[AG-TECH] AG Projector options?

[Luc Renambot]

On the graphics card side, it shouldn't be a problem
anymore: the new Matrox Parhelia could do 3 outputs at
1280x1024, the Nvidia Quadro4 NVS could do the same for
4 outputs, both over an AGP slot (compared to the previous
cards on PCI).

Projectors is more an issue. From a quick look at Epson
website:
    model 715c  -> 1024x768  --> $  3700
    model 9100i -> 1280x1024 --> $ 14000

That's why we are working on getting AG videos on our
tiled-display of 4x2 projectors (8x1024x768 -> 4096x15360).
You really get more space. On the other end, you need more
PCs to drive it (which are used to process more videos).

Luc.

] -----Original Message-----
] From: owner-ag-tech at mcs.anl.gov [mailto:owner-ag-tech at mcs.anl.gov]On
] Behalf Of Osland, CD (Chris)
] Sent: Thursday, July 18, 2002 13:05
] To: 'Markus Buchhorn'
] Cc: Ag-Tech Mailing List (E-mail)
] Subject: RE: [AG-TECH] AG Projector options?
]
]
] I'd second the comments about heat, but don't find automation
] an issue.
]
] An issue that seems to be becoming more important for us is
] resolution.  We have a 'standard' rig of 3 1024x768 projectors.
] As soon as we start a VNC session and maybe a whiteboard or
] equivalent - for a shared visualization meeting - we are clean
] out of 'pixel space'.  The VNC session tends to take up a
] complete projector's worth, and we sometimes run two such sessions.
]
] 'Medium' video feeds require 40% width and height of a 1024x768
] image.  I haven't done the calculation
] but I guess the total size for a Medium image is about 400 wide
] by 320 deep (384x288 plus margins and title).  While I allow these
] to span projector images, it is generally neater not to.
]
] 3 1024x768  projectors give you  3072 x 768 pixels = 2.36 Mpixels
] 3 1280x1024 projectors give you 3840 x 1024 pixels = 3.93 Mpixels,
] a 66% increase
]
] With the 1280x1024 size, you can easily get 9 medium video
] feeds (3x3 array) on each projector, so 27 Mediums total.
]
] While we don't have funds to replace our projectors at present,
] and I haven't had time to investigate which cards will drive
] 3 1280x1024 outputs, if we were buying now I'd be looking at
] this.  We even have difficulty with a regular 10 / 11 site
] meeting fitting the 20 - 25 video feeds onto the wall.
] We run with about 8 Mediums and the rest Smalls.
] We have to resize most of them to Small size when a DPPT
] presentation is on.
]
] HTH
]
] Chris
]
] ____________________________________________________________________
] Chris Osland                         Office tel: +44 (0) 1235 446565
] Digital Media and Access Grid      Medialab tel: +44 (0) 1235 446459
] BIT Department             Access Grid room tel: +44 (0) 1235 445666
] e-mail:   C.D.Osland at rl.ac.uk               Fax: +44 (0) 1235 445597
]
] CLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Bldg. R18)
] Chilton, DIDCOT, Oxon OX11 0QX, UK
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]
] -----Original Message-----
] From: Markus Buchhorn [mailto:Markus.Buchhorn at anu.edu.au]
] Sent: 18 July 2002 02:08
] To: ag-tech at mcs.anl.gov
] Cc: drew.whitehouse at anu.edu.au; Peter Young; hugh.fisher at anu.edu.au;
] david.walsh at anu.edu.au; rod.harris at anu.edu.au; Markus Buchhorn
] Subject: [AG-TECH] AG Projector options?
]
]
]
] Hi All
]
] The ANU is now looking at placing orders for its Access Grid
] nodes. Scanning
] back over the ag-tech archives I've seen lots of discussion on PCs, audio
] and video cards, Gentners, etc. but not on projectors - barring a
] very brief
] thread about 2 years ago.
]
] Times have changed. I'd be interested to know what people are using for
] projectors (or rejected), and what features they found they
] like/need/hate,
] and how important they'd rate them? I'm not a
] projector/visualisation geek,
] so need some guidance :-)
]
] I know some sites are using active plasma screens instead of projected
] screens - any comments on those?
]
] Just off the top of my head:
]  - resolution: 1024x768 minimum, 1280x1024 better (real, not interpolated)
]  - brightness: the more lumens the better
]  - inputs: (besides VGA cable) composite? component? (analogue, digital?)
]  - keystone correction: optical not electronic? (quality)
]  - zoom, focus: manual not electronic? (cost)
]  - remote control: are there any with serial ports instead of an
] IR remote?
]  - lens options: ability to do ~1:1 (short throw -> large display area) or
] better?
]  - frame rate: 60-70Hz is common. 100-120Hz for active stereo projection
]  - filter options: various polarisation filters for passive stereo
] projection
]  - colour correction options: Handling different light-bulbs' effective
] temperatures, to give a natural reproduction (of whatever has
] been captured
] - a separate issue).
]  - image flip: floor vs roof mounting, front vs back projection
]  - oh yeah: COST :-) (start up capital, consumable bulbs)
]
] What other features are worth looking for (good or bad)? I've also seen
] people comment on the various internals of different projectors - some
] appear to have better colour correction features, or better optics, or use
] analogue or digital signals within the box, or ... ?
]
] Quality of TV/AV reproduction is probably also a feature, where nodes are
] also used for viewing major sporting events :-)
]
] I'm happy to collate responses and generate an AGDP document if desired -
] there isn't anything there now beyond a very basic para or two.
] Please feel
] free to email me directly, and/or the list, as you see fit. I can
] anonymise
] the results if you really want to bitch about something :-)
]
] Thanks for any comments you can offer!
]
] Cheers,
] 	Markus
]
] Markus Buchhorn, ANU Internet Futures Project,        | Ph: +61 2 61258810
] Markus.Buchhorn at anu.edu.au, mail: Bldg #108 - CS&IT   |Fax: +61 2 61259805
] Australian National University, Canberra 0200, Aust.  |Mobile: 0417 281429
]