Single-day installation of all-in-one collaboration displays is a fairly new trend, and one that is being well-received. These solutions offer flexibility as they can be used to move from room-to-room as needed, or as a fixed installation. And the displays are getting larger.

LG Business Solutions USA announced a new 136-inch All-in-One DVLED display (model LAEC) that combines a 1080p screen, on-board webOS controller and built-in speakers to offer immediate operation in virtually any environment. With this new model, technology integrators can say goodbye to complicated installation procedures and wiring. The display can be installed in one day and includes every component necessary to serve a variety of needs and installation locations.

“The new 136-inch All-in-One DVLED display makes LED a reality for virtually any organization, with ‘plug-and-play’ simplicity supporting unlimited usage scenarios from boardrooms and classrooms to transit centers, command centers and shopping plazas,” said Dan Smith, LG Electronics USA’s vice president in charge of DVLED displays. “Featuring user controls similar to that of a regular flat panel TV, the 136-inch AIO is easy to install and easy to use.”

The display is different from other DVLED displays on the market because it is specifically designed to be as easy as possible to install without requiring any separate components, tools or wiring. First, it is shipped in a professional aluminum flight case on wheels, so delivery and movement on site are simple and fast. The display arrives partially constructed, with two pre-built cabinets that connect together using included hardware and can be mounted on a wall with included hardware or installed on an optional mobile cart that enables multi-room use.

The two mounting cabinets provide the back structure for the display, while the 72 notebook-sized modules are mounted to the cabinets creating a single, seamless 136-inch screen. LG designed the cable-free LED modules to literally snap in using a magnetic tool, making the process virtually foolproof for integrators and enabling much faster installation than other DVLED display options. Because the LED modules attach to the cabinet from the front, long-term maintenance and care is also greatly simplified since individual modules can be removed and replaced quickly without affecting other parts of the unit. After the modules are all attached, the display can be plugged in, turned on and used immediately thanks to the onboard webOS controller, familiar handheld remote control and two integrated 9-watt speakers.

“No matter the location or situation, the 136-inch All-in-One DVLED display offers a complete solution for virtually every need while ensuring easy installation and familiar operation,” Smith said.

The captivating display operates at up to 500 nits of brightness and features a tiny 4.6mm bezel, a 1.56mm pixel pitch, and total resolution of 1920x1080. The display has a rated lifespan of 100,000 hours to half-brightness and comes with a 3-year limited warranty. For those using the mobile cart, flexibility is maximized through a motorized height adjustment that enables quick positioning for sitting or standing audiences.

[ LG Introduces One:Quick Conferencing, Collaborating Solutions for In-Person, Remote Teamwork ]

Owners and integrators can also add LG’s cloud-based ConnectedCare service, which remotely manages the status of displays in client workplaces for fault diagnosis and remote control services, enabling the stable operation of clients' businesses. For simple screen sharing, LG offers the One:Quick USB dongle that plugs into any PC or laptop to provide a secure, reliable connection for presentations and media viewing.

[ LG Boosts Classroom Solutions With New Interactive Displays ]

The What: Pathway Innovations is introducing its eGlass illuminated glass writing board at InfoComm 2021. An all-in-one communications tool featuring a built-in camera and adjustable LED lighting, eGlass merges the presenter's face and writing, along with presentation media, into a single picture for in-person or remote collaboration.

The What Else: Available in 35-inch and 50-inch models, eGlass is easy to set up and use by connecting to a PC, Mac or Chromebook with a single USB cable. It comes with intuitive software that allows almost any digital content to be seamlessly imported into the camera window, enabling the presenter to markup the content with glowing annotations after automatic background removal is applied. As presenters write on its glass, eGlass's integrated camera captures their faces, writing, drawings, and annotations while displaying media from a computer in any format.

eGlass' software automatically flips the content so it reads correctly for the audience. It offers one-button image capture and video recording features and is compatible with Zoom, Teams and other virtual meeting platforms. LEDs embedded in the unit's frame intensify the physical pen ink with an eye-catching glow that is highly visible on-screen and in-person. 

The Bottom Line: With the ability to add meeting notes, training exercises, brainstorming ideas, or engineering diagrams, eGlass is ideal for in-person, remote or hybrid meetings of all types in both higher education and enterprise applications.

THE WHAT: Crestron announced an update to its AirMedia Presentation Systems, a portfolio of wireless presentation devices that support one-touch presentation and meeting control from any collaboration device. The three products joining the AirMedia portfolio are the AM-3100 Receiver, AM-3200 Receiver, and the AM-TX3-100 Connect adapter. AirMedia devices seamlessly connect presentation, collaboration, and display capabilities together for the enterprise workspace on the Crestron Flex digital workplace platform.

The AM-3100 Receiver is an entry-level option that supports wireless presentation on the secure AirMedia network. It’s intended for smaller applications such as huddle spaces, education, and stand-up spaces where simple wireless presentation is needed. 

The AM-3200 Receiver, an updated version of the legacy AirMedia device, brings additional features, including an audio output for interfacing with room audio, DUAL LAN network, HDMI input to support wired and wireless presentation on a single room system, and RS232 and IR ports for built-in display control. 

[ The Integration Guide to AV over IP ]

The AM-TX3-100 Connect adapter enables wireless sharing without cables or connection to an enterprise network. It eases the sharing process for guest presenters, who can easily connect and present without the need to download software or connect to the network.

THE WHAT ELSE: As some employees return to offices and others continue to work from home, providing flexible and efficient collaboration systems to support hybrid work is more important than ever. AirMedia lets employees to maximize their time together by simply walking into any meeting space, turning on a display or connecting to a laptop, and instantly accessing and sharing content through any device so they can concentrate on the task at hand. AirMedia supports wireless content sharing and conferencing from any device, whether BYOD or on in-room displays, and between either internal teams or guests.

Features in the AirMedia update that enhance the collaboration experience include the ability to share up to nine screens, allowing for multiple documents to be seen and worked on simultaneously and eliminating the need to constantly change between presenters; 4K video support; and a newly customizable user interface.

Native support for Microsoft Teams or Zoom videoconferencing simplifies meeting setup, whether it occurs through a wireless connection on the AirMedia network or by plugging a USB-C device into AirMedia Connect.

AirMedia works on the Crestron Flex digital workplace platform, which provides accessibility for every enterprise endpoint device, from room scheduling to conferencing, and from lighting and shading to thermostat control. Enterprises can simply mix-and-match to design meeting spaces that best suit how their teams connect and collaborate.

Management and software updates for AirMedia are effortless through the Crestron XiO Cloud Service, which ensures a centralized experience for configuration, deployment, updates, and analytics for end-devices in the enterprise. AirMedia also supports a Dual LAN network so users can have both a private and guest network, ensuring unknown devices cannot pose a security risk.

THE BOTTOM LINE: The AirMedia portfolio is now available for pre-order. The AM-3200 and AM-3100 will begin shipping in September, and a shipping date for AM-TX3-100 will be announced in the future.

Other Crestron News

Trends in Real-Time Video over IP • The adoption of video over IP has increased in the past year. As products and applications have become more flexible, interoperable, and standards-based, users now find they can apply them in many different verticals and use cases.

With Retirement Ahead, Crestron’s Randy Klein Reflects on 30 Years • Crestron's Randy Klein's tireless work ethic will be among the outgoing president’s enduring legacies. Klein reflects on 30 years.

Crestron Taps Maverick AV Solutions to Distribute UC Portfolio • Maverick AV Solutions has announced an agreement with Crestron Electronics to distribute its range of platform-focused unified communication solutions globally.

Crestron Creates Lighting Control System for Lambeau Field • The home of the Green Bay Packers recently upgraded its lighting to a Crestron automation system that that allows stadium management to easily update lighting preferences and closely monitor and control energy expenditures.

The What: The KD-BYOD4K Wireless Presentation Gateway from Key Digital is an affordable, simple-to-operate, all-in-one collaborative learning solution for education facilities ramping up to the return of in-person learning. A complete, single-chassis Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) collaboration device, the KD-BYOD4K allows dedicated and adjunct faculty, guest teachers and students to cast content contact-free to any designated display or projector via Wi-Fi from laptops, tablets and smartphones for big-screen presentation and for group learning and review.

The What Else: The KD-BYOD4K readily accommodates a high-definition wireless connection from all major operating platforms—Windows and Mac OS via the dedicated KDPlay system application, from Chromebooks via Google Chromecast, from Android via Chromecast or the KDPlay app and from iOS devices via Apple AirPlay.

Ideally suited for classroom, auditorium, learning lab, and other educational environments, the KD-BYOD4K's simplified initial setup can be completed in under 10 minutes. The KDPlay app can be quickly loaded onto students' or faculty members' laptops from the KD-BYOD4K unit's web page or by simply plugging in the included KDPlay Flash USB dongle for auto launch. The KDPlay Android app is a fast download away from content casting for Android devices not supporting Chromecast, and the KD-BYOD4K offers direct native support for AirPlay and Chromecast. For hybrid classrooms, remote students or guest contributors can be accommodated by bridging in a Zoom or similar connection via a connected laptop.

Multiple teachers and students may present and cast content simultaneously without the hassle of wires, effectively breaking down the barriers previously encountered when switching between and incorporating multiple formats and operating systems. Up to four presenters may share content simultaneously using the automatically-adjusting screen layout. KD-BYOD4K features annotation, moderator management, and touchscreen and mouse control for a true interactive experience.

The Bottom Line: Education facilities have unique challenges and the KD-BYOD4K uniquely offers the combination of capabilities needed for flexible, reliable, high-quality performance. It's simple and intuitive for faculty and students alike, requiring little or no technical support by facility IT managers. The KD-BYOD4K complete wireless presentation solution is priced at $699 (U.S.) and is available in-stock from Key Digital and authorized resellers.

The What: Blustream is now shipping the new AMF41W 4K Advanced Wireless Presentation Switch, designed to simplify content sharing in meeting spaces.

The What Else: The AMF41W is an advanced 4K multi-format presentation switch featuring four HDMI and AirPlay and Miracast inputs to a single HDMI output that supports resolutions up to 4K UHD 60Hz 4:2:0/4K 30Hz 4:4:4. It features localized 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi hotspot, seamless switching, multiview presentation, video scaling, and a web GUI for control and configuration. The AMF41W includes auto display control via RS-232, manual, or automated source selection, and control via front-panel, RS-232, and TCP/IP.

[Key Digital Adds Chromecast Support to KD-BYOD4K Wireless Presentation Gateway]

“The conferencing space and classroom has become one of the most robust AV environments, requiring unheard of levels of flexibility and scalability,” said Martyn Shirley, general manager for Blustream. “For the AMF41W, we created a solution packed with options to intuitively support meeting participants in whatever manner and device they choose to work with. It’s the ultimate BYOD workhorse.”

The Bottom Line: Developed as the ultimate BYOD solution for wireless presentation, the AMF41W is well suited for use in boardrooms, conference rooms, huddle rooms, and classrooms.

The What: Key Digital has added Chromecast support to the KD-BYOD4K Wireless Presentation Gateway, rounding out the unit’s versatility as a platform for multi-contributor presentations. 

The What Else: Key Digital introduced the KD-BYOD4K as a complete single-chassis solution for BYOD collaboration, allowing meeting and presentation contributors working from laptops, tablets, and smartphones to cast content to any designated display or projector via Wi-Fi.  

[The Technology Manager's Guide to Collaboration in the Post-COVID World]

The KD-BYOD4K’s simplified initial setup can be completed in under 10 minutes, according to the company. The dedicated system application, KDPlay, can be loaded onto contributors’ laptops from the KD-BYOD4K unit’s web page or by simply plugging in the included KDPlay Flash USB dongle for auto launch. The KDPlay Android app is a fast download away from content casting, and the KD-BYOD4K offers direct support for Apple AirPlay and now Google Chromecast.  

Multiple participants may present and cast content simultaneously without wires, effectively breaking down the barriers previously encountered when switching between and incorporating multiple formats and operating systems. For multi-presenter contributions, up to four presenters may share content simultaneously using the automatically adjusting screen layout.  

KD-BYOD4K features annotation, moderator management, and touchscreen and mouse control for an interactive experience. Overlay tools are employed on the annotation and whiteboard screens for real-time collaboration featuring screen captures that are downloadable via QR codes or through the unit’s web browser GUI. Moderator management allows the meeting administrator to start and stop selected device casting via the convenient, collapsible KDPlay dock on the side of the display, which features content thumbnail previews and names of paired devices. Utilizing touchscreen and mouse forwarding features, the KD-BYOD4K allows a connection by USB to the unit for point-and-click functionality for the desired casted content. This feature also works with up to four presenters at once. 

“Key Digital developed the KD-BYOD4K based on direct input from leading contractors and system integrators to solve the real-world needs of end users for wireless content casting,” said Masha Lakhter, Key Digital COO. “KD-BYOD4K is unique in the marketplace. It’s a complete package, neither under- or over-featured, offering the exact combination of capabilities needed for flexible, reliable, high-quality performance and yet remaining simple and intuitive to operate while remaining remarkably affordable.” 

The Bottom Line: The KD-BYOD4K is a complete wireless presentation solution suited for education, medical, conference room, and hospitality environments.

Located in the Mont-Mégantic National Park in southern Québec, the ASTROLab offers visually rich interactive presentations designed to engage and educate visitors about astronomy. When the ASTROLab upgraded its theater to 4K projection last year, it turned to the ProPresenter live presentation software from Renewed Vision to provide smooth and reliable playback of video and images from the center’s vast media library.

The ASTROLab hosts thousands of visitors every year in its 95-seat auditorium for informative presentations about cosmology, space exploration, light pollution, and more. While portions of the sessions are pre-scripted and delivered linearly, what sets the ASTROLab apart from other museums and astronomy activity centers are its human interaction and audience participation. A live, on-stage presenter is teamed with an operator who controls multiple computers and AV components to trigger supporting images and video—including visuals from telescopes and probes around the solar system—in response to visitor questions.

Related: Christie Mirage Projectors Power 8K Visuals at Mexico Science Museum

Two years ago, the ASTROLab began a project to upgrade its production and presentation capabilities to 4K. To realize its vision of delivering a high-impact visual experience, the ASTROLab required a software solution that would allow it to quickly recall video and images from its large collection of media files and present them on the theater’s 27-foot by 18-foot screen.

“The solution we had before was not up to the task of showing all of this multimedia at 4K resolution at 60 frames per second the way we wanted,” said Guillaume Poulin, a science communicator and technician at the ASTROLab who helped design the theater’s new workflow. “We needed software that let us categorize our content library, then during presentations, let us quickly select a media file for immediate display with super-smooth 4K playback and transitions.”

Poulin’s research led him to Renewed Vision’s flagship software. “ProPresenter is the only software we found that could do what we wanted in full-frame-rate 4K,” he said. “It lets us go into our very large library, select the appropriate media related to attendees’ questions, and put it on screen quickly and smoothly. And it handles cross-fades between videos and images beautifully.”

The ASTROLab runs ProPresenter on a Mac Mini computer with a Blackmagic eGPU graphics accelerator. The system’s HDMI output is run through a Teranex Mini converter that transforms the signal to 12G-SDI for routing with a 40x40 Blackmagic Design Smart Videohub 12G. Dante Virtual Soundcard software brings eight-channel uncompressed audio from ProPresenter onto the theater’s audio-over-IP network, where it is picked up by a Biamp sound processor.

The ASTROLab’s ProPresenter-powered 4K playback has impressed both Poulin and his audience. “Visitors are often blown away by being able to immediately see visual resources for the answers to their questions,” he said. “For example, they might ask about a particular black hole or nebula, and within seconds there’s a corresponding image on the screen—sometimes even before they finish asking the question.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the temporary closure of the ASTROLab, Poulin used ProPresenter to conduct streamed presentations from home. He received questions from the public via Facebook Live, and used ProPresenter to show corresponding media much as he would have in the theater. The ASTROLab facility has subsequently reopened to the public with reduced attendee capacity, and Poulin plans to add a second instance of ProPresenter in a smaller theater at the nearby Mount Megantic Popular Observatory when it too reopens.

Overall, the theater’s 4K upgrade has significantly increased the ASTROLab’s presentation quality and made its educational experiences more engaging. “Having very gorgeous images helps instill visitors with a deeper appreciation of astronomy,” Poulin said. “Being able to display very high-resolution visuals, such as those from the Hubble Space Telescope, is very powerful. It’s amazing the impact that can have on our visitors, and ProPresenter is an important part of that.”

The What: ZeeVee has introduced ZVconnect, a compact, two-piece video transmitter and receiver system designed to simplify video presentations in meeting rooms. 

The What Else: Available with either an HDMI Type A or USB-C input, ZVconnect transmitters auto-connect with receivers as far as 40-feet away (12.2 meters). It provides a robust connection carrying HD video and two-channel audio with H.265 compression. The transmitter supports video display resolutions up to 1920x1200 at 60Hz while the receiver will scale for displays up to 3840x2160 at 60Hz.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Conference Rooms

As many as 254 ZVconnect transmitters can be synced to one receiver. Receivers support side-by-side simultaneous display from two transmitters. Video transmission and display is initiated by pushing the single large button on the transmitter, with display priority to the most recently selected source(s). Other than a power switch, no other controls are needed. The receiver is compatible with a wide range of video sources and displays including BenQ, Dell, Haier, Hannspree, Insignia, LG, Monoprice, Optoma, Phillips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, ViewSonic, and Vizio.

The ZVconnect transmitter runs on a battery for up to six hours on a single charge and operates continuously when connected with the included USB power block. The receiver operates with an included DC adapter. An optional charging cradle, capable of charging four transmitters at once, is also available.

“This is a solution every user, and every AV and IT pro, can love,” said Art Weeks, director of product management, ZeeVee. “It checks all the boxes: quick, easy, and reliable to use. The system provides quality AV transmission and display and no concern for Wi-Fi or network connectivity or IT security since there’s no connection with in-house networks and no software to load. It’s also affordable technology with a long lifecycle.”

The Bottom Line: ZVconnect allows laptops, tablets, HD video sources and smartphones that support video output to connect to remote displays instantly, automatically, and securely without connecting to an office network or loading apps or drivers.

ZVconnect is available for immediate shipment and is available through select distributors worldwide including DataVisual Marketing, in Ottawa, which holds the exclusive for Canada. The price of the ZVconnect ZVCTXHDMI transmitter (with HDMI Type A input) is $483; ZVconnect ZVCTXUSB transmitter (with USB-C input) is $483; ZVCRXHDMI receiver (with HDMI Type A output) is $420; and ZVCCHARGE Charging Cradle (for four transmitters) is $473). A starter kit, consisting of two transmitters, a receiver and all required cables, is $1,365.

The What: Kramer has launched the VIA GO² wireless presentation device, replacing its existing VIA GO. 

The What Else: VIA GO² gives iOS, Android, Chromebook, PC, and Mac users instant wireless connectivity with 4K advanced presentation capabilities. The product features content streaming, video playback, and includes iOS, Windows, and Android mirroring. VIA GO² is compact (7x7cm) and flexible to install with both built-in Wi-Fi and LAN connectivity and includes 1024-bit encryption for secure use on the internal network.

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Transformative Classroom Solutions

Easy wireless sharing is enabled from any device by using either the VIA app, a web browser such as Chrome or FireFox, or by using standard Miracast or Airplay protocols, directly from the built-in wireless capabilities of the VIA device.

VIA GO² supports up to 4K30 resolution using the VIA app Multimedia feature. Two participants can simultaneously present content on main display, and distance participants can share content using Chrome and FireFox web browsers. The product is also natively compatible with VIA Site Management (VSM) Software and VIA Pad for enhanced management.

The Bottom Line: The VIA GO2 features a 4K HDMI output and secure content sharing, and its compact size enables flexible installation, like mounting behind displays. Its powerful features make it well suited for a range of applications, including presentation environments, small- to mid-sized meeting rooms, classrooms, and huddle spaces.

BenQ has published a technical white paper that focuses on the security-related details of the architecture, components, and technical control for its BenQ InstaShow wireless presentation system (WPS). As security is a major concern for every organization, this white paper explores how BenQ designed the InstaShow WPS to minimize the attack profile of schools and businesses by eliminating security vulnerabilities. 

“Wireless presentation systems open up a world of productivity, allowing multiple presenters to share the screen during a meeting and quickly exchange ideas,” said Bob Wudeck, senior director of business development at BenQ America Corp. “This white paper shares how our designers and R&D engineers created a methodology that eliminates the security threats found on most other wireless presentation systems. This is accomplished by both system modularization and improving the modules to create an integrated security architecture.”

Related: The Technology Manager's Guide to Conference Rooms 

This white paper details InstaShow’s system security architecture and the platform’s three security levels. In addition, the document also highlights InstaShow’s security certifications. The BenQ InstaShow receivers and buttons have been extensively tested and certified by Onward Security to identify and disclose any critical vulnerabilities. The company tested for a variety of security breaches, including unauthorized network access via the receiver, as well as unauthorized viewing of wireless transmitted content by a third party. Onward Security tested the InstaShow wireless encryption system for KRACK attack vulnerability, and found no vulnerabilities.

InstaShow is an all-hardware, plug-and-play presentation system for meetings and collaboration. The latest addition to the InstaShow family of collaboration tools, InstaShow S WDC20 is designed to support up to 32 participants or input sources at a time. 

The entire InstaShow family is fully interoperable with any operating system or hardware platform while providing data security through WPA2-PSK protection with AES 128-bit encryption. InstaShow S can maintain stable wireless connections even in less-than-ideal Wi-Fi environments. Equipped with Wi-Fi 802.11 ac/n for transfer speeds of up to 700Mbps, the S model facilitates sharing of presentations, pictures, documents, and video. It also features native support of extended desktop functions for presenters to privately view or take notes, backup data, and monitor other applications while simultaneously delivering presentations.

Download the InstaShow security white paper here. 

The What: Key Digital has announced the KD-XUSB2 2.0 transmitter and receiver extender kit, the latest offering in its Presentation Solutions product family.

The What Else: The KD-XUSB2 is immediately compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux machines with no additional software installation requirements. The transmitter features one USB-B connection and the receiver has two USB-A ports that may also connect to a USB hub for up to 15 supported devices. KD-XUSB2 enables host laptops, computers, smart TVs, and appliances to connect with devices such as web cams, keyboards and mice, hard drives, printers and scanners, USB microphones, touchscreen displays, conferencing DSPs, and more.

Related: Key Digital Expands Presentation Solutions With KD-PS22UTx 

By adding an assortment of application diagrams to each product page within the Presentation Solutions lineup on the Key Digital website, the company expects these new visual tools to help integrators relate connectivity and supported feature set to their individual project needs. Each schematic elaborates on an assortment of layouts from simple, advanced, point-to-point, and fully integrated systems. The application diagrams offer a concise and streamlined survey of the versatile usage of the ever-growing product family.

“Key Digital’s Presentation Solutions product family is a wide assortment of products with the connectivity to accommodate legacy and brand-new sources,” said Jonathon Ferry, national training manager for Key Digital. “The systems can be built to integrate small usage applications like huddle spaces, large spaces such as lecture halls, or anything in between. The unveiling of our application diagrams showcases the versatility of the systems and how integrators can mix and match within the tool kit that is the entire Presentation Solutions category to create a perfect fit for their clients’ AV needs.”

The Bottom Line: Key Digital’s Presentation Solutions products are a soft-codec-enabling system with HDBaseT, HDMI, audio, control, and hardware designed for simplified integration in professional audio-video installations with ease of use for the end user. The product line provides USB, HDMI, USB-C, Display Port, and HDBaseT connectivity and creates a solid highway for videoconferencing software and the necessary USB cameras and microphones. 

By focusing on delivering a comprehensive platform for conference rooms, board rooms, huddle spaces, classrooms, lecture halls, and auditoriums, the company’s Presentation Solution product family is designed for all videoconferencing and presentation needs.

The What: ScreenBeam's highest performing and most flexible enterprise offering, the ScreenBeam 1100 Plus is designed to help IT departments reduce costs and simplify conference room design. 

The What Else: With ScreenBeam Ghost Inking technology, wireless Windows Inking latency disappears for a more intuitive and natural pen-to-paper experience and a best-in class wireless collaboration experience.

Presenter and guest devices have multiple ways to connect including Miracast, local Wi-Fi mode, and network infrastructure connectivity. New HDMI input reduces conference room complexity and costs by eliminating unnecessary equipment while making it easier for older devices without wireless display capability to connect and display. Windows and macOS users can share content in both duplicate and extended screen modes and Multi-View allows up to four client devices to share content on-screen simultaneously.

The Bottom Line: According to the company, the 1100 Plus is the only available app-free 4K wireless display solution to enable users on any device to share and markup content on in-room displays with support for Microsoft Windows Ink native in all Microsoft Office 365 applications.

To read more InfoComm Connected stories, visit avnetwork.com/tag/infocomm.

The way we work is in an unprecedented state of flux. With the growing trend of remote work, offices are shifting their space from accommodating personal tasks to a group-first focus. While the huddle room tide has been rising for some time, the demand for spaces in which teams of all sizes can collaborate is continuing to grow. And for these spaces to function optimally as hubs for teamwork, they need technology to facilitate the creative thinking process. 

A New Approach

As Millennials and Gen-Z employees make up more and more of the workforce, they’re bringing a lot of demands with them. One of these is the requirement that companies support their preferences for the way they like to work, a request that can put strain on an enterprise’s standards. 

“IT departments prefer standardization in unified communication platforms and AV solutions for meeting rooms; however, employees are more productive when using their own devices and the UC technology of their choice,” said Lieven Bertier, segment marketing director, workplace at Barco. This was an inspiration behind the development of ClickShare, one of the most popular wireless collaboration solutions on the market. “Our range is perfectly suited for BYOM (bring your own meeting), a natural extension of BYOD, as it allows people to host a conference call using their preferred conferencing platform from their personal devices.”

According to Bertier, the ClickShare Conference range was designed to be truly agnostic, connecting to the AV USB room peripherals (speakerphones, soundbars, cameras) and working with the UC solutions of the user’s choice. “Starting a meeting is very intuitive, simple, and always the same: no downloads, manuals, training, or extra tools needed,” he said. Nevertheless, Barco offers apps for Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS devices to enable flexibility in connectivity. 

Plug and Play

The ability for users to just plug in and present was also paramount for BenQ, according to Bob Wudeck, the company’s senior director of business development.

“Customers want an easy-to-use, secure system that allows them to share content without downloading software or an app,” he said. “This helps eliminate risks to their device and allows them to get started faster.”

BenQ engineered its latest solution, the InstaShow S WDC20, with flexibility, performance, and affordability in mind. “Not only is it completely app-free with 4K resolution support, it also is able to present more screens simultaneously on the display (up to four) than any other similar app-free screen mirroring system,” Wudeck said. “In addition, organizations aren’t limited by what devices they can connect; they can connect notebooks, Chromebooks, Blu-ray players, document cameras, digital signage players—essentially, anything with an HDMI out port.”

Airtame’s VP of product Simon Hangaard Hansen echoed the others’ sentiment that simplicity is paramount in this device category: “Customers want the technology they use to collaborate in offices and meetings to be hassle-free and reliable,” he said. And one major hassle in today’s technology landscape is that of interoperability. “This is why Airtame embraces a cross-platform approach, combining a suite of products that work together with other applications to make screen sharing, digital signage, and device management straightforward and reliable, no matter the size of the business,” he said.

According to Hansen, Airtame 2 is device agnostic—working with Windows, Chromebooks, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. “There are flexible presentation options, as customers can present using the Airtame app to one or many displays, simultaneously, or they can present using Google Cast, Miracast, and AirPlay,” he said. “Importantly, customers can even allow colleagues and guests to present, even when they’re on a different network.”

For WolfVision, the goal was to achieve wireless 4K screen mirroring with as little effort required on the end users’ part as possible. “WolfVision customers value Cynap’s unique app-free, button-free, mobile device-agnostic meeting room spaces, which enable wireless screen mirroring for all laptops, smartphones, and tablets,” said Christian Loacker, WolfVision global sales and marketing director. “We have found there is huge demand for systems such as Cynap Pure Pro that do not place restrictions on device compatibility, and are able to deliver a consistent user experience to every meeting participant.”

The company’s Cynap Pure solution is engineered to be set up out of the box and used immediately. It also offers prepared API modules for integration with third-party controllers, and APIs are available for customized room control system integration if required.

Doing it All

Of course, the ability to easily share content is just the beginning. “Organizations today demand a large range of needs from their meeting space presentation systems, including robust content sharing, videoconferencing, digital signage features, and more,” said Troy Suttle, VP of product marketing at Mersive.

The company designed its Solstice platform to provide all of the collaborative capabilities users need in a room, from high-resolution wireless content sharing to content manipulation with mark-up features, to bringing in remote participants via agnostic conferencing support through Solstice Conference. “While many meeting and collaboration solutions solve only one part of the problem for customers, Mersive takes a holistic approach to teamspace collaboration.” This approach even extends to room calendar integration and digital signage playback, delivering continued value from the system between meetings.

The complete ecosystem was also top of mind for Biamp when it acquired Huddle Room Technologies just before ISE in February. Now branded as its Huddle Hub, the solution is positioned as a flexible piece within its comprehensive meeting room suite. “We’re committed to ensuring that our room systems support all the UC solutions available today and ensure they are as convenient and high-performing as possible,” said Joe Andrulis, Biamp’s executive vice president of corporate development. 

With this goal, Huddle Hub enables users to share content locally from their device directly to the room speakers and display, or launch a UC client from that same device to engage participants across the world using the room’s microphones and camera as well. “The distinctiveness of Huddle Hub is the combination of feature richness, performance, and how well it pairs with the rest of the Biamp product portfolio to provide a complete room solution,” Andrulis said. 

With the aim of flexibility, Kramer designed its VIA family of collaboration solutions to not only support all manner of teamwork, but in a variety of verticals as well. “Uniting strengths is the key requirement for wireless collaboration,” said Yael Chicheportiche, product manager at Kramer. “The VIA Campus2, for example, fits perfectly the education applications, able to show up to six user screens on one main display or up to 12 screens on two displays, with full moderation capabilities for the teacher and remote control.”

Make it Easy

End users demand simple tools that integrate into their workflows; tech managers require robust tools that simplify their rooms. “From an IT manager’s perspective, Kramer’s VIA technology joins the dots for seamless integration, with products that offer installation flexibility as well as features that make management a simple process—with cloud-based control for operability, software updates, monitoring, and so on,” Chicheportiche said. Kramer’s VIA Site Management (VSM) software enables IT administrators to configure, monitor, manage, and control all connected VIA devices. VSM can generate alerts on the system’s health and includes actionable reporting and analytic tools.

ScreenBeam also strives to simplify things for the tech manager. “They don’t want three boxes if they can do it with one,” said Jay Taylor, the company’s senior director of strategic alliances. “ScreenBeam helps reduce such complexity, which has benefits in both capital costs for hardware and labor and maintenance, saving companies significant money.”

Further easing things on the administrator side, the ScreenBeam 1100 allows AV/IT managers to support both internal and external networks with a single device. “This makes deployment easier while providing more flexibility for different network policies and deployment requirements,” Taylor said. According to the company, ScreenBeam is also the only wireless collaboration provider that is a co-engineering partner with Microsoft. “With 1.2 billion Microsoft users worldwide, this partnership is significant,” Taylor said. “With ScreenBeam, users can wirelessly ink and annotate across the Office 365 environment, storing and sharing those notes with colleagues in meetings or through their natural workflow.”

Under Control

Of course, it would be difficult to deploy all of these products at scale if they lacked the ability for monitoring—and impossible if they didn’t meet stringent security requirements. 

Like Kramer’s VSM, Biamp’s Huddle Hub includes management tools that allow users to monitor its availability, ensure performance, and make updates to firmware. Its security measures include utilization of a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) secure boot protocol, which guards against malware; WPA2-PSK technology for confidentiality; randomly generated passcode when a new session starts; and AES-128 encryption of all the video and audio streams.

BenQ’s InstaShow family also features WPA2-PSK protection with AES 128-bit encryption for data security, and has been tested and certified by Onward Security as having no critical and high-risk security vulnerabilities. It also meets the requirements for California's Consumer Privacy Act.

Airtame Cloud fulfils the needs of tech managers to keep track of the status of all of their endpoints, enabling them to view and update device settings and monitor performance from anywhere. The company’s approach to security includes the ability to lock the Airtame 2’s settings panel with a password from within the device’s settings. When applying settings, HTTPS encryption is used between the managing computer and the Airtame being managed.

WolfVision provides remote administration tools for free via its vSolution Link Pro software. On the security front, all wireless data is encrypted, and IEEE 802.1X authentication protects the network and ensures that no devices are allowed access until authorized. A closed Linux operating system means that system modifications are not allowed, and this also keeps the system free from viruses and malware.

According to ScreenBeam, the company’s multi-network design is completely air-gapped so that network interfaces cannot be bridged, as there is no internal signal routing that might compromise network security. ScreenBeam provides three levels of security for the active connection, including connection-level security support for most enterprise network certificate-based security requirements, and session-level security with AES 128. The company also includes a remote CMS tool, allowing IT/AV departments to manage all the receivers in their deployment.

Mersive provides administrators with centralized monitoring and management, as well as analytics. “[This] allows admins to go beyond simply maximizing deployment uptime to help them optimize their meeting space ROI through data driven insights,” Suttle said. “All of this is supported by enterprise-grade security. Mersive has been deployed in the world’s most protected public and private organizations because we stay at the forefront of best security practices, implementing multiple layers of security to ensure every deployment remains safe from unwanted threats.”

“For tech managers it is paramount that solutions used by their employees are fully secure, easy manageable, and compatible with existing IT infrastructure,” said Barco’s Bertier. ClickShare devices feature ISO 27001 certification, enabling orgnaizations to deploy them in any infrastructure configuration they prefer: standalone, connected, or fully networked. “But real value comes when managing, monitoring, and updating the units with the XMS management platform or Overture.”

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the next big thing for video. Companies such as Pexip and Sony are harnessing AI-enabled video platforms to make presentations and videoconferences easier to execute and better to watch.

[AI Meets AV in Higher Ed]

Here is what both companies have come up with in this area, plus insights into how AI-enriched video analytics can make life simpler for everyone, how this technology can protect participant privacy, and where artificial intelligence for presentations and videoconferences is headed next.

Pexip’s AI Approach

Pexip’s entry into AI-enabled video analytics is called Adaptive Composition, which the company bills as “the first AI-powered technology designed to put people, not systems, at the heart of the meeting experience,” according to Jordan Owens, Pexip’s VP of architecture. In plain language, Adaptive Composition’s ability to autonomously manage key elements of meetings allows participants to focus on themselves and their content, rather than staying within the limits of their technology.

Adaptative Composition’s auto-framing function “automatically frames the camera shots around the participants’ faces, ensuring that no one appears off-center or distant in the presenting room,” Owens said. This provides a more naturalistic look to multi-site meetings, and avoids the awkwardness that can occur when presenters are half in frame or too far away to be clearly seen onscreen. (Pexip’s AI-enabled auto-framing is device-agnostic, by the way.)

Meanwhile, Adaptive Composition’s intelligent layout function makes sure that the most active rooms in a multi-site videoconference are given priority, along with the most active speakers. This is in contrast to basic voice/sound detection technology, which can maximize the view of a room with two people in it above all others, just because one of them happened to cough. Again, the result of using AI-enabled video analytics is a more natural flow to multi-site meetings, with improved AV management allowing the technology to recede into the background.

Pexip will introduce Adaptive Composition this year as a tech preview in version 23 of Pexip’s the company’s self-hosted software, Pexip Infinity.

Sony’s Take on AI

Sony’s Edge Analytics Appliance (REA-C1000) is a different approach to AI. It is a physical device that can be licensed to do one of five AI-enabled tasks: handwriting extraction, PTZ camera auto tracking, close-up by gesture, chromakey-less CG overlays on backgrounds, and focus area cropping. To add a second function, a second appliance and license are required.

The Edge Analytics Appliance is designed to improve many aspects of distance learning, multi-site presentations, and videoconferences. For instance, “In handwriting extraction mode, the Edge Analytics Appliance can capture what a professor is writing on a whiteboard, and then add it to a continuously updated digital overlay,” said Sony product manager Drew Buttress. If need be, the professor can be made semi-transparent on screen to ensure that the writing isn’t blocked to the viewers. They can see everything that is being written as the professor writes it, no matter what happens.

In close up by gesture mode, the Edge Analytics Appliance displays a 4K camera view of the entire audience. “When someone in the audience stands up, we produce a 1080p close-up of that person until they sit down,” Buttress said. “Once seated, the Edge goes back to the wide 4K view of the audience."

Sony’s chromakey-less CG overlays extracts the presenter’s live image from the shot and overlays it over any CG background that the operator selects, no green/blue screen required. This makes it possible to make presentations more visually compelling with a minimum of production equipment. Finally, the Edge Analytics Appliance’s focus area cropping mode allows a single camera feed to be used for two shots: A 4K wide shot of the speaker and his or her surroundings, plus a 1080p close up of the speaker.

Making Life Better for Everyone

Both Pexip’s and Sony’s AI solutions enhance the visual quality of distance communication while simplifying the production process. For example, using artificial intelligence to keep the participants in frame eliminates the need for human camera operators and the “amateur hour” appearance when non-AI-enabled systems fail to track participants accurately and smoothly.

Somewhat paradoxically, the use of artificial intelligence in multi-site presentations and videoconferences can make the experience feel less artificial. “With our handwriting extraction feature, for instance, the students can see what’s being written on the whiteboard clearly in addition to the teacher’s face and body language,” Buttress said. This makes the presentation experience more true-to-life and less mechanical; AI helps the technology get out of the way of the human interaction.

“With AI-enabled video analytics, participants across multiple sites have a more seamless and natural experience,” Owens said. “They don’t have their experience disrupted by worrying about being in the frame, or having someone interrupt their presentation to ask, ‘Could you please zoom in because I can’t see you?’”

AV technology managers who use AI-enabled video platforms will find their working lives less stressful, because their meetings will run smoother as this technology assumes many duties previously assigned to humans or other less-capable mechanical systems. The result is happier users, fewer presentation issues, and a reduced workload for AV staff.

Protecting Privacy

By its very nature, AI-controlled technology is highly programmable. This means that AV managers can set whatever parameters are necessary to protect participant privacy, subject to the organization’s rules that govern these matters.

Granted, some of these limits are a function of equipment deployment rather than AI. “In schools, we can’t show students’ faces due to privacy issues,” Buttress said. “This is why the cameras are set up to shoot the teachers at the front of the room and the back of students’ heads.” 

Still, there are times when everybody’s faces are shown and yet privacy is still an issue, such as a corporate multi-site town hall meeting that isn’t open to the general public. 

In these cases, an AI-enabled video system can automatically impose whatever level of encryption and routing is required to keep everything private. “This includes graphical information that is being shared inside the meeting itself, such as facial recognition in aid of auto-tracking,” Owens said. “This data is protected within the system itself.”

What’s to Come

Today’s AI-powered video platforms are just the start of what is possible with AI-enabled AV equipment. 

Sony’s Drew Buttress can foresee a time when “video analytics are incorporated into the processing that goes into augmented realty and virtual reality to provide more realistic experiences.” Meanwhile, Pexip’s Jordan Owens is more taken with the idea of AI making all aspects of AV multi-site presentations more naturalistic and seamless to participants. “We’re looking at that now: trying not just to create better face-to-face communications, but driving better overall meeting experiences across the board,” he said.

One thing is certain: Today’s AI-enabled video platforms are just scratching the surface of what is possible with this technology. Some day in the future, AI may be managing all aspects of multi-site meetings so efficiently and smoothly, that no one will even notice the AV equipment that makes these meetings possible.

The What: Renewed Vision has announced the availability of ProPresenter 7, the latest version of its flagship live presentation and production software for sporting events, broadcast studios, houses of worship, concerts, and conferences. The first major upgrade of the software in five years, ProPresenter 7 adds support for advanced multiscreen presentations, an improved user interface, and a simplified pricing structure. Renewed Vision (Booth SL7427) will demo ProPresenter 7 at the 2020 NAB Show, taking place April 19-22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

[Renewed Vision Scoreboard, PVP3 Media Server Software Boost Fan Engagement at University of Kentucky]

The Whaty Else: Pro Presenter 7’s multiscreen innovation is powered through a new Announcements Layer, which allows ProPresenter 7 to display different presentations at the same time on different outputs. With multiscreen support, one ProPresenter 7 installation can create a three-screen edge blend, populate IMAG screens and other stage displays, and feed announcements to lobby screens without the need for external image splitters.

The updated Stage Display has its own editor window with a built-in multiviewer to monitor all display outputs. ProPresenter 7 supports SDI and NDI outputs, and automatically detects outputs without restarting for easy setup and configuration.

With a darkened look for easier viewing and operation, the new interface offers a streamlined user experience. From one screen, users can monitor upcoming slides, access and organize all media assets, create playlists, preview any output, and control video playback. ProPresenter 7 has also optimized its search function for more efficient song selection, and slide notes have been redesigned and move to the bottom of the screen.

An all-new editor offers improved functionality to produce better visuals in less time, with dynamic text scaling and linked text boxes, enhanced guides and rulers, data-driven text boxes for countdowns, adjustable shapes with color gradients, and more. ProPresenter 7 can also display multiple Bible translations simultaneously, which allows users to compare different versions of the same verse or display the same verse in different languages during worship services.

Developed at the same time as the Mac version, the Windows version of ProPresenter 7 is 64-bit native for improved performance, stability, and integration with Mac systems. Seat licenses work for both Mac and Windows-based systems, and can be disabled and re-enabled on a per-computer basis.

“Our new multiscreen output ProPresenter 7 is a game changer for live events,” said Brad Weston, president, Renewed Vision. “We’ve made it easy and affordable to create multimedia presentations with different content on multiple screens. Plus, it’s easier than ever to create and organize content with our redesigned interface.”

The Bottom Line: With its new pricing structure, ProPresenter 7 is a complete, integrated solution with no separate modules—a first for ProPresenter that creates an entirely new value proposition. Customers purchase seat licenses for each presentation computer. With ProPresenter 7, Renewed Vision is also unveiling ProPresenter+, an annual option that offers software updates and new functionality to customers in shorter intervals.

ProPresenter 7 is also available as a free download. The free version is not intended for use with an audience, as the output will have a watermark, but it allows users to build shows and presentations that can be transferred to the licensed presentation computer. 

The What: ScreenBeam will preview its latest version of ScreenBeam Classroom Commander (SBCC) with new support for Chromebook student devices at BETT 2020 in London. 

[ScreenBeam Adds Google Cast Support to ScreenBeam 1100]

The What Else: ScreenBeam 1000 EDU plus Classroom Commander for Chromebook is designed to help untether teachers from classroom projector or display. It features auto-rostering with Google Classroom or SBCC server, enables the preview of student screens before sharing on classroom display, and can launch browsers to designated URLs across individual, group, or all devices. It helps command attention by blanking student screens and locking keyboards, and can monitor student screens and active applications in real time.

“Chromebooks are impacting classrooms because they offer a low-cost, easy-to-use option for delivering online learning tools,” said David Lopez, ScreenBeam senior manager, strategic alliances for EDU. “But as a former teacher, it’s easy to recognize the challenges when you have an entire classroom of fifth graders with web access. Technology has been a great enabler for student personalized learning, but educators need to be able to control the experience. ScreenBeam Classroom Commander gives teachers an intuitive yet powerful solution to harness student use of mobile devices and enable in-room, student-led learning, presentation, and collaboration.”

The Bottom Line: The platform combines the ScreenBeam 1000 EDU wireless display receiver—a tool for mobilizing teachers from the front of the classroom and into the classroom—with Classroom Commander student device orchestration software—an app for monitoring and controlling student devices.

ScreenBeam Classroom Commander with new Chromebook student device support will be available in Q2. Windows 10 student device support is available now. The ScreenBeam 1000 EDU wireless display unit includes the classroom orchestration software for $599 per classroom with support for up to 50 student devices. 

The What: Extron has announced the immediate availability of enhanced features to connect Extron SMP 300 Series Streaming Media Recorder to Panopto enterprise video management systems. 

The What Else: The LinkLicense for Enhanced Panopto Features enables users to live stream to Panopto and fully manage SMP recording schedules for lectures and presentations with the Panopto video platform. This brings additional capability to the existing control driver solutions that are available today.

"This is a very exciting time as we take our integration with Panopto a step further by natively incorporating our SMP 300 Series with the Panopto video platform," said Casey Hall, vice president of worldwide sales and marketing at Extron. "Whether it be simple push button control, or hands-off, fully automated recording and streaming for any environment, Extron is taking AV control, media capture, and content management to a new level of efficiency and simplicity in the professional AV industry."

The Bottom Line: Upgrading an SMP 300 Series product with the LinkLicense expands and enhances the power of Extron capture and control drivers, enabling integration with the Panopto Video Platform. Extron and Panopto customers interested in learning more can contact their Extron account representative.

The What: Optoma has announced the launch of its one-click QuickCast Pro-4K HDMI display and presentation system. The QuickCast Pro-4K is designed to make presentations effortless and does not require any additional software or applications to operate, enabling any user to share native 4K UHD content from HDMI sources for easy plug-and-play to display content in boardrooms, classrooms or any presentation environment.

The What Else: With HDMI connectivity, the Optoma QuickCast Pro-4K supports all resolutions, including 1080p and WUXGA, as well as a wide array of devices, including Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android 6.x and higher, UHD Blu-ray, and HDMI media devices (Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast).

The HDMI transmitter features an integrated battery with a battery life indicator, allowing users to view crystal clear digital video and presentations for up to 6 hours without being tethered to a power adapter. In addition, because the unit operates on 802.11ac MIMO technology with a 5GHz frequency, it features maximum connection stability with minimal signal interference from up to 30 feet away.

The optional charging dock cradle (QCP-CRADLE) allows users to charge and store the QuickCast Pro receivers and transmitters conveniently in one place, and can charge up to four transmitters at the same time.

“As a leader in 4K UHD displays, it was a natural fit to develop a presentation system that enables users to easily broadcast native 4K UHD content wirelessly,” said Brian Soto, Optoma Technology. “A 4K UHD display is only as good as the content it receives, and with the Optoma QuickCast Pro-4K, users can ensure that incredible looking 4K content reaches the display simply and seamlessly.”

The Bottom Line: Engineered to be seamless and hassle-free, users simply connect the QuickCast Pro receiver to an HDMI display input and plug the HDMI transmitter into the source to begin transmitting up to 4K UHD videos, presentations, documents, and more with the click of a button.

The Optoma QuickCast Pro-4K starter kit, which includes the QuickCast Pro Transmitter (QCP-4K-HDMITX) and Receiver (QCP-4K-HDMIRX), is available for purchase now for $999 at authorized dealers. 

The What: Analog Way has added the Aquilon RS alpha to its LivePremier series of 4K/8K live presentation systems and videowall processors. 

The What Else: Aquilon RS alpha offers eight seamless HDMI 2.0 inputs, four HDMI 2.0 outputs configurable as single screens, edge-blended widescreens or scaled auxiliary outputs, two dedicated 4K Multiviewer outputs, and up to four 4K or eight HD freely assignable mixing layers in a 4RU chassis. Aquilon RS alpha’s modular design allows users to swap I/O cards to accommodate a variety of connectivity arrangements to match the source and display requirements. Like all products in the LivePremier range, Aquilon RS alpha combines industrial-grade construction and real-time 10/12-bit 4:4:4 video processing power compliant with HDR and pure 4K60 on each input and output with ultra-low latency. With the native Dante audio routing capability, up to 64 channels of audio can be embedded or de-embedded over a Dante network.

Aquilon RS alpha is controlled by an HTML5-based user interface that simplifies configuration and operation through features such as live program/preview workspaces, multi-operator collaboration, keyword search, and multi-language support.

The complete LivePremier range now includes five pre-configured products (Aquilon RS alpha, RS1, RS2, RS3, and RS4) as well as fully customizable models (Aquilon C and C+) that can be tailored for any project or event. In its largest chassis configuration, Aquilon offers up to 24 inputs and 20 outputs and up to 24 4K layers. 

The Bottom Line: With eight 4K60 inputs and four 4K60 outputs, Aquilon RS alpha offers the same core features as its larger siblings in the range and helps deliver uncompromising presentation experiences to high-end staging and premium system integration.

The What: Analog Way has begun shipping its new LivePremier series, a full range of 4K/8K multi-screen live presentation systems for high-end staging and premium system integration.

The What Else: Analog Way also released version 1.0 of its LivePremier software. Unveiled for the first time at ISE 2019, the LivePremier series includes four pre-configured products (Aquilon RS1, RS2, RS3, and RS4) and two fully customizable models (Aquilon C and C+). The LivePremier series is currently available for sale through Analog Way’s usual distribution channels worldwide.

The LivePremier series offers versatile 4K digital connectivity, real-time 10/12-bit 4:4:4 video processing power, and 4K60p on each input and output with low latency. The LivePremier series also features capabilities such as audio embedding/de-embedding, native Dante audio routing, and up to 120-megapixel throughput at a 10-bit 60Hz.

The modular design of the LivePremier series allows swapping of I/O cards to accommodate a variety of connectivity arrangements, including HDMI 2.0, DP 1.2, 12G-SDI, as well as future potential connections such as fiber optics and single-cable 8K. In its largest chassis configuration, Aquilon can accommodate up to 24x 4K60 inputs and 20x 4K60 outputs, configurable as single screens, edge-blended widescreens or scaled auxiliary outputs, two dedicated Multiviewer outputs, and up to 24x 4K freely assignable layers.  

In order to simplify setup and improve control of multi-screen presentations, the LivePremier series features a new HTML5-based user interface. Conceived to increase productivity and reduce the learning curve, the Web RCS offers dozens of features that make configuration and control a breeze.

The LivePremier series possesses enough power and bandwidth to support evolving requirements, such as HDR, 8K, and more.

The Bottom Line: Specifically engineered for mission-critical applications and road-hardened to survive frequent shipping and the toughest live event environments, the LivePremier series combines a heavy-duty modular design, components chosen for their proven reliability, and redundant, hot-swappable power supplies to deliver 24/7 performance.

The What: Key Digital has introduced the Presentation Solutions family of products integrating a soft-codec enabling system with HDBT/HDMI/audio/control hardware designed for professional audio video installations. 

The What Else: Key Digital’s new presentation solution product line includes the KD-PS42 and KD-UPS52U 4K/18G presentation switchers; the KD-X2x1WDTx and KD-X4x1WUTx 4K/18G HDBaseT PoH wall-plate switchers, extenders, and transmitters; the KD-X40MRx and KD-X100MRx 4K/18G HDBaseT PoH receivers; and the KD-CAMUSB professional PTZ web camera.

KD-PS42 is Key Digital’s 4K/18G KD-App ready presentation switcher kit with CEC Manager, auto switching, and audio de-embedding combined to create a simplified presentation solution. KD-PS42 features three HDMI and one HDBaseT input, which integrates natively with the HDMI and display port wall plate, KD-X2x1WDTx (sold separately). Additional integration options are also available within Key Digital’s family of presentation solutions. Mirrored HDMI and HDBaseT outputs enable audience and presenter views and the HDBaseT output marries in with the included KD-X40MRx for integrating monitors or projectors up to 40m / 131 feet away when the selected source is outputting 4K/UHD (up to 70m / 230 feet at 1080p). Designed for professional audio-video installations in conference rooms, board rooms, classrooms, lecture halls, auditoriums, and more, KD-PS42 enables multiple video sources to be displayed on up to two connected displays while analog (balanced/unbalanced) and digital (PCM) audio de-embed ports feed audio of the selected source into an amplifier, DSP, or soundbar. 

Building from KD-PS42, Key Digital’s step-up model KD-UPS52U adds USB connectivity for a soft-codec enabling presentation switcher with CEC Manager. KD-UPS52U features two HDMI, one Display Port, one USB-C, and one HDBaseT input which integrates natively with universal presentation and USB switching wall-plate transmitter, KD-X4x1WUTx (sold separately). KD-UPS52U also features two USB-A and one USB-B connectors, enabling connected laptops and computers to connect with web cams, USB microphones, touchscreen displays, and more. Mirrored HDMI and HDBaseT outputs enable audience and presenter views and the HDBaseT output marries in with the included KD-X100MRx for integrating monitors or projectors up to 100m / 328 feet away when the selected source is outputting 4K/UHD (up to 150m / 492 feet at 1080p). Designed for professional audio-video installations in conference rooms, board rooms, classrooms, lecture halls, auditoriums, and more, KD-UPS52U enables multiple video sources to be displayed on up to two connected displays while analog (balanced/unbalanced) and digital (PCM) audio de-embed ports feed audio of the selected source into an amplifier, DSP, or soundbar.

KD-X2x1WDTx, the HDBaseT wall-plate transmitter and presentation switcher with one HDMI and one display port input is well suited for professional video installations in conference rooms, huddle spaces, class rooms, and more. The KD-X2x1WDTx has two native Rx integration options. For point-to-point extension KD-X2x1WDTx can be received by KD-X40MRx black box HDBaseT Rx. For larger video systems requiring additional source connectivity, KD-X21WDTx may be integrated with KD-PS42 to create a complete presentation switcher solution that includes the wall-plate interface, three additional HDMI inputs, audio de-embedding, CEC control of the connected monitor/projector, mirrored HDBaseT plus HDMI output, and is controllable by Key Digital’s free iOS app.

Key Digital’s KD-X4x1WUTx, an HDBaseT wall-plate transmitter, universal presentation switcher, CEC management, and soft conference-enabling interface with two HDMI, one display port, and one USB-C input, as well as USB-A, USB-B, and LAN connectivity. KD-X4x1WUTx is well suited for professional video installations in conference rooms, class rooms, lecture halls, auditoriums, and more.

With Key Digital’s CEC Manager feature for KD-PS42, KD-UPS52U, and KD-X4x1WUTx connected displays can be powered on and off discreetly, volume can be controlled incrementally, and muting may be toggled, all without any additional IR or RS-232 wiring. KD-PS42 and KD-UPS52U manages the intended recipient of the HDMI CEC signals via the front panel buttons or via the included KD-RMPS remote included with Key Digital’s presentation switchers.

Key Digital’s KD-X40MRx is a 4K/UHD, HDCP2.2-compliant HDBaseT receiver with 18Gbps bandwidth for extension of digital video signals with the latest standards in resolution, HDR, and Chroma. KD-X40MRx is sold a la carte to natively integrate with Key Digital HDBaseT wall-plate transmitters, KD-X2x1WDTx, or KD-X2x1WVTx and is included with KD-PS42. KD-X40MRx supports flexible PoH for powering of the wall plate transmitters, and audio de-embed output for ease of integration with audio systems. 4K/UHD 18G signals are extended up to 40m / 131 feet and 1080p up to 70m / 230 feet via single Cat-5e/6 cable. In addition to AV signals, KD-X40MRx extends IR and RS-232 for controlling remotely located equipment.

Key Digital’s KD-X100MRx is a 4K/UHD, HDCP2.2-compliant HDBaseT receiver with 18Gbps bandwidth, flexible Audio Return Channel (ARC), audio de-embedding, and USB for a complete soft-codec enabling extension receiver. KD-X100MRx is sold a la carte to natively integrate with Key Digital HDBaseT wall-plate transmitters, KD-X4x1WUTx, or KD-X3x1WUTx and is included with KD-UPS52U. KD-X100MRx supports PoH powering of the wall plate transmitters, and audio de-embed output for ease of integrating the selected wall-plate source with audio systems. Analog audio inputs and USB enables audio sources such as USB microphones or mixed audio signals from DSPs to be fed back to the computer host at the wall plate or Key Digital presentation switcher. 4K/UHD signals are extended up to 100m / 328 feet and 1080p up to 150m / 492 feet via single Cat-5e/6 cable. In addition to AV signals, KD-X4x1WUTx extends IR, RS-232, and LAN for controlling remotely located equipment.

The KD-CAMUSB is Key Digital’s professional USB Camera with pan, tilt, and 10x zoom functionality suited for use in huddle spaces, conference rooms, board rooms, lecture halls, and more. KD-CAMUSB easily works with PCs by using generic USB drivers for Windows 7, 10, Linux, and Mac OS X. Use KD-CAMUSB in systems with supported Key Digital Presentation Solutions Extenders and Switchers including KD-UPS52U, KD-X4x1WUTX, and KD-X100MRx for app-ready control and to provide a large room view or to focus in on meeting participants while using popular videoconferencing software. Users may store and recall up to 10 presets for quick and easy viewing of the desired room perspectives and participants, while also adjusting to Home and Privacy settings within a single button press. KD-CAMUSB is RS-232 and VISCA controllable for integration with major control systems and camera control consoles.

“Key Digital is targeting the presentation solution marketplace with our integrated family of products that address multiple presentation system needs,” said Mike Tsinberg, founder and CEO of Key Digital. “By designing our products with strategic focus on the applications and understanding of end-user needs, Key Digital’s new presentation solution family delivers a comprehensive platform. Our new product line not only provides versatile USB, HDMI, USB C, Display Port, and HDBaseT connectivity, but they also create a solid highway for video conferencing software and the necessary cameras and microphones.”

The Bottom Line: Videoconferencing is rapidly becoming the preferred method of collaboration in conference rooms, board rooms, huddle spaces, classrooms, lecture halls, and auditoriums, and Key Digital’s new product lineup was developed to capitalize on this trend by offering high-quality products for a variety of use cases.

The What: Crestron has announced major enhancements to its AirMedia Wireless Presentation Systems (AM-200, AM-300), featuring AirMedia 2.0 technology: an improved user interface, quicker connection via all operating systems, and native integration with the Crestron AirBoard whiteboard capture system. 

The What Else: The newly designed user interface enables users to connect to AirMedia in just seconds and start presenting, according to the company. With a click on the “Start Presenting” button, the AirMedia receiver automatically detects the web browser and whether the AirMedia app is installed. If the app is installed, it will automatically launch and prompt the presenter to enter their secure code. If the app is not installed, the presenter is served with the appropriate app for their device.

With the addition of the AirMedia Extension for Google Chrome, AirMedia 2.0 now conveniently connects with all of the most popular operating systems.

AirMedia now also provides native integration with the Crestron AirBoard whiteboard capture system out of box, with no programing required. Crestron AirBoard enables both local and remote participants to see whiteboard content on the main room display and on their personal display device, and then share it with the touch of a button.

AirMedia 2.0 is a network-based appliance that can be deployed, configured, and managed from the cloud. Using the Crestron XiO Cloud service or the built-in web tool, the mobile app can be silently deployed to laptops and smart devices across the enterprise, and user access rights and firmware updates can be remotely managed.

The Bottom Line: AirMedia 2.0 is designed as a fast, easy, manageable, and secure wireless presentation platform. The AM-300 and AM-200 are engineered to enable organizations to increase workflow and facilitate collaboration by turning lobbies, lounges, and other open spaces into productive meeting spaces. They mount discreetly behind wall-mount displays and enable wired or wireless presentation. AirMedia 2.0 also offers enterprise-grade wireless presentation technology that offers network security, cloud-based deployment and management, and iOS operating system mirroring without Bonjour networking technology.

For a limited time, Crestron is offering customers the opportunity to trade in existing AirMedia AM-100 and AM-101 units, or competing wireless presentation products, and get the AM-200 at 70 percent off MSRP.

The What: Casio America introduced its new Superior Series of Lampfree projectors at DSE 2019. The company’s latest LampFree projectors are designed for digital signage and offer benefits including high brightness, low maintenance, and installation flexibility. 

The What Else: The Superior Series features the next generation of Casio’s mercury-free LED and laser hybrid light source. The new R-Hybrid Light Source technology produces clear images and bright colors with a service life of up to 20,000 hours. The Superior Series also features Casio’s new dust-resistant design, which helps to prevent the deterioration of brightness.

“We at Casio understand how significant it is to have display solutions that deliver crisp images and high brightness,” said Joe Gillio, senior director strategic planning and marketing of Casio’s Business Projector Division. “Our latest projectors do just that and more at a price-point that is unmatched in the industry for everything it delivers.”

The Bottom Line: Suited for the presentation market, Casio’s Superior Series of LampFree projectors offers brightness up to 4,000 lumens and can project large images of up to 300 inches. As the company’s first WUXGA projector series, the new models provide full HD resolution, and with a 1.7x zoom lens and 360-degree installation angle capability, the Superior Series increases flexibility with installations as the projectors can fit into a variety of tight places.

In addition to the new Superior Series models, Casio’s LampFree Advanced Series and Ultra Short Throw Series will be introduced later this year. The Superior Series models will become available in Spring 2019.

The What: At Integrated Systems Europe 2019, Analog Way will introduce its new range of modular and scalable 4K/8K multi-screen presentation systems and videowall processors. Dedicated to high-end staging and premium system integration, the new platform will be showcased at Analog Way's booth 3-B130 via professional presentation sessions and demos, along with the company's other product lines of presentation systems, media servers, and multiformat converters.

The What Else: The LivePremier series is comprised of four high-performance pre-configured products: Aquilon RS1, RS2, RS3, and RS4. In addition, two fully customizable models, the Aquilon C and C+, can be tailored to match the requirements of any project or event.

With ever-increasing video display sizes, 4K and 8K imaging, high dynamic range, high-frame rates, and rapidly-developing video and audio standards, the need for a forward-looking and highly adaptable video processing platform has never been higher. In response to this evolution in the professional audiovisual industry, Analog Way presents the 4K/8K presentation system with unique I/O capabilities and up to 120-megapixel throughput on Program outputs at 10bit 4:4:4, from a single chassis.

Designed around a highly flexible modular hardware platform, all the LivePremier Aquilon systems combine real-time 10/12-bit 4:4:4 video processing power, best-in-class image quality, and pure 4K60p on each input and output with ultra-low latency. 

Their field-replaceable I/O connector modules allows connectivity to a variety of formats, including HDMI2.0, DP1.2, 12G-SDI, and future potential formats such as single-cable 8K60 and IPTV transports.

In its largest chassis configuration, LivePremier Aquilon offers up to 24 4K60 inputs and 20 4K60 outputs configurable as single screens, edge-blended widescreens or scaled auxiliary outputs, two dedicated 4K Multiviewer outputs, up to 24 4K or 48 HD freely assignable layers, as well as features for any advanced display configurations (custom output formats, output rotation, area of interest, bezel compensation, pixel pitch management…).

Another unique aspect of the LivePremier Aquilon systems is their native Dante audio routing capability, which allows users to embed or de-embed up to 64 channels of audio over a Dante network transport, thus eliminating the need for external audio embedders and de-embedders.

The Bottom Line: The LivePremier Aquilon systems are specifically engineered to perform to the highest standards in mission-critical applications and are road-hardened to survive frequent shipping and tough live events. By combining a heavy-duty modular design, the highest quality components selected for their reliability, and features such as redundant hot swappable power supplies and smart thermal management, they deliver uninterrupted 24/7 performance and peace of mind.

For ease of setup and to ensure control of multi-screen presentations, the LivePremier series features a new, HTML5-based user interface: the Web RCS, compatible with any device or platform including iOS and Android devices. Conceived to greatly increase productivity and reduce learning curve, the Web RCS offers dozens of unique features that simplify configuring and operating, such as live program/preview workspaces with high-resolution dynamic thumbnails of connected sources, multi-operator collaboration with password protection and user privileges, walkthrough guides, keyword search, multi-language support, and much more.

The LivePremier series is positioned above the LiveCore series of presentation systems and complements Analog Way’s  Picturall media server range to offer an extensive choice of solutions for the most demanding audiovisual projects and installations.

The What: Extron has begun shipping the IPCP Pro PCS1 high-performance IP Link Pro control processor with AC power and device control. 

The What Else: Featuring IEC power connectors and rated for 100-240VAC, 50/60Hz operation, the IPCP Pro PCS1 provides worldwide compatibility. The compact IPCP Pro PCS1 features advanced security standards and gigabit Ethernet, enabling compatibility with multiple TouchLink Pro touchpanels using a standard network infrastructure. It also supports Extron LinkLicense, which further enhances the capabilities of Extron Pro Series control systems. 

“The IPCP Pro PCS1 is a versatile and powerful addition to our IP Link Pro family of control processors,” said Casey Hall, vice president of worldwide sales and marketing for Extron. “It's ideal for providing centralized AV control in a broad range of presentation environments and for managing power to multiple devices. Its compact size makes it easy to fit in an equipment rack or behind a display for power management and AV control in collaboration spaces.”

The Extron IPCP Pro PCS1 can be configured using Global Configurator Plus or Global Configurator Professional software or programmed using Extron Global Scripter. For enterprise-wide applications, GlobalViewer Enterprise can provide centralized AV resource monitoring, management, and control over a computer network. A wide range of control ports, including bidirectional RS-232, IR/Serial, digital I/O, and eBUS make this a powerful control processor for a wide variety of presentation rooms and modern workspaces.

The Bottom Line: The IPCP Pro PCS1 control processor combines a variety of AV control ports and the ability to supply and manage device power, and is well suited for controlling multiple devices and control signal types, as well as device power within an AV system.

The What: Lifesize has launched Apple AirPlay integration for Lifesize Share, further enabling the growing number of Apple enterprise users to easily share their screen and present content.

The What Else: Lifesize Share eliminates the complexity and clutter of cords and dongles by allowing any laptop, tablet or smartphone to connect and present content. From sharing a laptop screen to playing full-motion videos to driving a presentation directly from a mobile phone, Lifesize Share modernizes how businesses wirelessly present both in the meeting room and on digital signage screens.

The Bottom Line: With the new integration, Mac, iPhone, and iPad users can now share their screen at work just as easily as they can at home with an Apple TV. The AirPlay integration adds to the simple, browser-based sharing and convenient, ultrasonic pairing capabilities Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android users already experience when using Lifesize Share.

A large irregular shaped screen breaking into smaller ones and moving in different directions without losing image quality was made possible by Christie Pandoras Box and Christie Boxer at the annual meeting of Fidelidade, Portugal’s largest insurance company. Viewed by 3,000 people, the spectacle was achieved by Bold Creative Agency and Europalco using specially shot video and ID tag tracking.

Bold Agency was in charge of organizing the event, bringing in Europalco to manage audiovisuals. “Europalco is our technology partner of choice, because we know that it always strives after the latest technical solutions that allows us to surprise our clients and leave a mark on their audiences,” said Ana Oliveira, head of Bold’s department for Institutional and Corporate Events.

Europalco designed a first for Portugal: a 40 by 10-meter expandable screen made from a fabric-covered truss that stretched to 72 meters.

The video tracking technology used three Christie Pandoras Box Quad Servers to manage the graphic content, six OptiTrack high speed tracking cameras, and 12 ID Tags. The cameras would read positions, relaying the information to the Christie Widget Designer that was controlling the layers of the Pandoras Box servers. Europalco also used a Christie Spyder X20 to run the contents coming from Pandoras Box and the Christie Boxer 4K30 projectors.

“We chose the Boxers because of their incredible power and resolution,” said Pedro Magalhães, general director, Europalco. “They proved themselves once again to be the best projectors available in the market for large-scale screenings. They guarantee us excellent performance, perfect light, spectacular colors, and low energy consumption.”

“One of the main features of the event was the innovative technology (used) to divide the screen into four parts and unite them together again,” said Sérgio Carvalho, director of marketing and clients, Fidelidade. “You could hear audible gasps of appreciation in the hall. But above all else, above the decoration, the stage design and all the technical assembly, what allowed us to go so far was the spirit of the Bold Agency, its professionalism, its constant availability and its willingness to innovate.”

PowerPoint presentations used to be cutting-edge and exciting. So were VCRs, Walkman tape players and brick-sized mobile phones—back in the day.

But today’s sales teams need better. Their audiences are increasingly bored, sitting passively through slide deck after slide deck, and then forgetting whatever they heard as soon as they leave the briefing room.

What can salespeople do to update their presentations, close more deals and score more wins?

The key is to use immersive presentation tools, like the Laser Phosphor Display (LPD) 6K Series, recently introduced by Prysm, a leader in display and visual collaboration solutions. These seamless, super-sized interactive video displays offer sales teams new ways to deliver standard content, be more authentic and draw audiences in. More specifically, sales teams that use this innovative technology can:

• Easily incorporate several types of content, from multiple sources, even in real time
• Amplify a point by moving, re-sizing and annotating content on a single digital canvas (which isn’t possible in PowerPoint)
• Invite audience members to come up, touch the screen and interact freely with the video windows and their contents
• Deliver customized experiences that truly impress, particularly when used on a video wall

By manipulating simultaneous video windows on a panoramic, ultra high-resolution display, presenters can create an immersive experience that draws audiences right into the action on the interactive touch screen. There are no distracting bezels to break up the 6K by 2K video image, and the LPD 6K Series’ intelligent light engines deliver consistent and sharp images, with over one billion discrete colors and truly deep blacks up to a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1.

Prysm Collaboration Solutions Presentation

This 2:21 video shows the LPD 6K Series working with Prysm Collaboration Solutions to engage and excite viewers.

“LPD 6K Series displays will capture your audience’s attention and hold it throughout the presentation,” Hannah Grap, Prysm’s VP of Marketing, said. “Coupled with creative interactive scripts and visuals, the LPD 6K Series will put the wow factor back into your presentations.”

Close More B2B Sales

And getting more prospects to your office and engaged 1:1 can help you close more deals. In fact, The Washington Post reported that more than eight in ten executives prefer in-person meetings.

“Providing an immersive, interactive sales experience is an effective way to engage your prospect and impress them, and when your audience is having fun watching and interacting with what is being presented, you can’t help but get your message across,” Grap explained. “An LPD 6K Series display married to a great content experience will help close more deals – and more than repay the investment in this technology.”

Increase B2B Close Rates: Five Ways Immersive Presentations Help You Win

This short Prysm ebook highlights how immersive presentations can help close sales.

Improve Internal Collaboration

Prysm’s LPD 6K Series displays also help sales teams collaborate more effectively, by providing flexible visual tools that make it easy to share content and ideas, across the office or across the world. This blending of workspaces nurtures a culture of teamwork that can accelerate the pace of innovation and improve productivity.

“Enhanced collaboration means better results sooner for your company,” Grap said.

Prysm Drives Results

Companies as diverse as Standard Process, Schlesinger Associates and Under Armour are using Prysm’s LPD displays and Prysm Collaboration Solutions to engage audiences and close more sales.

As Kevin McDermond, program director for Under Armour’s brand creative team, explained, immersive presentation technology allows the company to tell a powerful visual story by bringing digital content to life. “We consider ourselves to be great story tellers,” McDermond concluded. “The Prysm wall is an incredible tool to help us deliver our message with passion and pride.”

Prysm’s LPD 6K Series Single-Panel Displays

This web page provides a detailed explanation of the LPD 6K Series display family, with many useful links.

Prysm Software Features

Prysm also makes advanced collaboration software, for use on the LPD 6K Series and other displays.

Prysm Customer Stories

Stories from the wide range of companies using Prysm video display and collaboration products.

The What: VuWall is now offering its TRx solution as a fully functional AV management system, including encoders, decoders plus their control software.

The What Else: TRx 2.0 is VuWall’s next generation of distribution of AV signals and content over standard IP networks. The solution combines high-end quality streaming up to 4K resolution to drive unlimited numbers of inputs and outputs designed for presentation rooms, control rooms and complex distribution across multiple buildings.

Using VuWall’s Tx series of single stream (Tx100) or multi-stream (Tx400) encoders, the system is centralized on a VuWall TRx server before being switched to a choice of single end points or multi-stream outputs for video. End user experience is simplified by drag and drop GUI. The system is wholly scalable and operates with 3 party hardware including Matrox Maevex and AMX/SVSI networked solutions, as well as all the devices compatible with the SDVoE standard.

The TRx software platform makes it easy to configure, operate and maintain the pool of encoders and decoders on a large AV network. Being compatible with any Windows, Mac, OS, and Linux operating system, the TRx software is preloaded on an appliance server, which is included in the package. Video runs at H.264 compression – allowing for high quality and low bandwidth distribution for AV over IP.

The solution comes with a preconfigured standard 1GBit Network switch (24/48 Port). The switch is configured to handle large numbers of streams in unicast or muticast mode. By adding multiple switches, it is easy to upgrade; and with 10Gb uplink, a big network can be built with stacked units.

The Bottom Line: Although engineered to work seamlessly with VuWall’s Tx and Rx hardware, TRx is also designed to work with third party hardware. Just like all other VuWall products, VuWall’s TRx is open to multiple hardware platforms and already supports some of the major manufacturer brands as well as all hardware which is SDVoE compliant.

Harman Professional Solutions announced Tuesday the AMX VPX Series Presentation Switchers, a family of multi-format presentation switchers that target small conference rooms and flipped classrooms.

The AMX VPX Series will be on display in booth N1105 at InfoComm 2018.

The VPX Series switchers support resolutions up to 4K60 4:4:4 and offer HDCP 2.2 compatibility to support the most current sources and displays.

“Conference rooms and flipped classrooms often utilize video switching at the table to simplify the system design and implementation,” said Paul Krizan, corporate solutions manager at Harman Professional Solutions. “The new AMX VPX Series addresses these applications by providing 4K60 switching in a small format that can easily be mounted underneath the table. The switchers offer mirrored HDBaseT and HDMI outputs with built-in scaling, making it perfect for active learning pods with a local display and distance transport to the main system.”

The AMX VPX Series presentation switchers are available in two options:

•AMX VPX-1401 – The VPX-1401 is 4x1 switcher with 3 HDMI inputs and 1 VGA input.

•AMX VPX-1701 – The VPX-1701 is a 7x1 switcher that includes 5 HDMI inputs and 2 VGA inputs.

To simplify system design, VPX Series switchers include built-in scaling, providing automatic adjustment of video to match the ideal resolution of the display, with support for resolutions up to 4K60 4:4:4.

Because the VPX Series includes a mirrored HDBaseT output in addition to HDMI, the switcher can either connect directly to a standard HDBaseT input on a display or an AMX DXLite receiver. USB 2.0 distribution is also available over HDBaseT, allowing simplified connection to USB peripherals such as an AMX Acendo Vibe mounted near the display.

There are a variety of options to control the VPX Series as well. Front panel controls are available, as well as contact closure for use with AMX MyTurn Source Selector Buttons. VPX Series switchers are also NetLinx Native, allowing simplified integration with AMX automation systems.

“The new AMX VPX Series Presentation Switchers bring advanced technology and an optimized set of features, offering incredible value for our corporate and education customers,” said Shaun Robinson, VP, enterprise solutions at Harman Professional Solutions. “This is made possible due to our 30 years of industry leadership in video distribution and the economies of scale in the Harman supply chain.”

The What: Radial Engineering has begun shipping Presenter, a compact mixer that combines a microphone preamp and a USB program input for presentations, from school lectures to corporate audio.

The What Else: The USB input on the Presenter allows for direct connection to a laptop for high-quality audio playback, for presentations that include digital audio files, or for DJ applications. This connection also provides power for the Presenter, eliminating the need to carry around a separate power adaptor. For connection to mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets, a 3.5mm stereo input jack is included on the front of the unit, and can be adjusted using the program level control. The XLR microphone input is paired with low and high EQ controls to tailor the frequency response, along with a low-cut filter that rolls off excessive low end.

Both the microphone and the playback signals are mixed to stereo XLR balanced outputs, which can be connected directly to a PA system or a pair of powered speakers. A mono switch is provided if only one speaker is needed, and a ground lift ensures that the output signal is clean and free of buzz or hum from ground loops.

The Bottom Line: The Presenter's compact size allows it to fit on a desktop or podium, and it includes a port for a Kensington lock to secure it for permanent installations. As an added benefit, the Presenter can also be used as a USB recording interface, so speeches or lectures can be recorded for later use.