By: Carol Emmens

LED, which stands for light emitting diode, is a technology used in scores of products and is well-known for its use in specialty IT and audiovisual equipment as well as everyday products such as light bulbs. LED displays are used in a wide variety of ways and their popularity is exploding. But note that home flat screen televisions, often described as LED’s, are actually LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) televisions with LED back lights. Large format LED displays (video walls) are made up of modular tiles which are locked together so that they are seamless. They are extremely versatile:

• They can be any size.
• They can be curved.
• They can be flown.
• They can be on stands.
• They can be used indoors.
• They can be used outdoors.

Because of their versatility, LED’s are extremely popular for these video walls. Whether they are used as a wall or as individual displays, they are seen at live events ranging from commencements to concerts to corporate meetings. Typically LED displays are specified as indoor or outdoor displays. Indoor models are generally higher in resolution but less bright. But keep in mind the resolution is not comparable to a flat screen television or projector since they are designed to be viewed from a distance.

Unlike LCD’s, outdoor LED displays can be seen even in the sunlight and they are weather resistant; the level of weather resistance is measured as an Ingress Protection (IP) number. LED displays are universal; they are used on stage, in stadiums, educational institutions, and corporations. Given the dramatic impact they make, LED displays are very cost effective for advertisers, entertainers, and exhibiters.

Lights

LED lights, like LED displays, are widely used for audiovisual effects and are used both indoors and outdoors. They range from small stand- alone lights to complex systems of multiple lights that perform multiple functions in multiple locations. LED lights can be used in numerous ways:

• To highlight or pin spot an area.
• To flood an entire wall of a façade or stage.
• To create a light show.
• To highlight a landmark or a work of art.

Because LED lights can change colors or create a scene, they are a cost effective way to transform a space. LED lights are used to set the mood for special social occasions such as weddings, bar mitzvahs or holiday parties and they are used to light up dance floors in trendy nightclubs. They are a “must have” for DJ’s.

LED lights help corporations brand their products and display their logos. They are often a critical component of marketing campaigns and can be customized for important clients. Compared to the neon signs of yesteryear, LED lighting is more energy efficient, is longer lasting, and is better for the environment. Plus, it is appreciably more reliable. Consequently, LED lighting has become the standard for signs and exhibits, providing unsurpassed colors and mixing to create all types of images.

LED lights or “drapes” can be triggered or controlled to change the brightness, the color, and the content. They can display built-in patterns and/or they can fade.  LED lights can be pre-programmed for an event, presentation or show whether it’s a rock performance or a theatrical play. It can be spectacular – or it can be calming and serene.

Your imagination is the only limit to what LED displays or LED lights can do for you. For help in assessing your needs for LED lighting, with rentals or installation, call Zeo Systems; let our experience guide you to the right LED solution(s) for you.

A video wall is an example of digital signage.  A video wall consists of multiple monitors, cubes, projectors or panels that are tiled together. Most often they are tiled tightly together to form one large image, but they are sometimes tiled loosely or into several separate sections for multiple images and messages or unique results, especially for performances.

Typically, video wall displays have detailed, high resolution content which makes them engaging and powerful and they receive a lot of attention. Because of the impact and increasing affordability of video walls, they are growing in popularity and they are used in a wide variety of ways:

• To enhance viewing for concert/sports event attendees
• Advertising
• Control Rooms
• Security
• Interactive Communications
• 3-D Simulation

A flexible tool, video walls can help brand a product, encourage collaboration and interactivity in venues ranging from lobbies, museums, and zoos, to sports and entertainment arenas and shopping malls  – to name a few. They are placed in high traffic areas to attract the most attention.  A video wall can be used indoors or out; it can be flat or curved, and it can be designed for permanent or temporary displays. In short, their uses are almost limitless and your video wall can be as complex and creative as you want.

A very important step when you decide to utilize or install a video wall is to define your goals.  All successful audiovisual systems require a clear set plan of action and results desired. A complete video wall system requires a number of components with a wide range of options available for each, starting with the selection of the type of display. An enormous range of technologies, resolutions and sizes are available on the market today and can make selecting one bewildering. A video wall can be designed with LCD’s, LED’s, cubes or projectors.  Each has its own unique characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages so you need to understand the inherent strengths and weaknesses of each. What is an ideal type of display for one environment is often a disaster in others.

Do you want one image, called a blending, over all the screens? If so, the image has to be as close to seamless as possible and a very narrow bezel (frame) is vital to avoid lines running through the image or text. High resolution keeps the image sharp. Does your video wall require a touch screen to engage the viewer or to provide information? How many touch points are desired? The number can range from one to 32.  Do you want to allow multiple users to simultaneously interact with video wall without affecting other users?

There are applications that call for 3D video walls such as molecular modeling, engineering, and simulations. Is your display compatible with the graphics cards you want to use? For video walls the software is as critical to the design as the hardware.  All video walls are software based; many have software built in that can fulfill your needs but others require a network based software controller.

Installation presents its own series of challenges in mounting, power, and cooling. Video walls can also be subject to heating problems. Does the video wall have heat sensors and cooling fans that come on automatically when needed? Where the video wall will be installed impacts your decision making as well. Is the infrastructure in place  to hold the weight?  Is the installation hardware integrated as it is for the Chauvet® MVP models (which our Production division has in inventory for rent) or do you need to buy it separately?

Is a mission critical 24/7 application that requires a redundant power supply module that provides continuous operation even in the event of a power failure required?.Even the number of power outlets and their locations comes into play. There are video walls that do not require the power to be behind the display and that can handle multiple devices. That reduces the rack space and the number of outlets needed and helps reduce the costs.
A video wall is an excellent way to communicate, enhance your presentation and make an impact, but it takes a sufficient budget and level of commitment to the project. We have alerted you to only a few of the questions that need to be answered before you install one. Zeo Systems expert technicians are  capable of designing, installing and servicing your video wall or if your needs are for a single event, our Production division can provide a rental from our in house inventory as an alternative. Give us a call.

By: Carol R. Emmens

Mega-churches, those having 2000 seats or more, have been in the forefront of using audiovisual systems for dramatic effect in their services. Their music systems rival those of performing arts centers and rock tours, featuring state of the art projectors, multiple large screens and stage lighting. But now smaller churches, especially “satellite” churches, synagogues and numerous houses of worship (HOW) of all sizes are utilizing AV to inform and engage their congregants. Is your house of worship ready to add AV systems or to upgrade the ones you have?

State of the art AV/IT is important because houses of worship are trying to attract congregants especially the millennials. Attracting and keeping congregants is a multi-fold, ongoing project. For example, the younger generations often view an organ as old-fashioned. Planning to implement a more contemporary slant to your worship service? If so, the electric guitars, synthesizers and drums require speakers that can handle the more ‘rock’ type sounds that will be incorporated. There are also congregants who prefer a more traditional service. Does your audio system handle that as well?

And they are not the only audio issues; high cathedral ceilings often make intelligibility an issue. The congregants want to hear and understand the sermons, prayers, and announcements; consequently a house of worship needs several types of microphones.  And even though not required by law as in other public buildings, having assistive listening devices available for your older congregants may be a worthwhile investment.

Does your house of worship have a website? With the astounding proliferation of social media, it is the best and most cost effective way to post events whether it’s a potluck dinner, Bible study, or discussion of the Torah. Often a website is less expensive than print media and more accessible. Before attending a service the vast majority of people “visit” the house of worship online and they expect to find clear, concise information about the style(s) of worship, children’s programs, and schedules.

But people want much more when they visit a website – they are accustomed to the “wow” factors of social media. Do you have the ability to post video? Do you have a link to Facebook? Do you have a YouTube™ account? Who will produce the video and what equipment do you own? It is not enough to use your smartphone or iPad camera to record a video; the congregants do not expect the quality of a high-definition Hollywood movie, neither to they want to see a choppy, poorly lit video that screams “amateur.”

Once the congregants arrive at the house of worship they want the same AV technology they have in their offices, educational institutions and homes. They want to read the words to a hymn on a large screen, and sometimes they will need to see and hear the service or wedding ceremony in an overflow room. Hundreds, even thousands, of handicapped and senior congregants who cannot attend the house of worship want to see what they are missing on their flat screen televisions or tablets in the comfort of their living rooms while they sip a cup of coffee.

To achieve all the AV/IT goals of today, the systems are complex and intertwined; for example, the camera lights cannot wash out the screen(s); the speakers cannot transmit feedback – and these are only two potential problems.  All components must work together as a whole to complete the desired presentation.

The first step to incorporating audiovisual technology is to define your goals for each aspect of the project and determine the budget. In addition, it is typically difficult to install audiovisual equipment in a house of worship. It is possible an engineer will need to provide an analysis of the structural integrity of the facility, e.g. is it possible to hang heavy speakers from the beams or do they need to be reinforced? There are many factors to take into account: Is the electricity adequate? Is the network up to par? Is there storage space for components that don’t need to be seen?

The cost of audiovisual equipment has declined and manufacturers have brought new products into the market to address the needs of the house of worship clients. But generally a HOW relies on volunteers for everything from baking cookies to maintaining the website to operating the AV/IT systems. That places an emphasis on installing systems that are easy to use and easy to control. Controls range from pushing a button to amplify a microphone to handheld remotes to iPad systems that control all the equipment with a few clicks.

The components of an audiovisual system – audio, display, lighting, recording – need to be robust, flexible and seamlessly integrated. That takes working with an experienced audiovisual company at every stage of the project. Call on Zeo Systems for a free consultation to help you set your goals and meet them.

By: Carol R. Emmens

Digital signage  (digital displays of information or video) fulfills the needs of all types of corporations and businesses, educational institutions, houses of worship, bars and restaurants, retail stores, and hospitals; it is used everywhere from airports to zoos and everyplace in between: hallways, lobbies, classrooms –  even at gas pumps and in elevators. The proliferation of digital signage has occurred because the associated costs have come down, it is a quick and efficient way to communicate in real time, and it saves the costs of printing.  Digital signage has enormous potential communication applications:

• Post schedules of meetings, events, works assignments, menus
• Share news, stock prices, traffic reports, sports results and information
• Recognize achievements and milestones
• Warn about severe weather and security threats
• Sell a product or service

And those are only a few of its uses.

 As the costs come down and the quality goes up, there’s no better time than the present to consider the addition of a digital signage display to your current signage or an addition or upgrade to your current digital signage display(s). But, prior to any decision, there are many questions that you have to answer.

First, what are your goals? They will impact the design and content of the digital display and every decision you make about the hardware and the software for it. Content is king and it affects every decision beginning with the design: a single display, multiple displays, a video wall?  In turn, the type of digital signage determines the flat screen display specifications such as the resolution, the size, and the number. It also determines the appropriate location within your business or venue to be seen by the greatest number of viewers to have the maximum impact and to avoid problems such as washout of the images due to bright sunlight.

The greatest challenge digital signage presents is in creating it or adapting it from existing printed materials or PowerPoint presentations. For example, if the content exits, is it “digital ready” or does it need to be reformatted to ensure that it fits the display in the correct resolution and that the text is a color and size that can be read easily. Do you have writers and graphic designers in house who are available to adapt or create the content?

What software will you use and where will that software and the content reside? Who will have access to it? Will it be on your network or in a cloud? Determine the role of your IT department. Is it desirable to do more than display static messages?  Do you want to display messages or information in real time? Do you want to access the internal network and/or outside sources of information such as Reuther’s or the Weather Channel? Do you need IP-addressable displays? Social media grows in importance every day. Do you want to integrate it and if so, how difficult will it be do it?

For many digital signage displays, it is no longer enough to deliver information; the information needs to engage the viewer – it needs a “wow” factor such as video or audio. Is the location suitable for an audio zone that will immerse the viewer without blasting the speech, sounds or music throughout the room, lobby or store?

Do you need an interactive display? For example, retail stores are especially under pressure to make sure that the digital signage displays deliver a positive “return on investment” (ROI). Their displays MUST be innovative, eye catching and engaging.  They were among the first users to adopt interactive displays and the pixel density of 4K, which is four-times the resolution of HD, and allows up to eight quadrants in the display and they, in turn, offer ways to have up to 32 interactive touch points. Today it is possible to see how you look in a new hair style, try on glasses or clothes, even see what it would look like to decorate or paint a room with digital signage.

The questions we raised are the tip of the iceberg, but digital signage does not have to be a daunting task if you partner with an experienced audiovisual company.  Zeo Systems has a successful track record designing, installing and supporting digital signage systems that are extremely effective and affordable. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your digital signage needs.

By: Carol Emmens

Lecture hall seats are often empty now as college and universities increase or initiate “flipped learning” or “inverted” classrooms.  In a flipped classroom what is normally done in class e.g. lectures and what is normally done as homework are switched or flipped. In a flipped classroom, students read materials or listen to audio and view video podcasts before coming to class.

Using capture systems and video conferencing, lectures and PowerPoint presentations are stored remotely in a “cloud” and made available online, generally through the Internet. Homework such as problem solving and essay writing is done in class with both professors and peers guiding the students.

Now scores of classrooms resemble corporate huddle rooms or medical and scientific labs. Class time is reserved for hands on learning, discussions in small groups and collaboration instead of note taking. Flipped classrooms provide an opportunity for students to ask questions and to apply what they learned in the online lecture. It also provides students with more time to use scientific equipment in class and to utilize healthcare simulation labs which prepare them for real life health problems and emergencies.

There are two aspects to the “flipped classroom:” online learning and classrooms with the audiovisual equipment to allow content sharing and analysis. Professors usually create their own video lectures.  Although it takes time and skill to do a video, it is becoming easier as manufacturers bring new equipment for video capture and dissemination to the market.  The equipment is becoming easier to use and numerous, affordable storage solutions are readily available. In addition to their own videos, videos by publishers, and professional use apps;  course materials are often posted to YouTube or managements systems like Blackboard.

Retrofitting classrooms for the digital world is likewise becoming easier. There are products that make it possible to connect devices with different signals and connectors, multiple control options, and interactive flat screen devices and whiteboards.

Video podcasts or video courses are audiovisual files distributed via the Internet. They are not the sole source of instruction and differ from MOOCs or massive open online courses. MOOC’s such as those offered by MIT are often open to anyone not just enrolled students.

Because clouds based storage makes it easy to store and share information, many universities are members of consortiums such as Unizen which includes the University of Michigan, Indiana University, Colorado State University, Penn State, the University of Florida and others. They share lectures, lesson plans and research and make course materials and information available from the best minds in education, organizations and corporations. The authorships are noted.

The Open Cloud Consortium (OCC), which is one of many worldwide, operates a cloud to support scientific, medical and health care research; it members include the University of California (Berkeley),  Florida International University, Johns Hopkins, NASA,  international universities and organization such as AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology).  OCC, in turn, has joined Matter, a workspace in Chicago with all types of rooms and AV/IT resources. Matter is a partner with the American Medical Association, and shares the same goal: to bring entrepreneurs and physicians together to “collaborate and test new technologies, services and products.”  Research universities are among those that benefit the most from flipped classrooms.

Technology, used effectively, is not a mindless way to teach but a way to open minds and to create paths to success. When flipped classrooms are introduced, both professors and students are often skeptical but not for long. They often flip their opinions on flipped classrooms once they have experienced the positive results:  grades and attendance go up, retention increases, team skills improve and applications of the course materials are discussed, analyzed and demonstrated.

Zeo Systems expertly trained technicians can assist you in determining the equipment you need to adjust today’s classroom to today’s technology. Flat panel displays, video and projection systems, microphone and voice systems, or complete control systems; No matter if we are integrating new technology to an existing system or building a new one from scratch, you can count on Zeo Systems to help you capture or record lectures and to design the audiovisual systems needed for your institution to successfully implement flipped classrooms.

So you’ve decided that you need an upgrade to your current system or you are having some sort of technical issue with your sound, video, or lighting system that you cannot resolve.

These issues can range from the more common ‘Rice Krispie’ sounds of snap, crackle or pop to microphone signals dropping out, unidentified hums, speakers or lights not working, etc.

Whatever the situation, your search for a solution to your audio/video issue has led you to Zeo Systems. Now what?

AudioVisual Performance – Free Consultation

Your first step will be to contact us to request a free consultation online or call us toll free at 800-837-8935. We will then send one of our fully trained and certified technicians to your location to determine exactly what is going on within your audiovisual system.

During this walk-through we will diagnose the problem and then present you with options to correct the situation. We will work within any potential structural and budgetary constraints to come up with the solution that makes the most sense in making your system whole again.

Or, should the situation warrant, we will recommend new system options that may be a better long term value than putting more money into an older system.

AV System Recommendations

Below are several variables that we consider when reviewing your current audiovisual system:

What AV System Update Do You Need?

• Are we installing a completely new system?
• Are we looking to replace only certain pieces of a system?
• Are we integrating new equipment with the system currently in place?

What AV Components Need To Be Added Or Replaced?

• Are we adding video capabilities to an already existing audio system?
• Are we replacing (or adding) speakers, a mixing console, or power amplifiers to the current sound system?
• Are we replacing wired microphones with wireless microphones but keeping everything else?

What Visual Elements Need To Be Considered?

• Does the equipment need to match the decor?
• Does it need to be hidden or at least unobtrusive to the casual eye?

These decisions alone may affect things such as the color of your installed speakers, which in turn may affect equipment brands available to accomplish the project.

Finally, is your AV System update a multi-phase project, or do all changes need to be accomplished at once?

Financing Your AV System Project

If you require financing to completed your AV system update, the choice of brands available is worth considering as certain manufacturers offer special financing deals, should their product be among the best solutions for your project.
There are lots of elements to consider even in just the beginning phase of a project. Zeo System’s experts can guide you through these, as well as the more detailed decisions that manifest themselves as a project progresses towards completion. Of course, this only scratches the surface of options and decisions to be discussed and decided during the course of a project. We will get into more specific issues in future postings.

To learn more about how Zeo Systems can help you out with your audiovisual system needs, contact us today.