Posted on December 22nd, 2009 by Marcela.
Categories: new, Products, Technology, useful technology, Home Theatre.
Visual Productions’ technology lights up Rotterdam concert hall
VisualDMX provides lighting control at De Doelen, which has recently been the subject of a major refurbishment programme. The Visual Productions software was specified as part of a lighting installation designed by a team from Arup under the supervision of Rogier van der Heide.
The VisualDMX system was supplied by Visual Productions’ dealer, Controllux Lichttechniek.
VisualDMX controls house lights, stage lights and LED fixtures throughout the Grote Zaal (Large Hall). Specifically, the control system uses two Duple units connected to a small form factor PC operating VisualDMX 24/7. Two separate touchscreen computers run the VisualTouch software for remote control of VisualDMX via the network.
“Personally we, De Doelen, are very pleased with VisualTouch, especially the diverse possibilities that the system has to offer and the simple user-interface for the operator, which is ideal within our organisation,” said Harm Ruitenbeek, who served as project manager for the Grote Zaal renovation.
Taking stock as 2009 draws to a close, Visual Productions sales manager Zoë Castle told II: “In the first half of the year things were quite unsure as there was a drop in new projects. However, in the second half of the year, the release of a new generation software lighting controller (Cuelux) - which is cross-platform and runs on Windows, Mac OS and Linux - saw a phenomenal response. Additionally, the market began to pick up in September with projects coming in once more. A slow start with a brilliant end has made for a record year. Naturally, we hope 2010 will continue where 2009 ends, and to ensure this we are launching another new software lighting controller later in the year.”
For more information:
• www.visualproductions.nl
Posted on November 5th, 2009 by Marcela.
Categories: new, Technology, more, Screens, 3 d, media, Home Theatre, Hometech Overview.
Futuresource predicts 3D TVs in 10% of households by 2012
PHYSICAL: Advanced 3D at-home usage, comparable in quality to today’s theatrical experience, will be realized gradually, with the first commercial 3D Blu-ray Disc releases expected no sooner than 2011, according to Futuresource Consulting.
A key obstacle to 3D at-home adoption is the current lack of technology standards ensuring that content will reliably play on all available 3D display devices. In the short-term, between 2009 and 2011, advanced 3D projects will be geared primarily for theatrical release.
Yet manufacturers will ramping for-home use as they extend their launch of 3D-ready TV sets. By 2012, about 10% of U.S. households will be equipped to view 3D programming on TVs, according to Futuresource. It’s likely that there will be a limited amount of 3D content delivered via video-on-demand to 3D sets.
“With over 200 million new TVs sold across the globe every year, the potential [for 3D] is huge, but the industry needs to overcome some serious obstacles in order to kick start and fully realize the revenue streams,” said Sarah Carroll, director of continuous services at Futuresource. “Most notably, technical and standards issues still need to be resolved. … And the current economic climate makes new investment in production and distribution a challenge.”
Yet Futuresource is optimistic that 3D at home is achievable and predicts 3D Blu-ray releases will start in 2011. The company projects that by 2015, U.S. 3D TV household penetration will jump to about 70%.
“Our probability modeling shows the permeation phase will kick in from 2011, where, among other initiatives, we’ll see new 3D movie releases on Blu-ray, remasters of classic blockbusters like Star Wars, The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings,” said Jim Bottoms, managing director of corporate development at Futuresource. “By 2012, more than 10% of U.S. and Japanese homes will be 3D-enabled, and Western Europe won’t be too far behind with 6% household penetration. Moving forward, a new generation of videogame consoles will begin to emerge, fully embracing 3D technologies.”
By Susanne Ault — Video Business
Posted on July 23rd, 2009 by Marcela.
Categories: new, Technology, l c d, useful technology, more, Screens, plasma flat panel, media, Home Theatre.
The project took place at the LED Skydome at Harmony Times Square in Suzhou Industrial Park near Shanghai, writes David Davies. Incorporating a remarkable 20 million ultra-bright LEDs, the Skydome makes use of a 3D-capable Renkus-Heinz ceiling loudspeaker system with Camco amplifiers.
Now said to be the largest LED screen in the world at 350,000sqm, the installation sits above a vast shopping complex that includes food, beverage, retail and entertainment outlets. The Skydome is illuminated by an array of Keyframe-programmed visual effects, including moving blue skies with clouds and a piano keyboard.
To satisfy the demand for an audio system that synchronises at street level with the images moving along the 500m-long screen, Beijing Zhongguang Radio & TV Engineering Installation Corporation installed a 106-channel surround system featuring 106 Renkus-Heinz STX-7/44AS-WR high-power weather-resistant loudspeakers. Some 38 DRS18-2BW dual 18in weather-resistant subwoofers act as the principal audio source.
Power comes from 160-plus Camco Tecton Series amplifiers, equipped with UCA-T-AN cards that enable the WINCAI (Camco Amplifier Interface) audio management system. These cards allow both complete system management and local signal processing adjustment via each amplifier’s UCA controller modules. Camco’s CISUS software provides remote operation of the CAI audio network management control software through each amplifier’s RJ-45 interface.
Equipment for the prestigious project was supplied by Foshan Tian Chuang Zhongdian Trading Co Ltd.
Speaking to II, Renkus-Heinz vice president of international sales, Karl Brunvoll, noted the contribution of its distributor for China, TICO/CAH Professional Sound, and said that the manufacturer was “very excited to be associated with a project this complex and unique. I have been working in China for many years, and it is great to see how [the installation] companies are developing and becoming real technological powerhouses.”
Brunvoll added that he expects to see “significant growth” in China for the ICONYX series of digitally controlled column loudspeakers.
For more information:
Posted on May 26th, 2009 by Marcela.
Categories: Products, Technology, 3 d, media, Home Theatre.
Format war looms over 3D TV
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas last month was overrun with companies demonstrating 3D television systems for the home. But despite the impressive viewing experiences on offer, the spectre of a lengthy battle between competing formats hangs over the latest shiny offerings.
TV studios and hardware companies alike are now building on the public’s rediscovered love of 3D movies. Satellite broadcaster Sky recently treated press to examples of soccer games and boxing matches filmed in 3D by strapping two regular cameras side by side, and Panasonic last week started to make 3D Blu-ray video discs at its Hollywood factory.
However, anyone interested in a 3D system for the home must pick between three or more very different and incompatible technologies. At present, material designed for one system usually cannot be played on another.
Polarised views
One approach – already well established for virtual environments used by engineers and surgeons – involves a home theatre projector running at high frequency to deliver left and right images in rapid succession.
The viewer wears LCD spectacles that alternately block the left and right eye view to ensure that each eye only sees the correct viewpoint – timing is synchronised via a wireless link with the projector.
Panasonic’s 3D offering uses a plasma screen to flash the alternate left and right images, and should be on sale in the near future.
South Korean firm Hyundai uses an LCD screen to display left and right images simultaneously, using a filter over the screen to polarise the two images differently. The viewer wears polarising spectacles to see 3D image.
Twin cameras capture a UK soccer game for later 3D viewing, but which technology will become the standard?
This system is already on sale in Japan, where limited 3D TV broadcasts started last year, and has also been adopted by Sky.
‘Confusing’ situation
Experts say that the sudden appearance on the market of incompatible rival technologies could hold the 3D home movie back.
“With several competing technologies – and none of them adopted as industry standards – the fragmentation could seriously impede progress, generate confusion and slow consumer uptake,” says Sarah Carroll, at consumer electronics research firm Futuresource Consulting.
The closest the industry currently has to a standard is Panasonic’s campaign to add 3D playback to the Blu-ray standard.
If other manufacturers get on board, the move could lead to a single format for discs or broadcasts that any 3D or even 2D TV set can play. So far they have put development of competing technologies first.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LCD_shutter_glasses
Posted on October 10th, 2007 by Marcela.
Categories: l c d, useful technology, Home Theatre.
Giant Plasma and LCD screens are a great way to watch movies, but boy are they expensive. Well this brilliant little Alien Tech LCD Video Projector will turn any blank wall into your very own home cinema. Whether you’re watching movies, TV or playing games big style, this great gizmo, complete with its own inbuilt amp and speaker system, will project all the action onto your walls. Delivering a six foot diagonal image at its optimum projection distance of 80 inches, it’s also truly portable (weighing only 1.5kgs) so you can easily move it from room to room. Listen to the action through the speakers, or plug in headphones to give everyone else a bit of peace and quiet, and it even has a vertical stand, so you can lie on your back and watch the action on the ceiling. It comes with focus, brightness and contrast controls and is suitable for use with DVD Players, TVs, PCs, Nintendo, Playstation, X-Box, iPods and Digital Cameras. Bring the big screen home, and move it from room to room on a whim!
Features
Bring the big screen to you with this portable projector.
Projects a 6 foot diagonal projection.
A built-in speaker and amplifier.
A vertical stand for projecting onto the ceiling if you so desire.
Focus/Brightness/Contrast controls.
Suitable for use with DVD Players, TVs, PCs, Nintendo, Playstation, X-Box, iPods and Digital Cameras.
A headphone jack for watching your movie without disturbing others.
An adjustable handle for adjusting the height and easy carrying.
Requires a large blank wall or ceiling.
Ideal distance for projector is 80 inches from the intended surface.
Audio and video cables included.
Requires a mains adaptor (UK adaptor included).
Suitable for ages 14 years+.
Size: 36 x 14.5 x 14cm.
