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InfoComm 2009: Projectors, Lamps, and Accessories

3LCD [1] showed InfoComm attendees that projectors with the same number of lumens can produce entirely different pictures. The company says its Color Light Output makes the difference, brightening the red, green, and blue output, providing a more balanced color on the screen. 3LCD projectors avoid casting too much white light on the screen, which can result in a washed-out picture.

3M’s [2] Multi-Touch Developer Kit has a 19-inch metal-enhanced LCD display, the largest on the market. The screen’s multi-touch capabilities mean up to 10 fingers can be pushing the screen without slowing the system down or throwing off its accuracy. The system’s glass surface is impervious to dust and dirt, the company says.

AccelerOptics [3] introduced a projection display that is visible even in classrooms and lecture halls that have daylight coming in through windows. Ambient light often distorts projector images or makes viewing difficult from the back of a classroom, but according to the company, many educators have said the AccelerOptics model has produced a reliable image without having to block incoming sunlight.

Casio’s [4] Super Slim projector is 1.7 inches thick and can zoom up to 300 inches diagonally, making the projector suitable for classrooms of every size. Image adjustments can be made easily with the Super Slim projector’s remote control system. The projector is also USB enabled, allowing for easy transfer of teacher and student projects.

Christie Digital [5] showcased its line of three-chip DLP projectors and display solutions including the Spyder X20, which combines online editing, integrated source monitoring, and video processing. The Spyder reportedly is ideal for classrooms and lecture halls, with its large-scale 3D feature. Christie’s LED display wall solution sports a clear picture and long life, according to the company.

Schools that may not be able to afford a full complement of audio-video technology could benefit from Epson’s [6] PowerLite Presenter, a projector that lets teachers show classroom video without additional equipment. The PowerLite comes complete with a surround-sound option, microphone input, and “plug ‘n play” connections, allowing for quick setup that doesn’t require IT help, the company says.

Hitachi [7] Home Electronics (America), Inc., Business Group unveiled its CP-X3010 3LCD projector, reportedly easy to install at less than 8 pounds and featuring a brightness of 3,000 lumens. The projector has an average lamp life of about 3,000 hours and a life of 6,000 hours in eco mode, which helps teachers conserve energy, a goal among many campuses instituting green IT policies. Hitachi Professional Series projectors have dust-resistant cooling systems that reportedly won’t need maintenance for the first 10,000 hours of use.

Mitsubishi [8] featured a new portable projector that weighs less than 8 pounds and has a picture powered by more than 4,000 lumens. The XD600U has a life of about 5,000 hours under normal conditions, and is 3D-enabled, the company says. It also has a 10-watt speaker and audio mix capability and a closed captioning decoder for in-depth projector presentations.

The NEC [9] NP901W widescreen projector has wired and wireless network capabilities, and can support 3D displays in a classroom. The projector reportedly is energy efficient and comes with a remote desktop connection and advanced color management technology.

Premiere Mounts [10] offers a variety of choices to keep a classroom projector steady on a table, ceiling, or anywhere else an educator may need to put a projector. The company’s FTP mount model has a detachable base, finger-tip adjustments, a leveling screw, and can adapt to tough-to-fit pipe or ceiling structures. Premiere Mounts also has a model that can retract into the ceiling when not in use.

Sanyo’s [11] line of multimedia projectors boasts 7,500 lumens of brightness, four-segment color wheels, and a 330-watt lamp for a bright, clear view of educators’ presentations. Sanyo also offers a six-segment color wheel for even richer color reproduction. An uncompressed data wireless transmission system limits breaks and interruption in visual and audio presentations, according to the company.

Sharp’s [12] popular and diverse line of projectors was on display at InfoComm, including the XR-32S-L model, which comes complete with 2,600 lumens of brightness, a filter-less, energy-efficient design and quiet cooling fans so teacher presentations aren’t interrupted when the projector heats up, the company says. The projector weighs about 6 pounds, so it’s portable for educators who go from classroom to classroom on a daily basis.

Texas Instruments’ [13] DLP projectors proved key in updating display technology in Georgia’s Gwinnett County Public Schools recently, and the company showed the projectors to InfoComm attendees. The DLP products display on 60 or 70-inch screens, and the picture is visible from anywhere in a classroom. The projector also features a 2,000-lumen display.