canada soon.

A Canada wide event focusing on the latest advancements in audiovisual technology.

• Unique products
• Collaborative technology
• Digital signage solutions
• Staging Services

The Axis Group Roadshow, touching down in eight cities across Canada, is a Product Showcase and Seminar focusing on the latest in audiovisual technology.

Who should attend?

• IT Managers,
• Facility Managers,
• Purchasing Managers,
• Event Planners,
• Architects and Designers
• Educators

Why attend?

1. Halifax – Tues Jan 29th – Pier 21
2. Montreal – Friday Feb 1st – Centre des Sciences de Montreal 
3. Toronto – Tues Feb 5th – Mississauga Convention Center
4. Winnipeg – Thurs Feb 8th – Winnipeg Convention Centre
5. Regina – Tues Feb 12th – Conexus Arts Centre
6. Saskatoon – Thurs Feb 14th – Western Development Museum
7. Calgary – Wed Feb 20th – Calgary Convention Center
8. Vancouver – Tues March 11th- Renaissance Hotel 

For additional information, visit www.axisgroup.ca/roadshow

Event Sponsors

This week, Panasonic announced the debut of its newest LCD home theater projector with 1080p (1,920 x 1,080 pixel) native resolution: the PT-AE2000E. Designed for savvy home theater enthusiasts and audio video professionals who desire an immersive home entertainment viewing experience, the new projector delivers 1080p images with a carefully-tuned lens system to reproduce remarkable detail and clarity with 1,500 lumen brightness and 16,000:1 contrast ratio.

The new PT-AE2000E model is the next evolution of its predecessor, the PT-AE1000E, which has been widely accepted and used to display professional movies. The new projector reproduces the original picture quality intended by Hollywood movie and television directors - all within the comfort of consumers’ home theaters.

Beautiful Picture Quality with Improved Clarity

The PT-AE2000E model comes equipped with Panasonic’s new optical system that’s designed to display beautifully detailed images with a captivating brightness of 1,500 lumens. Careful craftsmanship is incorporated into each individual optical system by highly skilled technicians to fully optimize the image for full high definition (HD) resolution. The projector’s new Detail Clarity Processor analyzes frequency characteristics of each frame in three dimensions (horizontal, vertical, and along the time axis) and applies necessary sharpness at varying degrees to create natural, life-like images with exceptional clarity.

The PT-AE2000E projector reproduces Hollywood movies, independent films and other entertainment with exceptional color accuracy. Its enhanced unique Pure Color Filter Pro uses optical adjustment to achieve a higher purity level of the three primary colors; it also helps displays deeper, purer blacks. The color space has been extended even more to match the approximate level specified in the digital cinema industry.

For the full specification, and more information about the Panasonic PT-AE2000E, read here.

Toshiba’s Super Narrow Bazel line of REGZA LCD HDTVs has expanded by two, including a new 40” and 46” model. Both boast 1080p resolution, and a bezel that measures a mere 1” wide, allowing the TV to fit in smaller spaces.

“Our REGZA LCD line has already been a huge success by setting new standards in picture quality, and we will now set a new standard in design with the world’s thinnest LCD TV bezel,” explained Lindsay Takashima, Senior Director Marketing, Consumer Electronics Group at Toshiba. “These premium models are not only strikingly beautiful, but they also allow you to put a larger TV in a smaller space. In fact, our new 40” SNB model fits in the space of a standard Toshiba 37” LCD TV, which means that many consumers can now fit a 40” model into their existing home theatre furniture.” (Read More…)

According to MarketNews.ca, ViewSonic, who are known for their leading range of LCD monitors for desktop PCs, are introducing a range of new models that offer wide screen, High Definition viewing, to make then just as useful as small TVs.

MarketNews also reports that more and more consumers are using their PCs to watch video content; and according to a recent IDC study, 40 per cent reported they’d likely watch TV on their PC monitor. Called the Diamani DUO, the new Series consists of the 19” NX1932w and the 22” NX2232w, both available for sub-$420.

ViewSonic’s general manager Colleen Browne said: “The ways in which consumers are integrating displays into the home are as varied as the households themselves, the Diamani DUO line allows consumers to save money and gain more features by purchasing a single, dual-purpose display that brings high quality video or computer viewing to any room.”

The LCDs offer 5ms response time, 2,400:1 dynamic contrast, and wide viewing angles. Each model has six inputs, including HDMI and VGA.

The N1932w and NX2232w offer 1,440 x 900 and 1,680 x 1,050 pixel resolution, respectively, and come housed in a high-gloss cabinet. They can be placed atop a flat surface via the integrated stand; or wall-mounted.

ViewSonic’s Diamani DUO NX1932w and NX2232w are currently available for ESPs of $339 and $419, respectively. They come backed by a one-year limited warranty on parts and labour; while optional two- or three-year extended warranties are also available.

(Source)

According to BBC news - Sony are due to release “an ultra-thin television” that is “brighter and crisper than current generation screens”

The TV, which is due to go on sale in December uses organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) to produce the image, resulting in a screen only 3mm thick.

OLED screens are said-t0-be more energy efficient than the popular LCD panels - as they do not need a backlight to boost brightness.

The BBC also states that it is  “difficult and expensive” to make large screens using the [OLED] technology. Sony’s first OLED TV costs £850 (roughly $1700 CAD) and has an 11 inch display.

OLED screens are brighter than LCD panels and also have better contrast ratio - resulting in sharper pictures.

The diodes emit a brilliant white light when attached to an electricity supply and are also being developed for use as replacements to traditional light bulbs.

Sony has hailed the new television as a signal of its returning strength as a technology innovator.

Sony’s president, Ryoji Chubachi said at a news conference at its Tokyo headquarters: “Some people have said attractive products are slow to come at Sony despite its technological strength”

He added:”I want this world’s first OLED TV to be the symbol of the revival of Sony’s technological prowess.

“I want this to be the flag under which we charge forward to turn the fortunes around.”

Sony’s executive deputy president, Katsumi Ihara said: “I don’t think OLED TVs will replace LCD TVs overnight. But I do believe this is a type of technology with very high potential, something that will come after LCD TVs.”

The new TV goes on sale in Japan on 1 December. There are no plans for a global launch as yet.

The OLED TV has a lifespan of about 30,000 hours of viewing - half that of Sony’s LCD televisions.

(Reference BBC News)