iC-Net Applications - Jacksonville
Let's say you run a facility and decide to install several hundred flat-panel televisions. You've negotiated a great price for a package buy. You've researched the prime locations to install the televisions, which will enhance the fan's experience and alleviate customer stress resulting from missing the action.
The moment has come to turn them all on and marvel at the high-tech look of the facility. Except there's one catch: You have a couple hundred televisions to turn on and adjust for proper settings. Uh oh. This could be a problem.
But that problem can be fixed if you're wise enough to call Contemporary Research. Contemporary Research iC-Net technology networks TVs, flat-panel displays, and video projectors through the existing CATV coax cable system. There's no need to run dedicated control wiring to displays, and retrofits are a snap. Sports venues were among the first to employ iC-Net, taking control of hundreds of TVs distributed throughout a facility. Current sites include Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Safeco Field in Seattle, Jacksonville Arena in Florida, and the Irwin Center at University of Texas.
Bryan Stross of Jacksonville Sound, the sound system providers of the Jacksonville Arena, said Contemporary Research proved invaluable during the project. As the job progressed, the arena management requested to expand the existing 20 televisions to more than 130. And, the arena management realized it was going to need a way to control all of the televisions.
"As a systems contractor, we try to educate the customer and one of our primary goals is to do what's best for the end user," said Stross. "They already had a Contemporary Research System in place. We started the conversations and now they have about 150 TVs, all on the Contemporary Research platform."
Stross said working with Contemporary Research has been ideal. "They've been great to work with," he said. "In the three years or so since the job was done, we've had three service calls and none involved the TV system."
As sites transition to flat-panel TVs, they have been pleased to discover that iC-Net can take control of most makes of IR and RS-232 displays as easily as their existing Philips, RCA, and Zenith Smart TVs. By taking advantage of iC-Net's open-architecture design, sports facilities maintain freedom of choice for present and future display technology. As a manufacturer of professional HDTV tuners, Contemporary Research is already laying the foundation for controlling the next generation of flat-panel HDTV tuners expected in tomorrow's digital CATV systems. iC-Net software simplifies integration, enabling system setup, diagnostics, control presets, and scheduling from a PC. Each preset can include power, volume, channels, text messages, and other commands, as well as the network address of each controlled TV. A simple click on a preset name in the software launches everything. In addition to controlling individual displays, iC-Net software can simultaneously activate an entire zone (255 units) of TVs, or all displays, with a single command.
Custom control systems such as AMX or Crestron can also integrate iC-Net technology. Using this approach, all facility technology, including displays, video, speakers, audio settings, and lighting can be controlled with simple, graphic touch panel screens.
Now you can turn on all of those TVs and just enjoy them.
Interested? Check out the iC-Net solutions, software, and components in this section. Ask for more information and request CR Catalog CD
© 2008 Contemporary Research Corporation. All rights reserved.