NEC Display Solutions designs, produces and delivers leading-edge visual display technology for a wide variety of markets. They specialize in desktop and large-screen LCD displays, as well as a diverse line of projectors. For over twenty years, the company has held the annual NEC Display Solutions’ NY Partner Showcase, an event that showcases many of the company’s products as well as a scattering of solutions from its many partners.
For the first time, this year’s show was held at SIR Stage 37, an exclusive New York City event venue from music industry leaders SIR Entertainment Services. The space was outfitted with NEC Display Solutions technology, including large-venue projectors displaying different scenes in stunning resolutions and retail displays showing off information about the different companies that helped to sponsor the event. Along with the NEC technology were booths with tech from over twenty NEC partners.
The focus of this year’s show was on projection, as three of NEC’s newly-launched PX803 UL 8,000 lumen projector (look for it come March) displayed a 36-foot wide, blended video over the showcase. The resolution was stunning and the brightness apparent. The company also focused on its expanding solid-state light source projector lineups, boasting a 5,000-12,000 lumen range. “We’ll keep expanding,” says Keith Yanke, Senior Director of Product Marketing for NEC Display Solutions. “That’s very important to us.”
Solid State Light Sources (SSL) are light producing systems made up of either LED devices or Laser Diodes. Light produced with SSL systems inherently have a longer and steadier brightness that decreases at a much slower pace over time than lamp based systems. This technology offers the highest image quality while its operating life span far exceeds traditional lighting methods. NEC’s new P502 HL and WL projectors, marketed for entry integration (board rooms, huddle spaces, etc.) offer a cheaper price point than large video walls with similar range in size and luminosity. These projectors offer 5,000 lumens, multiple HDMI inputs, HDBaseT connectivity and manual/horizontal/vertical lens shift capability. Brand new for the show was NEC’s P502 H lamp-based, full-HD projector, shipping this month with a 4,500 lumen option as well.
Another brand new product to the show came in the interactivity line of NEC’s products. The E705-DNT 70-inch display, launched November 1st, incorporates an integrated touch panel into the familiar E705 model display. With 12 points of touch and a 20-user license of the NEC-specific edition of DisplayNote software that runs the system, the interactivity is responsive and robust. For projection-based interactivity, NEC demoed its interactive wall, which uses up to four ultra-short throw projectors, blends the images into one large surface, and adds interactivity through the custom DisplayNote software.
One of the coolest products showcased came in the retail space, and had less to do with the display than with the capabilities of the display. Touch and RFID has been added to the NEC displays, which means that when you pick up a product, the display recognizes that and switches to display content about the product being handled. Users can then interact with the display to learn more about the product, watch videos and view photos. When the product is returned to its shelf, the display switches back to stock, branded content. “Any retailer could take advantage of this,” says Yanke.
Finally, NEC showcased its so-new-it-hasn’t-been-named 1.8 mm bezel video wall.
Between the products we’ve seen at trade shows like InfoComm in the past year, and the newly released products specific to the show, the NEC Partner Showcase was a rousing success. Guests learned about the channel of partners NEC works with, and sat down for educational sessions that gave great information from NEC professionals about light sources for projection, and considerations for displays. We look forward to seeing what the company and its partners come out with in the next year. We can’t wait for the Partner Showcase in 2016.
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