Electrosonic’s IPTV 3G to 3G Transport Series, JPEG 2000 Server and DCI-Complient Server At NAB 2008

Attendees of NAB Show 2008, the “…ONE GLOBAL EVENT for content creators, managers and distributors”, will have the opportunity to scope two brand-new Electrosonic product intros: The ES7000 IPTV Transport Products series and the MS9600 JPEG 2000 2K server. Electrosonic will be exhibiting in booth # SL14708.

Electrosonic, a top name in the audio/video manufacturing, design, installation and servicing industries, will be one of 1,600 exhibitors from across the globe presenting at this exciting annual showplace and source for the “creativity, inspiration, solutions and next-generation technologies that help breathe life into your content.” The NAB Show conference and expo is expected to play host to more than 110,000 attendees at the Las Vegas Convention Center this coming April 11-17.

Electrosonic will be previewing its ES7000 series IPTV Transport Products, leading the industry with a 3Gb/s to 3Gb/s IP transport solution. The ES7000 range will raise performance standards in Contribution, Live Event and other IPTV Broadcast applications requiring robust delivery of high quality 3Gb/s, 1.5Gb/s or SD video over IP networks with low delay at highly efficient bit-rates.

Says Electrosonic Products General Manager, Karl Johnson, “We’re very excited about the introduction of this product range. They are among the first in the industry to provide a 3Gb/s to 3Gb/s IPTV transport solution for 1920×1080, 60Hz High Definition Video. In addition, they produce high image qualities, equivalent to the JPEG2000 compression standard, at bitrates comparable with MPEG products with very low latency. This makes them ideal for live events and contribution applications.”

The units accept SDI or HDSDI inputs with embedded audio and data and transmit them over LAN or WAN connections. Embedded error concealment ensures robust delivery of video over uncorrected networks and audio, video and data synchronization is maintained. The ES7000 series supports contribution applications, live events, real-time studio-to-studio exchange, and tele-presence, as well as post production and in-house signal distribution applications.

Also being shown at NAB Show 2008 will be Electrosonic’s MS9600 JPEG 2000 appliance that plays unencrypted JPEG2000 content at 2K, 1080p and 720p resolutions. The company will also be previewing its Digital Cinema Initiative (DCI) compliant version of the player,, which promises to take the Digital Cinema industry by storm.

With the ability to offer sharp, vivid images at a reasonable price, the MS9600 incorporates 2K resolution via dual HD-DSI and dual DVI-I video outputs, an advanced user interface and confidence monitor and 16 channels of broadcast quality digital audio. It features Timecode and Genlock, gigabit network and four general-purpose I/O. The unit also supports web interface for complete remote control and configuration for playlist management, SNMP, reporting and Metadata support. It complies with 48 fps 3D playback. What’s more, multiple units can be synchronized for multi-screen presentation.

Bryan Hinckley, Business Manager of the Electrosonic Products Group notes, “Electrosonic has been producing high definition MPEG video servers for 10 years now and, with our years of development expertise, we proudly move into the JPEG2000 realm. The MS9600 is ideal for quality control applications in the JPEG 2000 post production workflow and digital 3D markets. More importantly, this product release represents the first milestone in creating a DCI compliant appliance for the Digital Cinema market.”

For more than 80 years, NAB Show has been an “essential destination that is synonymous with next-generation technology, education and insight”, so don’t miss it!

via [press release]

Pre CES : 3M to showcase a micro-projector for handheld devices at CES

The idea of stuffing a tiny projector into a handheld device isn’t a new one — we’ve seen a couple different takes on the idea — but it looks like it might be hitting the mainstream soon, as 3M has announced plans to demo a half-inch wide projection unit at CES that can put up a 40-inch image. The LCoS projector is about the size of a wireless headset, according to 3M, and tops out at VGA resolution — which seems adequate, given the QVGA resolution of most handhelds. Apparently we’ll be seeing devices with the projector built in later this year, and hopefully we’ll get a chance to play with a couple at CES — you’ll know as soon as we do.

via [Engadget]

Hitachi’s P42-HV01, L37-XR01 HDTVs sport removable iVDR-S

Cramming DVR functionality into an HDTV is nothing new, but Hitachi is blessing two of its newest sets with a removable iVDR-S drive (shown after the jump) in case you feel like plugging your theoretical DVR HDD into other compatible devices. Up first is the 42-inch plasma, which offers up a 1,024 x 1,080 resolution, three HDMI ports, digital audio output, a headphone jack, Ethernet, dual ten-watt speakers, an SD slot, and a silver stand in case you’re not keen on hoisting this up on your wall. The 37-inch LCD TV boasts a 1,920 x 1,080 Full HD resolution, 500cd/m2 brightness, 7,000:1 contrast ratio, built-in speakers, and the same port assortment as the P42-HV01. As expected, neither of these sets will come sans a stiff premium, so look for the iVDR-S-equipped PDP to land in “late October” for ¥390,000 ($3,232), while the L37-XR01 LCD arrives a month earlier at ¥350,000 ($2,901)

via [akahibara]

Ralph Lauren unveils “touch-sensitive window shopping”.

 

Alright, the whole touchscreen thing is getting a little out of hand. In the latest example of touch-frenzy, luxe clothier Ralph Lauren is converting a large window at its London flagship store into a giant touchscreen shopping experience as part of its Wimbledon marketing campaign. Much like Microsoft’s Surface, the 78-inch window is coated with touch-sensitive foil, and the image is beamed onto it by a hidden projector — allowing users to purchase Ralph’s latest duds and even take in a tennis lesson or two. Purchases are paid for via phone or email the next day — so you can’t explain away that $75 pink polo by saying you accidentally brushed the screen.

[Via Switched]

Infocomm 2007 – Smart releases Bridget 3.2 conferencing software

SMART announces the release of Bridgit™ conferencing software 3.2 for Microsoft® Windows® and Mac OS operating systems. The latest version adds improved Voice over IP (VoIP) to Web conferencing applications, chat features, support for more users and enhanced support for the Mac operating system. Bridgit conferencing software 3.2 allows users to connect instantly and share voice, video and data over the Internet in real time. Version 3.2 allows teachers and business professionals to connect through any Internet browser without having to install the software. Bridgit software continues to offer the benefits of easy, secure, cost-effective conferencing for corporate meetings and distance education, eliminating travel time and costs.

For more information, visit www.smarttech.com/bridgit.

Version 3.2 has refined the VoIP audio quality that will provide further support for teachers and students or business associates who are separated by long distances. A new chat feature now allows all participants to communicate while in the Bridgit software Web conferencing session. Bridgit software 3.2 enables users to connect simultaneously, share desktop and webcam images, and write notes in digital ink for everyone to see. Corporate customers who occasionally use Bridgit software in meeting rooms find it easy to use. With the click of a mouse, they can connect with other parties around the world. Bridgit software is also invaluable in a long distance education environment because students and teachers can connect using their SMART Board™ interactive whiteboard and Sympodium™ interactive pen displays.

“Our school division is focused on creating powerful distance learning environments for our students. Bridgit software, used in conjunction with SMART Board interactive whiteboards, effectively enables our videoconference teachers and students to share ideas and manipulate data at a distance,” says Bruce Miller, technology integration coordinator for Wolf Creek Public Schools. “Bridgit software is a powerful yet easy-to-use tool that improves the quality of synchronous instruction in our videoconference course delivery.”

“Bridgit conferencing software provides an easy, secure and inexpensive way to communicate and share information around the world,” says Nancy Knowlton, SMART’s CEO. “Version 3.2 gives customers improved VoIP and chat, providing them with additional functionality and an enhanced Web conferencing experience.”

Infocomm 2007 – Arrive arrives……..bring advanced ITC/AV Software Solutions

Arrive(TM) Corp., the leading provider of easy-to-use ICT/AV convergence solutions, today announced it will offer its highly advanced and proven suite of presentation meeting room management products in North America. The company made the announcement today at InfoComm 2007, the industry’s premier conference and exhibition for the AV Communications Industry.

Based in Dubai, Arrive is part of the transnational Visionaire Groupand brings to market more than 100 years of combined experience and knowledge equity vested in Information-Communication Technology (ICT) and Audio-Video Systems engineering, design and integration. The company has established affiliations and operations in more than 30 countries in North America, Europe, Middle-East, Africa, Asia and the Pacific Rim and has an enviable customer list comprised of leading technology companies, including Microsoft, IBM, Juniper Networks, Cisco, Nokia, Sony, Computer Associates as well as leading financial institutions, such as Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, American Express, UBS Group, Northern Trust Bank, Sumitomo Bank, and leading educational institutions such as the extended campuses of Wharton and Kellogg Business Schools, to name a few.

In line with its debut in North America, Arrive announced two new presentation room management offerings: Arrive Easy Conference(TM), designed for the enterprise and government market and Arrive Campus Manager(TM) for universities, colleges and schools (see release “Arrive Launches Advanced Presentation Room Management Solutions…” issued today).

Both products are a suite of presentation room network management tools adapted for specific use within enterprise and education markets.

Like many other companies located in Dubai and the surrounding United Arab Emirate (UAE), Arrive represents a new breed of company that has a strong focus on human capital development and invests heavily in the creation of innovative practices, technology, infrastructure and business markets and capital. This sophistication and market prowess are enabling companies, like Arrive, to capitalize upon their strengths and enter new markets, like the U.S. and Canada, with relative ease and quickly establish an immediate presence.

“Through our systems integration experience deploying some of the most sophisticated presentation room technologies, we realized the profound positive impact a single and centralized management platform could have in improving the productivity and value of advanced presentation and conferencing systems,” explained Aseem Gupta, founder, CEO and chief visionary of Arrive Corp. “Having developed both best practices and a truly innovative technology suite for managing the entire presentation room experience, we are excited to now offer this capability within the North American market.”

Long considered an industry visionary within the Middle East AV systems integrator industry, Gupta brings a strong pedigree of knowledge and direct experience in the area of ICT/AV convergence technologies. He is the entrepreneur behind the successful Visionaire Group, which has operations located across Asia and the Middle East with a staff of more than 500 people. His career spans more than 25 years serving as the founding Director of Imation ME, responsible for growing the Visual, Photo, Printing Systems and Data Storage Products Markets Group for 3M Corporation’s EMEA subsidiaries.

Arrive will leverage the current strong relationships it has created in North America with existing customers to quickly build a market presence and expand its network here, Gupta says. The company is planning to open an office on the East Coast initially with further expansion planned over the next year and currently is in process of recruiting solution consultants to help build out its channel in North America.

For more information about Arrive Corp., please visit the company’s Website at http://www.arrivecorp.com

via [press release]

 

World’s largest multi-touch screen

HP wowed crowds with this amazing, massive multi-touch display wall at this past week’s Wall Street Journal D5 Conference.

The 16 x 8-foot interactive display allowed multiple visitors to simultaneously control audio, video, photos and other multimedia content using their hands to navigate.

click to view video clip for this story

The installation was put together by Obscura Digital and commissioned by HP as part of an advertising campaign for the event.

click to view video clip for this story

GUI Wiz Darren David was responsible for putting together the user interface using Microsoft’s Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF.) According to David, the entire project was designed, developed an built in just four weeks.

[via Fresh Creation]

Microsoft Roundtable (Ringcam) – Bill slipped on this one!

Bill Gates‘ slip at the D conference was one of those blink-and-you’ll-miss-it slips that you probably wouldn’t even notice if you weren’t vaguely familiar with the product. His gaffe? The unintentional announcement of “RoundTable,” a research project we’ve been hearing about back in early 2006 when it was still called Ringcam.What it is, essentially, is a 360-Degree conferencing camera that’s made up of four individual webcams to capture everyone that sits around a table. Hence, RoundTable.

Microsoft even had a press release in October last year about the project that talks about how they’re going to integrate RoundTable into Office Communications Server 2007 or Live Meeting.

The price? Less than $3,000. Which is a lot less than Cisco’s TelePresence 3000

As for the release date, we’re still not sure. After all, the announcement was just a slip by Gates.

via [gizmodo]

Microsoft Surface – MS are heading further into the hardware feild with interactive touch surface

Yesterday Microsoft released information on their new “Surface” interactive computing interface……..others have been doing this for some time but maybe with not as much style………so why is this news? Look at the interface and you will understand…..is this a large iPhone……?

Here’s what Microsoft says…..

Surface is the first commercially available surface computing platform from Microsoft Corporation. It turns an ordinary tabletop into a vibrant, interactive surface. The product provides effortless interaction with digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical objects. In essence, it’s a surface that comes to life for exploring, learning, sharing, creating, buying and much more. Soon to be available in restaurants, hotels, retail and public entertainment venues, this experience will transform the way people shop, dine, entertain and live.

Surface is a 30-inch display in a table-like form factor that’s easy for individuals or small groups to interact with in a way that feels familiar, just like in the real world. Surface can simultaneously recognize dozens and dozens of movements such as touch, gestures and will be able to recognize actual unique objects that have identification tags similar to bar codes.

Surface will ship to partners with a portfolio of basic applications, including photos, music, virtual concierge and games, which can be customized to provide their customers with unique experiences.

Surface computing breaks down traditional barriers between people and technology, changing the way people interact with all kinds of everyday content, from photos to maps to menus. The intuitive user interface works without a traditional mouse or keyboard, allowing people to interact with content and information by using their hands and natural movements. Users are able to access information either on their own or collaboratively with their friends and families, unlike any experience available today. Surface computing features four key attributes:

Direct interaction. Users can actually “grab” digital information with their hands and interact with content through touch and gesture, without the use of a mouse or keyboard.

Multi-touch contact. Surface computing recognizes many points of contact simultaneously, not just from one finger as with a typical touch screen, but up to dozens and dozens of items at once.

Multi-user experience. The horizontal form factor makes it easy for several people to gather around surface computers together, providing a collaborative, face-to-face computing experience.

Object recognition. Users can place physical objects on the surface to trigger different types of digital responses, including the transfer of digital content.

Beginning at the end of this year (2007), consumers will be able to interact with Surface in hotels, restaurants, retail and public entertainment venues.

As more information beoces avaliable we will advise you here. It will be interesting to see the cost and how it goes to market……

See more information and video’s at http://www.microsoft.com/surface/

via [microsoft]

“Clickers” are the way to go – If you click it, they will learn

By Paul Mayne

If there was ever a thought the ‘classroom clickers’ that invaded Western lecture halls two years ago were simply a fad – think again.

With 35 instructors in about two dozen first- and second-year courses, the advent of Tom Haffie’s ‘many to one’ type of communication has had a dramatic impact on classroom dynamics across campus.

Well over 7,000 clickers are now in use in Biology, Economics, Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science, Physics, Astronomy, Computer Science, Health Science, Kinesiology and Engineering.

Speaking to faculty members at the Teaching Support Centre’s (TSC) Spring Perspective on May 3, the lecturer in Biology and TSC Faculty Associate who pioneered clicker use at Western continued to tout their benefits in enhancing the learning experience.

“It’s a way of presenting material that provokes questions and discussions, as opposed to simply teaching or lecturing,” says Haffie. “More questions lead to more critical thinking and community building. A single question can tailor what I’m going to say for the next 15 minutes.”

Technology of the clickers has also been improved, with the university replacing its current technology, supplied by eInstruction, with new technology provided by InterWrite.

Officially referred to as PRESSWestern Project (Personal Response Support System), Haffie says clickers tend to create “teachable moments” when the class is engaged with the material, curious about the diversity of responses, perhaps willing to discuss issues with peers and ripe for their understanding to be refined.

“I like to refer to it as broadcollecting as opposed to broadcasting,” says Haffie. “It raises the quality of thinking in the classroom on the fly. It creates a great opportunity for interaction with peers, not just instructors.”

This past fall, in his Biology 022 class, Haffie posed a few questions to the hundreds of students in his class seeking feedback on the clickers. An overwhelming 87 per cent said clickers facilitate learning while 65 per cent said they influence how they prepare for class and for the mid-term (62 per cent).

Some detractors say the five per cent of the final grade that students receive for clicker participation wouldn’t assure honest participation. Still, Haffie found that 95 per cent of his students are trying to answer correctly.

Plus, clicker records for all students are emailed to them in order to address any concerns with their lack of understanding in certain aspects of the course.

“It’s a fundamental change in the way you approach teaching,” says Haffie. “The students are drawn in and become invested in the lesson.”

via [western news]

For more information on Interactive Response Systems visit http://www.smarttech.com