Epson America Inc. has introduced a line of compact, spotlight-like laser projectors designed to help businesses display immersive digital signage solutions on virtually any surface they choose.
Called LightScene and targeted at operators of premium retail outlets, hospitality venues, entertainment companies, and museums, the new product family lets channel pros turn corners, pillars, and even products themselves into display surfaces for digital signage implementations. Those are capabilities not supported by traditional flat panel displays, according to Remi Del Mar, a senior product manager at Epson, which is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif.
“You see them everywhere and they’re very good at what they do, Del Mar says of flat panels. “I think projectors can complement and expand that market in a different way.”
Specifically, she continues, LightScene projectors position users to win the ongoing fight with smartphones, tablets, and other information sources for consumer attention.
“Brands have to work a little bit harder to get customers to engage with themselves and with the products and services that they provide,” Del Mar observes. “Projectors can perhaps be more successful in that, because with projectors you can do things on surfaces that aren’t possible with flat panels.”
Epson chose to unveil LightScene during the 2018 Digital Signage Expo, which is presently underway in Las Vegas. It’s currently showcasing the system, along with sample applications of its functionality created by designers from New York, London, and Tokyo, in its booth.
The new product is scheduled to begin shipping in May at an MSRP of $2,499. That includes a limited warranty offering next-business-day replacement and free shipping in both directions for three years or 20,000 hours of use, whichever comes first.
LightScene comes in two nearly identical SKUs, the EV-100 in white and the EV-105 in black. Both units feature 3LCD laser technology designed to support up to 20,000 of low-maintenance operation and provide up to 2,000 lumens of color brightness and white brightness, figures normally associated with large-venue projectors. They also come with a 1.58x powered optical zoom lens and powered focus functionality.
Users can control the product centrally through content management systems or locally and individually. The latter feature lets store owners and business managers with ad hoc needs but little technical expertise display content on the fly.
Connectivity is provided via HDMI, RJ-45, and both wired and wireless LAN. A built-in SD card slot can accommodate up to 32 GB of onboard content.
Both LightScene models come with a direct mounting fixture for walls and ceilings. Optional floor and track lighting mounts are available as well.
Del Mar describes the total package as both a versatile addition to the signage solution provider’s arsenal and a potent tool for landing new clients.
“It’s unique and novel and it’s definitely a door opener,” she says. To realize its potential though, she continues, users must have great content to pair it with.
“It’s like body and soul,” Del Mar says. “You need content to make it relevant.” To help partners and customers more easily locate providers of high-quality content, Epson plans to publish an online catalog of signage designers aimed at giving buyers “one-stop shopping” access to hardware and content in a single place.
The company will also continue to roll out signage products like LightScene aimed at powering interactive, engaging solutions.
“When we look at these experiences and the feedback we’re getting from customers, we see that it’s going to become more of something that we want to provide,” Del Mar says.
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