INFOCOMM
Infocomm that was held in Orlando, Florida during June, was the biggest commercial AV show ever held on the East Coast of the United States, with more than 29 000 AV professionals attending from more than 80 countries. Eugene Coetzee and Bruce Genricks attended this year’s show.
The SCN Installation Product Awards honour outstanding install-specific products that were introduced in 2008. There were 15 categories and some of the winners are:
Most Innovative Control Product for Commercial installation: Crestron TPS6X touchpanel
Most Innovative Video Distribution or Switching Product: Crestron DM-MD8x8
INFOCOMM DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Infocomm International presented its Distinguished Achievement Award to Robert S Simpson during the Infocomm International President’s VIP reception. Robert Simpson co-founded Electrosonic, a worldwide audio visual company that operates as a systems integrator, product manufacturer and service provider for AV facilities, in 1964. Based in the United Kingdom, Simpson is a frequent writer and lecturer on audiovisual and lighting control topics, and is author of the highly regarded guidebooks, Effective Audio Visual, Videowalls, Videowall – The Book of the Big Electronic Image, and Lighting Control – Technology and Applications. He has worked on numerous museum, theme park and permanent exhibition projects worldwide, and has contributed to the design concepts of many of the company’s products.
Infocomm’s Distinguished Achievement Award is the highest honour bestowed on an industry member by the association. “When the Infocomm Board of Directors considers honouring a member with the Distinguished Achievement Award, two major criteria are applied – the career accomplishments of an individual, and the individual’s contribution to the AV industry,” said Randal A Lemke, Executive Director, Infocomm International. “Bob Simpson is not only known as ‘The Father of AV’ in the U.K. – he is one of the great visionaries that has changed the way the entire world experiences AV and InfoComm is proud to recognise his achievements and lasting legacy.”
Bob Simpson has been a good friend of Electrosonic SA for many years and we would like to congratulate him on this very special award.
ELECTROSONIC
Electrosonic Ltd displayed their line of HD video players and a new multi-image display processor. Electrosonic also demonstrated video and graphics distribution over IP networks with virtual switching. This new technology replaces RGB and video matrix switchers with a single easy-to-use, expandable solution. All audio and visual media can be delivered via multicast in real-time over a single IP network. This virtual switching technology allows routing media anywhere in the facility.
New DVI/RGB over IP encoders and decoders were also introduced. The ES6000 series product facilitates the transmission of graphics sources across IP networks and is specifically designed for pro-AV applications.
The VN-Quantum Connect multi-image display processor was also launched – this processor integrates and scales video and graphic images onto single or multiple displays. Designed exclusively for directly connected sources, it sets a new price/performance bar
for image processors. It supports a wide variety of input and output combinations while retaining unmatched source image details at full image frame rates. Up to 128 windows
can be sized and placed anywhere across multiple displays via the easy to use control software. The VN-Quantum can be used in visualisation and command and control applications such as security and surveillance, military, utilities and traffic monitoring and network operation centres.
CRESTRON
Crestron HDMI Switchers deliver affordable reliable solutions
Crestron introduces simple, low-cost HDMI switchers that are designed for in-room HD applications. The HD-MC8x1 and HD-MD8x2 handle every HDTV format specified in HDMI 1.3a; support computer resolutions up to 1920x1200, and are compatible with DVI and DisplayPort multimode computer signals. The Crestron HDMI switchers solve the problems currently associated with the latest HD video systems and devices, such as HDCP content protection, EDID resolution management and CEC device control. Built-in software tools ensure quick installation and reliable system performance.
Crestron’s new TPMC-3X handheld WiFi touchpanel
The TPMC-3X Handheld WiFi Touchpanel delivers long range, omni-directional communication, providing the full Crestron experience in a small, mobile form factor. With integrated 802.11a/b/g technology, the TPMC-3X ensures secure, high speed 2-way wireless performance, reliable Crestron control and Ethernet connectivity to view Webcams and video servers. The intelligently engineered ‘sleep mode’ enables the TPMC-3X to remain connected to the WiFi network while conserving the dealer-replaceable, rechargeable battery.
Crestron TPMC-4SM touchpanel breaks new ground
Crestron introduced the TPMC-4SM, a low-profile 4” touchpanel that is ideal for mounting just outside a room’s entrance to view calendars, reserve rooms, and detect room status for impromptu meetings. In “Room Scheduling Mode”, the 4SM communicates directly with Crestron RoomView Server Edition, enabling users to view the status of any room on the network and book space for immediately or future use, right from the touchpanel. High-speed Ethernet communications with PoE (Power over Ethernet) delivers a single-wire solution for easy network integration.
Crestron introduces its most compact Media Presentation Controller
The Crestron MPC family of AV room controllers delivers the most simple, cost-effective routing and control solution on the market today. Perfect for small classroom and meeting room applications, the new 10-button MPC-M5 features a built-in 2 Series control system and fits onto a standard 2-gang electrical box with space to accommodate all wiring and connections. Seamless integration with Crestron RoomView software via Ethernet enables IT/AV managers to remotely monitor, manage and control every room on the network, and SSL encryption provides a totally secure network connection at all times, preventing unauthorised access to the system.
Crestron introduces new touchpanel media centre
Crestron released the TPMC-12, a 12” touchpanel with an embedded PC engine for Web browsing, streaming audio and video, and viewing/presenting digital multimedia with interactive annotation. Isys i/O delivers built-in Windows Media Player and RealPlayer, Internet Explorer, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and Microsoft Word, excel and PowerPoint document viewers. While simultaneously controlling your boardroom, lecture hall, or home, the TPMC-12 provides everything needed for enjoying on line music and movies, viewing Web pages and accessing most types of digital media without the need for a separate computer.
MAGENTA
Magenta Research introduces long-range fibre extension product for digital video, audio, RS-232 and USB
Magenta Research, a leader in video, audio and control signal distribution over structured cabling, introduced the Infinea M-HDX series, its latest signal extension product for commercial AV, digital signage and KVM applications, at Infocomm
Supporting an unprecedented number or signal types, the Infinea M-HDX Series is capable of simultaneously delivering uncompressed high-definition video, stereo audio, duplex serial and USB signals over 609m of fibre optic cable.
The Infinea M-HDX is fully compatible with the newly announced Infinea Opto Matryx switch, enabling a complete end-to-end, uncompressed digital video, audio and control switching and distribution solution.
Magenta Research announces integrated digital video signal switching and extension system
Magenta Research introduced their full matrix, digital video switching platform at Infocomm.
Both scalable and field upgradeable, the Infinea Opto Matryx boasts an unprecedented number of signal types per input and output. These include uncompressed 1080p/60 & 1920x1200 digital video, stereo, audio, bidirectional RS-232 and USB. The unique USB switching and extension capability on every input and output – an industry first – enables a new wave of interactive digital signage applications by supporting Human Input Devices (HID) such as keyboards, mice and touchscreens.
KRAMER
Kramer also released quite a lot of new products. Amongst these were the following.
- New distribution amplifiers – VM3SN, VM-2HDMIxl, VM-22HDMI ….
- New switchers & routers – VS-3232A, VP-81K, VS88HCB ….
- Control systems – Summitview, RC2 …..
- Format & standard converters – 6810HDxl, FC-100xl, FC-331, FC-32.
- Twisted pair solutions – TP-100AXR, TP-200AXR, TP-125, TP-126 ….
- Speciality AV products – VA-1K, VA-1H, VA-100P-5.
- Scan convertors & scalers – VP-420, VP-434 …
- Cables & connectors – Various cables & adapters.
- Room connectivity – UTBUS-1, new wall plates.
ELITE
Infocomm 09' saw the introduction of many Elite Screens products. In addition to custom Integrator products, Elite also brought products for portable presentations and residential installations.
They showed the following new products at Infocomm.
- Whiteboard screen
- Micro-flip table top screen
- A new starbright 7 projection material which is a 7-gain screen
- 16:10 format screen
- a dual format (4:3 & 16:9) screen