ProAV - Epson

Staffordshire University

Staffordshire University chooses Epson EB-G5450WU and Epson EB-Z8000WU projectors for new state-of-the-art science department

Installed in April this year by systems integrator Pure Audio Visual Ltd, the three Epson EB-Z8000WU projectors were selected for the main lecture halls, which seat up to 250 people, due to their 6,000 lumens brightness and range of features suitable for large venues, including full HD picture quality and demanding performance.

Staffordshire University has chosen Epson’s EB-G5450WU and EB-Z8000WU projectors as part of the AV installation in its new state-ofthe- art science facility. Installed in April this year by systems integrator Pure Audio Visual Ltd, the three Epson EB-Z8000WU projectors were selected for the main lecture halls, which seat up to 250 people, due to their 6,000 lumens brightness and range of features suitable for large venues, including full HD picture quality and demanding performance. 42 x EBG5450WU projectors were also installed by Pure, and will be used in meeting rooms and science laboratories to display detailed scientific images, such as blood samples, plant cells and forensic materials, in a widescreen format in bright, natural colours.

Epson’s projector range was chosen for several key reasons, including image quality, longer lamp life and a lower total cost of ownership. In addition, the status of all the projectors can be monitored centrally, allowing the University’s support staff to quickly respond to any issues. In working with Epson on the projectors’ installation and learning the full range of their capability, the University’s IT team now qualifies as an Epson Approved Technical Specialist, empowered to train staff in the projectors’ use and maintain them to a high standard. Staffordshire University is now planning to install the Epson projectors as standard across the campus, to be deployed by the qualified IT team, saving on implementation costs.

“In a competitive procurement process, Epson won out in a number of areas including imaging quality and an improved experience for students,” said Paul Bossons, IT and Learning Technical Services Manager, Staffordshire University. “The new equipment is easier to use and maintain and our IT team now enjoys demonstrating and training other staff members on its range of uses, including connecting the projectors to microscopes and document cameras.”

“It’s great that our projectors are making such a difference to the student learning experience at Staffordshire University. Epson’s 3LCD technology means images from a range of source materials including plant samples, documents, microscopic cells and high speed videos are displayed as accurately and vividly as possible, helping students to get as close a look as possible at their subject matter.” said Graeme Davidson, Audio-Visual Category Manager, Epson.

New Media in Cologne University of Applied Sciences

Fitting out multimedia lecture theatre HS37

Cologne University of Applied Sciences is the largest university in Germany with around 16,500 students, 45 degree courses and 450 professors teaching in ten faculties. The university’s Faculty of Applied Social Sciences offers its students a well-founded, multi-faceted and practical study course. This also includes how to approach and use “new media” such as video, film and the Internet in training situations. In order to do this there is an ongoing programme of fitting out the lecture theatre and seminar areas with suitable technical equipment.

Digital Training

Lecture theatre 37 in the Mainzer Straße can accommodate up to 120 students, is easily accessed on the ground floor and has a separate studio room at the end of the lecture theatre. For many years this room, which has a view into the lecture theatre, was used as a processing and production area for university video, film and audio productions. As part of the current conversion programme the older and largely analogue recording and processing technology is to be replaced by modern, digital systems to guarantee up-to-the-minute operation. The aim was not only to produce a lecture theatre where recordings and in-house audio and video productions could be made, but also to equip the room with a high-performance playback system for high definition television, film and quality video reproduction. In particular it can be used for HDTV-quality showings of digital carrier media. An additional requirement was to be able to present Internet and PC data as an integral part of teaching in the lecture theatre. This meant finding a projection system that is flexible enough to consistently fulfil the many different requirements.

The system had to have a high resolution – at least 1,080i – and also sufficient light output so that it can be used in daylight for lectures and conferences. The system also had to offer motorised lens control so that picture size and position could be changed remotely to suit the playback purpose. Following a market analysis carried out by AK Media GmbH in Aachen, the company commissioned with the conversion work, the university decided on the EB-Z8000 projection system from Epson. It combines the required quality criteria in one device and also offers connectivity with all of the required digital and analogue image sources. During the selection process the device stood out because of its high degree of reliability due to its multi-lamp operation. Because of its low maintenance and servicing requirements and the possibility of administering the projector externally via a media control system, the EB-Z8000 projector proved to be the projector of choice for Cologne University.

Scientific training setting the pace

In the technical design of the lecture theatre the outstanding picture quality is supplemented by a professional Dolby surround system made by BOSE for audio playback. Due to the many possibilities for connection and processing and an easy-to-use control concept, the lecture theatre has proved very popular and has been much used by the teaching staff and students alike. Implementation of the technology in lecture theatre 37, which is focused upon modern digital media technology, has since fulfilled all of the university's requirements on a daily basis. Because of the use of these technologies amongst other things, Cologne University's scientific training is setting the pace for the whole of Germany.

EB-Z8000 Projectors The 1,920 x 1,200 pixels (WUXGA) resolution in 3LCD technology using organic panels guarantees an extraordinary image quality with a long lifetime and a favourable price-performance ratio compared to other technologies. The new optical unit offers a dynamic contrast ratio of 5,000:1 and produces needle-sharp wide-screen images even in large and bright rooms such as conference and lecture halls.

Also the new Epson Cinema Filter with digital cinema colour technology offers a much larger colour space. Thanks to vertical correction technology, the 3LCD panels with C2Fine technology provide clear contrasts, high black levels and particularly even pictures. Because of its numerous features such as EasyMPTM - network integration, motor-driven lens adjustment, optional lenses with different focal lengths and the ability to project vertically upwards or downwards without cooling problems, the EB-Z8000 is ideally suited for numerous innovative applications.

An overview of the EB-Z8000 series

EB-Z8000WU available tin WUXGA resolution (1,920 x 1,200) and EB-Z8050W in WXGA resolution (1,280 x 800)
Extraordinary colour light output (CLO) of up to 7,000 lumens due to double lamp system
Flexible installation with six optional lenses and motorised functions for focus, zoom and lens shift
High picture quality, 5,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and large colour space (DCI standard for digital cinema)
Particularly long-lasting electrostatic air filter (up to 10,000 hours)
Epson cooling system and inorganic panel guarantee long service life
Simple maintenance thanks to network monitoring functions (RJ45)
Extensive connectivity including HDMI, DVI-D and 5BNC
Compatible with Kensington security system
Suitable for vertical projection on to floor or ceiling

Professional Projection from Epson for IT Training

Innovative technology at the d-on-d data centre

The testing of software is a complex, multi-layered process – often several test environments with corresponding infrastructure are required for one test environment. The investment required for an in-house test laboratory is therefore correspondingly high. In addition there is the fact that the high rate of innovation in the IT sector means that individual components are rapidly outdated: for example in the area of server virtualisation systems have to be replaced on average every two years in order to be able to use the latest up-to-date features. A costly undertaking that not every company can afford. An efficient alternative is provided by independent IT test centres such as the Zurich Data Centre-on-Demand (d-on-d), the largest independent IT test and demo centre in Switzerland.

Data Centre-on-Demand rents out high-performance hardware via the Internet on a daily and weekly basis. Customers are therefore able to test their software products via a web service without having to maintain their own costly IT infrastructure. The number of servers, storage systems and SAN and network components offered by the Zurich service provider is constantly growing and is always kept up-to-date with the latest technical developments. d-on-d started life in 2004 as a small IT laboratory and has since become the largest and most modern independent IT laboratory in Switzerland. The large premises in the north of Zurich are inviting, spacious and very professional. From the furniture to the technical equipment -even including the coffee machine and the waste containers - everything speaks of high quality and considered design. Urs Stephan Alder is the founder and owner of the d-on-d and quite rightly he places great value upon appropriate optics and functionality: as one of the most successful IT trainers in Switzerland, he teaches approximately 600 trainees every year. IT training courses and workshops are regularly held at d-on-d and are always visually supported by Epson projectors.

d-on-d is setting projection standards – with Epson

As a trainer Alder is a "multi projector". In the course of his work he was constantly aware that low quality projectors were being installed in conference and meeting rooms. The consequence of this is small and blurred images, poor contrast, and poor colour fidelity. "As a presenter and IT trainer I work in different training rooms. What I am sometimes given by way of projectors can be dubious to say the least. From just three rows back the participants are sometimes no longer able to see details," recalls Alder. "I wanted to do better in my in-house rooms and I therefore looked around for a projector that would meet my high standards."

The trainer found his solution at Epson. Since April 2010 the training room at d-on-d has been equipped with two Epson EB-Z8000WU installation projectors. The crucial deciding factor was the projection quality: with a powerful 6,000 Ansi lumens and a resolution of 1,020 x 1,200 pixels the Epson projectors provide needle-sharp still and moving images. However, for Alder the picture quality is not only of aesthetic significance but is also of practical importance: "The people on my courses have to concentrate all day long and process visual content. It is therefore important to minimise their level of fatigue. Picture quality and easy-on-the-eye projection is very important for this," explains the experienced trainer and presenter.

Picture quality meets design and reliability

In addition to picture quality, the reliability and simple maintenance of the Epson EB-Z8000WU were also important criteria. Since they were installed the projectors have been practically in use on a daily basis and connected to a high performance audio unit made of Denon and Bose components. Alder summarises the feedback from his course participants: "My customers are professionals with a lot of experience of projectors and presentations, who have all seen countless meeting rooms. Their feedback is therefore well-informed – and is largely very positive, in particular the excellent picture quality is always being mentioned. For d-on-d the quality of the Epson projectors is a real added value and we would choose them again in the future without hesitation."

Epson EB-Z8000WUs

EB-Z8000WU available in WUXGA resolution (1,920 x 1,200) and EB-Z8050W in WXGA resolution (1,280 x 800)
Brightness (colour output) of up to 7,000 lumens due to double lamp system
Flexible installation with six optional lenses and motorised functions for focus, zoom and lens shift (vertical 70 %, horizontal 20 %)
5,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and large colour space
Long-lasting: lamps up to 3,500 hours
Real projection lens with 0.78:1 projection ratio
Simple maintenance thanks to network monitoring functions (RJ45)
Extensive connectivity including HDMI, DVI-D and 5BNC
Suitable for vertical projection on to floor or ceiling

Jungfrau Park projectorsa

At Jungfrau Park projectors show fascinating views of the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn. Jungfrau Park, in the Swiss town of Interlaken, named after the famous 4,000-metre peak in the Bernese Alps, is a “Theme Park” in the true sense of the word. It presents its visitors with a lot of interesting information about various topics: the leitmotif of the presentations is the extraordinary legacy left behind by earlier civilizations. For example, one presentation features the gigantic geoglyphs of the Nazca plateau in Peru; these are extensive figures and symbols drawn on the ground and scientists are still puzzling over how and why they were made. This area of the exhibition was inspired by the works of the specialist author Erich von Däniken, the founder of the exhibition that was originally known as “Mystery Park”. When the park was taken over by a new management company in 2009 the themes were extended and now, as Jungfrau Park, it also offers tourists interesting insights into the world of the Bernese Alps. With the aid of multimedia projection the exhibition shows visitors the impressive beauty of the regional alpine scenery in a very creative way.

Projectors are used in the park in very different ways. Two of the main attractions, a 360° panorama show and a virtual flight over the countryside, would not be possible without powerful projectors.

At the start of the 2010 season the technical infrastructure of the two attractions was essentially renewed. The existing, already somewhat outdated projectors were replaced by new more powerful projectors from Epson. The deciding factor in choosing the devices was their picture quality and performance as well as their excellent price-performance ratio both in terms of procurement and for long-term operation. The park operator is happy with the change: the current projectors are lighter and more manageable than the previous ones. This saves on installation and additional work on the infrastructure.

In one of the seven theme pavilions there is a 200-seat cinema. Here an Epson Z8000 projects from a distance of 20 metres on to an 8.5 x 15 metre screen.

At the same time another projector of the same model projects a film on to the floor of the room via a mirror. By the time the film starts the audience will have noticed that their seats are standing on a glass floor. In this way the two projectors create the illusion of flying over the countryside in a helicopter cockpit. This enables the audience to see the worlds that are portrayed from a new perspective during their journey.

During the programme the public sees specially produced films – for example the 45-minute "Magical Oberland Show". Using this installation it is able to show a unique flight over the Bernese Oberland. The "Nazca Show" illustrates and explains the ancient and gigantic lines and figures from the Nazca desert in South Peru. Once again a bird's eye view is required. These patterns were etched into the bleak rocky landscape centuries ago and, because of their size, they can only be clearly seen from the air.

Up until now the park needed four projectors to project on to the ground in order to be able to produce a picture that is sufficiently large and detailed. Unfortunately the colours in the different parts of the image often differed because of the different ages of the equipment. Now this task has been taken over by a single Epson Z8000 projector, thus considerably reducing the cost of installation and, at the same time, guaranteeing a homogeneous picture. The Epson also provides benefits for frontal projection. The projector that was previously used had to be installed on the ceiling in the centre of the room whereas, thanks to its changeable lenses, the Epson projector can now be positioned at the back of the auditorium and is therefore more accessible to the staff. Despite the greater distance from the screen, it produces a brighter and sharper image than its predecessor.

Three-hundred-and-sixty degree view

Another innovation is the "Jungfrau Aletsch Show". The visitors sit on steps in a circular projection room while six projectors throw images on to the wall above their heads. Sometimes the projectors produce a 360° panorama of the Swiss mountain landscape and sometimes they show individual photographs and film sequences. From the ceiling a seventh projector projects on to a projection surface on the floor, showing the view looking down from an aeroplane.

Conny Amacher guides visitors through the park and always starts the presentations after a few introductory words. She likes the much clearer images and natural colours since changing over to Epson projectors. She also praises the fact that a very even image can be produced in the Nazca pavilion with just one projector. Moreover, the projectors are ready for use immediately after switching on and react immediately to remote operation. They also cool down very quickly after switching off. Long rundown times are therefore no longer necessary.

Bernhard Zysset, CEO of Jungfrau Park is very pleased with the picture quality of the new Epson equipment. In particular he values the easier maintenance and high degree of user-friendliness. He also sees their comparatively compact size as an advantage as it simplifies optimum positioning of the projectors and any maintenance work that is required.

The theme park lies between Lake Thun and Lake Breinz in the Bernese Oberland at the foot of the Alps, not far from Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau – a mountainous massif with distinctive adjoining mountain peaks. The area attracts visitors from throughout the world with its impressive mountain scenery and offers famous sights such as the Aletsch glacier, the north wall of the Eiger and the Jungfraujoch. Jungfrau Park also offers visitors to the area additional experiences – in all weathers. The Park cannot be compared with loud and gaudy amusement parks. Rather its aim is to showcase the impressive nature of the area and the legacies of past civilizations from around the world in an appropriate way. In addition to the main attractions distributed throughout the theme pavilions, visitors are offered various adventures, for example panning for gold, bungee jumping or even a space shuttle flight simulation. In addition to all this there are restaurants, shops and play areas for children. The Park is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm from the beginning of April to the end of October. It is easily accessible via the motorway or by public transport (railway to Interlaken and then public bus).

The rock drawings from the Nazca plateau are realistically portrayed by Epson projectors
The Jungfrau Aletsch Show: 360° panorama of Swiss mountain scenery – experienced from a virtual aeroplane

ANSI-Lumen for New Media

MEDIADESIGN HOCHSCHULE für Design und Informatik GmbH

The MEDIADESIGN HOCHSCHULE für Design und Informatik GmbH [Media Design University for Design and Information Technology] is one of the largest private providers of courses and training in the area of new media, games, fashion, management and design. The company sees itself as a trend-setter. It uses projection know-how from Epson to teach the students the techniques of media management, computer game design or 3D animation.

There are currently more than 1,250 students and trainees in the Design and Information Technology Departments at the Media Design University's three sites in Berlin, Munich and Düsseldorf. The private, state-recognised university offers many different courses in the sector of modern, digital media: for example relating to game design, fashion design, media design or management in media companies. The Media University is the place to go. In addition to these degree courses there are also training courses leading to IHK (German Chamber of Industry) certification as a media designer in various disciplines.

At the heart of the university are professionally-equipped seminar rooms with extensive media technology and up-to-the-minute video and audio studios. Amongst their equipment there are 22 Epson projectors, which are not only used for teaching. The devices, primarily Epson EH-TW5000 projectors, support the professors in their lectures but also the students giving their own presentations. Many of the students' projects and assignments are based on visual content that is projected via these systems.

The projectors are also used in events, exhibitions and competitions. Regular lectures by prestigious guest speakers, inaugural lectures or even live conferences with the other university sites require excellent AV equipment. Here the prime criteria are reliability, faithful colour reproduction of content and high light output. And it is not only the projectors that have convinced the Media Design University: the Digital and Print Media Design Faculties (IHK) use Epson scanners and printers to create examination pieces and exhibition materials.

Challenge: procurement

What started out as a simple procurement task turned out to be a real challenge. Dr. Sreeni Kommana, Technical Director of the Media Design University, is well aware of the process. "The choice of projectors took us a long time. We were looking for equipment that was flexible and capable of a large range of applications. For us that means: accurate colour playback and a certain minimum light output were absolutely essential."

A long lamp life is also important, as are the guarantee for the projector and lamps and the price-performance ratio of the equipment. The Epson EH-TW5000 series ticked all of the boxes. "We had tested various products from different manufacturers at our three university sites in Berlin, Munich and Düsseldorf. We chose the Epson projectors because of the faithful colour reproduction and light output as well as the guarantees and price-performance ratio."

The right decision for flexibility

The projectors are used in very different areas within the Media Design University and especially the presentation of examination or project work requires very flexible and powerful systems. This is particularly true of the project for the "Media Lab": here, for example, room installations are designed on the basis of projection to illustrate the new methods of communication between people and between person and machine. Visitors notice the unusual conditions of use as soon as they experience projectors upended on the wall, projecting on to the floor via a system of mirrors. By the "intuitive use" of individual hot spots the observer triggers virtual changes in the landscape that is portrayed. And then again some projectors are integrated in presentation units or are positioned behind transparent walls.

The demanding requirements placed upon the products are now paying off: "So far the Epson products have proved to be a good investment on an everyday basis," says Dr. Kommana in praise of the Epson projectors. "So far we have had a very good experience with the products. For future, innovative projects we will therefore also look to Epson for our solutions."

Thus in the medium term all of the older projectors are to be replaced by equipment from the Japanese manufacturer. Even Epson large format printers and scanners are still in use.

The Mediadesign Hochschule für Design und Informatik GmbH is one of the largest private providers of degree and training courses in the areas of new media, games, fashion, media management and IT. The company sees itself as an innovator with the aim of teaching the students the technical knowledge required for their study and making them able to develop their own new knowledge independently.

The Media Design University offers a total of five Bachelor degree courses. The Media Design, Media Management and Digital Film Design – Animation/VFX courses culminate in a Bachelor of Arts degree. The Games Design Course leads to a Bachelor of Science. The two-year Masters Course in Media Management, which is an attractive add-on course for all of the previous Bachelor courses, started to run for the first time in 2006. The university started another Masters course in October 2009 with its MA in Game Design.

The university occupies a total area of 8,000 square metres in Berlin, Munich and Düsseldorf with its own training centres. There are currently 1,250 student places in total (2010).

Address:
Mediadesign Hochschule für Design und Informatik GmbH
Lindenstraße 20 - 25
10969 Berlin

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