LG’s five distinct LG MAGNIT models — led by a new 22-and-a-half-foot Micro LED display —  demonstrate the exceptional color, clarity, contrast and “wow factor” offered by DVLED technologies, the company says.

MAGNIT Family of DVLED Displays

“The MAGNIT family of DVLED displays offers integrators and clients some of the most striking, impactful digital screens on the market today,” remarks David Bacher, head of marketing for LG Business Solutions USA. “Whether it’s forming an extended reality backdrop on a professional video production set or displaying messaging or ads in a retail store or corporate lobby, LG’s MAGNIT technology delivers incredible experiences with a premium feel.”

Unveiled for the first time in the U.S. is the 272-inch LG MAGNIT 8K Micro LED Display (Model LSAB007), says LG. This display highlights how the tiny pixel pitch makes it an ideal solution for a variety of commercial use cases including retail, hospitality and corporate environments showing video or digital art content. This new Micro LED display offers a 0.78mm pixel pitch with LG’s Deep Black Technology and an impressive 150,000:1 contrast ratio to deliver stunning images with vivid colors, breathtaking contrast and ultra-fine detail.

Additional Features

The LSAB007’s Alpha 9 Intelligent Processor, integrated ambient light sensor, support for HDR10 and HDR10 Pro and wide 160-degree horizontal- and vertical-viewing angles enhance user experiences in any seating arrangement. Several layers of coated film help protect the LEDs from water drops, dust and physical impact.

Next is the MAGNIT Studio Series with Megapixel VR’s Helios controller, says LG. Model LBAG015 is a tile-based, 1.5mm pixel-pitch DVLED solution specially designed for on-camera use in professional production studios. The ability to present seamless, convincing video that can be used on camera without distortion is already empowering production studios to build extended reality and virtual reality stages where filming backdrops can be digitally designed and displayed in real time while recording.

Improved Technology

The curveable, high-contrast LBAG series displays offer actors and on-screen talent a more immersive experience than post-production or green screen solutions, while also enabling direct on-screen presentation capabilities for information or news programs. Controls including V-Sync, phase shift, color and gamma adjustment, customizable 3D-LUT and manual HDR adjustment ensure optimal operation in any environment.

To ensure every client can find a solution optimized for their needs, LG says it offers the same display technology and quality in the MAGNIT LBAF model. This also features LG’s powerful webOS controller.

Also featured at InfoComm is a new 163-inch model of the MAGNIT LSAQ009 series designed with a remote, off-board power supply unit (PSU) that greatly simplifies PSU replacement and emergency maintenance for vital 24/7 control room, war room and broadcast environments where display access is limited.

Another MAGNIT MicroLED display (model LSAB007) previews how the technology can be deployed for high-end residential installations. According to the company, the display comes with even greater definition and clarity now possible through the just-released residential LSAL006 series that offers LG’s smallest LED pixel pitch.

A version of this article originally appeared on our sister site Commercial Integrator. 

The post LG Showcases New MAGNIT Displays at InfoComm 2023 appeared first on My TechDecisions.

In celebration of Thunderbird’s 75th anniversary, the new five-story, 110,000-square-foot, high-tech facility features an impressive selection of Planar display solutions. According to the company, it supports the institution’s mission of being the most technological and digital leadership management business school in the world.

Planar’s selection of display installations appear throughout the new headquarters. This includes the Digital Global Forum, Global Decision Theater, Founders Ring, classrooms, meeting spaces and more.

The installations thus comprise award-winning LED, LCD, transparent OLED and custom display solutions delivering new ways for Thunderbird to recruit, instruct, collaborate and visualize data.

A Fruitful Partnership

“It’s an incredible privilege to power Thunderbird’s new global headquarters with Planar’s industry-leading display solutions,” says executive vice president, Adam Schmidt.

Schmidt continues, “Thunderbird is a world-renowned institution with a reputation of being at the forefront of innovation. In addition to elevating viewing and learning experiences, our extensive portfolio of groundbreaking visualization technologies is a perfect match for Thunderbird’s vanguard capabilities for global connectivity in its new high-tech facility. We’re thrilled to be making history with one of the most technologically sophisticated global management schools in the world.”

Also Read: Planar Debuts Luminate Ultra Series for Close Up Outdoor Viewing

An assortment of striking, smoothly curved LED displays serves as a key attraction near the building’s ground-floor entrance. This is before visitors are surrounded by an extensive range of LCD display technologies that support teaching and next-generation collaboration.

“Our vision is to not only reclaim our position as the most global leadership and management school in the world, but to also be the most digital and technological,” remarks Sanjeev Khagram, director general and dean of Thunderbird. “That was our mantra for designing and building this fantastic new global headquarters, and it’s the long-term partnerships with collaborators like Planar that has brought it to life.”

The partnership merges Planar’s nearly 40-year history of designing, deploying and supporting display solutions and leadership in delivering unparalleled visual performance with Thunderbird’s global enterprise management expertise and renowned leadership success development programs.

Thunderbird School of Global Management, ASU

List of Installations

Thunderbird students, faculty and visitors will experience the following display installations from Planar:

Facility Entrance, Digital Global Forum and Visualization Room

• Nearly 9-foot diameter Planar CarbonLight CLI Series LED video display with a 1.9 millimeter pixel pitch forms the Founders Ring. The Ring features the names of the Schools’ founders and a canvas for branding, key messages or welcoming guests.
• Custom 8.2-foot diameter LED sphere with a 3 millimeter pixel pitch suspended from the ceiling hangs in the Digital Global Forum. The Forum is a dynamic open rotunda used to host a variety of events and presentations.
• A Planar CarbonLight CLI Series LED video wall in an 18-foot-wide, 5-foot-high array with a 1.5 millimeter pixel pitch and motion-responsive technology controls content on the custom LED sphere.
• 360-degree LED video ribbon of Planar CarbonLight CLI VX Series LED displays with a 2.6 millimeter pixel pitch measures 146-feet-long and 6.5-feet-high, supports 12 videoconferencing or camera feeds.
• A second Planar CarbonLight CLI VX Series LED video wall with a 2.6 millimeter pixel pitch installed directly below the LED ribbon. Measuring 26-feet-wide and 10-feet-tall, this videowall is useful for presentations or live camera feeds.
• A 55-inch Planar LookThru Transparent OLED Display is at the front entrance and serves as a virtual greeter to welcome guests.

Classrooms and Meeting Spaces

• A curved, 30-foot-wide Planar CarbonLight CLI Flex Series LED video wall with a 1.5 millimeter pixel pitch provides a spectacular presentation and broadcast background in the Global Decision Theater.
• Nine multi-touch tables, each comprising 55-inch ultra-narrow bezel optical touch LCD displays in a 3×1 configuration for next-generation collaboration.
• Three Planar UltraRes X Series 100-inch touch 4K LCD displays in the 5th-floor Thunderbird Pub.
• Two Planar HB Series 75-inch Huddle Board touch screen displays in the Dean’s suite.
• Hundreds of additional Planar large format 4K LCD displays ranging from 55- to 98-inches deployed throughout the facility’s classrooms and learning spaces.

Thunderbird’s new global headquarters and Planar’s extensive selection of display solutions were unveiled during a special global reunion event in celebration of the School’s 75th anniversary in April. Explore One Global Place as if you were there in person through this virtual reality tour.

Check out Planar’s database on AV-iQ.com. 

Click on “View Slideshow” on upper-right corner for images of Planar’s collection of displays at Thunderbird School of Global Management.

This article originally appeared on our sister site Commercial Integrator. 

The post Planar Display Solutions Mesmerize Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU appeared first on My TechDecisions.

1. Seamless installation

With TruePix, a worry-free operation already starts during installation. This is a critical moment, because it will determine the visual performance of the video wall for many years. During installation, the LED modules need to be perfectly aligned to avoid gaps or deviations in the Z-axis of the tiles. But the LED tiles cannot be placed too close to each other either, otherwise the pixels at the edge of the LED tile could be damaged. This can be visually disturbing, plus it could reduce the life or performance of the individual LEDs. The LED wall has to be free of stress … Mechanical stress.

So, how to avoid this? Barco’s unique, patented smart engineering has made it easy.

• TruePix auto-leveling mechanics can absorb imperfect floor conditions or uneven walls. The proprietary Barco technology relies on the force of gravity and the principle of communicating vessels to make sure the LED wall is perfectly level and completely frictionless.
• Guided module placement: TruePix takes the risk out of the installation process, thanks to a unique mechanical concept. During the installation, the LED module is connected to the frame, leaving a large enough gap on every side of the module. In a next step, by turning a lock, the module will be pushed in place, resulting in perfect module-to-module alignment.
• 100% seamless and flat: TruePix LED tiles are manufactured in a fully automated way. This results in a controlled tolerance stack, meaning that all tiles have the exact same dimensions. This makes a seamless installation much easier.

2. 24/7 Operation

Barco’s TruePix video walls are designed for 24/7 operation and serviceability.

TruePix video walls and Barco’s processing platform Infinipix Gen2 ensures system uptime with redundancy of several critical components: four-way, inter-tile communication and signal loop redundancy are embedded to guarantee an uninterrupted data flow. Optional redundant processors and power supplies make TruePix ready for mission-critical applications.

3. Time-saving maintenance

Technology that never needs to be serviced is an unrealistic dream. However, it’s possible to make maintenance fast and easy, save costs and limit downtime as much as possible.

• Full front and rear access: With Barco TruePix, it’s not necessary to disturb the complete wall or affect neighboring tiles. Instead, each individual component can be easily accessed from the front and the back. Rear access can be essential for 24/7 operations. Any intervention can be done behind the video wall thus avoiding personnel or equipment disturbing 24/7 operations.
• Motorized parallel module extraction: TruePix has motorized module extraction, which pushes the module out in a parallel way. When the module needs to be removed from the back, a sliding mechanism is foreseen to make it just as simple.

4. 24/7 remote control over your video wall

With Barco’s Video Wall Management Suite, all vital performance parameters of your LED video wall can be monitored remotely. This saves you a lot of site visits and reduces maintenance costs. By continuously monitoring image quality in real time, you can detect anomalies early and solve any issues remotely before they may turn into possible failures.

5. Barco EssentialCare and SmartCare: the worrying is on us

We cannot promise you technology that needs no servicing. However, with service programs like EssentialCare and SmartCare, you leave much of the worry to us.

• With Barco’s EssentialCare service program, you can enjoy extended warranty on components and fast resolution for your full system. EssentialCare also ensures batch compatibility for up to 10 years. This is important to guarantee uniformity of your video wall over the entire lifetime.
• With Barco’s SmartCare program, you can even benefit from remote diagnostics, enabled through Barco’s Video Wall Management Suite.

Download the eBook on installation, maintenance and management

About the author

Shane O’Reilly, Sales Enablement Manager – LVX Control Rooms

Shane O’Reilly is the global Sales enablement manager for the Large Videowall experience at Barco, a strategic process of providing our sales team and partners with the resources, tools, guidance, and sales training they need to effectively engage with businesses worldwide. He is based in the UK.

Shane comes from a technical background and has over 30 years of experience in sales, during his tenure at Barco since 1996, he has held various positions, sales manager, market development manger, business development, strategic & segment marketing; focusing on control rooms and visualization.

The post Barco’s Strategy for Worry-Free Video Wall Operation appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Students from all seven NEISD high schools have access to networking and cybersecurity classes. Students work through a four-year pathway where they have the opportunity to earn professional certifications in the areas of IT. The curriculum provides students with hands-on learning opportunities and real-world exercises related to industry-preferred professional skills.

Installing RGB Spectrum Galileo Processors

At iCSI, students learn to build, configure and secure computer systems and networks within a data center designed specifically for this purpose. Students can deploy hundreds of virtual machines and private networks. They are also challenged daily to study key cybersecurity concepts.

To enable this, iCSI has two cybersecurity classrooms designed with the look and feel of a security operations center. Here, RGB Spectrum’s Galileo video display processors power the three video walls in each classroom. A single Galileo processor in each classroom drives the three video walls: two made up of 2×4 arrays of 55-inch LCDs and one larger 2×6.

According to the company, several features influenced the selection of RGB Spectrum’s Galileo processor. Some of them included its real-time performance, ability to support a variety of digital and IP-based signal sources, and exceptional 4K image quality.

The Galileo processors receive an extensive range of baseband and IP-based inputs. These involve classroom PCs, virtual machines running Open Broadcast Software (OBS) controlling live RTSP streaming feeds and internet traffic analysis. They also receive cyberattack alerts, threat intelligence, local and national web resources, news broadcasts and social media channels.

Key to Instructional Process

The content displayed includes dark web transaction monitoring and hacking community chatter. It also includes maps depicting simulated cybersecurity attack origination and target points. The processors consolidate critical visuals and data to provide a centralized, correlated view to the students.

Moreover, source signals are displayed in windows of any size, anywhere on the video wall. Thus, instructors can instantly switch and route sources or choose preset display layouts. They can also pan and zoom to view particular items of interest.

Josh Beck, senior iCSI instructor then explains how the display technology has become key to the instructional process. He says, “…It is great to be able to have displays of sufficient resolution and size that all students can easily see all relevant information. When we work through step-by-step procedures, it is very easy for all students to see what the instructor is doing and utilize it as a point of reference.”

Beck continues that the video processor received positive feedback from guests and visitors. “…It is very flexible and allows Instructors to get creative with lessons and challenges. Overall, it’s great,” he remarks.

Features of CAT Linx 2 Extenders

RGB Spectrum’s CAT Linx 2 HDBaseT extenders were installed to transmit the visuals from the Galileo processor to the video wall monitors. CAT-Linx 2 extenders transmit signals of up to 4K resolution over conventional CAT 5e/6 cable to a length of 330 feet. These extenders integrated PoH power to supply endpoints over the same CAT5e/6 cable that carries the video and data signals. This facilitates ease of installation and convenience. It also eliminates the need for external power connections.

In addition, a CAT-Linx 2 pair needs only one power supply connected to either the transmitter or the receiver end to power both devices. The extender also has advanced features. These include HDCP 2.2, Dolby and DTS HD audio support, as well as serial and IR control of display devices.

RGB Spectrum is an Alameda, Calif.-based designer and manufacturer of mission-critical, real-time audio-visual solutions for a civilian, government and military client base.

For more information on the North East Independent School District’s Institute of Cybersecurity and Innovation, click here.

This article originally appeared on our sister site Commercial Integrator. 

The post Video Processors Power Display Technology At Cybersecurity Training Facility appeared first on My TechDecisions.

First, there’s many more choices on the market. More brands to choose from, but also more solutions being offered by each brand.

Kevin Barlow, CTS-D, director of business development for Draper Inc., has seen this first-hand. “You have top-tier brands with premium solutions, but multiple solutions also. Your video may not be direct view LED. It might be using projection, blended projection, cubes, LCD. Barco, for example, has UniSee, which is a hugely popular LCD video wall,” says Barlow.

The second is performance. Integrators can be more confident these days that a video wall solution will do exactly what it’s supposed to. “The quality and performance level of technology today is so much better than it was even five years ago,” adds Barlow.

The third; it’s really wowing the client. We’re not just installing a wall any longer; we’re creating an experience.  “It’s not that often you come along with a technology or technology enhancement that really excites people,” says Barlow. “You can do so much with direct view LED that really blows people away. Being part of that solution for a client is pretty exciting.”

But how did we get here, and where are we going next? To look forward, first we must look back.

Video Walls… A Brief History

Video walls have changed along the course of four key variables over the years: technology, pricing, accessibility, and adoptability. That’s how we have the extremely sophisticated, high-resolution products we see on the market today.

The original video walls consisted of stacked 27-inch CRT television monitors with a gap of almost four inches in between images. Today, integrators can find direct view LED video walls that are completely seamless and can be constructed into virtually any shape and size.

As volume goes up, price goes down. Barlow remembers the time when one of his main partners in the video wall space, Barco, first started offering direct view LED video walls in 1997 with 7mm resolution. That system cost degrees more than a current one at 1.5mm resolution.

As a result of the improved quality and prevalence of direct view LED video walls, adoption continues to increase rapidly.  The commonality of this technology in the marketplace means integrators are more comfortable installing the technology, their customers can more easily afford it, and the procurement and installation time continues to decrease.

“One of the things that’s changed significantly is the fact that direct view LED video walls are viewed not just as a television or a display anymore,” says Barlow. “They’re now being viewed by the more progressive architects as a fundamental building technology. You can upgrade a room using direct view LED as an aesthetical element. Video walls have been used for years in that fashion, but with today’s technology it’s becoming more and more commonplace. A trend that is sometimes referred to Techorating.”

Video walls are being built into rooms to be more than just a screen. They can be a perfect amalgamation of form and function. They are attractive backdrops, vehicles for corporate communication and act as multi-use big screens. They’re being used in concerts, theater performances, museums, auditoriums, and even replacing green screens for film production.

The resolution and price point of direct view LED has opened new possibilities for marketable use of the technology. Integrators can capitalize on this by touting all the possible use cases for a video wall, increasing ROI with each capability.

The Check List: 4 Video Wall Considerations for Integrations

Even with the prevalence of sophisticated video wall technology, there is still much for integrators to consider before choosing the right partner.

Barlow offers four main components of a good video wall manufacturing partner and explains why Draper selected Barco as one of their key partners of choice.

• Quality. Stick with manufacturers that have a proven track record of reliability, service and support. “Certainly, Barco has a long history of high-quality, high-tech products,” says Barlow.
• Reliability. The company must stand behind what they offer. “Whichever company you’re working with, make sure it’s a company that has a strong legacy. The way they acted five years ago is going to be akin to how they act next year,” says Barlow.
• Compatibility. The technology needs to work with other products and brands. Working with a company that considers both sides of the coin is always helpful. “If you’re working with a company for your video wall and a different company for the image processing there’s always that possibility of finger pointing and responsibility shifting during crunch times,” says Barlow.
• Compliance. You want to make sure that the company you’re working with is genuinely compliant with applicable codes and regulatory agencies. “A lot of dealers don’t think about that, but you want to make sure the company you’re working with hasn’t cut corners when it comes to their product. With direct view LED that’s a big deal,” says Barlow.

Take for example how Barco does TAA. They have employed external, international consultants of repute to ensure an end-to-end review of the process for a certification which is otherwise based on honesty and full disclosure. Essentially, they incorporated third-party rigor to get their video walls TAA certified all the way. And unlike many other vendors, both their video walls as well as their processing is TAA compliant.

Most importantly there is the matter of education, and not just learning how to install products. Integrators need to learn what potential partners can and cannot do for them.

“Explore what makes a particular brand special or better for you or your clients beyond the technology. The people, the company, the background, the service and support – make sure that you’re up to speed on the latest,” says Barlow. “There are so many changes happening rapidly. If you were up to speed even a year and a half ago, things have changed because of the exponential growth in video wall technology that has been going on at the R&D level for years.”

Once you get to the work site, the installation process is all about expectations. Managing your own team’s expectations as well as client’s expectations is important in ensuring the project isn’t filled with headaches.

“The best way to deliver great results is to know what’s expected and to aim higher than that, so that you and your clients are seeing results beyond what was expected,” says Barlow. “That’s where repeat business comes from.”

Working with Barco

Barlow gives many accolades to Barco – a brand that checks all the boxes and represents the premier example in the marketplace. Barco offers a vast array of potential video wall options and has kept evolving with technology and the times through the years. Integrators know that when they work with Barco, they’re working with a company that has roots dug in as far back as monitors in the early ages of the AV industry.

“The company has been committed to every flavor of video wall technology,” says Barlow. “Cubes, rear projection, blended rear projection, the earliest retros to today’s technology. Direct view LED, they’ve been in that game for a long time and are committed to that technology and committed to the industry. They’re committed to all types of video walls for all types of applications.”

In many ways they are committed to both the integrator community and end-customer equally strongly. Draper recently teamed up with them to provide ready to ship DV LED bundles, that comes with all the panels, wiring, mounting equipment and support required for a successful installation. Saves time, saves cost, and saves a second-guess.

Barco also offers superior image processing compared to competitors. In fact, that’s perhaps their biggest strength that sets them apart in a ‘blind test’. They provide the video wall technology as well as the processing in house.

“That’s one of the differentiators. If you have two video walls with the exact same technology, one with a generic brand of processor, the other with Barco’s processing, you’re going to see a picture quality difference,” says Barlow.

Barco has always been viewed as a premium brand, according to Barlow, but still with a competitive price point. “You’re getting Mercedes quality without the full-blown Mercedes price,” says Barlow.

“History, quality, performance, support,” he says. “The complete, full-featured package.”

The post How to Choose the Right Video Wall Partners and Solutions appeared first on My TechDecisions.

In the mission-critical space of control rooms, systems need to be functioning around the clock so operators can make split-second decisions. It requires reliable and long-lasting control room solutions so that operators are not constantly fighting downtime due to repairs or replacements. However, control room technology continues to become more complex as new data sources take shape leading operators to demand real-time information and visualization of more data sources.

That is why today’s control rooms need to be built with scalable technologies designed to withstand these constant changes while providing a superior user experience.

Those criteria are what guided Garland Power & Light when the Texas municipal utility started looking to modernize its control room with a new video wall system.

“Control room operations is a 24/7/365 job to keep critical systems up and running.  Control room operators need to source components that are reliable and long-lasting, to ensure continuity of operations,” says Matt Carter, T&D Operations Manager at Garland Power & Light.

Current Control Room Considerations: Reliability and Longevity First

Carter, who is responsible for the real-time operations of transmission and distribution systems for Garland, the Dallas suburb of about 240,000 residents, says control room operators should consider the quality of the products foremost and determine which products present the best return-on-investment.

“I weigh dependability, longevity and reliability against cost to determine the best ROI for GPL and our residents,” Carter says.

As the complexity and variety of data sources increase, so does the pressure on control room operators to adapt and improve. Like other markets, utilities too are approaching a work-force change as operators with decades of experience retire and a new generation takes over the console seats.  These incoming operators are accustomed to large amounts of data being available at their fingertips and demand greater real-time functionality that mirrors the speed of consumer technology and mobile devices.

“Our new operators bring with them a new approach.  There is no longer a guy that’s been sitting there using pen and paper or a calculator for the last 20 years,” Carter says. “They’re used to doing everything on a phone or tablet and their ability to multitask is impressive.”

That is especially true for display systems that operators depend on  for information to make critical decisions about power management, emergency response and risk mitigation.

When working with a manufacturer for a particular solution, control room operators should keep these things in mind:

1. The company’s track record on solutions and service
2. How long they’ve been in business – especially important since longevity of products is critical
3. How long they’ve been making a particular product – a key indicator of the product’s success and future scalability
4. Do they stand behind their products – their customer service and support will make an impact
5. Are their customers satisfied? – talk around, does the solution walk the talk .

Given these considerations, GPL depends on Barco’s control room systems to monitor the power grid for the city of nearly a quarter million people. After researching products and companies for three years, GPL concluded that Barco checks all those boxes.

“They have a really excellent track record,” Carter says. “They have provided the video wall systems for our RTO, ERCOT, for 15 years now.  We work closely with ERCOT and value their experience and opinion. I’ve had very few problems with (Barco control room systems) and they just have a really good reliability record”, says Carter.

In an 24/7 environment where malfunction, repairs and downtime can have disastrous impacts, working with a quality control technology partner that stands behind their products is critical.

The Unmatched Reliability of Barco’s UniSee Platform

With a demand that its control room infrastructure – particular the video wall system – operate 100% of the time, the GPL team chose Barco’s UniSee video wall platform. The municipal utility zeroed in on UniSee due to its superior viewing experience, bezel-less design, serviceability, dependability and scalability that will keep the product up to date with other emerging control room technologies.

The UniSee 500 series features a light source lifetime of 100,000 hours, redundancy of critical components and a service-friendly design that gives operators the longevity they demand while adding the ability to easily fix or replace components.

In fact, replacing a portion of the wall takes just a few minutes, which reduces downtime when control room operators need working technology to make critical decisions. For GPL, the ability to quickly repair the system and reduce downtime was key.

“Five minutes and we’re back up and running again,” Carter says. “That was the determining factor for us.”

The UniSee series also features Sense X, an automatic and continuous color and brightness calibration system that always provides a balanced image. When looking at transmission lines visualized on the control room displays, control room operators rely on that color uniformity to make accurate decisions.

“The seams are unnoticeable,” Carter says. “You don’t have one display that’s brighter than the one next

In a control room environment, a quick response and effective decision-making are of the utmost importance, so the ability to display a detailed picture of critical infrastructure with visualized data from a growing variety of sources is critical. Barco’s TransForm N processing system and CMS software allow sources of all types to be brought into an isolated network for interaction and collaboration.

“Our system operators rely on the information being displayed on the Barco system when working with our field personnel.  The data relayed from the control room to the field is vital to the safety of our staff, protecting our infrastructure and servicing our customers,” Carter says.

Finally, for that complete peace of mind, it makes a big difference to invest in a good service plan. If the time for it arises, then having professional service warranty from the manufacturer can make or break the entire control room operation. It’s the kind of long-term decision making where today’s decision can have an enormous impact on years to come.

The post 5 Critical Criteria for Mission Critical Spaces appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Wrapping your head around LED videowall prices

One reason why it’s difficult to simply list median prices for you here is that videowall costs can fluctuate based primarily on size.

But one other important factor is aspect ratio. Specialty sizes require specialty media players and content, which drives up costs and complexity of installation significantly.

Most media is produced for 16:9 aspect ratio, so anything different from that will exponentially increase costs. This may be useful in more artistic settings such as museums, galleries, or high-end motels, but not necessarily in corporate or mid-range retail settings.

Lionel Felix, an integrator with years of experience and founder of Felix Media Solutions, does have some good news, though.

“Costs have been coming down where every 18 months, it comes down by about half,” he says.

“Last year, we were quoting systems in 120- to 165-inch range — complete hardware purchase only, before installation costs — $45,000 to $120,000, depending on the manufacturer, size and pixel density of the solution.”

“Another example of our pricing: in an auditorium which sits 300, a two-wall solution with a minimum viewing distance of 15 feet away, we sold those two screens at $440,000 with most of that being the hardware. Installation was fairly simple.”

“About 20% of budgeting should be allotted to the installation of the wall. Larger projects need a construction company to put a drywall up to exacting specifications. Ideally, they should have done work on these projects before.”

Most expensive parts of a videowall system

You’re going to start hearing and reading about “pixel pitch” often if you’re seeking to purchase a videowall, so you should know what this important factor means.

According to manufacturer Planar, “pixel pitch describes the density of the pixels (LED clusters) on an LED display and correlates with resolution. Sometimes referred to as pitch or dot pitch, the pixel pitch is the distance in millimeters from the center of a pixel to the center of the adjacent pixel.”

Essentially, a smaller pixel pitch allows for a closer viewing distance (or how close you can stand to the screen without it looking pixelated).

Note that a 2.5 mm pixel pitch is on the higher end for an indoor solution. More typically, indoor systems require 1.7 or 1.5 mm pixel pitch. This can increase the price depending on the screen manufacturer chosen by your integrator.

Related: 4 Ways Video Walls Will Improve Your Collaboration Sessions

The main components of videowalls include the chassis (aluminum frame which come in 16:9 aspect ratio or a square), the power supply, a video card and the choice for redundant video cards, and power supplies. Then, subpanels (the LED screens themselves) pop into place on PCB board.

Because these systems are so modular, middle-of-the-road quality is usually just fine. You can tell your integration partner that – they’ll be relieved you aren’t demanding the absolute cheapest option.

By far, the most expensive part of a videowall is the subpanel, or the individual LED panels which stick into each frame.

They’re projecting the light you look at and are driven by the quality of the LED diodes. They have to reproduce the light accurately and as such are very complicated systems in their own right.

Color-matching LED walls have an almost-infinite contrast ratio. Their ability to reproduce very accurate colors and images is what drives their high price point.

“Something like a 165-inch wall should cost somewhere in the $60,000-80,000 range for high-end screens; back it down about 25 percent for solid, average systems (including scaler, spares, the whole kit),” Felix says.

“For about $25,000, 165-inch range and below, you can get lower-quality, less-precise images.”

Getting the most out of your investment

IT people are doing product comparisons based on specs. But Felix says they need to be willing to understand pixel sizes, what is and isn’t on their network, security implications, etc. before a project begins.

“There are so few network implications to these projects that it usually isn’t an issue. AV over IP projects are usually provided on the integrator’s network.”

More importantly, IT needs to understand schedules and tech details of the player itself: a Mac Mini? A fully-industrial media player? They need to understand the player even if they don’t want anything to do with the content which is played from it.

Don’t be fooled by those LED videowall prices on Alibaba or other discount marketplaces. Felix says those mega-cheap solutions will only lead to headaches.

“Lesser-quality color representation from the subpanels will make the videowall look weird; similar to how cold color temperature in warm lighting looks awful. They’ll also be incredibly easy to break and don’t typically have reliable warrantees.”

“Plastic chassis: beware! If you find it online for cheap, know that these chassis will be warped and wobbly, like a bad picket fence. They should be thrown out of consideration immediately.”

RFP Template: Videowalls

The difference between panels is notable: even a layperson could see them and notice the difference in quality. There are many manufacturers out there with an enormous quality differentials, so make sure your integration partner spells out the options clearly… and yes, you should go with a technology integrator for a project like this.

If the screen manufacturer in question doesn’t have a U.S. office and supply house, that’s a red flag. It’ll be another headache if something needs replacing down the line.

Lastly, for those who are the tightest of budgets, a TV-based videowall solution may be the best option. They’ll have seams down the middle (because of the margins on the TVs themselves), but they can be about 50% less expensive than an LED solution.

Just make sure your integrator partner chooses a front-serviceable screen — that’ll be easier to service down the line.

The post How Much Do Videowalls Cost? A Pricing Breakdown appeared first on My TechDecisions.

The Tech Decision

In the highly competitive automotive industry, dealerships need to provide an elevated in-dealership experience with an environment that immediately grasps customer attention and entices them to purchase.  Hendrick Lexus looked to enhance its showroom with a dazzling new video wall and recently did just that.

The impressive 4K video wall is comprised of twenty-four Samsung 55-inch LED displays in a 3 by 8 array. The showroom video wall engages and captivates customers from the moment they walk in. Its vibrant content and vast size command customer attention, engage customers in the luxury Lexus brand, and drive buying interest.

Dynamic 4K resolution videos present the latest Lexus models and industry-leading vehicle features, helping to guide customers through their decision-making process.

The Solution

The Galileo processor from RGB spectrum powers the video wall. It supports both conventional baseband and IP stream inputs at up to 4K resolution. The processor works with all types of video walls, whatever display technology is chosen.

The processor offers the flexibility to display content in any size, anywhere on the video wall surface. Display layouts can be changed instantly to enhance viewer attention and interest. Operators can select preset display layouts, switch and route sources, and size and position windows on the fly.

Related: The Business Case For Buying Video Walls

Advanced features include a unique “wall mimic”, whereby the entire wall display or any region of interest can be encoded and streamed for live viewing elsewhere, HDCP content protection, and automatic IP stream discovery for RGB Spectrum’s Zio AV-over-IP encoders.

Hendrick Lexus has been very pleased with the results of its Galileo-based showroom video wall.

The Impact

The new video wall reinforces the dealership’s culture to provide an exceptional customer experience, as well as improving customer engagement, enhancing Lexus brand loyalty, and generating customer purchase interest.

The Galileo processor from RGB Spectrum receives feeds from multiple media servers and cable boxes, depicting a variety of Lexus promotional videos, dealership promotions, sporting events, and local and national television broadcasts.

In addition, the video wall offers a novel immersive driving experience for prospective customers.

It mimics a test drive road test when a customer sits inside a vehicle.

A customer can see a vehicle in action, highlighting its performance and features, as it maneuvers through winding mountains or challenging desert sand dunes.

The immersive video wall visuals help customers imagine themselves in the car and encourages them to take a test drive.

The dealership group will be implementing this showroom video wall in its other locations.

The post Lexus Dealership Video Wall appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Targeting small businesses, the solution is said to offer less intrusive temperature screening and can be used to publicly display a thermal imaging camera feed on wall-mounted displays.

HidraLink is also an ideal platform for small businesses that want to install multi-display signage or quad-display video walls in their lobbies or showrooms, according to an announcement. With support for up to four displays in any configuration, HidraLink is a flexible and secure solution for displaying messaging, distancing guidelines, news, advertisements and more.

“Since inception, Hiperwall has continuously worked to build and manage cost-effective video wall software solutions for businesses of all sizes,” states Tom Scott, CEO of Hiperwall.

“Now, with businesses facing the unprecedented difficulty of navigating operation in the wake of COVID-19, Hiperwall’s HidraLink offers a unique, accessible solution to safely resume operation while keeping both employees and customers informed in real-time.”

HidraLink is a professional video display solution that provides a platform for instant temperature screening of a few or many people at once in high-traffic areas using advanced thermal imaging cameras, according to the announcement.

While COVID-19 has caused a sudden demand for thermal imaging solutions, Hiperwall has been integrating thermal imaging into its video wall platform for over a decade.

The company’s first major installation featuring this screening capability was at the Brussels International Airport. HidraLink’s low barrier to entry puts this same kind of transparent screening technology in reach of all businesses, and it can be scaled to address most business needs, the company says.

HidraLink allows up to four displays to be placed separate from one another throughout a room, or installed in a 2×2 video wall layout where one image can be stretched across all four screens.

Related: Dubai International Airport Video Wall

Displays are mounted to a wall and connected to a local PC via HDMI cables. Once connected, the HidraLink software provides users an intuitive interface for sending a thermal camera feed and individual desktop applications to the displays. The operator can continue their workflow on their control PC while applications are sent to displays in the background.

For quick deployment, Hiperwall has teamed up with Seneca to offer certified, turn-key hardware solutions for a wide range of video wall applications.

Additionally, the company has tested and validated support for thermal imaging cameras from FLIR, Fotric and Seek Thermal.

HidraLink is said to be ideal for restaurants, QSR, small retail stores, medical and dental offices, small businesses, security and schools.

This story premiered on our sister site, Security Sales & Integration.

The post HidraLink’s Video Wall Software Helps Prevent Spread of COVID-19, Company Says appeared first on My TechDecisions.

VuWall is looking to partner with those who are on the front lines working to keep communities safe and healthy by offering its VuWall2 visualization tool as a free download, allowing organizations to create a temporary video wall solution.

Read Next: Microsoft Azure to Prioritize First Responders, Healthcare, Government During, Remote Work COVID-19

“In this time of crisis, coordination teams within municipalities, newsrooms, and healthcare facilities are actively monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and managing response efforts,” said VuWall CEO Paul Vander Plaetse in the company announcement.

“These decision-makers need to access all kinds of information in order to make fast decisions and share information with their colleagues and in some cases, the public,” he said.

“We hope that by offering our VuWall2 for no cost as a way to create a temporary emergency video wall control center, we can aid key organizations in managing this influx of data and help keep people informed,” said Vander Plaetse. “We want to assist as many organizations as possible, which is why we will be offering first come, first served setup and support.”

How VuWall2 Works

By downloading VuWall2, any screen — whether it’s a personal computer or a large-screen TV in a temporary emergency control center or a waiting room — can become a command center.

The software grants access to and integrates visual information from many different sources on one screen, including web pages, computers on the network, IP cameras, local applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), as well as collaboration and video conferencing tools (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype, etc.).

It can be set up on a PC or as a make-shift video wall with up to four displays. Operators can intuitively arrange the content sources in any configuration they need for better visualization and run a ticker for emergency messaging.

In addition, they can quickly create various layouts, save them, and recall them as the situation changes.

To set up a video wall, VuWall2 software only needs to be installed on the PC driving the display(s) and can then be controlled from any computer on the network. Setup time is about an hour.

Click here to download and setup VuWall2 as a temporary emergency video wall control center.

This article originally appeared on our sister site Commercial Integrator. 

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