Navy Memorial Uses Digital Projection in Presentation Environment

  • ATLANTA, GA--Hoppmann AV of Chantilly, VA was recently chosen to develop an inspiring presentation environment within the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation’s Auditorium in Washington, DC. In an already impressive lineup of technologically advanced control and audio sources, Digital Projection’s TITAN 1080p-600M was chosen as the precision display for it’s superior light output, high quality graphics processing and high native resolution. As it turned out, it took a distinct departure from the initial project requirements to set the course for the impressive auditorium that is now open to the public.
  • The initial planning phase included the planned replacement of an existing 16 foot tall curved IMAX screen with a standard flat screen. However, where others saw the existing screen as an insurmountable obstacle for the auditorium’s reconfiguration, Jared Leib, preliminary designer for Hoppmann AV, saw a tremendous opportunity. Leib commented, “After visiting the site for the first time, I was amazed by the size of the existing projection screen. The basis of my design was to utilize the drastically curved screen while providing a high brightness, full HD picture which would appear to wrap around the audience.” After researching high-lumen projection options, Leib decided on a combination of Digital Projection’s TITAN 1080p-600 and TheaterScope, an anamorphic lens and sled system that uniformly stretches the projected image to fill the 2.35:1 aspect ratio screen surface when required.

Many of today’s movie theaters are designed to display wider formats than HDTV standards. In order to meet future advances in digital video content, as well as deliver today’s high definition DVD formats, Digital Proejction’s TheaterScope anamorphic lens automatically slides in front of the projector, optically stretching the projected image to fill the 2.35:1 aspect ratio screen surface when required. While watching a 16:9 source (HDTV), the screen curtains expand, the image changes and the already large image becomes remarkably larger. This is a key component to delivering the full anamorphic HD experience that the auditorium deserves.Leib remarked, “Imagine sitting in front of a 40 foot curved projection screen, with 10,000 lumens illuminating dynamic HD imagery. The result is amazingly resolute and artifact-free video and HD imagery.” In addition to the already dazzling image quality, video and images can also be enhanced through Colormax, the TITAN’s built-in seven-point colorimetry for expanded color space and color alignment accuracy. In response to the color performance of the projector, Vadim Finkov, Technical Engineer on the project, commented “The result is one-of-a-kind, giving the viewer superb image quality. Using a single Digital Projection projector w/ anamorphic lens, we have created a stunning visual experience.”

In addition to dedicated operator controls in the projection booth, an 8.4-inch wireless LCD touch screen is located at the presenter lectern. The graphical user interface has been customized to allow any user, regardless of technical experience, to operate the basic functions of the integrated audiovisual system. Utilizing 802.11 standards for wireless devices, the wireless LCD touch screen controller can be used anywhere within the room allowing a presenter to roam freely while still having complete control at their fingertips.

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