UK-A major lecture theatre on the Glenside Campus of UWE Bristol(the University of the West of England,Bristol)has been upgraded with the installation of a large,150"Da-Lite rear projection media display.
Da-Lite distributors Paradigm AV supported contracted suppliers GV Multimedia-who have a long-standing relationship with the University-and provided a single-mirror rear projection rig and technical drawings to ensure optimum utilisation of the space.
At the same time GV Multimedia project manager,Dan Victory,carried out his own computer predictions and visualisations to ensure the optimisation of off-axis viewing in the 240-capacity theatre and correct balance of brightness and contrast.
He opted for a Da-Lite Da-Snap(fixed snap-frame)solution,using Da-Tex rear pro screen material set flush against the high arched wall.The visible area now measures 196"x 110"and harnessed in the Paradigm'Easy-Erect'rig is a 16:10 aspect ratio Christie DHD800 projector with 0.8-1 fixed lens.
The screen itself was selected for its combination of brightness and image quality and the project manager's CAD drawings were designed to accommodate all viewing angles"so that it was possible to see clearly from even the front seats."
GV Multimedia specialises in the education sector and has a relationship with UWE extending over a decade.This is the latest in a long line of upgrades,and the University's technical demands remain high at Glenside Campus,where some departments of the Faculty of Health&Life Sciences are based.
Dan Victory recalls that the previous rear projection set-up,with only a small screen and 4:3 aspect ratio projection,was ripe for upgrading."The previous equipment was good for the time it was installed,but technology has moved on since then.This time the University wanted as big a display as possible inside the space,upgraded to HD since it is an important room for teaching,particularly medical studies."
Based on the requirement GV Multimedia produced a specification before tendering successfully for the work.Having carried out an earlier phase of cable laying they returned in June,knowing that this would be a fast-fit project with a sensitive budget.
"I had not worked with Paradigm previously but I certainly knew of their expertise,"the project manager acknowledged."I had seen Da-Lite screens at trade shows and knew that in this situation it would be a perfect fit.It needed to be a rear projection solution,and with 4m depth it was simply a choice between whether we used a single or twin mirror rig."The presence of air ducting on the rear wall reduced the space and eventually dictated a single mirror solution.
With PC feeds and medical data projected from a visualiser,the requirement for superior image uniformity was a given."We opted for a high-contrast solution,and were prepared to sacrifice a little of the brightness to ensure a wide viewing angle.This has proved to be the correct decision,as there is no differential from corner to corner-there is excellent referencing for everyone in the theatre and there are no hotspots.On top of that the Da-Lite screen bezel is only 40mm,which is great."
Other new equipment specified includes TOP-TEC Voyager Dalen Height Adjustable lecterns(both in the lecture theatre and other environments),Extron HDMI extenders,transmitters/receivers and scalers,with PC's set to 1080p.The blinds and lighting are also controllable from Extron touch screens.
Commented technical manager for the Faculty of Health and Life Science,Marcus Olivant,"This equipment is important for us in providing a new level of technology for some of our key teaching areas.At UWE Bristol it is important for us to ensure our students benefit from the best teaching and best technology that is relevant to their studies.Working with Paradigm AV has been helpful in achieving this in one of our core subject areas."
