Archive - August 2016

Queensland University of Technology promotes scientific collaboration with Panasonic laser projector installation

QUT upgrades The Forum and The Cube with vibrant 3D and 8K projection

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has installed three Panasonic PT-RZ12K laser projectors to provide a seamless edge blending display with stereoscopic 3D capability within The Forum – located adjacent to The Cube digital learning space at the Science and Engineering Centre, Gardens Point, Brisbane.

The Forum is a specialist facility designed to host collaborative forums with and between scientists, business and government as well as community workshops, and professional education programs. The 12,000 lumen PT-RZ12K laser projectors selected for The Forum provide the immersive and detailed images required by the University to enhance the learning experience and deliver better research outcomes.

Gavin Winter, Visualisation and eResearch Manager, Institute for Future Environments, QUT, said: “The Forum is all about using technology to address the challenges of the world through visualisation and collaboration, by getting teams together to look at immersive media in 3D. Traditionally, visualisation suites are quite small. We’re now able to have up to 100 people looking at high-resolution data sets at scale, which makes it more effective to convey an idea or review a problem, and the audience can leave being more empowered to make a decision.

“It has great applications for conservation – for example, today’s scientists are capturing complex data in the field across many areas – endangered habitats, important archeological sites or water infrastructure – and then other groups can explore that here at QUT using the incredibly detailed projections.

“Equally, it can be used as a learning environment for the community and students; or government and business organisations who need new ways of visualising and exploring complex information, from engineering data to disaster response.”

Robin Drogemuller, Professor of Virtual Design and Construction, Science and Engineering, QUT, said: “One of the most exciting research projects we are working on at the moment is the city of Angkor in Cambodia. This was founded in the 8th century and disappeared in the 15th century and we want to understand why.”

Professor Drogemuller said the buildings were being laser scanned in the field, a process which may require up to 50 scans per building. The scans are stitched together to provide a highly detailed image of a structure.

“We need to be able to both zoom out and see the whole structure, and zoom in and see really fine detail. Having the big projection in the Forum enables us to bring together the architects, the historians, the archaeologists, the hydraulic engineers and the agricultural scientists, so we can take a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding the buildings and the city within this context.”

The Forum: Creating a collaboration space

QUT-Laser-Projector-The-Forum-2
QUT-Laser-Projector-The-Forum

With the Forum originally equipped with 6 PT-DZ6710 projectors, QUT, under leadership by the Visualisation and eResearch group (ViseR), recognised that the room could realise greater potential as a high-end visualisation and collaboration space through upgraded projection technology.

QUT embarked on an evaluation of laser projectors and concluded that the Panasonic PT-RZ12K laser projector was the best in its class. Three PT-RZ12Ks, coupled with high-performance graphics computers and an integrated congress microphone system, now provide stunning imaging including 3-channel stereoscopic (3D) projections to groups of 20-100 people.

The solution was provided by national audio visual systems integrator, ProAV Solutions QLD, and will support the needs of the University members, partners, and the public for some years to come.

The combination of 12,000 lumen output and high resolution plus support for 3D makes the projectors ideal for simulation, interactive exhibitions or virtual reality. Panasonic’s PT-RZ12K edge blending feature is designed for easy setup and enables seamless conversion of multiple projected images.

Upgrading the Cube to 8K

QUT-Laser-Projector-The-Cube

The Forum is a unique facility, complementing the hugely successful Cube. The Cube was recently upgraded with a fleet of PT-RZ670 projectors, and now features four Panasonic PT-RQ13K 4K laser systems – sustaining one of the world’s largest digital interactive learning spaces.

The Cube soars across two storeys – including an enormous 14×9 metre wall displaying a vibrant blended projection, and 48 multi-touch screens – and is designed to provide an inspiring experience that allows the public, and particularly young people, to visualise, experience and explore QUT’s Science and Engineering research. Thanks to the realism of the images, environments from intricate underwater landscapes to outer space can be replicated at a real-world scale.

Gavin Winter added: “An ongoing goal of The Cube is to stay an industry leader in digital interactive learning spaces. In museums and galleries today you’ll find 4K or ultra high definition content. Using the four RQ13Ks edge blended on the wall of the Cube we have 8K – this is a real distinction within Australia. This supports better content and more vibrant images, and with 8K the audience experience is now even better.”

The selection of laser projectors is also in line with QUT’s ongoing shift from lamp-based projection to laser technology, reducing ongoing maintenance requirements associated with traditional lamp based projection solutions, where lamp replacements must be scheduled every 2,000 hours. In comparison, Panasonic’s PT-RZ12K projector is designed to be maintenance free for up to 20,000 hours.

Panasonic to preview 4K laser projector and digital signage solutions at Integrate 2016

Panasonic previews 4K laser projector for large-venue entertainment, ‘space player’ hybrid spotlight/projector for retail and exhibition displays, and ‘Light ID’ to link smartphones with digital signage

Panasonic Australia will preview its latest display and digital signage solutions for applications from event production to retail displays, at the upcoming Integrate exhibition from 23-25 August, Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park.

The flagship PT-RQ32K 3-Chip DLP™ SOLID SHINE Laser 4K+ projector is perfect for large-venue entertainment applications. Offering an impressive 27,000 lm maximum brightness (center-screen, high mode operation) at 5120 x 3200-pixel (4K+) resolution, this all-in-one projector incorporates Quad Pixel Drive technology which creates extra pixels vertically and horizontally, quadrupling pixel density and rendering the finest details in exquisite 4K+ resolution. The need for custom mounting-frames has also been eliminated with new frame-free stacking or i-bolt rigging capability, reducing overall weight for less costly transportation, which also makes it easier to support multi-projection mapping applications at large events.

Chris Maw, Product Manager, Projectors, Panasonic, said: “Delivering spectacular visuals from fast action scenes to film-like text and graphic reproduction, the PT-RQ32K is ideal for rental and staging, projection mapping and large-venue theatres. With a dust-resistant optical drive, dual laser modules with failsafe backup protection, liquid cooling and long life filter, the projector combines reliability and low-maintenance with the outstanding performance these applications demand.”

At Integrate, Panasonic will also demonstrate the PT-RZ970 laser projector in conjunction with software that uses an externally connected camera to significantly shorten adjustment time for multi- or curved screen projections, supporting the creation of seamless edge blended, colour-matched and geometrically adjusted images.

The company will preview a new ‘Space Player’ hybrid spotlight and laser projection device. Available in black or white, the Space Player is a compact cylinder that resembles a regular shop spotlight but can highlight in-store displays by blending video, stills, graphics, and text-based digital signage with multiple spotlighting effects in virtually any combination desired. Thanks to a flexible universal joint, Space Player can project in all directions below its horizontal axis, and is mountable on conventional lighting tracks, making installation and relocation easy. Data is stored on SD Card, and ‘Space Player’ can be updated over a wi-fi network, including capabilities such as Intel® Pro WiDi to mirror screens of supported mobile devices and PCs. Other applications include museums, showrooms, hotels, function halls, exhibitions, or in any area where spotlighting is used to capture attention.

Panasonic will also showcase the newly-developed ‘Light ID’ technology, available in early 2017, which enables simple sharing of content for information, entertainment, guidance and advertising, using LED display technology.

Panasonic Light ID links smartphones with digital signage. It provides detailed information through modulating LEDs at a speed unperceivable to the human eye. The system uses a dedicated mobile app to instantly share content between Light ID transmitters, such as displays and LED signboards, to smartphones.

This system enables the transmission of Light IDs from a display using high-speed backlight control technology. This can be achieved through a compatible set-top box (STB) linked to the display, or through inbuilt media players using a USB memory device.

A single display can provide a variety of information to smartphones, and has applications in tourist areas for instance, where information to help visitors navigate an airport, train station or shopping arcade could be delivered in multiple languages. In museums, detailed exhibit information and voice guidance could be provided using smartphones or tablets.

In addition, Panasonic will demonstrate its easy to set up digital signage solution, the ‘System on a Chip’ AF1 display series of 55 inch LED panels. The AF1 Series features an Android™ and HTML5-based OpenPort Platform™ and is equipped with a 1GHz quad-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, and 8 GB of internal storage. It substitutes expensive external ‘Wintel’ systems which also require cabling, additional mounts and installation.

An inbuilt media player and Wi-Fi® capability also greatly reduce cabling complexity and eliminate the need for an external player device if simple play back of videos and photos is required. The display’s open API allows users to control the displays through third party software running on the open port platform.

Chris Maw added: ”This platform streamlines the process every customer has to go through in order to implement their digital signage system. Working with systems integrators, it’s possible to control an entire 24/7 digital sign network from the AF1 Series – such as building-wide LED signs including lighting, audio, and show control – using one comprehensive cloud based interface.”

Key Features

PT-RQ32K

Key advantages of the PT-RQ32K include free 360-degree installation, long-distance HDBaseT™-based DIGITAL LINK video/control transmission, a Multi-Screen Support System, Geo Adjustment, and software for projector-network management over LAN complete with optional plug-ins for simultaneous auto-calibration of multiple projectors and expanded multi-screen support functions.

The projector delivers excellent visuals with a 240 Hz-capable Real Motion Processor sub-frame sampling engine for fluid motion reproduction, Detail Clarity Processor 5+ and System Daylight View 3 analysis technology, and digitally modulated 20,000:1 Dynamic Contrast. Other inclusions such as Quick On/Off, mechanical shutter, and power management functions ensure smooth, energy-efficient operation in long-term or temporary installations. The PT-RQ32K will be available in Australia in late 2016.

The Series is compatible with existing Panasonic lenses for 3-chip DLP projectors, allowing operators to share lenses between projectors in their inventories.

Space Player

The Space Player (PT-JX200 Series) will be available in Australia in 2017. It features a 1-Chip DLP™ imaging device and a robust laser light source providing 2,000 lumens at XGA resolution. Panasonic hybrid colour-wheel technology produces very rich and vibrant images for such a compact device. The filterless design requires no maintenance for up to 20,000 hours of 24/7 operation.

Space Player is also very simple to use, requiring only content stored on SD Card to commence playback. When connected to a local network, Content Manager allows playlist scheduling and access to brightness/power supply settings, all easily editable over Wi-Fi. Included Wireless Manager software enables wired or wireless transmission of images displayed on PC screens to the Space Player, while a Wireless Projector app is offered for iOS and Android™ devices. Terminals include SD Card slot, HDMI, USB Type-A for power supply, and RJ45 supporting PJLink™, Art-Net, and Crestron software.