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A control system will
automate the critical functions of your AV system.
With a properly designed
system, you don't have to remember (or even know) the steps it takes to make your
system work.
For instance, press the DVD button and the control system
turns on the projector, lowers the screen, switches to the right inputs, adjusts
the volume level, closes the draperies, and even dims the lights. The DVD controls
appear on the touchpanel, ready for you to press play or access special features
such as subtitles or bonus content.
In doing all this, a control system
from Lewis Sound & Video - makes
it much easier and faster to accomplish the function
- eliminates
many mistakes and much confusion
- eases AV staff system support
- cuts
down on presentation staff training
- allows presenters to concentrate
on their message
The system can control or automate almost anything used
in a classroom, meeting room or public area: sound, projection, cameras, video
or audioconferencing, music or video sources, electronic whiteboards, lights,
screens, motorized draperies, heating, air conditioning, security systems and
more.
You can buy a very simple, inexpensive system or something quite
sophisticated. It all depends on how complex your AV system will be and how much
you need to simplify its operation.
Here are some questions to consider in the design
of your room and AV system:
What equipment do you need to control?
Who will operate the control system? - What
is their level of expertise with AV systems?
- How much help
will they need?
- Do you have an AV staff to step in as needed,
and how much time do they have for support?
- How much control
over core functions and adjustments should you give to users?
Where
should the control panel be located?
Do you need more than one control
panel in the room?
Would a wireless portable panel be helpful?
There are also some trade-offs to consider. A more sophisticated control system
will be easier to use, minimizing training and support time; but of course it
will be more expensive. Lewis Sound and Video recommends that you weigh the initial
cost versus the long term savings on training and support of your staff.
If you're building a multi-room facility, consider networked controls.
For example, Crestron's RoomView system allows you to monitor and control a room
from anywhere in the building or campus via your local area network. It allows
staff to support presenters without needing to physically go to the presentation
rooms. It also tracks maintenance issues, such as lamp usage, and can turn on
AV systems so they're ready when a presenter enters a room or make sure all systems
are turned off at the end of the day.
Crestron's eControl puts touchpanel
functions on the World Wide Web. Now you can monitor, support, or control your
AV system from a secure LAN or, if you choose, from anywhere you have access to
the internet.
You have a number of choices as you consider control panels.
For a small system, an affordable hand-held or wall-mounted button panel may be
all you need.
The cost of LCD touch screens has dropped steadily, however,
and they are fast becoming the most commonly used type of control panel.
Here you can choose anything from a 3.75" diagonal handheld panel to a 17" diagonal
widescreen panel with Windows PC functionality (including VGA output) built right
in. Now you can deliver a PowerPoint presentation or browse the internet without
even needing a traditional PC. Many panels can be used as preview monitors,
so the presenter can cue a videotape or DVD prior to the image being projected
or monitor the presentation without turning around to observe the screen. Larger
panels can minimize page-flipping and ease navigation, but their most popular
feature is the increased readability you get when you are able to use larger buttons
and text.
Take a look at our control system demo page.
It shows one of our typical control panel designs, with multiple control screens
and a preview monitor function. Simply roll your mouse over the titles at the
left of the photo to see the various control screens used at Curtin Hall.
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