The Many Homes for Installation Projectors

So, who's using installation LCD projectors? Take a look around--itseems these days that there's one in every meeting room, house ofworship, and hotel ballroom. Here are some of the key installationmarkets, and how they put LCD projectors to work:

Boardrooms, Conference Rooms, and Classrooms: Basically, thiscategory takes in any corporate or institutional environment whereinformation is presented in small to large groups. The typicalboardroom or conference room won't have the need for a super-brightprojector--typically, the ambient lighting is controlled, and theprojection screen surface optimized. Here, small to mid-sizedinstallation LCD projectors are ideal choices.

Sharps's XG-V10WU is an ideal choice for conferences and boardrooms,where it can present information ranging from PowerPoint presentationsto graphics and video clips.

The bulk of the information presented in these rooms consists ofPowerPoint presentations, spreadsheets, and assorted graphics, photos,and illustrations. Video clips are often part of a presentation ortraining class, and are usually served up from videotape sources. Thisgroup typically needs support for one or two computer displaystandards, composite or S-video, and perhaps a separate input forvideoconferencing display.

Houses of Worship: This is really a category that fallsbetween the staging/rental and entertainment markets, particularlybecause many of the sanctuaries are immense. This market is alsocharacterized by high ambient lighting, unusual projection throws, andextensive use of IMAG, along with PowerPoint graphics and lyrics ofhymns.

Because many installation LCD projectors are flown or hidden inbalconies, lofts, and rafters, size and weight are at a premium. Theprojectors also need a high degree of reliability, and user servicingof the lamp cannot be a complicated process. The bulk of the imagesshown will be interlaced video or SVGA/XGA sources, sometimes mixedtogether via an outboard video scalar/switcher.

Churches also install smaller LCD projectors into classrooms forreligious instruction. This is similar to the conference room andclassroom environment. Once again, the mix is usually PowerPointslides, hymns, and either VHS or DVD video sources.

Command and Control: This used to be a meat-and-potatoesmarket for CRT projectors. Now, C&C installations have migratedaway from CRT technology to flat-screen imaging for the simple reasonthat it's easier to change lamps than re-calibrate and replace tubes.Also, C&C applications are characterized by high-resolutiondisplays--often working at XGA (1024x768) and SXGA (1280x1024)resolutions.

A tube projector that can handle that much resolution is quiteexpensive and very large. LCD SXGA installation projectors reduce thesize and weight parameters while providing bright, contrasty images attrue SXGA resolution. XG-series installation projectors are alsonetwork capable for operation through IP-standard interfaces. Thisfeature provides remote diagnosis and continuous feedback of projectorstatus and lamp life.

Staging and Rental/Entertainment: The sky's the limit in thismarket, as projectors are stacked, flown, hidden, and configured forboth front and rear imaging. For business theater and trade shows,high-brightness projectors and big screens are usually the rule. Thesemarkets demand a full range of lens options as well as optical anddigital image adjustments for unusual projection throws.

Staging/rental also needs full connectivity--projectors move fromjob to job and have to be source--and frequency--nimble. Sources caninclude 15-pin HD computer plugs, BNC connections from workstations andDTV sources, RCA jacks for composite video, S-video sources, and evenDVI (digital video interface) from newer computers. Having extra inputssaves on set-up time and cuts down on the amount of outboard videoswitching gear required for a job.