Natan Linder, a researcher at MIT's Media Lab, asked a question most of us have never thought to ask: what if the lamp on your desktop could be transformed into a computer display?
Instead of screwing a lightbulb into a spring-armed desk lamp, Linder designed a device that combines a camera, digital projector, and wireless node. LuminAR (the AR stands for "augmented reality") works on the same 110 volts that would have powered the lightbulb. The result is one of the coolest demos I've seen in a long time: a personal projector that can turn any flat surface into a rough approximation of an iPad.
"People work with objects all day long, like the stuff on our desk — not just things in the digital world," Linder says. "So we think that objects and surfaces should also become interactive, offering you relevant information." The goal of the LuminAR project, he says, was "to build a new form factor for a computer that wasn't screen-centric or keyboard-based."
Imagine having a second screen on your desk that could let you scroll through last month's invoices as you sought the answer to a customer's question, or a "sales assistant" at an electronics store that could identify the mobile phone you've placed on the counter, and show you information about its features.
LuminAR communicates wirelessly to a computer tucked away beneath the desk. The camera and built-in depth sensor allow it to see hand gestures and objects, and the display splashes a full-color image onto any surface. Linder has built robotic versions of Luminar that can rotate and "zoom in" on their own, making the projected image larger, as well as versions that you move manually.
"You might want to do a Skype videoconference on the table, without worrying about booting up your computer or finding a headset," Linder says. "That's the way computation should be — more like using the microwave in your kitchen, and less like using a computer."
So far, Linder has built six LuminAR prototypes using a pico projector from Microvision; one was shown at the National Retail Federation Convention earlier this year, as part of Intel's "Connected Store" concept display. "We showed a way to bring the online shopping experience to the counter of a store like Best Buy," Linder says. "You might want to videoconference with an expert to ask questions about a particular product, or see the batteries and SIM cards and printers that are compatible with the product you're looking at."
Linder, who previously worked in R&D at Samsung and was an entrepreneur-in-residence at Jerusalem Venture Partners, says he doesn't have any immediate plans to try to commercialize LuminAR. (He's focused on finishing his thesis.) But there has been a lot of interest from big companies, he says. "Banks are very interested, as a way to show their customers what the teller is doing on that screen behind the glass," Linder says.
Linder believes that after the mobile and tablet computing waves, we'll see more interfaces built into our environments. As he puts it, "the world is next."
2011年8月31日 星期三
2011年8月30日 星期二
New projectors launched by Boxlight
Boxlight has announced two new projectors, both of which feature an extensive range of input options.
The BL WX25NU and the BL X25NE are designed to be flexible in their use and boast an HDMI connection as well as LAN connectivity to allow users to monitor, control and trouble-shoot multiple projectors from a central location. This could be particularly useful in an education setting, where several projectors might be in use in different classrooms.
Meanwhile, the gadgets come with a 63:1 throw-ratio and are designed to work with existing interactive whiteboards through either 4:3 or 16:10 aspect ratios. They also come with an ultra-short throw lens, while the WX25NU boasts WXGA 1280x800 resolution and the X25NU comes with XGA 1024x768 resolution.
Both of the projectors come with 2,500 ANSI lumens; but this can be lowered to 1,750 in economy mode in order to save the lamp, the KP Business Journal reported.
“The BL short-throw series creates a 77” diagonal from only 36” from the screen allowing easy wall-arm installation with crystal clear image performance,” Jeremy Peterson, Boxlight product manager remarked.
“With a proven history of reliability and performance, we are confident that the BL Series will be a valued projector to our dealer partners around the world,” he added.
The BL WX25NU and the BL X25NE are designed to be flexible in their use and boast an HDMI connection as well as LAN connectivity to allow users to monitor, control and trouble-shoot multiple projectors from a central location. This could be particularly useful in an education setting, where several projectors might be in use in different classrooms.
Meanwhile, the gadgets come with a 63:1 throw-ratio and are designed to work with existing interactive whiteboards through either 4:3 or 16:10 aspect ratios. They also come with an ultra-short throw lens, while the WX25NU boasts WXGA 1280x800 resolution and the X25NU comes with XGA 1024x768 resolution.
Both of the projectors come with 2,500 ANSI lumens; but this can be lowered to 1,750 in economy mode in order to save the lamp, the KP Business Journal reported.
“The BL short-throw series creates a 77” diagonal from only 36” from the screen allowing easy wall-arm installation with crystal clear image performance,” Jeremy Peterson, Boxlight product manager remarked.
“With a proven history of reliability and performance, we are confident that the BL Series will be a valued projector to our dealer partners around the world,” he added.
2011年8月29日 星期一
Mediums reach beyond to help bereaved
For those exploring spirituality or coping with the loss of a loved one, a medium’s claim to communicate with the dead may be a way to find comfort.
Amy Diggins, 29, an attractive woman with long brown hair and a trusting face, looks like someone you’d find working in a schoolroom. A special-education teacher, to be exact, is how Diggins made her living before she decided to devote full time to helping people communicate with their deceased loved ones. She doesn’t fit the stereotype.
Diggins doesn’t have any elaborate props in her Auburn, Mass., office. She doesn’t ask for your hand or for an article of clothing. She doesn’t pray or chant. She doesn’t have a crystal ball. Diggins simply sits at a table, facing her subject and observes. She says she senses the vibration of the spirits when they come into the room. From there she waits for the spirit to speak, and will relay the information to the seeker of the treasured wisdom offered by the loved one who has passed away.
“I’m not a psychic. It’s not like what you see you on television. I ask them, ‘is there anyone you’d like to get in touch with?’ I’ll ask them who they want to communicate with … or we’ll see who is here [in the room] and who wants to talk to me,” she said.
Diggins asks questions and will often describe to her subject what she sees in her mind, whether it’s an object, clothing the dead may be wearing or a physical attribute. The images flash across her mind like a movie projector showing a silent movie. Sometimes she hears a voice. It really depends on who it is, she said.
The Rev. Kathleen Hoffman, who is also a medium, is the pastor of the Onset Spiritualist Church near Cape Cod, which uses mediums in its services. She said she believes that everyone has intuition and some kind of psychic ability. It makes sense to want to explore that intuition with someone who is trained in medium-ship, she said.
The Spiritualist Church, first established in the 19th century, believes in communication with the spirit world, the souls of those departed from the living. Services are usually conducted by a medium, and open with a prayer, an address, hymns and, finally, a demonstration of mediumship: that the departed soul is indeed among them.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a medium is a person believed to be in contact with the spirits of the dead and able to communicate between the living and the dead. A medium is also said to facilitate communication with spirits who have messages to share with non-mediums.
“We believe in the difference, in the internal life,” Hoffman said. “We can communicate with our loved ones when they pass into the spiritual world. We can communicate out with our loved ones. We prove that through medium-ship.”
At the Onset Spiritual Church, services are held in which there are healing meditations and “spiritual unfoldment” to help people. Hoffman said even as a child she was interested in psychic ability and great intuition. When she was at a circus or a carnival, she’d find herself always looking for the person with a crystal ball. As an adult she learned about mediums in the early 1980s and when she went to the church, she was told she had healing abilities and decided to explore it. Now, roughly 30 year later, it still astounds her how she can help people.
“It’s very amazing,” she said. “We bring solace and comfort. [The passing of a loved one] can be devastating. Describing what you see that nobody else would know and then to see a person so grateful to help them move on.”
Diggins said most people who come to her are looking for closure.
“They want to know that that someone is OK,” she said.
Occasionally, Diggins says she will get questions such as when is “my daughter going to break with her boyfriend,” or something similar to that.
“I’m not a psychic,” she said. “That’s not really something that I can give them.”
Diggins didn’t always embrace her gift. When she about 10, her great-grandmother, with whom she was close, passed away, but appeared to Diggins few years later. She told her mom and each decided not to discuss it any further because it was too crazy and strange. Years later, when Diggins was in college, she went to a psychic fair with friends just for a few laughs. As the booth was closing up, a psychic came up to Diggins and asked her to wait until everyone left. She told Diggins “you know you are not crazy,” referring to the conversation Diggins had with her mother.
The psychic told Diggins she could see the energy all around her and tried to explain what was going on. Still, Diggins said she didn’t want to believe it, although by that time she had had many visits from her great-grandmother and other signs urging her to embrace her talent.
Amy Diggins, 29, an attractive woman with long brown hair and a trusting face, looks like someone you’d find working in a schoolroom. A special-education teacher, to be exact, is how Diggins made her living before she decided to devote full time to helping people communicate with their deceased loved ones. She doesn’t fit the stereotype.
Diggins doesn’t have any elaborate props in her Auburn, Mass., office. She doesn’t ask for your hand or for an article of clothing. She doesn’t pray or chant. She doesn’t have a crystal ball. Diggins simply sits at a table, facing her subject and observes. She says she senses the vibration of the spirits when they come into the room. From there she waits for the spirit to speak, and will relay the information to the seeker of the treasured wisdom offered by the loved one who has passed away.
“I’m not a psychic. It’s not like what you see you on television. I ask them, ‘is there anyone you’d like to get in touch with?’ I’ll ask them who they want to communicate with … or we’ll see who is here [in the room] and who wants to talk to me,” she said.
Diggins asks questions and will often describe to her subject what she sees in her mind, whether it’s an object, clothing the dead may be wearing or a physical attribute. The images flash across her mind like a movie projector showing a silent movie. Sometimes she hears a voice. It really depends on who it is, she said.
The Rev. Kathleen Hoffman, who is also a medium, is the pastor of the Onset Spiritualist Church near Cape Cod, which uses mediums in its services. She said she believes that everyone has intuition and some kind of psychic ability. It makes sense to want to explore that intuition with someone who is trained in medium-ship, she said.
The Spiritualist Church, first established in the 19th century, believes in communication with the spirit world, the souls of those departed from the living. Services are usually conducted by a medium, and open with a prayer, an address, hymns and, finally, a demonstration of mediumship: that the departed soul is indeed among them.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a medium is a person believed to be in contact with the spirits of the dead and able to communicate between the living and the dead. A medium is also said to facilitate communication with spirits who have messages to share with non-mediums.
“We believe in the difference, in the internal life,” Hoffman said. “We can communicate with our loved ones when they pass into the spiritual world. We can communicate out with our loved ones. We prove that through medium-ship.”
At the Onset Spiritual Church, services are held in which there are healing meditations and “spiritual unfoldment” to help people. Hoffman said even as a child she was interested in psychic ability and great intuition. When she was at a circus or a carnival, she’d find herself always looking for the person with a crystal ball. As an adult she learned about mediums in the early 1980s and when she went to the church, she was told she had healing abilities and decided to explore it. Now, roughly 30 year later, it still astounds her how she can help people.
“It’s very amazing,” she said. “We bring solace and comfort. [The passing of a loved one] can be devastating. Describing what you see that nobody else would know and then to see a person so grateful to help them move on.”
Diggins said most people who come to her are looking for closure.
“They want to know that that someone is OK,” she said.
Occasionally, Diggins says she will get questions such as when is “my daughter going to break with her boyfriend,” or something similar to that.
“I’m not a psychic,” she said. “That’s not really something that I can give them.”
Diggins didn’t always embrace her gift. When she about 10, her great-grandmother, with whom she was close, passed away, but appeared to Diggins few years later. She told her mom and each decided not to discuss it any further because it was too crazy and strange. Years later, when Diggins was in college, she went to a psychic fair with friends just for a few laughs. As the booth was closing up, a psychic came up to Diggins and asked her to wait until everyone left. She told Diggins “you know you are not crazy,” referring to the conversation Diggins had with her mother.
The psychic told Diggins she could see the energy all around her and tried to explain what was going on. Still, Diggins said she didn’t want to believe it, although by that time she had had many visits from her great-grandmother and other signs urging her to embrace her talent.
2011年8月28日 星期日
Projector Lamp: Epson Intros Two New Projectors for SMBs
“SMBs are looking for projectors that deliver amazing image quality at an affordable price and have the versatility to be easily set up in any room,” said Jason Meyer, product manager for Epson America. “The PowerLite 1221 and 1261W provide users with intuitive features and exceptional quality at a great value.”
The Epson PowerLite 1221features XGA resolution, and the PowerLite 1261W delivers high-definition, widescreen WXGA resolution -- 16:10 aspect ratio -- to fully use the capabilities of widescreen notebooks, according to company officials.
In addition, both projectors offer 2800 lumens color and white light output for bright presentations and true-to-life color, said company officials.
The PowerLite 1221 and 1261W deliver an advanced feature set found in higher-end models. These include flexible setup capabilities such as automatic vertical keystone and new Easy-Slide technology, an intuitive horizontal keystone adjustment slider for easy image alignment.
Additionally, the new projectors offer advanced connectivity options. Company officials said that these options include USB Plug ‘n Play for instantly projecting video and audio from a PC or Mac computer via a USB connection and a digital HDMI connection to provide high-definition video content for entertainment purposes.
Both the projectors come with New Easy-Slide technology that provides a horizontal keystone slide adjustment that creates a rectangular image even if the projector is placed off-center from the screen. The technology also provides automatic vertical keystone correction and screen fit for easy setup.
Company officials said that the projectors offer Direct Power On and Off that allow for an installed projector to be powered on and off with a flip of a wall switch. Plus, Instant On/Off enables presenters to avoid delays when starting and finishing presentations and be up and running in only five seconds. Moreover, A/V Mute Slide instantly turns off the sound and images to create a quick pause in the presentation, conserving projector lamp life and energy and helping to save costsThe Epson PowerLite 1221 and 1261W are expected to be available in September through national resellers, mail order, and distribution and are part of Epson's ImageWay Partner Program.
The Epson PowerLite 1221features XGA resolution, and the PowerLite 1261W delivers high-definition, widescreen WXGA resolution -- 16:10 aspect ratio -- to fully use the capabilities of widescreen notebooks, according to company officials.
In addition, both projectors offer 2800 lumens color and white light output for bright presentations and true-to-life color, said company officials.
The PowerLite 1221 and 1261W deliver an advanced feature set found in higher-end models. These include flexible setup capabilities such as automatic vertical keystone and new Easy-Slide technology, an intuitive horizontal keystone adjustment slider for easy image alignment.
Additionally, the new projectors offer advanced connectivity options. Company officials said that these options include USB Plug ‘n Play for instantly projecting video and audio from a PC or Mac computer via a USB connection and a digital HDMI connection to provide high-definition video content for entertainment purposes.
Both the projectors come with New Easy-Slide technology that provides a horizontal keystone slide adjustment that creates a rectangular image even if the projector is placed off-center from the screen. The technology also provides automatic vertical keystone correction and screen fit for easy setup.
Company officials said that the projectors offer Direct Power On and Off that allow for an installed projector to be powered on and off with a flip of a wall switch. Plus, Instant On/Off enables presenters to avoid delays when starting and finishing presentations and be up and running in only five seconds. Moreover, A/V Mute Slide instantly turns off the sound and images to create a quick pause in the presentation, conserving projector lamp life and energy and helping to save costsThe Epson PowerLite 1221 and 1261W are expected to be available in September through national resellers, mail order, and distribution and are part of Epson's ImageWay Partner Program.
2011年8月25日 星期四
Rich Brilliant Willing's Projector Lamp Inspired By Industrial Turbines
With exposed ductwork tunneling through every hip renovated warehouse on the planet, it's surprising that no designer has
managed to create a lighting system that properly complements its hulking industrial forms. A new series of lamps created
by New York-based industrial designers Rich Brilliant Willing manages to evoke the mechanical shapes with simple
sculptures of wire and fabric.
Their new Delta lighting consists of four pendant lamps and one floor lamp model, each of which is offered in black or
white fabric shades. The wide-mouthed, tubular shades feature details that echo the propulsion systems and rooftop vents
you'd be more likely to find in the HVAC aisle at Home Depot.
The shapes came about as Rich Brilliant Willing was experimenting with various lampshade shapes. "The slightly angular
nature of the forms comes from the lampshade," Rich Brilliant Willing founding member Theo Richardson tells Co.Design.
"Most often a cone or a cylinder -- there are after all not really any organic fabric lampshades." As the designers
stacked the volumes together, they realized the resulting shapes looked a lot like the snaking tubes of metal which cover
the rooftops of Manhattan. "These angular components when stacked created vent-like, turbine-like forms," says
Richardson. "We continued to explore turbine-like forms after this realization of familiarity."
While the inspiration is heavy metal, Rich Brilliant Willing headed to their local lampshade maker for fabrication, who
used traditional lampshade techniques. This includes the industry-standard detail of using box-pleated fabric, which
here, creates the sense of folded, corrugated aluminum.
Besides their handsome forms, the lights are specifically designed to diffuse the light of compact fluorescent and LED
bulbs, with material choices that absorb that telltale bluish glow. While the white lamps are white, inside and out, the
black fabric lamps are lined in gold foil, lending the perfect pseudo-mechanical feel to the lamp's warm, post-industrial
light.
managed to create a lighting system that properly complements its hulking industrial forms. A new series of lamps created
by New York-based industrial designers Rich Brilliant Willing manages to evoke the mechanical shapes with simple
sculptures of wire and fabric.
Their new Delta lighting consists of four pendant lamps and one floor lamp model, each of which is offered in black or
white fabric shades. The wide-mouthed, tubular shades feature details that echo the propulsion systems and rooftop vents
you'd be more likely to find in the HVAC aisle at Home Depot.
The shapes came about as Rich Brilliant Willing was experimenting with various lampshade shapes. "The slightly angular
nature of the forms comes from the lampshade," Rich Brilliant Willing founding member Theo Richardson tells Co.Design.
"Most often a cone or a cylinder -- there are after all not really any organic fabric lampshades." As the designers
stacked the volumes together, they realized the resulting shapes looked a lot like the snaking tubes of metal which cover
the rooftops of Manhattan. "These angular components when stacked created vent-like, turbine-like forms," says
Richardson. "We continued to explore turbine-like forms after this realization of familiarity."
While the inspiration is heavy metal, Rich Brilliant Willing headed to their local lampshade maker for fabrication, who
used traditional lampshade techniques. This includes the industry-standard detail of using box-pleated fabric, which
here, creates the sense of folded, corrugated aluminum.
Besides their handsome forms, the lights are specifically designed to diffuse the light of compact fluorescent and LED
bulbs, with material choices that absorb that telltale bluish glow. While the white lamps are white, inside and out, the
black fabric lamps are lined in gold foil, lending the perfect pseudo-mechanical feel to the lamp's warm, post-industrial
light.
2011年8月24日 星期三
Canon LV-8225
Setting up the LV-8225 is standard, with a manual focus, a manual 1.2x zoom, and a keystone correction feature if you choose to use it. However, the projector offers an unusual array of connectors that is very much worth mention. Although there are only three connectors for image input on the back panel, one does double duty and another does triple duty, so you can plug in most sources you might like to use. The catch is that if you want to use multiple sources, you may not be able to plug everything in at the same time.
One VGA connector can connect to a computer, to a component video source (which is a common option), or to an S-video source (which is highly unusual). To use component video or S-video, you'll need to get an adaptor, however. The second VGA connector can also connect to a computer, or it can work as a pass-through monitor port by changing a setting in the projector menus. Finally, there's also a composite video port.
Missing from the list is an HDMI port. Until recently, an HDMI port on a data projector was unusual enough so this wouldn’t be worth mention. However the port is becoming more and more common on both computers and projectors. Its absence here is particularly annoying, because the LV-8225 offers unusually good video quality for a data projector. Without a component video adaptor, a component cable, and a video source with component video output, however, you're stuck with standard-definition 480i or 480p. An HDMI port would have made it a lot easier to take advantage of video at higher resolutions.
Brightness and Image Quality
As I've already mentioned, the LV-8225's brightness is a little on the low side by today's standards, but until recently would have qualified as typical. It was certainly bright enough in my tests for a reasonable size image for a small conference room to stand up to the likely level of ambient light.
The projector also did well on our standard suite of DisplayMate tests for data image quality. Colors were vibrant, bright, and well saturated, and text was readable down to the smallest sizes we test with. Black on white text was a little more readable than white on black, but that shouldn't be a problem, since black on white is the more common choice. I saw a slight color balance issue, but only on an image designed to bring it out.
Video images were surprisingly high quality. I saw just a touch of aliasing on diagonal edges in some scenes, but skin tones looked natural, and I didn't see any posterization (colors changing suddenly where they should change gradually) even on scenes we use because they tend to show the problem. The projector also handled shadow detail (detail based on shading in dark areas) much better than most data projectors, although it wasn't quite in the same class as home theater projectors. Unfortunately, without an HDMI connector, all of my tests were limited to 480i.
The LV-8225's built-in audio system is hardly worth having at all. The volume is easily high enough to fill a small conference room, but a severe bottom-of-the-barrel echo effect makes spoken words hard to understand. If you need good sound quality, plan on using an external sound system.
The LV-8225's built-in audio system is hardly worth having at all. The volume is easily high enough to fill a small conference room, but a severe bottom-of-the-barrel echo effect makes spoken words hard to understand. If you need good sound quality, plan on using an external sound system.
Very much on the plus side, the lamp is rated at 4,000 hours in standard mode and 6,000 hours in Eco mode (which Canon calls Quiet mode). Both lifetimes are significantly longer than the typical 2,000 to 3,000 hour ratings for most projector lamps. Given the $179 cost for a replacement, the long lamp life promises significant savings in running costs over the life of the projector.
One VGA connector can connect to a computer, to a component video source (which is a common option), or to an S-video source (which is highly unusual). To use component video or S-video, you'll need to get an adaptor, however. The second VGA connector can also connect to a computer, or it can work as a pass-through monitor port by changing a setting in the projector menus. Finally, there's also a composite video port.
Missing from the list is an HDMI port. Until recently, an HDMI port on a data projector was unusual enough so this wouldn’t be worth mention. However the port is becoming more and more common on both computers and projectors. Its absence here is particularly annoying, because the LV-8225 offers unusually good video quality for a data projector. Without a component video adaptor, a component cable, and a video source with component video output, however, you're stuck with standard-definition 480i or 480p. An HDMI port would have made it a lot easier to take advantage of video at higher resolutions.
Brightness and Image Quality
As I've already mentioned, the LV-8225's brightness is a little on the low side by today's standards, but until recently would have qualified as typical. It was certainly bright enough in my tests for a reasonable size image for a small conference room to stand up to the likely level of ambient light.
The projector also did well on our standard suite of DisplayMate tests for data image quality. Colors were vibrant, bright, and well saturated, and text was readable down to the smallest sizes we test with. Black on white text was a little more readable than white on black, but that shouldn't be a problem, since black on white is the more common choice. I saw a slight color balance issue, but only on an image designed to bring it out.
Video images were surprisingly high quality. I saw just a touch of aliasing on diagonal edges in some scenes, but skin tones looked natural, and I didn't see any posterization (colors changing suddenly where they should change gradually) even on scenes we use because they tend to show the problem. The projector also handled shadow detail (detail based on shading in dark areas) much better than most data projectors, although it wasn't quite in the same class as home theater projectors. Unfortunately, without an HDMI connector, all of my tests were limited to 480i.
The LV-8225's built-in audio system is hardly worth having at all. The volume is easily high enough to fill a small conference room, but a severe bottom-of-the-barrel echo effect makes spoken words hard to understand. If you need good sound quality, plan on using an external sound system.
The LV-8225's built-in audio system is hardly worth having at all. The volume is easily high enough to fill a small conference room, but a severe bottom-of-the-barrel echo effect makes spoken words hard to understand. If you need good sound quality, plan on using an external sound system.
Very much on the plus side, the lamp is rated at 4,000 hours in standard mode and 6,000 hours in Eco mode (which Canon calls Quiet mode). Both lifetimes are significantly longer than the typical 2,000 to 3,000 hour ratings for most projector lamps. Given the $179 cost for a replacement, the long lamp life promises significant savings in running costs over the life of the projector.
2011年8月23日 星期二
The home-ground advantage
Television and home-entertainment system sales always spike - sometimes considerably - immediately before significant international sporting events such as the Olympics and world cups and the folk at the retail coalface say lots of people get it wrong. Their priority is to buy a system with the biggest screen possible. For many that's where it starts and ends but there are traps, some of which have only surfaced recently. For example, if you want to know when a 100-hertz television is really a 50Hz one, you'll need to read the story on screens (page 12).
First, you've got homework. It's all about where you'll be using your system. If the room is small, square and intimate, chances are you can get by without a full surround-sound system and still get involving audio. Multidirectional soundbars and systems with two or three speakers at the front can be set up for virtual surround sound and it works well in such rooms.
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If you've got a big, open-plan area to fill, however, where soundwaves are not going to bounce co-operatively off nearby walls and ceilings, you'll need at least three speakers at the front and two behind for surround sound. To get the best from sporting broadcasts, we recommend a subwoofer.
How many people are you going to have over to watch all this? If it's a lot, you need to ensure you can seat them within the area defined by the five speakers. Inside this area they'll reap the benefits of the surround format. Outside, surround will be lost. Viewers will still hear everything, they just won't feel like they're part of the crowd in the stadium.
Now let's talk about the screen. One of the most common mistakes people make when setting up home theatres is buying a screen too big for the room. A big screen is enveloping and involving but when was the last time you wanted to sit in the front row at the movies?
If you're setting up in a smaller room, you don't need a giant screen. The rule of thumb is to measure the distance from your viewing position to where you plan to place the screen. Half that distance should be the maximum length of the screen along its top or bottom. The absolute maximum.
Go larger than this and your peripheral vision may not be able to pick up all the action. And everyone knows the very best biffo occurs on the periphery of the play.
If you've got a very large room, you'll want a very large screen and projection is very tempting. The strong dollar has seen prices plummet with the big hitter, Runco, starting from $7500.
But beware the hidden costs. You'll need to make the room at least dim if not dark, so window treatments may be required. You'll also need a screen - a white-painted wall won't cut it. As well as soaking up too much light, you'll see every inconsistency in the painted surface, including areas where the paint is uneven.
A good screen reflects up to 97 per cent of the projected light to provide a bright, sharp, even image. They can be permanent fixtures, or they can retract into the ceiling.
You'll also likely need professional installation. This can range from bolting the Projector Lampto the ceiling (or, at a pinch, to a good, solid coffee table) to having a motorised mount that disappears into the roof on turn-off.
Then there are running costs. Most projectors need new lamps after 2000 to 3000 hours and they're far from cheap. Changing the lamp (which you can do yourself with some projectors; others require a technician) provides an opportunity to clean the projector. It will likely need it, especially if there's a smoker in the house.
Some manufacturers are now making 3D projection systems and, like 3D TVs, these require every viewer to have compatible glasses, even when 3D is only simulated. Without them, the screen will present an out-of-focus mash-up. If there are more people than glasses, you'll have to revert to a normal 2D picture but at least it will be full high definition.
First, you've got homework. It's all about where you'll be using your system. If the room is small, square and intimate, chances are you can get by without a full surround-sound system and still get involving audio. Multidirectional soundbars and systems with two or three speakers at the front can be set up for virtual surround sound and it works well in such rooms.
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If you've got a big, open-plan area to fill, however, where soundwaves are not going to bounce co-operatively off nearby walls and ceilings, you'll need at least three speakers at the front and two behind for surround sound. To get the best from sporting broadcasts, we recommend a subwoofer.
How many people are you going to have over to watch all this? If it's a lot, you need to ensure you can seat them within the area defined by the five speakers. Inside this area they'll reap the benefits of the surround format. Outside, surround will be lost. Viewers will still hear everything, they just won't feel like they're part of the crowd in the stadium.
Now let's talk about the screen. One of the most common mistakes people make when setting up home theatres is buying a screen too big for the room. A big screen is enveloping and involving but when was the last time you wanted to sit in the front row at the movies?
If you're setting up in a smaller room, you don't need a giant screen. The rule of thumb is to measure the distance from your viewing position to where you plan to place the screen. Half that distance should be the maximum length of the screen along its top or bottom. The absolute maximum.
Go larger than this and your peripheral vision may not be able to pick up all the action. And everyone knows the very best biffo occurs on the periphery of the play.
If you've got a very large room, you'll want a very large screen and projection is very tempting. The strong dollar has seen prices plummet with the big hitter, Runco, starting from $7500.
But beware the hidden costs. You'll need to make the room at least dim if not dark, so window treatments may be required. You'll also need a screen - a white-painted wall won't cut it. As well as soaking up too much light, you'll see every inconsistency in the painted surface, including areas where the paint is uneven.
A good screen reflects up to 97 per cent of the projected light to provide a bright, sharp, even image. They can be permanent fixtures, or they can retract into the ceiling.
You'll also likely need professional installation. This can range from bolting the Projector Lampto the ceiling (or, at a pinch, to a good, solid coffee table) to having a motorised mount that disappears into the roof on turn-off.
Then there are running costs. Most projectors need new lamps after 2000 to 3000 hours and they're far from cheap. Changing the lamp (which you can do yourself with some projectors; others require a technician) provides an opportunity to clean the projector. It will likely need it, especially if there's a smoker in the house.
Some manufacturers are now making 3D projection systems and, like 3D TVs, these require every viewer to have compatible glasses, even when 3D is only simulated. Without them, the screen will present an out-of-focus mash-up. If there are more people than glasses, you'll have to revert to a normal 2D picture but at least it will be full high definition.
2011年8月22日 星期一
Epson Expands Its Projector Line
Projector manufacturer Epson has introduced two new high-brightness, low-cost projectors to its projector line. The VS410 and VS350W are designed to provide SMBs with performance hardware within a limited budget.
The VS410 offers 4,000 lumens of color and white light output with XGA resolution. It carries a MSRP of $899.
The VS350W delivers 3,500 lumens color and white light output with WXGA (1280 x 800) resolution for SMBs looking to leverage widescreen notebooks and high-definition content. Its MSRP is $949.
“The easy-to-use Epson VS410 and VS350W offer the perfect option for businesses looking for cost-effective projectors with basic functionality and the versatility for use in all lighting conditions,” explains Epson product manager Jason Meyer.
Meyer explains that the VS410 and VS350W offer “easy-to-use connectivity and control features,” including USB Plug 'n Play for instantly projecting video and audio from a PC or Mac computer via a USB connection as well as Direct Power On and Off for wall switch power control and Instant On/Off.
The Epson VS410 and VS350W offer SMBs with such value-added features as built-in 5W speakers and Epson's E-TORL lamp technology, which enables the lamp life to last up to 4,000 hours in economy mode.
The VS410 and VS350W also come equipped with the latest 3LCD, 3-chip technology to deliver vibrant images and detail for powerful presentations. “The 3LCD technology provides an energy-efficient light engine that uses available lamp light to create stunning images, and in contrast to 1-chip DLP technology, 3LCD requires, on average, 25 percent less electricity per lumen of brightness,” states Epson in a press release submitted to Channel Pro-SMB.
The Epson VS410 and VS350W will be available in Sept. 2011 through national resellers, mail order, and distribution. Both models come with a standard one-year limited warranty that includes two technical support services -- Epson PrivateLine phone support and a Road Service projector replacement program.
The VS410 offers 4,000 lumens of color and white light output with XGA resolution. It carries a MSRP of $899.
The VS350W delivers 3,500 lumens color and white light output with WXGA (1280 x 800) resolution for SMBs looking to leverage widescreen notebooks and high-definition content. Its MSRP is $949.
“The easy-to-use Epson VS410 and VS350W offer the perfect option for businesses looking for cost-effective projectors with basic functionality and the versatility for use in all lighting conditions,” explains Epson product manager Jason Meyer.
Meyer explains that the VS410 and VS350W offer “easy-to-use connectivity and control features,” including USB Plug 'n Play for instantly projecting video and audio from a PC or Mac computer via a USB connection as well as Direct Power On and Off for wall switch power control and Instant On/Off.
The Epson VS410 and VS350W offer SMBs with such value-added features as built-in 5W speakers and Epson's E-TORL lamp technology, which enables the lamp life to last up to 4,000 hours in economy mode.
The VS410 and VS350W also come equipped with the latest 3LCD, 3-chip technology to deliver vibrant images and detail for powerful presentations. “The 3LCD technology provides an energy-efficient light engine that uses available lamp light to create stunning images, and in contrast to 1-chip DLP technology, 3LCD requires, on average, 25 percent less electricity per lumen of brightness,” states Epson in a press release submitted to Channel Pro-SMB.
The Epson VS410 and VS350W will be available in Sept. 2011 through national resellers, mail order, and distribution. Both models come with a standard one-year limited warranty that includes two technical support services -- Epson PrivateLine phone support and a Road Service projector replacement program.
2011年8月21日 星期日
The Secrets Of The West Coast Masters
The art of indoor cannabis growing is multifaceted and complex. If you stick a marijuana seed in some dirt and put it in the closet under a desk Projector Lamp, you’re going to get what you put in: nothing.
But if you’re serious about indoor growing and are willing to give your plants the care and love they deserve, then you’re ready to learn “The Secrets of The West Coast Masters.”
IMAG0250 179x300 Book Review: The Secrets Of The West Coast MastersThe new book “The Secrets of The West Coast Masters” by Dru West takes you step by step through the secrets of some of the best growers in the world: How to train and care for your plants to get maximum yield, how to set up your grow room, even how to build your own grow equipment.
Dru West has spent the last 15 years traveling the country designing, managing, and consulting for numerous grow operations where he learned and perfected a wide variety of techniques for growing monster indoor plants. A cannabis grower, caretaker and patient from Bend, Oregon, Dru and his fellow masters gathered on the west coast to develop the secret techniques that can be found in “The Secrets of The West Coast Masters.” As Dru says, “love your plants and they will love you back.”
IMAG0251 179x300 Book Review: The Secrets Of The West Coast MastersThe book is not only filled with incredible pictures, but also easy-to-follow instructions and lists of what you’ll need to achieve every step that will allow you to yield a pound or more per plant indoors.
The plants that many growers produce are vital to medical marijuana patients all across this country. The quality and yield from each plant is imperative to the patients it helps.
Whether you are growing in soil, coco coir or hydroponically, you aren’t growing as much as you can unless you know “The Secrets of The West Coast Masters.”
But if you’re serious about indoor growing and are willing to give your plants the care and love they deserve, then you’re ready to learn “The Secrets of The West Coast Masters.”
IMAG0250 179x300 Book Review: The Secrets Of The West Coast MastersThe new book “The Secrets of The West Coast Masters” by Dru West takes you step by step through the secrets of some of the best growers in the world: How to train and care for your plants to get maximum yield, how to set up your grow room, even how to build your own grow equipment.
Dru West has spent the last 15 years traveling the country designing, managing, and consulting for numerous grow operations where he learned and perfected a wide variety of techniques for growing monster indoor plants. A cannabis grower, caretaker and patient from Bend, Oregon, Dru and his fellow masters gathered on the west coast to develop the secret techniques that can be found in “The Secrets of The West Coast Masters.” As Dru says, “love your plants and they will love you back.”
IMAG0251 179x300 Book Review: The Secrets Of The West Coast MastersThe book is not only filled with incredible pictures, but also easy-to-follow instructions and lists of what you’ll need to achieve every step that will allow you to yield a pound or more per plant indoors.
The plants that many growers produce are vital to medical marijuana patients all across this country. The quality and yield from each plant is imperative to the patients it helps.
Whether you are growing in soil, coco coir or hydroponically, you aren’t growing as much as you can unless you know “The Secrets of The West Coast Masters.”
2011年8月18日 星期四
Hitachi Adds Projector Trio
The CP-WX3014WN, CP-X3014WN and CP-X4014WN all offer advanced networking capability for remote maintenance and control, HDMI inputs, and upgraded connectivity and performance features.
The models all include Hitachi's PJMan projector-management software that gives users the ability to operate and monitor the projectors from a remote location, and receive diagnostic information (such as remaining Projector Lamp life), making the Network Education Series models ideal for installations where multiple projectors are used, such as an entire building or campus, the company said.
Also included is Hitachi's Campus Notification System and Network Messenger feature for sending campus-wide announcements and messages.
Hitachi's Projector Control (PJCtrl) application allows users to control the functions of their projector via a toolbar on their PC. Hitachi said using a PC to control projector functions will reduce costs associated with lost remote controls and battery replacement.
Each projector also includes wireless computer connection capability via an optional USB wireless card.
A Multi Projector function in each model enables projecting the same image from up to 12 projectors simultaneously. In addition, Hitachi's Moderator Control Mode lets a user network 50 computers to the projector, with one computer acting as the moderator. This allows an instructor to use the moderator computer to select and project images from the students' computers.
All models are compatible with Crestron RoomView software, providing a custom configurable interface to monitor, manage, and control every device in every room remotely from any computer. Built-in network connectivity provides instant status and remote technical support.
The CP-WX3014WN ($2,995 suggested retail) provides WXGA resolution, 3,000 lumens brightness, while the CP-X3014WN ($2,695) provides XGA resolution and 3,200 lumens brightness, and the CP-X4014WN ($3,495) offers XGA resolution and 4,000 lumens brightness. All three projectors deliver an improved 3,000:1 contrast ratio.
All models weigh 7.9 pounds, measure 12.5 inches by 3.9 inches by 11.3 inches, and can project images up to 300 inches. A Template function displays white or black lines to make writing on a whiteboard or blackboard easier, and an exclusive whiteboard/blackboard mode adjusts the projector's brightness when projecting on either surface to reduce glare and eye strain.
Each model includes a USB port, RJ-45 jack for network connectivity, HDMI jack, component, S-Video and composite video inputs with RGB in and out, audio connections, and an RS-232C port for integrated A/V system control. The projectors will also present a range of media files loaded directly from a jump drive or other USB storage device without the need of a PC or laptop.
All models include two built-in 8-watt speakers, audio-pass through option and a microphone input with a newly added audio mixing feature.
Other features are input source naming, remote controls providing MyMemory, MyText, MySource and MyScreen buttons, automatic vertical keystone correction, a Kensington slot, closed captioning, easy-access lamp door and filter cover, hybrid filter design and an estimated 6,000-hour lamp life (in Eco mode).
The models all include Hitachi's PJMan projector-management software that gives users the ability to operate and monitor the projectors from a remote location, and receive diagnostic information (such as remaining Projector Lamp life), making the Network Education Series models ideal for installations where multiple projectors are used, such as an entire building or campus, the company said.
Also included is Hitachi's Campus Notification System and Network Messenger feature for sending campus-wide announcements and messages.
Hitachi's Projector Control (PJCtrl) application allows users to control the functions of their projector via a toolbar on their PC. Hitachi said using a PC to control projector functions will reduce costs associated with lost remote controls and battery replacement.
Each projector also includes wireless computer connection capability via an optional USB wireless card.
A Multi Projector function in each model enables projecting the same image from up to 12 projectors simultaneously. In addition, Hitachi's Moderator Control Mode lets a user network 50 computers to the projector, with one computer acting as the moderator. This allows an instructor to use the moderator computer to select and project images from the students' computers.
All models are compatible with Crestron RoomView software, providing a custom configurable interface to monitor, manage, and control every device in every room remotely from any computer. Built-in network connectivity provides instant status and remote technical support.
The CP-WX3014WN ($2,995 suggested retail) provides WXGA resolution, 3,000 lumens brightness, while the CP-X3014WN ($2,695) provides XGA resolution and 3,200 lumens brightness, and the CP-X4014WN ($3,495) offers XGA resolution and 4,000 lumens brightness. All three projectors deliver an improved 3,000:1 contrast ratio.
All models weigh 7.9 pounds, measure 12.5 inches by 3.9 inches by 11.3 inches, and can project images up to 300 inches. A Template function displays white or black lines to make writing on a whiteboard or blackboard easier, and an exclusive whiteboard/blackboard mode adjusts the projector's brightness when projecting on either surface to reduce glare and eye strain.
Each model includes a USB port, RJ-45 jack for network connectivity, HDMI jack, component, S-Video and composite video inputs with RGB in and out, audio connections, and an RS-232C port for integrated A/V system control. The projectors will also present a range of media files loaded directly from a jump drive or other USB storage device without the need of a PC or laptop.
All models include two built-in 8-watt speakers, audio-pass through option and a microphone input with a newly added audio mixing feature.
Other features are input source naming, remote controls providing MyMemory, MyText, MySource and MyScreen buttons, automatic vertical keystone correction, a Kensington slot, closed captioning, easy-access lamp door and filter cover, hybrid filter design and an estimated 6,000-hour lamp life (in Eco mode).
2011年8月15日 星期一
Epson Intros Two New Projectors for SMBs
“SMBs are looking for projectors that deliver amazing image quality at an affordable price and have the versatility to be easily set up in any room,” said Jason Meyer, product manager for Epson America. “The PowerLite 1221 and 1261W provide users with intuitive features and exceptional quality at a great value.”
The Epson PowerLite 1221features XGA resolution, and the PowerLite 1261W delivers high-definition, widescreen WXGA resolution -- 16:10 aspect ratio -- to fully use the capabilities of widescreen notebooks, according to company officials.
In addition, both projectors offer 2800 lumens color and white light output for bright presentations and true-to-life color, said company officials.
The PowerLite 1221 and 1261W deliver an advanced feature set found in higher-end models. These include flexible setup capabilities such as automatic vertical keystone and new Easy-Slide technology, an intuitive horizontal keystone adjustment slider for easy image alignment.
Additionally, the new projectors offer advanced connectivity options. Company officials said that these options include USB Plug ‘n Play for instantly projecting video and audio from a PC or Mac computer via a USB connection and a digital HDMI connection to provide high-definition video content for entertainment purposes.
Both the projectors come with New Easy-Slide technology that provides a horizontal keystone slide adjustment that creates a rectangular image even if the projector is placed off-center from the screen. The technology also provides automatic vertical keystone correction and screen fit for easy setup.
Company officials said that the projectors offer Direct Power On and Off that allow for an installed projector to be powered on and off with a flip of a wall switch. Plus, Instant On/Off enables presenters to avoid delays when starting and finishing presentations and be up and running in only five seconds. Moreover, A/V Mute Slide instantly turns off the sound and images to create a quick pause in the presentation, conserving projector lamp life and energy and helping to save costsThe Epson PowerLite 1221 and 1261W are expected to be available in September through national resellers, mail order, and distribution and are part of Epson's ImageWay Partner Program.
The Epson PowerLite 1221features XGA resolution, and the PowerLite 1261W delivers high-definition, widescreen WXGA resolution -- 16:10 aspect ratio -- to fully use the capabilities of widescreen notebooks, according to company officials.
In addition, both projectors offer 2800 lumens color and white light output for bright presentations and true-to-life color, said company officials.
The PowerLite 1221 and 1261W deliver an advanced feature set found in higher-end models. These include flexible setup capabilities such as automatic vertical keystone and new Easy-Slide technology, an intuitive horizontal keystone adjustment slider for easy image alignment.
Additionally, the new projectors offer advanced connectivity options. Company officials said that these options include USB Plug ‘n Play for instantly projecting video and audio from a PC or Mac computer via a USB connection and a digital HDMI connection to provide high-definition video content for entertainment purposes.
Both the projectors come with New Easy-Slide technology that provides a horizontal keystone slide adjustment that creates a rectangular image even if the projector is placed off-center from the screen. The technology also provides automatic vertical keystone correction and screen fit for easy setup.
Company officials said that the projectors offer Direct Power On and Off that allow for an installed projector to be powered on and off with a flip of a wall switch. Plus, Instant On/Off enables presenters to avoid delays when starting and finishing presentations and be up and running in only five seconds. Moreover, A/V Mute Slide instantly turns off the sound and images to create a quick pause in the presentation, conserving projector lamp life and energy and helping to save costsThe Epson PowerLite 1221 and 1261W are expected to be available in September through national resellers, mail order, and distribution and are part of Epson's ImageWay Partner Program.
2011年8月14日 星期日
Jamaica Ska Legend Eric “Monty” Morris To Make Rare Los Angeles Appearance
Jamaican ska music legend Eric “Monty” Morris will return to the Southland on August 27th for what will be his fifth ever show in the City of Angeles. Monty will be honored in a very special Tribute To A Living Legend showcase inside the popular new reggae night spot, The Joint.
Fresh from his debut European tour and in support of his first full-length album entitled The Living Legends Collection, Monty will be backed by an all-star cast of L.A. based musicians for this one night only. Also on the bill will be L.A.’s reggae rising stars Penny Reel (named after Monty’s hit song), popular San Diego ska outfit The Amalgamated, deejay Ras Sal and emcee Junor Francis (of KXLU radio). Monty’s fans can expect a high energy set that will include his hits “Humpty Dumpty,” “Strongman Sampson,” “Penny Reel” and “Oil In My Projector Lamp.”
Monty Morris, who has outlived many of his contemporaries, is recognized and considered one of the founding fathers of ska music. As early as 1961, prior to Jamaica gaining its independence from Great Britain, he had several hit songs such as "I’ve Tried," “Me & My Forty Five," "Say That You Love Me," "Search the World" and the chart topping, “Humpty Dumpty” for singer/producer Prince Buster. Also in 1961, he recorded “To Be or Not to Be” for producer Coxsone Dodd.
That same year Monty teamed up with Jamaican expatriate who now resides in Canada, Roy Panton. The duo released several unique and brilliant cuts “In & Out the Window,” Oh Little Honey” and Sweetie Pie,” all of which made cash registers ring for producer Duke Reid. Along with giants of the ska epoch, Alton Ellis, Stranger Cole and Ken Boothe, Morris grew up in the Trench Town area of Kingston, Jamaica. His big opportunity came when he competed in the ever so popular Vere Johns' Opportunity Hour.
From there Monty went on to make hit songs for every Kingston producer of the day. With his popularity at an all time high, having placed multiple tunes such as “Oil In My Lamp,” “Strongman Sampson,” “Humpty Dumpty,” “Drop Your Sword,” “Penny Reel” and “Oil in My Lamp,” on the top ten charts on both Jamaican radio stations, JBC and RJR, Monty could do no wrong. He was commissioned to perform in the United States at the highly prestigious 1964 New York World's Fair.
The fabulous cast of Jamaican musicians that rocked the foundation of New York City included Millie Small, Jimmy Cliff, and Byron Lee & the Dragonaires. The Fair's theme was "Peace through Understanding," dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe.”
By 1966, Jamaica's first indigenous music had evolved into the short lived but glorious rocksteady and Monty was back in the spotlight with his last major contribution to the Jamaican music charts "Say What You're Saying” for producer/singer Clancy Eccles in 1968.
The following year, Monty migrated to the United States where he has been residing ever since. To date, his songs have been included in numerous ska, rocksteady and reggae compilations. Much to his delight, in the 2003 Jim Jarmusch directed film “Coffee and Cigarettes,” used his song "Enna Bella" as one of soundtrack numbers.
Fresh from his debut European tour and in support of his first full-length album entitled The Living Legends Collection, Monty will be backed by an all-star cast of L.A. based musicians for this one night only. Also on the bill will be L.A.’s reggae rising stars Penny Reel (named after Monty’s hit song), popular San Diego ska outfit The Amalgamated, deejay Ras Sal and emcee Junor Francis (of KXLU radio). Monty’s fans can expect a high energy set that will include his hits “Humpty Dumpty,” “Strongman Sampson,” “Penny Reel” and “Oil In My Projector Lamp.”
Monty Morris, who has outlived many of his contemporaries, is recognized and considered one of the founding fathers of ska music. As early as 1961, prior to Jamaica gaining its independence from Great Britain, he had several hit songs such as "I’ve Tried," “Me & My Forty Five," "Say That You Love Me," "Search the World" and the chart topping, “Humpty Dumpty” for singer/producer Prince Buster. Also in 1961, he recorded “To Be or Not to Be” for producer Coxsone Dodd.
That same year Monty teamed up with Jamaican expatriate who now resides in Canada, Roy Panton. The duo released several unique and brilliant cuts “In & Out the Window,” Oh Little Honey” and Sweetie Pie,” all of which made cash registers ring for producer Duke Reid. Along with giants of the ska epoch, Alton Ellis, Stranger Cole and Ken Boothe, Morris grew up in the Trench Town area of Kingston, Jamaica. His big opportunity came when he competed in the ever so popular Vere Johns' Opportunity Hour.
From there Monty went on to make hit songs for every Kingston producer of the day. With his popularity at an all time high, having placed multiple tunes such as “Oil In My Lamp,” “Strongman Sampson,” “Humpty Dumpty,” “Drop Your Sword,” “Penny Reel” and “Oil in My Lamp,” on the top ten charts on both Jamaican radio stations, JBC and RJR, Monty could do no wrong. He was commissioned to perform in the United States at the highly prestigious 1964 New York World's Fair.
The fabulous cast of Jamaican musicians that rocked the foundation of New York City included Millie Small, Jimmy Cliff, and Byron Lee & the Dragonaires. The Fair's theme was "Peace through Understanding," dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe.”
By 1966, Jamaica's first indigenous music had evolved into the short lived but glorious rocksteady and Monty was back in the spotlight with his last major contribution to the Jamaican music charts "Say What You're Saying” for producer/singer Clancy Eccles in 1968.
The following year, Monty migrated to the United States where he has been residing ever since. To date, his songs have been included in numerous ska, rocksteady and reggae compilations. Much to his delight, in the 2003 Jim Jarmusch directed film “Coffee and Cigarettes,” used his song "Enna Bella" as one of soundtrack numbers.
2011年8月11日 星期四
U46 planetarium reaches new heights with new digital projector
The best viewing of the Perseid meteor shower will be Friday night, with the moon at your back, according to Peggy Hernandez, School District U46’s planetarium teacher.
She modeled what the sky will look like late Friday night on the dome of the Elgin School District U46 observatory and planetarium, using the Star Projector Lamp that’s been part of the building at 312 Watch St. since the 1960s.
But the light that flickered briefly across the dome Wednesday evening wasn’t a shooting star, nor was it part of her demonstration, Hernandez said.
“That’s one of the drawbacks to adding a projector to the dome — you get some weird reflections from time to time,” she said.
About 200 people turned out Wednesday night for the debut of the planetarium’s new digital projector.
U46 had planned two screenings that night of a short educational film about telescopes called “Two Pieces of Glass,” shown in 360 degrees on the planetarium’s dome using the new projector. It quickly added a third as lines stretched out the door and down to the sidewalk after the planetarium was filled for the second show.
About 60 people can fit into the padded seats that circle the room underneath the dome, according to Jennifer McDonnell, U46’s coordinator of math, science, planetarium and instructional technology. And the district also had pushed a few folding chairs into empty spaces in the planetarium Wednesday.
“It’s so cool,” McDonnell said. “I’m so excited about it. I wanted this so badly. I was like, ‘We have to get this.’ ”
Hernandez found out what projectors other planetariums across the area use from a Great Lakes Planetarium Association conference, McDonnell said. And U46 was able to secure a grant to cover a $31,000 package with Warped Media for maintenance for all the planetarium’s equipment and Warped Media’s LCD projector, the most cost-efficient, she said.
The district’s financial services department did not return questions about the source of that grant Thursday by The Courier-News.
Multiple shows
The planetarium now has three full-dome shows it can display, such as “Two Pieces of Glass,” McDonnell said. The film traces the history of the telescope from Galileo’s modifications of a spyglass to NASA’s plans for a telescope the size of a football field.
The planetarium also screened several trailers for other educational films Wednesday. They included a journey through the human body, a shark swimming lazy circles around the dome (before ramming it) and a tour of the solar system from the outside in.
It also could show entertainment films, such as at an IMAX Theatre, she said.
“Now we can actually expand to all types of programs,” McDonnell said. “It’s a different way to teach science.”
During the first showing of “Two Pieces of Glass” Wednesday, 6-year-old Blake Kubicek of Elgin gasped as Saturn’s rings circled the planetarium’s dome. He tipped his head back onto his dad Dave Kubicek’s shoulder, whispering the names of the planets as they appeared overhead.
Blake will start first grade at St. Laurence School in Elgin this coming school year, Kubicek said. And he said he wasn’t sure if his son would have the chance to visit the U46 observatory and planetarium at St. Laurence.
“That’s why we wanted to bring him down here,” he said.
“He’s been all about the planets and space lately, so (my wife) wanted to show him this. We figure if they’re going to be doing this on a regular basis, we can make it here in two minutes,” Kubicek said.
The district plans to begin offering similar full-dome shows weekly at the planetarium, McDonnell said.
Last school year, the observatory and planetarium increased its programming to welcome more visitors to the building than it has since the 1980s. It has estimated about 22,000 will visit in 2011.
She modeled what the sky will look like late Friday night on the dome of the Elgin School District U46 observatory and planetarium, using the Star Projector Lamp that’s been part of the building at 312 Watch St. since the 1960s.
But the light that flickered briefly across the dome Wednesday evening wasn’t a shooting star, nor was it part of her demonstration, Hernandez said.
“That’s one of the drawbacks to adding a projector to the dome — you get some weird reflections from time to time,” she said.
About 200 people turned out Wednesday night for the debut of the planetarium’s new digital projector.
U46 had planned two screenings that night of a short educational film about telescopes called “Two Pieces of Glass,” shown in 360 degrees on the planetarium’s dome using the new projector. It quickly added a third as lines stretched out the door and down to the sidewalk after the planetarium was filled for the second show.
About 60 people can fit into the padded seats that circle the room underneath the dome, according to Jennifer McDonnell, U46’s coordinator of math, science, planetarium and instructional technology. And the district also had pushed a few folding chairs into empty spaces in the planetarium Wednesday.
“It’s so cool,” McDonnell said. “I’m so excited about it. I wanted this so badly. I was like, ‘We have to get this.’ ”
Hernandez found out what projectors other planetariums across the area use from a Great Lakes Planetarium Association conference, McDonnell said. And U46 was able to secure a grant to cover a $31,000 package with Warped Media for maintenance for all the planetarium’s equipment and Warped Media’s LCD projector, the most cost-efficient, she said.
The district’s financial services department did not return questions about the source of that grant Thursday by The Courier-News.
Multiple shows
The planetarium now has three full-dome shows it can display, such as “Two Pieces of Glass,” McDonnell said. The film traces the history of the telescope from Galileo’s modifications of a spyglass to NASA’s plans for a telescope the size of a football field.
The planetarium also screened several trailers for other educational films Wednesday. They included a journey through the human body, a shark swimming lazy circles around the dome (before ramming it) and a tour of the solar system from the outside in.
It also could show entertainment films, such as at an IMAX Theatre, she said.
“Now we can actually expand to all types of programs,” McDonnell said. “It’s a different way to teach science.”
During the first showing of “Two Pieces of Glass” Wednesday, 6-year-old Blake Kubicek of Elgin gasped as Saturn’s rings circled the planetarium’s dome. He tipped his head back onto his dad Dave Kubicek’s shoulder, whispering the names of the planets as they appeared overhead.
Blake will start first grade at St. Laurence School in Elgin this coming school year, Kubicek said. And he said he wasn’t sure if his son would have the chance to visit the U46 observatory and planetarium at St. Laurence.
“That’s why we wanted to bring him down here,” he said.
“He’s been all about the planets and space lately, so (my wife) wanted to show him this. We figure if they’re going to be doing this on a regular basis, we can make it here in two minutes,” Kubicek said.
The district plans to begin offering similar full-dome shows weekly at the planetarium, McDonnell said.
Last school year, the observatory and planetarium increased its programming to welcome more visitors to the building than it has since the 1980s. It has estimated about 22,000 will visit in 2011.
2011年8月10日 星期三
Hurricane Lamps
A classic piece, it now comes in a range of styles, from the traditional “Little House on the Prairie” version to modernist renditions like the delicate crystal cylinders created by the designer Deborah Ehrlich.
Ms. Ehrlich, whose entire body of work will be on display at a show opening Friday at R/Turpan in East Hampton, N.Y., produces hurricane lamps that tend to be somewhat pricey. (At stores like E. R. Butler & Co. in Manhattan, they start at around $300.)
But that doesn’t reflect her personal taste. “I would put a camping lantern on the same level, design-wise, as the high-end stuff,” said Ms. Ehrlich, 44, who lives in the Hudson Valley with Christopher Kurtz, her husband, who is an artist and a furniture maker. “It’s honest, it’s authentic and it’s good design.”
Shopping for hurricane lamps (both high- and low-end) that meet that criteria, she began at bluecashew Kitchen Pharmacy, a furnishings store in Rhinebeck, N.Y., which is not far from her home. She quickly selected the “beautifully made” Ship’s Lamp by Erik Magnussen for Stelton. “Erik is a Danish designer who lives in Copenhagen, where I lived for a year, and where you can look at boats and water every day,” she said. “I have a high affinity for anything that reminds me of boats and water and maritime stuff.”
Mason jars reworked as hanging lanterns caught her attention at High Falls Mercantile in High Falls, N.Y., reminding her of a wedding she had attended.
“They had 200 of these hanging from trees outside,” she said. “Because the glass is so thick, it makes the flame and the light move in a beautiful way. It was truly the most magical lighting experience that I have ever seen at a big event.”
Browsing online, she found the UCO mini candle lantern, which she liked for its “combination of industrial design with an elegant reflector on top,” as well as the price (about $16).
But a traditional-style camping lantern from Coleman was the winner over all the others.
“I’ve never gone camping in my life, but I have a camping lantern,” she said. “Because when you have one of these, you realize you don’t have to be in the woods to feel like you’re on an adventure.”
Ms. Ehrlich, whose entire body of work will be on display at a show opening Friday at R/Turpan in East Hampton, N.Y., produces hurricane lamps that tend to be somewhat pricey. (At stores like E. R. Butler & Co. in Manhattan, they start at around $300.)
But that doesn’t reflect her personal taste. “I would put a camping lantern on the same level, design-wise, as the high-end stuff,” said Ms. Ehrlich, 44, who lives in the Hudson Valley with Christopher Kurtz, her husband, who is an artist and a furniture maker. “It’s honest, it’s authentic and it’s good design.”
Shopping for hurricane lamps (both high- and low-end) that meet that criteria, she began at bluecashew Kitchen Pharmacy, a furnishings store in Rhinebeck, N.Y., which is not far from her home. She quickly selected the “beautifully made” Ship’s Lamp by Erik Magnussen for Stelton. “Erik is a Danish designer who lives in Copenhagen, where I lived for a year, and where you can look at boats and water every day,” she said. “I have a high affinity for anything that reminds me of boats and water and maritime stuff.”
Mason jars reworked as hanging lanterns caught her attention at High Falls Mercantile in High Falls, N.Y., reminding her of a wedding she had attended.
“They had 200 of these hanging from trees outside,” she said. “Because the glass is so thick, it makes the flame and the light move in a beautiful way. It was truly the most magical lighting experience that I have ever seen at a big event.”
Browsing online, she found the UCO mini candle lantern, which she liked for its “combination of industrial design with an elegant reflector on top,” as well as the price (about $16).
But a traditional-style camping lantern from Coleman was the winner over all the others.
“I’ve never gone camping in my life, but I have a camping lantern,” she said. “Because when you have one of these, you realize you don’t have to be in the woods to feel like you’re on an adventure.”
2011年8月9日 星期二
Epson Introduces Two Bright and Affordable Projectors for Corporate
Epson, the number-one selling projector brand worldwide (1), today announced the PowerLite® 1880 and 1850W, two new low-cost portable projectors designed to provide brightness and advanced functionality to budget conscious businesses and higher education institutions. The PowerLite 1880 ($1,399*) offers 4,000 lumens color and white light output (2) with XGA resolution. The PowerLite 1850W ($1,299*) delivers 3,700 lumens color and white light output with WXGA resolution, allowing presenters to leverage widescreen notebooks, tablets and video.
"We have found that cost conscious corporate and higher education users are looking for ultra bright projectors, but don't want to spend thousands of dollars for them," said Sean Gunduz, product manager, Epson America. "The PowerLite 1880 and 1850W meet the needs of these customers by delivering brightness, high image quality and an array of advanced features at an affordable price."
Both the PowerLite 1880 and 1850W come equipped with flexible setup features such as Easy-Slide technology, an intuitive horizontal keystone adjustment slider, as well as advanced connectivity options, including HDMI digital connection, USB Plug 'n Play, and PC-Free slideshows. In addition, the PowerLite 1880 offers advanced networking with wired LAN connectivity for ease-of-use and management over a network, allowing for remote monitoring and control, the ability to send content over the IP, message broadcasting, and Crestron RoomView compatibility.
More about the PowerLite 1880 and 1850W
The Epson PowerLite 1880 and 1850W deliver several easy to use and advanced features ideal for any boardroom or classroom, including:
-- Image Adjustment: Easy-Slide technology horizontal keystone slider squares the image even if the projector is placed off-center from the screen, adapting for easy setup in multiple rooms; Quick Corner® allows any four corners of an image to be adjusted independently for a perfectly rectangular picture
-- Positioning Flexibility: 1.6x optical zoom allows for larger images from shorter throw distances and eliminates dead spaces
-- USB Plug 'n Play: Instantly projects images, transmits audio and controls the presentation from either a Windows® PC or Mac via a single USB connection; allows for easier set up and eliminates the hassle of dealing with bulky VGA cables and toggling between computer keys
-- PC-Free Slideshows: Offers convenient connectivity with USB memory devices such as a thumb drive for easily viewing and sharing pictures without a computer
-- HDMI Connectivity: Includes an all-digital HDMI connection for high quality video and digital audio
-- Convenient Control: Direct Power On and Off allows for an installed projector to be powered on and off with a flip of a wall switch
-- Extended Lamp Life: Using Epson's exclusive E-TORL® lamp technology, the lamp life can last up to 4,000 hours (3)
-- Powerful Communication: Built-in 10-watt speaker offers great sound and closed captioning decoder makes presentations accessible to viewers with hearing impairments
-- 3LCD Technology: Features the latest, 3LCD, 3-chip technology to deliver amazing, true-to-life color and detail for powerful presentations; 3LCD technology provides an energy-efficient light engine which efficiently uses available lamp light to create stunning images; in contrast to 1-chip DLP technology, 3LCD requires, on average, 25 percent less electricity per lumen of brightness (4)
The PowerLite 1880 and 1850W are also offered through Epson's Brighter Futures® program, a unique sales and support initiative that is available specifically for schools. Designed to help educators select and implement the best products for their classrooms while making the most of their budgets, Brighter Futures offers special pricing, extended Epson limited warranty coverage for three years, dedicated education account managers, and toll-free technical support for all Epson projectors.
"We have found that cost conscious corporate and higher education users are looking for ultra bright projectors, but don't want to spend thousands of dollars for them," said Sean Gunduz, product manager, Epson America. "The PowerLite 1880 and 1850W meet the needs of these customers by delivering brightness, high image quality and an array of advanced features at an affordable price."
Both the PowerLite 1880 and 1850W come equipped with flexible setup features such as Easy-Slide technology, an intuitive horizontal keystone adjustment slider, as well as advanced connectivity options, including HDMI digital connection, USB Plug 'n Play, and PC-Free slideshows. In addition, the PowerLite 1880 offers advanced networking with wired LAN connectivity for ease-of-use and management over a network, allowing for remote monitoring and control, the ability to send content over the IP, message broadcasting, and Crestron RoomView compatibility.
More about the PowerLite 1880 and 1850W
The Epson PowerLite 1880 and 1850W deliver several easy to use and advanced features ideal for any boardroom or classroom, including:
-- Image Adjustment: Easy-Slide technology horizontal keystone slider squares the image even if the projector is placed off-center from the screen, adapting for easy setup in multiple rooms; Quick Corner® allows any four corners of an image to be adjusted independently for a perfectly rectangular picture
-- Positioning Flexibility: 1.6x optical zoom allows for larger images from shorter throw distances and eliminates dead spaces
-- USB Plug 'n Play: Instantly projects images, transmits audio and controls the presentation from either a Windows® PC or Mac via a single USB connection; allows for easier set up and eliminates the hassle of dealing with bulky VGA cables and toggling between computer keys
-- PC-Free Slideshows: Offers convenient connectivity with USB memory devices such as a thumb drive for easily viewing and sharing pictures without a computer
-- HDMI Connectivity: Includes an all-digital HDMI connection for high quality video and digital audio
-- Convenient Control: Direct Power On and Off allows for an installed projector to be powered on and off with a flip of a wall switch
-- Extended Lamp Life: Using Epson's exclusive E-TORL® lamp technology, the lamp life can last up to 4,000 hours (3)
-- Powerful Communication: Built-in 10-watt speaker offers great sound and closed captioning decoder makes presentations accessible to viewers with hearing impairments
-- 3LCD Technology: Features the latest, 3LCD, 3-chip technology to deliver amazing, true-to-life color and detail for powerful presentations; 3LCD technology provides an energy-efficient light engine which efficiently uses available lamp light to create stunning images; in contrast to 1-chip DLP technology, 3LCD requires, on average, 25 percent less electricity per lumen of brightness (4)
The PowerLite 1880 and 1850W are also offered through Epson's Brighter Futures® program, a unique sales and support initiative that is available specifically for schools. Designed to help educators select and implement the best products for their classrooms while making the most of their budgets, Brighter Futures offers special pricing, extended Epson limited warranty coverage for three years, dedicated education account managers, and toll-free technical support for all Epson projectors.
2011年8月8日 星期一
Lillian R. Lamp
Lillian R. Lamp, of Delafield, died Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011 at Manor Care in Pewaukee at the age of 99.
She was born in Davenport, Iowa on Jan. 16, 1912, the daughter of Herman and Theadora (nee Harding) Lamp. She was a member of the Golden Lazers and a member of Delafield Presbyterian Church. For 15 years she was a foster grandma at Ethan Allen Boys School in Wales. Lillian was an active volunteer at the Knollcrest mealsite.
She will be sadly missed by her caregiver and special niece Betty and her husband Bob Edwards. She is further survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters, Walter (Adele), Ella (Jack) Jones, Edna (Winfred) Latham, Arthur (Orlanda), William (Ruth), Louise (Howard) Peiterson, Agnes (William) Turkoski, Herbert (Jesse) and Henry.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 10. from 11 a.m. until the 1 p.m. funeral service at Delafield Presbyterian Church, 1851 Genesee St. Delafield, WI 53018. Graveside services will follow at Delafield Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to Delafield Presbyterian Church (address above) or Heartland Hospice, 1233 N. Mayfair Rd. Suite 100 Milwaukee, WI 53226.
She was born in Davenport, Iowa on Jan. 16, 1912, the daughter of Herman and Theadora (nee Harding) Lamp. She was a member of the Golden Lazers and a member of Delafield Presbyterian Church. For 15 years she was a foster grandma at Ethan Allen Boys School in Wales. Lillian was an active volunteer at the Knollcrest mealsite.
She will be sadly missed by her caregiver and special niece Betty and her husband Bob Edwards. She is further survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters, Walter (Adele), Ella (Jack) Jones, Edna (Winfred) Latham, Arthur (Orlanda), William (Ruth), Louise (Howard) Peiterson, Agnes (William) Turkoski, Herbert (Jesse) and Henry.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 10. from 11 a.m. until the 1 p.m. funeral service at Delafield Presbyterian Church, 1851 Genesee St. Delafield, WI 53018. Graveside services will follow at Delafield Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to Delafield Presbyterian Church (address above) or Heartland Hospice, 1233 N. Mayfair Rd. Suite 100 Milwaukee, WI 53226.
2011年8月7日 星期日
Projector company launches educational and professional devices
ViewSonic, a leading producer of projectors, has launched two new series with a focus on the educational and professional markets.
The international firm is offering up its ViewSonic 7 Series projectors, which feature a range of teacher-friendly features. There are a total of five projectors in the series, all of which are 3D-ready. Implementing 3D functionality in the classroom has been found to increase interaction in a learning environment.
But the interactive aspect of these gadgets can also save money by avoiding the need to purchase an interactive white board. In fact, students and teachers can write directly onto the projected image using the PointBlank pen, which is included with the purchase.
Meanwhile, the ViewSonic Pro 8 Series allow for the projection of images in large rooms while maintaining great picture quality. The machines are therefore useful in meetings or presentations, where their ability to present Blu-ray content, HD videos and images in their true nature will also come in handy.
Brightness can be cranked up to 5,000 AINSI Lumens and the range includes a contrast ratio of 3,000:1. Despite this high level of visibility, the projector lamp life with the Pro 8 series is around 3,000 hours when the device is used in Eco-Mode.
The international firm is offering up its ViewSonic 7 Series projectors, which feature a range of teacher-friendly features. There are a total of five projectors in the series, all of which are 3D-ready. Implementing 3D functionality in the classroom has been found to increase interaction in a learning environment.
But the interactive aspect of these gadgets can also save money by avoiding the need to purchase an interactive white board. In fact, students and teachers can write directly onto the projected image using the PointBlank pen, which is included with the purchase.
Meanwhile, the ViewSonic Pro 8 Series allow for the projection of images in large rooms while maintaining great picture quality. The machines are therefore useful in meetings or presentations, where their ability to present Blu-ray content, HD videos and images in their true nature will also come in handy.
Brightness can be cranked up to 5,000 AINSI Lumens and the range includes a contrast ratio of 3,000:1. Despite this high level of visibility, the projector lamp life with the Pro 8 series is around 3,000 hours when the device is used in Eco-Mode.
2011年8月3日 星期三
ViewSonic presents projector range aimed at enterprise and education
ViewSonic, global technology provider and renowned worldwide leader of visual display products is reinforcing its projector line up with a range of interactive and professional displays. The ViewSonic 7 Series projectors, designed for the education environment, offer a multitude of teacher-friendly features and valuable additions to any interactive instruction. The ViewSonic Pro 8 Series projectors, ideal for any business backdrop, allow professionals to deliver detailed presentations in any setting regardless of lighting conditions.
ViewSonic 7 Series
With five models in the series – PJD7382, PJD7383, PJD7383i, PJD7583w and PJD7583wi, the 3D-ready ViewSonic 7 Series projectors promote improved class participation by providing a visual source for dynamic presentations and enabling teachers to improvise an interactive whiteboard at a click away. Negating the need for costly interactive whiteboards, the ViewSonic “i” Series projectors – PJD7383i and PJD7583wi includes exclusive ViewSonic iProjector technology allowing users to to write directly onto the projected image with the included interactive PointBlank pen.
The ViewSonic 7 Series projectors feature an amazingly small throw ratio, projecting 80-inch images presented from just one metre away putting an end to teachers being blinded by the bright light. Fitted with Digital Keystone Correction which instantly square images to correct proportion, 1024 x 768 resolution and 3000 lumens, the ViewSonic 7 Series projectors delivers all-digital clarity and outstanding quality imagery in virtually any venue. A microphone input is included and the entire range is equipped with advanced Crestron network control using the local area network (LAN).
ViewSonic Pro 8 Series
In a commercial context, the ViewSonic Pro 8 Series possesses the power to stage projection in large rooms without loss of picture quality. Incorporating BrilliantColor™ technology, the ViewSonic Pro 8 Series projectors produce more vivid colours and project in high resolution, as well as present Blu-ray content, HD videos and images in their true nature. Brightness levels can reach up to 5000 ANSI lumens and the range include a contrast ratio of 3000:1.
The ViewSonic Pro 8 Series projectors provide advanced functionality, are easy to maintain and have a low total cost of ownership. With lamp life of 3000 hours in Eco-Mode, the ViewSonic Pro 8 Series projectors are compatible with Crestron advanced network control, making them simple to monitor remaining lamp-life and check for faults. Access via the top cover of the projector allows the lamp to be easily changed, no matter how the device is mounted.
Furthermore, a multitude of connectivity options make the ViewSonic 7 Series and ViewSonic Pro 8 Series projectors versatile. ViewSonic 7 Series projectors feature USB and LAN display, providing the flexibility to choose how to send content to the device. ViewSonic Pro 8 Series include HDMI, video and PC inputs allowing a range of devices to be connected.
ViewSonic 7 Series
With five models in the series – PJD7382, PJD7383, PJD7383i, PJD7583w and PJD7583wi, the 3D-ready ViewSonic 7 Series projectors promote improved class participation by providing a visual source for dynamic presentations and enabling teachers to improvise an interactive whiteboard at a click away. Negating the need for costly interactive whiteboards, the ViewSonic “i” Series projectors – PJD7383i and PJD7583wi includes exclusive ViewSonic iProjector technology allowing users to to write directly onto the projected image with the included interactive PointBlank pen.
The ViewSonic 7 Series projectors feature an amazingly small throw ratio, projecting 80-inch images presented from just one metre away putting an end to teachers being blinded by the bright light. Fitted with Digital Keystone Correction which instantly square images to correct proportion, 1024 x 768 resolution and 3000 lumens, the ViewSonic 7 Series projectors delivers all-digital clarity and outstanding quality imagery in virtually any venue. A microphone input is included and the entire range is equipped with advanced Crestron network control using the local area network (LAN).
ViewSonic Pro 8 Series
In a commercial context, the ViewSonic Pro 8 Series possesses the power to stage projection in large rooms without loss of picture quality. Incorporating BrilliantColor™ technology, the ViewSonic Pro 8 Series projectors produce more vivid colours and project in high resolution, as well as present Blu-ray content, HD videos and images in their true nature. Brightness levels can reach up to 5000 ANSI lumens and the range include a contrast ratio of 3000:1.
The ViewSonic Pro 8 Series projectors provide advanced functionality, are easy to maintain and have a low total cost of ownership. With lamp life of 3000 hours in Eco-Mode, the ViewSonic Pro 8 Series projectors are compatible with Crestron advanced network control, making them simple to monitor remaining lamp-life and check for faults. Access via the top cover of the projector allows the lamp to be easily changed, no matter how the device is mounted.
Furthermore, a multitude of connectivity options make the ViewSonic 7 Series and ViewSonic Pro 8 Series projectors versatile. ViewSonic 7 Series projectors feature USB and LAN display, providing the flexibility to choose how to send content to the device. ViewSonic Pro 8 Series include HDMI, video and PC inputs allowing a range of devices to be connected.
2011年8月1日 星期一
3M PocketProjector MP180 review
The MP180 is a highly versatile office projector. It's a short-throw model, which means it can project large images even when very close to a surface, and it can be hooked up to a source via VGA or component inputs (using an adaptor), display files from internal memory or a microSD memory card or copy them to internal memory over Bluetooth, and even browse the web over Wi-Fi.
Built-in office document and PDF support means you can read documents, spreadsheets and presentations directly from a memory card, and there's also support for MPEG4 and H.264 movies and MP3, AMR and AAC audio files. BMP and JPEG image files can also be displayed. A resistive touchscreen interface lets you browse files, access settings and even browse the web, using the touchscreen to control a mouse and an on-screen keyboard. It's extremely fiddly, but if it means not having to carry a laptop around with you then it may be worth it.
3M PocketProjector MP180 Front
Pico projectors use LCOS (Liquid Crystal On Silicon) chips. These are like a mirror with a liquid crystal layer. An LED light source is used, reducing power consumption and meaning the lamp lasts a long time (the LED lamp in the MP180 has an estimated life of over 20,000 hours). The upshot is a tiny projector that can project an 80in-diagonal picture at about two-and-a-half metres, with a built-in battery that lasts for about two hours. The MP180's versatility makes it ideal for travelling business people, but it's not without its flaws.
For a start, the MP180 only produces 30 lumens of brightness, so unlike normal business projectors designed for use under harsh office lighting, the MP180 should either be used in a darkened room or at very short range. The second limitation is a physical one: the desk stand that comes in the box is a three-legged tripod stand with flexible legs, which screws into a standard mount on the MP180's underside. The legs don't keep their shape well and so provide a rather shaky foundation; it would be wise to either invest in a proper tripod or a Joby GorillaPod.
Built-in office document and PDF support means you can read documents, spreadsheets and presentations directly from a memory card, and there's also support for MPEG4 and H.264 movies and MP3, AMR and AAC audio files. BMP and JPEG image files can also be displayed. A resistive touchscreen interface lets you browse files, access settings and even browse the web, using the touchscreen to control a mouse and an on-screen keyboard. It's extremely fiddly, but if it means not having to carry a laptop around with you then it may be worth it.
3M PocketProjector MP180 Front
Pico projectors use LCOS (Liquid Crystal On Silicon) chips. These are like a mirror with a liquid crystal layer. An LED light source is used, reducing power consumption and meaning the lamp lasts a long time (the LED lamp in the MP180 has an estimated life of over 20,000 hours). The upshot is a tiny projector that can project an 80in-diagonal picture at about two-and-a-half metres, with a built-in battery that lasts for about two hours. The MP180's versatility makes it ideal for travelling business people, but it's not without its flaws.
For a start, the MP180 only produces 30 lumens of brightness, so unlike normal business projectors designed for use under harsh office lighting, the MP180 should either be used in a darkened room or at very short range. The second limitation is a physical one: the desk stand that comes in the box is a three-legged tripod stand with flexible legs, which screws into a standard mount on the MP180's underside. The legs don't keep their shape well and so provide a rather shaky foundation; it would be wise to either invest in a proper tripod or a Joby GorillaPod.
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