Reportedly, a single replacement part, such as a keyboard, costs nearly half the cost of a complete Chromebook. As a result, many school districts are buying extra devices to serve as spare parts.

This is just one example of the technological dilemmas facing school districts today. What’s more, limited capital prevents them from buying the newest hardware or upgrading to the latest software versions. With technology rapidly changing, how can educational institutions keep up?

For school districts, a hardware purchase will need several years to get a substantial return on investment (ROI). Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of students using older technology.

The Wave of Device-Agnostic Systems

A growing wave of educators also allow learners to use their existing smart devices when attending remote classes—a so-called Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) policy. Instead of providing the required equipment or specifying specific operating systems (OS), they run systems that accommodate devices regardless of OS or hardware configurations. As long as they meet minimum requirements, any smart device will do.

While this benefits many students, some school districts may have trouble implementing this system. Even if they don’t have the funds to provide students with ideal devices, they’re also unable to maintain the necessary system that accommodates virtually all types of devices.

In addition, when class hardware requirements get more complex due to evolving software, many students become marginalized as their devices can’t keep up. As a result, schools either abide by the lowest common denominator or require students to make costly upgrades.

Unlocking the Power of DaaS: How It Can Revolutionize Education

Can school districts actually implement a digital transformation strategy that doesn’t involve hardware purchases? Yes, through a Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) approach.

Schools usually operate on the premise that students log into the system through either school-issued or personal devices. However, advancements in software development often require users to ensure their hardware keeps pace. For cost-conscious organizations such as school districts, it’s a never-ending cycle of hardware and software upgrades.

A DaaS service provider solves this problem by supplying the computing environment students need and giving customers the choice to upgrade their hardware.

Instead of getting stuck with their initial investment—even when it turns obsolete—DaaS ensures users always have the latest hardware to go with their software. In return, clients pay a fixed subscription that covers hardware and software costs and maintenance and management tasks.

Planning for Change: Steps to Develop a Digital Transformation Strategy for Schools

As you develop a digital transformation strategy, there are a few things to consider:

• The needs of your school, teachers, and students: What are your pain points, and where could you use more support?
• Your current technology: Is there anything you can keep? What gaps need to be filled?
• Key stakeholders: Your digital equipment must serve students, teachers, and IT administrators, so get buy-in from each group.
• The technology you actually need: Don’t just follow trends. Look for solutions that meet your needs now and can be scaled up or down as things change.

For school districts, enacting a digital transformation strategy means going beyond the cycle of sticking to what they can afford. School districts typically mandate their IT department to keep using existing equipment until it breaks down or becomes unusable. But the DaaS model enables schools to acquire new technology regardless of whether funding is available.

DaaS also reduces the time your IT team spends evaluating and purchasing devices, making them work together, and then keeping them in line with user needs. This frees them to look toward the future and propose systemic improvements to the learning process.

Maximizing ROI: Evaluating the Benefits and Costs of DaaS in Education

A DaaS digital transformation strategy provides many benefits. For instance, school districts won’t have to manage hardware or get stuck with old equipment until achieving an ROI. Additionally, administrators will no longer accumulate obsolete hardware in their storage areas or be tasked with disposing of old devices cheaply and ethically.

Instead, school administrators can breathe easier knowing that, regardless of how computing requirements change from year to year, their tech budget will remain fixed. In fact, they won’t have to worry about capital expenditures every time better and more powerful technology arrives. DaaS provides predictable operational expenses.

Common Challenges and Solutions in Implementing a Digital Transformation Strategy in Schools

To keep the school district’s entire device fleet synced with each other, you’ll need powerful and reliable device management software. Modern cloud technology can maintain secure, encrypted, and reduced-latency connections when monitoring or updating devices.

For this purpose, outmoded software that uses legacy protocols should give way to platforms that harness modern solutions like Amazon Web Services (AWS). This way, even the smallest IT staff can perform remote updates, fixes, and installations to a single device or the entire fleet with just a few button clicks.

The platform should be OS agnostic to easily connect to and manage all allowed devices. What’s more, the task of protecting each connected device means better management and security options. Forget device access as a yes-or-no equation; the ideal device manager should have no problem creating different user access levels that match their job descriptions.

In addition, security means having the capability to remotely disable units or erase data from compromised devices.

Prioritize DaaS Providers Using a Central Device Management Platform

A DaaS approach enables school districts to build a digital transformation strategy that maintains the most updated hardware and software while keeping costs static. Look for a partner that can help your IT team manage, maintain, and secure all subscribed devices.

When choosing the right DaaS vendor to support your digital transformation strategy, choose the one that places a premium on superior device management capabilities. A central device management platform should be easy for your team to use, OS- and device-agnostic, and built for multiple users under one account. It should also enable app and device management, remote support, monitoring and analysis, and automation.

Nadav Avni, CMO of Radix Technologies

The post Preparing for the Future: Why Schools Need a Digital Transformation Strategy With DaaS appeared first on My TechDecisions.

The bill, called the Secure and Trusted Telecommunications Networks Act, bans the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from giving money to American tech companies to buy equipment from foreign companies deemed a national security threat. This includes Huawei, a Chinese company accused of using its tech to spy on the United States and other countries, and currently the largest provider of 5G equipment in the world. The bill also requires the FCC to provide $1 billion to help smaller national tech companies “rip out and replace” equipment previously purchased from “threatening” companies, and to develop a list of firms viewed as a threat.

“Telecommunications equipment from certain foreign adversaries poses a significant threat to our national security, economic prosperity, and the future of U.S. leadership in advanced wireless technology,” Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker said in a statement. “By establishing a ‘rip and replace’ program, this legislation will provide meaningful safeguards for our communications networks and more secure connections for Americans.”

The Hill also said that if President Trump signs the bill, then it will affect rural telecom providers the most; a previous estimate by The Rural Wireless Association from 2018 said that approximately 25 percent of its member companies use equipment from Huawei or Chinese group ZTE.

About Time

Passing this bill is one of the strongest courses of action the FCC has taken against Huawei since the initial concern of spying emerged a couple of years ago. Prior to the bill, the Department of Commerce added the Chinese company to its list of businesses that American companies are forbidden to work with, “though Huawei’s full inclusion on the list has been delayed multiple times.” The FCC also took steps against Huawei in November 2019, when it banned American tech companies from using its funding to purchase equipment from the company, and when the company was marked a national security threat.

The Trump Administration has been pressuring other nations to move away from Huawei as well. Huawei is pushing back – it announced it was going to sue the FCC in December 2019, claiming there is no proof it is a national security risk. As of right now, it seems that Huawei isn’t making any progress with the lawsuit, especially as the United States takes further steps to hemorrhage the Chinese company’s tech from its own businesses.

The post An Update About Huawei: What Decision Makers Need to Know appeared first on My TechDecisions.

However, many technology managers (and even more end users) are unaware of how important a screen is to the overall system. A projector is only as good as its screen, and still many organizations will overspend on the projector and underspend on the screen, resulting in an image with poor quality overall.

There are hundreds of options when it comes to screens – and a fair number of them are low-end, poorly crafted, and will produce a far inferior picture than the projector would on a capable screen. Understandably many of us believe it shouldn’t matter what the projector hits – the power is in the box. That’s simply not true, and to believe so will leave your project worse off.

In order to ensure that you’re getting the best overall system, first technology managers and end users must understand all that goes into the screen.

Considerations and Education: Projection Screens

When it comes to different screen surfaces there are a litany of properties that play into what would make a particular screen ideal for a particular situation.

“I think there’s a lack of understanding generally within the industry as to how much a screen can impact the viewer experience,” says Josh Davis, director of engineering for Unified Technology Systems. “There’s a lot of variables to consider when it comes to projection screens, the surfaces you utilize, and what the goal is. Every projection scenario has a different objective – different content, different seating area, different ambient light. All of those have to be taken into effect. It’s just lack of experience seeing the difference between the different screen technologies to understand how much they impact that viewer experience.”

So let’s better understand, and experience, the considerations of screens.

Foot Lamberts

Foot lamberts is a calculation that’s used that takes into account the light output of the projector, the size of the image, and the gain of the screen, and comes up with an example.

“As an example, the Society for Motion Picture and Television Engineers recommends 16-foot lamberts in a dark, dedicated theater. If you have higher levels of ambient light you need more system foot lamberts to project an image that will be viewable in those particular lighting conditions,” says Brian Gluck, president of ProjectorScreen.com. “We have our foot lambert calculator on our site, and that allows you to input values and it will give you an output of your foot lamberts. Then we have a rule-of-thumb chart that will tell you what you need based on ambient light.

Resolution

Now that we’ve gone to 4K projection, we’ve reduced the size of the pixel from where it was at 1080p. Previously, screen surfaces were engineered to have texture on them, which allowed the pixel to hit the surface and reflect back uniformly. Once we get to 4K the pixel becomes so small that once it hits the texture the geometry gets deformed and clarity is affected. If the projector is 4K or better, you need to pair it with a surface that will resolve 4K, and it needs to be devoid of texture.

One might go online and find a projection screen that claims 4K readiness at a cheap price point – this is simply false information. As the user can’t see the screen beside a high-end, truly 4K ready screen, users often fall into the trap. When you see a real 4K surface next to a fake 4K surface there is an obvious difference in terms of clarity.

Uniformity

Uniformity is another factor. Is the image equally bright throughout the entire area, or incredibly bright in the center and diminished on the edges? Better manufactured screens will have a much higher level of uniformity for a consistent level of brightness throughout the image.

Color Reproduction

Certain surfaces may skew how the colors are represented on them. They may skew everything blue, yellow, grey, etc. Well-manufactured screens will have no color shift, so that you know there is an accurate representation from the source to what you see on the screen.

Color enhancing surfaces can also feature color shift, which allows them to deepen black or darker spectrum colors in an image. Some screen surfaces enhance brighter spectrum colors in order to add more vibrancy to the image. Low-end projection screens won’t feature any sort of color shift or color reproduction enhancement – you can only get these features with well-manufactured screens.

Gain and Viewing Angle

You also need to pay attention to the gain and viewing angle. Gain is a measurement of the reflectivity of the light that hits the surface. For example, a surface with 1.5 gain means that 1.5 times the amount of light that hits the surface is reflected back. If you shine 1,000 lumens at a 1.5 gain surface it will come back at 1,500 lumens.

In order to reflect back a higher level of brightness, the screen is reducing the viewing angle. The screen is focusing the light energy back to the audience at a narrower angle, allowing it to amplify and become brighter. In certain instances, you might have a narrow viewing angle where the audience won’t be beyond the width of the screen, in which case a high-gain surface would be advantageous.

There are also low-gain surfaces. A gain less than 1.0 means that less light is reflected back. You might wonder why you want to lose light from the projector. Not only will the screen absorb projector light that hits it, but ambient light that hits it as well. In some circumstances you might have a high-output projector that is too bright for the situation along with ambient light to deal with. The low-gain surface will combine to provide you with the appropriate amount of foot lamberts for a situation.

White or Grey?

There’s a lot of conversation about what is better, a white surface or a grey surface. They both have their places. A white surface will give you the brightest levels of white but won’t do much to make the black look deeper.

“Projectors have a difficult time producing black – black is the absence of light, but a projector is trying to create that color by using light,” says Gluck. “Some projectors do it better than others, and generally speaking the higher the light output of the projector, the lower the contrast ratio of that projector. By using certain surfaces, you’re not increasing the contrast, but you’re making the blacks be perceived as deeper while trying not to affect the brightness of the whites.”

Ambient Light Rejection

There are various types of ambient-light rejecting surfaces.

One is optical-based. There is almost a saw-tooth like structure in the many layers of this surface. The light coming from overhead is hitting the top and bouncing back, while the light coming from the projector is reflected back to the audience. This allows for a brighter image in a room with a lot of ambient light but won’t do anything to reduce ambient light that follows the path of the projector light.

There are also surfaces intended specifically for ultra-short-throw projectors. These projectors are mounted close to the screen. The light hits the screen at a steep angle. The specialized screens are created to take light from a steep angle and redirect it straight to where the audience is, while also rejecting ambient light.

Finally, there is a contrast-based ambient light rejecting screen. This screen is typically a tensioned projection surface that rejects light from all direction due to the color of the projection screen surface. Proprietary reflective materials are added that enhance the reflectivity of the surface while simultaneously absorbing the unwanted ambient light. This type of projection screen surface uses contrast and reflectivity instead of optics to counter ambient light in an environment.

Cost

Cost is where many users get tripped up in terms of projection screens. Indeed, a cheap screen can be found online that is vastly inferior to a well-produced screen. However, this comes as a detriment to the system overall.

First, a high-end screen will be well-manufactured. They use premium components and specific chemicals, and they will almost always come with a warranty. These screens will last for, potentially, decades. They’ll also improve the system.

When it comes right down to it, you can purchase the most sophisticated 4K projector on the market. If you shoot the image at a wall, the picture will not be 4K. A cheap, online-only, poorly made screen will be only a fraction better. Only a high-end, well-manufactured screen will produce an image the projector is truly capable of. In fact, a less sophisticated projector with a more sophisticated screen will produce a better picture than the high-end projector on a cheap screen.

While the technology behind projectors (as well as flat panels and video walls) advances rapidly, and often renders even a two-year-old projector as partially outdated, the screen will continue to produce quality pictures over the span of its life. It’s a physical material. In reality, the screen is almost more important, as a higher-end screen is, by its very nature, future-proof.

Working with Integrators to Choose the Right Screen

A good integrator should educate you on the importance of choosing the right screen. If your installation partner is pushing a top-of-the-line projector without placing any importance on the screen, odds are you have a poor installation partner. While this article has done well to give you the information to understand screens, choosing the right one for your project will vary depending on the environment.

“You definitely want to have an integrator visit your location,” says Michael Jarnagin, sales estimator/designer for Ford AV. “Each space has its own individual characteristics. Without someone looking at that, they’re never going to know one hundred percent.”

Share your budget and allow the integrator to provide the best system overall. A general budget range will allow the integrator to design the right system – choosing a capable projector and a capable screen that falls within the budget.

The post How Projection Screens Can Make Or Break a Projection System appeared first on My TechDecisions.

The Intel Xeon W-2200 and X-series processors are targeted to be available starting November, along with a new pricing structure that represents an easier step up for creators and enthusiasts from Intel Core S-series mainstream products, Intel says.

Professional creator capabilities

Xeon W-2200 platforms are targeted towards professional creators, with “expanded platform capabilities for data science, visual effects, 3D rendering, complex 3D CAD, AI development and edge deployments.”

“They can be used in configurable form-factors – from small desktop to towers – as well as include built-in platform security features and reliability, such as ECC support and Intel vPro, which creative professionals demand. For example, the 3D architectural rendering process on Autodesk Revit with V-Ray accelerates up to 10 percent faster compared with the previous generation and up to 2 times faster compared with a 3-year-old workstation.” — Intel

New Xeon W prices range from $294 to $1,333.

For additional product details, visit the Intel Xeon W-2200 product brief.

Read Next: Walmart Uses Computer Vision Technology to Track Thefts and Fraud at the Checkout Lanes

Freelancers, prosumers, & enthusiasts

For freelancers, prosumers and desktop enthusiasts who may not need advanced features, Intel Core X-series processors provide the performance with the added flexibility of overclocking capabilities.

“These four new processors (i9-10980XE, i9-10940X, i9-10920X and i9-10900X) are especially suited for advanced workflows that vary in need for photo/video editing, game development and 3D animation. Additionally, they deliver enthusiast-ready enhanced features, like Intel Performance Maximizer that makes it easy to dynamically and reliably custom-tune the unlocked processors based on the X-series’ individual performance DNA.” — Intel

New X-series prices range from $590 to $979.

The post New Intel Xeon Processors Put AI Acceleration In Users’ Hands appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Researchers are working on calcium-based batteries, which could one day lead to mass manufacturing and provide a “safer and cheaper” material for batteries than lithium, Nature says. “Batteries with anodes made of calcium — a more abundant substance — might be more sustainable and safer than batteries with lithium anodes.”

Lithium-ion batteries have been used in mobile devices for years, partly due their ability to be recharged. But they have drawbacks, Nature reports: they require “scarce and toxic substances” like lithium and cobalt to operate, and can even catch fire. Popular Mechanics adds to list of lithium battery cons: lithium has a “limited physical nature” of output in certain countries, and creates “environmental havoc” during its extraction, “which often requires heavy water consumption.”

Researchers at the Helmholtz Institute Ulm in Germany have successfully created a new type of calcium salt that has been able to conduct electricity “more effectively than any calcium-based electrolyte ever reported.” It was also able to conduct ions at higher voltages than other calcium-based electrolytes, Nature says.

While strides have been made in calcium-based batteries, researchers currently lack a suitable electrolyte – the material located inside a battery that carries an electric charge – to make the technology as efficient as possible. As a result, it will take some time to see calcium batteries replace lithium batteries.

Until more research has fine tuned calcium battery technology, decision makers who work with lithium batteries might consider the benefits that calcium batteries may one day offer:

• Calcium is the fifth most abundant element in Earth’s crust, Popular Mechanics reports, which means it would be easier to harvest.
• It lacks the ability to catch fire and pose a safety hazard.
• It can be scaled to be used in industrial systems, and can store wind and solar energy.

The post Lithium Batteries Might Disappear – Here’s Why appeared first on My TechDecisions.

What I discovered as I dug into the story was a unique, new-age marketing strategy.

Most people know the brand name Yamaha for motorcycles and pianos. Many people don’t know that they also make commercial AV equipment. The UC division of Yamaha found itself in a unique marketing situation – how to build a brand within a brand.

Enter Barstool Sports, and a media strategy that excites me as someone that writes about businesses as a living. Yamaha UC partnered with Barstool Sports not only to outfit Barstool’s new headquarters with audioconferencing equipment, but to sponsor podcasts and videos in order to reach Barstool’s audience.

First, the equipment had to fit. Pete Overmyer, Head of Media Technology and Production for Barstool Sports, tested the equipment, worked with Yamaha UC support to get it on the network, and implemented devices in conference rooms, huddle rooms, and desks at the new Barstool Sports headquarters. Check out the video above to learn more about that process.

Once the technology was in place, the marketing portion of the partnership kicked in. The goal is to reach commercial AV end users where they consume content privately. A typical male, 25-year-old consumer of Barstool will learn about Yamaha UC’s products and bring that knowledge into work. Perhaps that same person is even in the IT department and has purchasing power to implement the technology themselves. Yamaha UC hopes to partner with more organizations like Barstool in order to hit the end user at home and build brand awareness through the professional consumer.

The idea fits perfectly with Yamaha UC’s easily-deployed, user-friendly products. Where a complicated, expensive, wired AV system might not appeal to these folks, a simplistic, front-facing conferencing device is something every laymen employee uses. If the IT department is smart, they’ll outfit laymen employees with these types of devices to cut down on their own headaches – an easy-to-use device means less service desk calls.

The strategy is one I’ve not heard of before in the AV industry, but I think it’s really smart in the long-term. There is less of a barrier between work and home than ever before. The consumerization of technology has led to more user-friendly products that resemble what end users have at home. So why not market commercial tech to the consumer in cases like this?

I’m excited to see how this strategy plays out. Check out the video above to learn more!

The post Barstool Sports Implements Yamaha UC Conferencing Equipment as Part of Partnership appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Here are a few key tips for preparing for the next technology pitching session.

Do your ROI research!

It should be obvious that “XYZ product can boost productivity by X% and save $Y per year” is a much more productive technology pitch than “X product is newer and better.” But how much ROI research have you really done to back it up?

After thoroughly reading about a proposed solution in the blogosphere or in its manufacturer’s case studies, you should contact a product rep and start a working relationship with them.

Related: 5 Technologies That Can Boost ROI

They should know what type of company or organization you make decisions for; your ultra-specific needs; what makes your org tick.

The more specific information you provide this source, the more they can help you tailor your final pitch.

Follow market trends

Always keep an eye out for efficiency; where you can pull different technologies under one umbrella. Keep a log of these thoughts that you can access when it is time to have serious conversations about the next big technology purchasing decision. 

Identify companies whose products you find trustworthy and subscribe to their newsletters. Take that a step further by subscribing to Google alerts surrounding the type of technology they make (for example, if you have already subscribed to, say, the Oblong Mezzanine collaboration tool’s newsletter, you should sign up for Google alerts surrounding phrases like “unified communications; UC analytics; video conferencing; etc.)

Use tools like keywordtool.io to figure out more keywords you should keep an eye on that are related to your primary area of concern.

Use Google Trends

For those of you who are unaware, Google has a free tool to determine the relative popularity of search terms over time.

This is a good “beginner” tool to help you determine if a specific product category is even worth your time — but, critically, it’s a way to show your higher ups that you’re on the cutting edge of tech decision making.

What do we mean by this? Well, let’s say your higher-ups have suggested that you use a projector in a setting where you think a display is more apt. Let’s say this is a classroom space.

Well, you can steer the conversation towards your direction much sooner in the process if you start by visiting Google Trends > searching for two terms to compare > selecting the “Since 2004” option for the largest data set > comparing which has been more historically popular in that time, and which one has lost overall credibility.

In this above example, it is clear that interest in classroom projectors has waned in the last few years, while interested in in classroom displays has skyrocketed and shows no sign of slowing down.

Of course, this data doesn’t mean that a projector solution wouldn’t work in your specific setting, as there’s a time and place for most technology solutions out there. But using Google Trends is a good way to show credibility and thought leadership in specific areas — especially if your boss(es) is the type who cares about being up-to-date (or could use a wake-up call!).

Always talk to the folks doing the work

You’re trying to determine what piece of technology would work best in a specific department, but do you actually know the day-to-day pain points of people in that department?

This may seem like an obvious point, but it bears repeating: get to know what the people who will be using this technology would love to have — in a perfect world. 

“What I’ve gleaned from the best IT managers is that they’re constantly learning and talking to the people who are doing the work of the organizations – educating yourself on your business, being aware of all peoples’ pain points, and linking those together is the best advice I can give,” says Adrian Bennett, Global Account Manager for Whitlock, a large AV integration firm.

“Organizations often struggle to find a ‘champion’ to engage with organization’s members and pitch some ideas – don’t be afraid to be that person for the technology pitch and beyond.”

The post The Technology Pitch: Have More Productive Purchasing Conversations With These Tips appeared first on My TechDecisions.

When their Smart Licensing System became mandatory to use Cisco’s Catalyst 3650, 3850, and 9000 series switches, the company claimed it would make make fore more flexible management of hardware licenses. But, according the iFixit report, it also provides the company more control.

Prior to Smart Licensing, these products were deployed and largely left alone. When sold, the hardware would go with its corresponding software license. But in the current system, companies buy a pool of licenses per account, which are divvied among their devices. Said devices communicate with Cisco for validation — a mandatory process.

iFixit cites IT maintenance professional Todd Bone of XS International in saying that Cisco can now theoretically limit the ability to use hardware, since licenses reside on Cisco’s servers and because the company is technically in charge of whether these devices work or not.

You don’t technically “own” used Cisco hardware anymore

Since these devices are tied to the original purchaser’s account, it has potential ramifications for buying and selling used hardware. “This will dramatically change the ability to buy used or refurbished Cisco hardware that run smart licensing because the original end user only owns the hardware, not its usage,” explains Bone. — excerpt from iFixit article.

This could also limit services from third-party companies

“It’s not clear if the owners of Cisco hardware will continue to have entitlements outside a SMARTnet contract,” the article quotes Bone. “Cisco may cut access to their entitlement servers for units they don’t support.” Coupled with a decline in the used market, that could lead to more Cisco e-waste in landfills.

iFixit’s source says he fears many Cisco customers do not recognize what they’re granting the company by upgrading to Smart Licensing.

Read Next: RFP Template for IT Hardware

The post Does Your Org Have Any Used Cisco Hardware? The Company Is Making It More Difficult to Use It appeared first on My TechDecisions.

The Tech Decision

In fall 2018, TCL Chinese Theatre announced plans for Theatre Box, an all-new state-of-the-art movie theatre complex to be located in the Gaslight District in San Diego, California.

To fully immerse guests with the new venue, the theatre sought to create an exciting and inviting environment using digital signage. As a complete rebuild, the theatre could design a unique space that would be eye-catching enough to attract customers, even from outside the venue.

To do this, the company wanted an enticing video wall display that would provide entertainment and information, such as movie times, trailers, and advertisements. The display would need to be visible from anywhere in the lobby, as well as through the windows to the street.

The selected location was directly above the escalators, as this spot can be seen far and wide. The theatre also wanted to offer a sleek, sophisticated environment for customers as they walked into each individual theatre.

Related: Market for Pro Speakers Expected to Reach Around $2 Billion

To meet these requirements, the theatre decided to seek out a theater box digital signage option that would be representative of the brand’s style.

The theatre’s San Diego-based management group reached out to installation company, Fluid Sound, based on its experience in working with high-end theatres and specialization in the design-build process for AV system solutions.

Fluid Sound was tasked with the goal of creating custom solutions for Theatre Box that would meet the aggressive grand opening date in a mere four weeks.

The idea set forth was to create a video wall comprised of the largest displays possible to be hung on a 45-degree angle and installed directly over the escalators.

While most video walls do not standardly utilize very large displays, Fluid Sound began its search, selecting NEC’s 75-inch Professional Series Displays, based on the brand’s high quality offerings. To stream content, Fluid Sound chose a tvONE CORIOmaster mini – Modular 4K Multi-Window 1RU Video Processor.

The CORIOmaster Mini Solution

With specific design parameters in place, the next step was finding a mounting solution that would support such large displays. Having worked with Peerless-AV in the past and trusting the quality and durability of the brand, Fluid Sound sought the company’s support for a mounting option.

As the only solution on the market that would support the weight capacity of the large displays, provide the flexibility and adjustability needed for this install, and meet the fast-approaching deadline, Fluid Sound chose Peerless-AV’s Special Purpose Video Wall Mount (DS-VWM770).

In addition to the video wall, Fluid Sound also sought a mounting solution for the individual displays that would be placed outside of each theatre. Showcasing the current movie title in the specified theatre, the enclosure around the displays needed to support the luxury appeal of the space.

Fluid Sound wanted an enclosure that would not only offer a sleek, high polished look, but would also allow for a secure installation in a high-traffic area of the theatre.

With a standard option already available from Peerless-AV, that fit NEC’s 43-inch displays, Fluid Sound selected the Peerless-AV’s Wall Kiosk Enclosure (KIP643).

The Peerless-AV solutions utilized for the project include Peerless-AV’s Special Purpose Video Wall Mount (DS-VWM770) and Peerless-AV’s Wall Kiosk Enclosure (KIP643).

With Peerless-AV’s DS-VWM770, designers can take video walls to the next level. Displays attach to the mount in 15 degree increments providing designers with an endless array of design possibilities.

The mount also features ten points of micro-adjustment, which delivers the fine tuning needed to create a seamless video wall appearance. In addition, the mount extends from the wall and pivots for quick and convenient rear display access and servicing.

Once finished, users simply need to push the display back where it securely clips in the home position. In using this mount, Fluid Sound was able to create a large scale video wall with displays hung on a 45-degree angle.

Peerless-AV’s Wall Kiosk Enclosure (KIP643) was used for the displays placed outside each individual theatre. Whether transforming a letter board into an interactive directory or making a movie poster come to life, Peerless-AV’s wall kiosks create engaging digital solutions for portrait or landscape oriented applications.

Even with a slim ADA-compliant 3.9-inch profile, these wall kiosks accommodate most ultra-thin displays while providing room for media players, fans, and other electronic equipment to create an impressive interactive solution.

In addition to Peerless-AV’s solutions, Fluid Sound also used NEC’s 75-inch Professional Series Displays, NEC’s 43-inch displays, and the tvONE CORIOmaster mini – Modular 4K Multi-Window 1RU Video Processor.

The Impact

The impact of this project has been seen immediately upon the completion of the project, with Theatre Box patrons commenting on the beautiful presentation of the video wall.

Through the use of reliable solutions, Fluid Sound was able to complete both installations within the allotted time and meet the grand re-opening date.

Since the completion, the theatre has been able to entice many outside visitors with views of the stunning displays. TCL Chinese Theatre was extremely pleased with the final product, acknowledging the luxurious aesthetic created through the theater box digital signage solutions.

With a successful project complete, Fluid Sound has even continued to recommend Peerless-AV’s solutions because of the quality of the brand’s products and the company’s strong customer service support.

“Peerless-AV’s mounts made this entire process possible. Without the quick-release and extension functionality of the mounts, the displays would not be able to be maintained and thus, the project could not be completed,” says Dennis Pappenfus, Partner, Fluid Sound.

“Even before we decided on Peerless-AV, we got ahold of their engineering team to talk about our options. They have such high-quality engineering support. We have worked with Peerless-AV previously, and plan on continuing our relationship with them. They have become our go-to mount solution company.”

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“Our server replaces rack and tower servers with a rugged, wall-mount server that’s built like a tank,” said Gordon Triplett, President, Aertight Systems.

“The server hardware that is currently being used to run some of our most critical infrastructure is not suited for the environment it’s in. Instead, we need secure, reliable server hardware with practical features which can be maintained and controlled locally. Rack and tower servers are often full of fans, mechanical hard drives, and require both conditioned areas and a lot of maintenance to avoid failure.

“Alternatively, Cloud Computing isn’t a great option for industrial and remote facilities because outside network connections can be a security risk. If the cloud server goes down, operators could potentially lose control over their own equipment.

“Aertight’s patent pending design combines security with modular, field replaceable components that provide a simple platform for engineers to host their applications and run virtual servers. The Aertight Server Platform is a total game-changer for facility server resources.”

Key features of AERTIGHT Server Platform:

• Security: Wall-mount, 16-gauge steel exterior, combo lock door, water resistant, with no exterior exposed USB or network ports, and 16x14x12 inches.
• Reliability: Fan-less, industrial grade parts, nearly silent, no moving parts, low power consumption (under 100 Watts), and up to 6 removable SSD hard drives.
• Practicality: Embedded Touchscreen, Toolless Modular Interior Parts (Motherboard/CPU, Hard Drives, Power Supply, and Monitor are all swappable), AC or DC Power, and a TPM 2.0 Hardware Encryption Module.
• Failover Redundancy: Two units can be paired together for redundancy of virtual machines with ONLY two crossover ethernet cables between them. No SANs, switches, or other network gear are required between the two servers.

Read Next: 21 Extinct and Outdated Office Technology and What Replaced Them

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