Texas A&M Reimagines its Football Locker Room with T1Visions’ Cutting-edge CMS

Web-based dashboard facilitates content updates 

When Texas A&M was awarded the opportunity to renovate its football locker room, they recognized the new facility would need to function in several ways. Functionality, ‘wow’ factor, and manageability were all key influencers in determining the right solution. This led them to T1Visions, www.t1visions.com.

Watch the video here

The Challenge

1. This new locker room would double as a premier recruiting facility that would ‘Wow’ the socks off any recruit that stepped foot inside the building – it had to be sleek, creative, and unlike anything else out there.
2. Functioning as more than a traditional locker room, this facility would need to match the high expectations of the tech-savvy Millennial generation occupying these quarters. By integrating interactive technology throughout the locker room, this would keep players engaged with each other and with the team throughout the season.
3. By outfitting the entire locker room with digital / interactive components, the biggest challenge would be managing a massive amount of content on the backend of this flashy facility. Texas A&M recognized the need for a CMS that could be easily maintained by its staff, and updated frequently and in real time.

The T1Visions Solution

1.  Multiple videos walls that can feature content across the wall in its entirety or broken down into quadrants. Messages, images, video, or cable channels are all controlled from the T1Visions CMS dashboard.
2. 246 digital tiles = 2 digital tiles for each of the 123 player lockers. Messages, images, or video can be customized for individual players – making the locker room a point of interaction between staff and player. The tiles can also serve as one single banner for messaging or video across the entire locker room. Highlighting big plays, player birthdays, and other team announcements are now just a click away.
3. T1Visions’ CMS provides one central dashboard to control content across all 246 digital locker tiles and three video walls.

Key advantages in T1Visions’ CMS:

• Update content anytime, anywhere with web-based dashboard (all that is required is log-in access)
• Incredible ease of use – just one hour of training required (compare that to most solutions, which take several days)
• Software-based solution means zero maintenance for additional hardware components.

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXEhFArSYPo.

Primacoustic: Go from Acoustical Nightmare to Dream Demo Room

Providing expert assistance with acoustic treatment

Vancouver, BC.  Sound Productions of Dallas, TX has been in business for more than 40 years as retailer and distributor of pro-audio equipment. Recently, the company repurposed a section of their warehouse, adjacent to their existing showroom, to create a large training facility and demo room. Jeff Humphrey, VP Sales and Marketing: "Being mindful of our neighbors as well as our adjacent general showroom and sales area; we were tasked with creating a real world, live venue experience while placing great emphasis on the mitigation of the external disruptive sound pressure levels typically associated with a live venue."

Primacoustic Training Facility and Demo Room

"In the planning and building phase, our first goal was to decouple as much of the room as possible in order to minimize sound transmission through adjoining spaces. This required the use of purpose designed materials and contractors familiar with this type of project. We carefully selected inner and outer wall barrier and acoustic treatment, construction materials and drapery."

Humphrey got in touch with Jay Porter at Primacoustic, www.primacoustic.com, for assistance with the acoustic treatment plan: "I supplied the architectural drawings which included the room dimensions, building materials, stage and speaker placement as well as the location of all furniture and rugs and fixtures. The final design was ready within three days of our final conversation. We then commissioned Danny Snook of Achieve AV with the task of installing the Primacoustic Broadway Panels."

The Sound Productions facility will accommodate up to 80 people and has seen overwhelming interest by customers, class attendees and pro audio manufacturers alike since opening this summer. According to Humphrey, they have already hosted six product training workshops that have been booked to capacity with several more on the schedule. "Our new facility and the workshops we offer provide a one of a kind experience for our customers."

NCast End-to-End Capture and Streaming Solutions

NCast’s interface is intuitive and flexible

Santa Clara, CA. NCast, ncast.com, provides the hardware and software to schedule, capture, record, stream live and/or publish what goes on in a classroom or meeting room with flexible single or dual active window layouts so that both a video image and a computer presentation can be captured and then viewed together.

The resulting file (episode) can be made available in via an internal network or the internet either on demand or via a live stream.

NCast PR HD Mobile

NCast provides complete End-to-End solutions with both its family of Presentation Recorders and its series of Presentation Servers intended for specific applications.  Presentation Recorders are available in four form factors: Rack Mount, Dual Rack Mount (two completely separate units in one rack space), Mobile and Podium (with flanges to mount it to wood).  Presentation Servers vary primarily in terms of processing capability and storage capacity to fit an individual customer’s needs.

NCast’s interface is intuitive and flexible.  Control can be with a simple reflected webpage, serial commands or Java applet.

All of this is available at affordable prices.  NCast believes in a single purchase price with no licensing or ongoing maintenance fees.

Also, in the near future, NCast has plans for dual-stream, dual-record and dual-display.  Contact your Enright Company representative for details.

The Pakedge Difference

System integration overcomes network infrastructure challenges

Huntington Beach, CA.  Commercial AV systems impose unique challenges on the network infrastructure.  The network must carry large volumes of high bandwidth, latency sensitive traffic with no downtime.  The network must differentiate, segment and prioritize voice, video, and data traffic from different applications for seamless performance.  The network must scale to accommodate thousands of simultaneous users at peak times connecting from approved and user-owned devices.   The network must be vigilant and protect against threats that are delivered in new and unforeseen ways.

The Pakedge Connect+ Platform is a carefully integrated system

Pakedge Device and Software, www.pakedge.com, helps AV managers overcome these challenges.  The Pakedge Connect+ Platform is a carefully integrated system of switches, routers, wireless, power management and software technologies, designed specifically to work with each other to deliver seamless, scalable, and reliable multimedia networking performance. When unified with the BakPak Cloud Management System, the functionality of the Pakedge Connect+ Platform is extended with cloud-enabled services such as monitoring and management of all connected devices anywhere, any time, and from any device.

Founded in 2004, Pakedge is an industry leading manufacturer of high performance end-to-end networking platforms for A/V applications. Recognized by industry peers and winner of the prestigious CEPro Brand Leader award for Networking in 2013 and 2014, Pakedge specializes in integrating high performance engineering innovations, operational simplicity, and systems engineering to develop technology that enables customers to unleash the power of their network.  AV systems integrators choose Pakedge because:

    * Purpose-built for A/V networking applications
    * Seamless, scalable, and reliable enterprise-level performance
    * End-to-end network system solutions
    * Free lifetime technical support and firmware updates
    * 3 Year Warranty as standard
    * Focus on channel protection and profitability

Learn how Pakedge helps you solve your customers’ networking problems.  Learn more and visit Pakedge at www.pakedge.com

Hall Research Announces the 4K Javelin™

Extend HDMI signals far beyond the typical limitations of copper cables

Tustin, CA. Hall Research, hallresearch.com, announces addition of the 4K-Javelin™ active plenum HDMI cables to it's line of digital extension products.  The  4K-Javelin™ cables utilize the latest in optoelectronics to extend HDMI signals far beyond the typical limitations of copper cables. The cables are a hybrid of fiber and copper that allow HDMI signals to be extended 200 ft or longer with zero loss. All PC and HDTV resolutions are supported including 4K Ultra HD. The HDCP compliant cables also support DDC and CEC. Proprietary circuitry is conveniently incorporated inside the HDMI connectors to convert the video signals to light pulses and back.

4K-Javelin™ active plenum HDMI cables

The cables are available in standard lengths to 200 ft. No external power supply is required as power is drawn from the 5v signal pin of the source HDMI output.

The 4K Javelin™  cables are thin, flexible, and lightweight (only 12 oz for 50 ft cable). They can handle any resolution or color depth including non-standard video formats up to a maximum data rate of 10.2 Gbps. No compression is used so the image at the far end of the cable is 100% identical to the source.

The cables transmit digital video signals using light pulses. This provides high immunity to electromagnetic interference and consequently eliminates the chance of video dropouts due to environmental electromagnetic noise.

The 4K Javelin™ can be used like regular HDMI  cables but without the worry of boosters or equalizers. Being Plenum, also makes it possible to be used in virtually any installation environment. Applications include, home theater, conference rooms, schools, airports, hospitals and more. Hall Research is currently stocking 50, 75, 100, 150 and 200 ft lengths.

T1Visions: Tales of Interactive Transformations in the Corporate Space

ThinkHub facilitates collaboration with interactive environment

Charlotte, NC. T1Visions, www1.t1visions.com, a provider of interactive touchscreen experiences, has installed its inTouch Interactive Wall in SAP’s U.S. Headquarters in Newtown Square, PA. The touchscreen Wall spans approximately 15 feet and is located in the Executive Briefing Center, where SAP is shifting the traditional meeting format to a more interactive, immersive experience for their customers.

inTouch Interactive Wall

In partnering with T1Visions, SAP sought to tell their story through their customers’ eyes. To achieve this lofty goal, the inTouch Wall houses over 2000 customers stories featuring case studies, videos, and testimonial, among other dynamic content. It was important that the Wall contain fresh, new content while remaining low-maintenance for the Executive Briefing Center. To accomplish this, T1Visions worked directly with SAP’s existing systems to create a custom API that would pull data directly to the Wall, which keeps content current and requires no additional upkeep from the organization.

To give users control of their own experience, the custom software application enables users to sort and pick through content most relevant to them by applying filters, which in turn makes the discovery process quicker and more efficient. Every component of the project - from software, hardware, content management, integration, training, and ongoing support - was considered and packaged by T1Visions as a one-of-a-kind turnkey solution. Watch the video and download the case study to learn more.

In line with its efforts to transform traditional corporate meeting spaces into more interactive environments - T1Visions recently introduced its newest software application, ThinkHub, at InfoComm 2014. ThinkHub is a multiuser software application designed to help teams to ideate, visualize, and problem solve. By consolidating all information on a large-format touchscreen, ThinkHub transforms traditional meetings into more proactive, effective sessions that positively impact performance and efficiency in corporate teams.

Crimson – Easy to Align, Easy to Order

System designs accommodate an infinite number of displays

Crimson's, www.crimsonav.com, innovative designs facilitate ceiling or wall-mounted options and accommodate an infinite number of displays in either landscape or portrait orientation. Assembly is a breeze, and once mounted, displays are both quickly and easily aligned, making installation incredibly efficient.

Ceiling mounted systems by Crimson

Easy to Align - Easy to Order

Our ceiling-mounted systems feature a proprietary quick assembly and easy-alignment design that simplifies the installation process exponentially.

Prices are based on the number of displays to be used, so you can easily quote the solution to your customer.  When you order, we conveniently kit all components for you and if you require a technical drawing of your system, we provide that as well.

Kits with Single or Dual Drops

When ceiling-hung landscape or portrait, in-line configurations are required, our CM mount systems provide the best solution on the market. Prefabricated kits are available in 1x3 through 2x5 configurations (including back to back).  Our proprietary design minimizes the number of drops for minimal visual distraction. Other configurations require additional ceiling drops, but the finished installation will be equally elegant.

WML (landscape)

Wall-mounted landscape configurations are just as easily specified as our ceiling-mounted solutions. Compatible with displays up to 65”+ in size, WML mount systems feature unique post-installation leveling and cable management capabilities for a clean-looking, fast and easy installation.  Priced per display for easy quoting to your customers.

WMP (portrait)

Our WMP mount systems provide portrait-oriented solutions for displays up to 65”+ in size. Like our other Menu Board mount systems, WMP includes all of the necessary components and hardware needed to complete the installation.

RGB Spectrum’s New Galileo Display Processor: A Breakthrough in PC Walls

New processor combines benefits of PC-based system and native-run application 

Alameda, CA. RGB Spectrum’s, www.rgb.com, innovative new IP-enabled Galileo Display Processor is a powerful and economical video wall system designed around a PC-based architecture. The processor combines the benefits of PC-based systems, such as IP inputs and the ability to run applications natively on the processor, with the 24/7 level of reliability and real-time performance of all of RGB Spectrum’s solutions.

Galileo by RGB

The Galileo system supports a full range of input and output types (IP, analog, DVI/HDMI, 3G/HD-SDI) with resolutions up to 3840x2160 (4K). Inputs can be displayed in an unlimited number of windows located anywhere on the video wall. The Galileo processor can also deliver HDCP protected content to up to 56 displays, while other PC systems either do not support HDCP at all or impose severe limitations on wall size.

The Galileo system is easy to set-up and control. An advanced GUI allows users to “drag and drop” inputs and applications, such as VMS, SCADA and videoconferencing, to the video wall. A convenient tablet interface is also available. In addition, an API allows operators to monitor remote alarms and create advanced scripts to recall layouts and control third-party equipment.

The Galileo processor is ideal for a range of applications including mission-critical operations/command centers and control rooms, as well as boardroom video walls, corporate lobby displays, and large-scale digital signage. Combining enhanced reliability with the flexibility of a PC system, the new IP-enabled Galileo display processor is a PC wall done right.

Hall's Multi-Format Scaler Switch and Multiport HDMI-to-HDBaseT™ Extension Box

Choose From three selectable outputs including VGA, HDMI and HDBaseT

Tustin, CA. Model SC-12BT by Hall Research, www.hallresearch.com, is a 12 input, 3 output HD Scaler Switch. It accommodates 4 HDMI, 4 VGA, 2 CV, 1 S-Video and 1 YPbPr  inputs.  It has three selectable outputs VGA, HDMI and HDBaseT.

Inputs are selected by using front panel push-buttons, RS-232 or IP commands. The selected source is scaled to a fixed user-settable resolution and simultaneously output as: VGA, HDMI, and HDBaseT (for easy extension to 70m / 230 ft on a single UTP).

Hall SC-12BT

The HDMI audio is extracted, VGA and AV inputs have separate audio inputs. There are two auxiliary audio inputs (balanced mic and stereo line-level).  Audio controls are provided on the front panel. The overall audio is embedded in the HDMI and HDBaseT outputs and is also available on RCA jacks.

The UHBX-8X is a 1 RU box that converts 8 HDMI inputs to corresponding HDBaseT™ outputs for extension to 150 meters (500 ft) on single UTP. The extender supports HDCP, 3D, Deep Color, CEC, and 4K (UHD) resolution. Compatible receivers include the low-cost self-powered UH-1BT-R and UH-1BTX-R for HDMI extension to 230 ft or 330 ft respectively, or the UHBX-R-PD that supports RS-232, IR, PoH, and Long Reach modes to 500 ft. When using receivers with PoH function, a single optional 48v power supply is needed for the 8-channel sender.

The UHBX-8X provides both IP (Ethernet), and RS-232 ports for control. Using these ports the user can address and send RS-232 or IR commands to any of the receivers to control the remote display. 8 separate IR emitter ports are also provided on the rear of the UHBX-8X which can be used if a user connects IR detectors at each remote location. This would be perfect for controlling multiple sources in a rack with the UHBX-8X.

The extender is constructed as a 1RU rack-mountable unit and has a built-in power supply. LED indicators on the front panel show Link Status, HDCP status, Long Reach and Power for each of the 8 outputs.

The Competitive Advantage of Working with your Manufacturers' Rep

by Jason Housel, The Enright Company

Jason Housel

A note about lesser known brands: If your rep can show you value in our products, then we should capitalize on this. If there is improved quality, ease of install, more margin, or any other competitive advantage we want you to act on that. Yes, it may be different from the routine or take a bite out of a key vendor but value is calling. It’s saying that we have some better products over what you may be using. A few hear that message, and use that leverage to be more competitive. Most other react later with the sting of losing a job they thought they had. There really are benefits to early adoption.

We at The Enright Company are here to help you deliver value and be more competitive in your sales process. If you are promoting our lines and get them into the specification, we intend to protect you! Let’s get the registration paperwork in. This paperwork is the communication link to protect you for your efforts. Please involve us before this part of the process so we may document your involvement.

These are a few bullet points where creative integrators have leveraged their knowledge about our lines.

1. A Dealer substituted Crimson AV to save about 30% on 100k in mounts. That means their cost was 70k vs a typical 100k (they won the job by 30k). They had the courage to tell their customer there was a lower cost, but high quality option. It’s bent metal after all.
2. A customer sees an opening where the “C company” is overkill and the “E company” just too expensive. The customer here is just looking for a solution and we may have the ideal lower cost, high-quality, value solution that helps you win the job with Hall Research and the VSA-51.
3. We represent products that are market leaders. Take Vaddio and SunBrite TV for example. Allow these leading manufacturers to open doors for you. We have leads for you that will do exactly this.

Jason Housel is the Northern CA and Northern NV representative for The Enright Company