The LED Wall of the Future.

Bron; www.display-central.com
As we all know the professional display market is much smaller than the consumer market, where LCD TVs (and yes some PDPs) rule the world with an iron fist. Just this week a report from NPD Display Search announced that LCD TV shipments fell for the first time ever during Q1’12. This bad news is following poor business performance reports at many display manufacturers throughout 2011. A very logical scenario for these manufacturers is to press into the commercial space by utilizing available capacity of large display fabs as we have seen from many manufacturers over the course of the last few years. But let us take a look at the display landscape as we know it today.

When we plot the pixel pitch in ppi of a display over the screen diagonal we get the indicated curves for different content resolution, as shown in the attached chart. 720p resolution requires the lowest pixel pitch and a QFHD panel the highest. As the screen size increases, the pixel pitch requirement decreases, or in other words, the distance from pixel to pixel increases.

I have also indicated where the current display technologies play in terms of typical screen size and available pixel pitch. LCD displays cover the high resolution, smaller sized displays, followed by PDP, projection and finally the LED wall. Yes, these display technologies do not necessarily address the same applications as there other factors such as brightness and cost have to be taken into consideration. This will continue to be the case and certain applications will select certain display types based on the application requirements.

But LCDs are pushing into territory that so far belonged to PDP and projection. At InfoComm, some other technology also made an impression that threatens projection even more in my opinion. A company named Silicon Core Technology (SCT) demonstrated a LED wall with a pixel pitch of 1.6mm, a much lower number than what we are used to hear from LED wall manufacturers up until now.

To put this into perspective, I have included these new displays in the chart below.

As you can see, the 90-inch LCD display falls right into the PDP territory and threatens projection with a very competitive overall cost proposition.

When we look at the LED display from SCT, this is even more impressive, as it reaches almost the same pixel pitch as the Sharp LCD display with discrete LEDs.

This LED display is by no means perfect or cost competitive today. However, it reaches a pixel pitch that nobody thought would be possible by now.

Will this technology challenge LCD in the display arena? SCT certainly hopes so, and has plans to further decrease pixel pitch by next year.

Aantal tabletgebruikers groeit snel.

Bron: www.sign.nl
In de eerste helft van 2012 is het aantal tabletgebruikers gestegen tot ruim 2,8 miljoen Nederlanders. Dit betekent dat inmiddels 23% van alle personen die wel eens internetten een tablet tot hun beschikking heeft. In december 2011 waren dit nog 1,7 miljoen personen (14%). Per half jaar komen er op dit moment meer dan 1 miljoen gebruikers bij.

Dit blijkt uit de resultaten van het onderzoek ‘Trends in Digitale Media’ van Intomart GfK die vandaag bekend worden gemaakt. Dit onderzoek verschaft inzicht in het gebruik van smartphones en tablets en het mediagebruik op deze apparaten.

iPad voor thuis
De meeste tabletgebruikers hebben een iPad van Apple. Ten opzichte van de andere merken downloaden de iPad gebruikers twee keer zoveel apps als de gebruikers van andere merken. De meest gedownloade media-app op de tablet is Youtube (48%). Ook blijkt dat de tablet meestal thuis wordt gebruikt; 96% geeft een locatie binnenshuis op als een plek waar de tablet het meest wordt gebruikt, 29% noemt ook een locatie buitenshuis. De gebruiksfrequentie van de tablet neemt toe en 73% gebruikt de tablet één of meer keer per dag.

Acer debuts 6,000 lumens single lamp projector

Acer has introduced, in what it is calling a worlds first, a 6,000 lumens single lamp projector. Called the P7215 it can deliver images for 2,000 hours while using 350 watts.




Acer P7215 offers 6000 lumens from one lamp

Acer’s P7215 features native 1024×768 (XGA) resolution and support for up to Full HD signal.

In addition, it is DLP 3D Ready and offers advanced firmware that enables high refresh rates (120 Hz) to render flicker-free 3D experience.

The P7215 also offers Crestron network control and connectivity options such as HDMI, DVI, LAN and dual D-Sub ports.

Acer’s top-loading lamp design means users can replace the lamp even when the projector is ceiling-mounted.

QR Code Enables Virtual Peephole.

As part of the campaign for Axe Body Spray (strapline - the ultimate weapon to get the girls), the most popular bars and discos in Puerto Rico were given peepholes (QR Codes) which allowed men to peek into the girls bathroom (video below). The QR Codes resolved to steamy videos and if shared on Facebook even steamier videos were unlocked. The results were pretty spectacular; 23% of the target audience peeped daily, there was a 53% increase in social interactions with the brand and a 602% increase in views and feedback on Facebook.

Esprit unveil the first All Olympic LED screen for VISA.

Esprit Digital today unveiled the first of a number of temporary LED and LCD installations at Westfield Stratford.

Esprit were asked by Westfield to design and install a display that looks permanent but that is going to be removed after the olympics. This 6m x 2.7m display is situated at the exit of the Olympic park and it is estimated that over 90% of Olympic visitors will pass through this area daily.

The display adds to the already impressive list of installations that Esprit has at Westfield including the worlds largest video wall and also the worlds thinnest double sided LCD displays, all powered by Scala software.

MIT projection system extends video to peripheral vision.

Bron; www.engadget.com
Researchers at the MIT Media Lab have developed an ambient lighting system for video that would make Philips' Ambilight tech jealous. Dubbed Infinity-by-Nine, the rig analyzes frames of footage in real-time -- with consumer-grade hardware no less -- and projects rough representations of the video's edges onto a room's walls or ceiling. Synchronized with camera motion, the effect aims to extend the picture into a viewer's peripheral vision. MIT guinea pigs have reported a greater feeling of involvement with video content when Infinity-by-Nine was in action, and some even claimed to feel the heat from on-screen explosions. A five screen multimedia powerhouse it isn't, but the team suggests that the technology could be used for gaming, security systems, user interface design and other applications. Head past the jump to catch the setup in action.

LED displays.

Following the Industry’s LED LED displays are hard to miss and seemed to make up the lion’s share of exhibitors at InfoComm 2012’s digital signage zone. This provides clear indication of the growth of indoor/outdoor LED displays. One exhibitor highlighted that in Shenzhen alone, there are over one thousand LED manufacturers. New York’s Times Square and even the Las Vegas Strip provide an excellent show case for this technology. Why did LED-based products play a large role at InfoComm 2012? It’s the only viable technology to provide sunlight readable displays at a reasonable distance. Smaller LEDs are available for close proximity viewing. Historically purchasing LED displays has been an expensive hobby and with demand set to increase, the price will drop and we’ll start seeing more screens being integrated on buildings, billboards and other facilities. With mobile interaction and the integration of social media, the content will undoubtedly set to improve making this technology an exciting platform to work from. Now, all we need is for governments to sign off on making personal information publicly available and we’ll be able to make scenes from the Minority Report a reality - but with various privacy laws that won’t ever happen. Shown is a NanoLumens display at InfoComm 2012

Reclame op (de toe) komst.

De Ster laat weten druk aan het denken te zijn over reclame op tweede schermen van de publieke omroepen, maar vooral ook bij de eigen Ster-reclame op televisie. Reclame kan echt interactief worden. Adverteerders komen ook met eigen toepassingen. Red Bull laat tijdens de spot op tv met een een snowboardwedstrijd op het tweede scherm het filmpje zien maar dan vanuit het gezichtspunt van de snowboarder zien. Bekijk het zelf hieronder.


Bron; www.frankwatching.com
Het synchroniseren van beeld en geluid op beide schermen gebeurt met technologie van het Britse bedrijf Shazam. Dit is vooral bekend van ‘tagging’ en herkenning van muziek in een app die al 200 miljoen keer wordt gebruikt. Door onder meer een samenwerking met American Idol, met de Grammy Awards en Super Bowl kwam Shazam in de markt van tweede schermen terecht. Shazam tekende recent met ITV een exclusieve overeenkomst om adverteerders uitbreiding van hun reclamebereik en interactiviteit te bieden op tweede schermen. Gezien de term ‘Shazam-enabled ads’ wordt er iets van een standaard gezet.

EyeClick’s EyePlay game platform.

The EyePlay game platform has been set up in the ZONE 525 Games Room at the Brookstreet Hotel in Ottawa. This virtual playground comes from EyeClick, a world leader in interactive technology. When children move on the projected display, it activates and becomes a captivating interactive environment.

The EyePlay transforms the floor into a play space for up to 15 participants. Colorful graphics and sounds are projected onto floors and walls through games that are downloaded to a console. EyePlay is a safe form of entertainment that is appropriate for ages 2 and up. Cutting-edge MotionAware technology powers the EyeClick and reacts when it detects movement.

The Brookstreet Hotel chose to install the Gold Package, which includes 30 graphically intense games. Options available include everything from sports focused games like “Super Soccer” and “Ice Hockey” to music games such as “Piano,” “Drums” and “Disco Floor.” Children can play educational oriented games on the EyePlay like “Capitals” and “Solar System.” Meike Buechler, Marketing Manager for the Brookstreet Hotel, remarked, “Since implementation, the EyeClick game has been a huge success in our newly created games room. We see not only the little kids play for hours, but we also see grown-ups from neighboring businesses come to the hotel for lunch and then stop at ZONE 525 for a quick and fun game of soccer or hockey.”

Led-gevel Ziggo Dome in gebruik.

De officiële opening van het gloednieuwe Ziggo Dome mag dan voor 24 juni aanstaande gepland staan, nu al vormt de revolutionaire concertlocatie een lichtpunt in Amsterdam-Zuidoost. Letterlijk, wel te verstaan. Sinds eind vorige week is namelijk de led-gevel van het gloednieuwe gebouw in gebruik, die Ziggo Dome in de wijde omgeving zichtbaar maakt.

Ultieme live beleving
Ziggo Dome luidt een nieuwe periode van concertbeleving in. Het gebouw is niet alleen een architectonisch hoogstandje, maar werd vanaf de eerste schets ontwikkeld met een bijzonder doel voor ogen: het creëren van de ultieme live beleving.

Indrukwekkende cijfers
Kosten noch moeite werden gespaard, wat een aantal indrukwekkende cijfers oplevert. De buitenzijde van het gebouw bestaat uit 120.000 pixels van elk zeven led-lampjes wat een totaal maakt van 840.000 led-lampen. Tevens maken 500.000 lampjes de gevel tot een high resolution Video Wall.

Nieuw hoofdstuk in muziekgeschiedenis
Ziggo Dome is op dusdanige wijze ontworpen, dat het aan elke gelegenheid kan worden aangepast. Of het nu gaat om de kleur en sfeer van verlichting, de grootte van de zaal of zeer specifieke eisen op het gebied van geluidskwaliteit. Ziggo Dome tekent vanaf 24 juni aanstaande voor een nieuw hoofdstuk in de muziekgeschiedenis.