BACKGROUND
In January 2010 Snelling Business Systems were commissioned to consult with the University of East Anglia to design a specification for the AV requirements for the refurbishment of the university's Science Laboratory Facility.
Based on their recommendations, the project went out to tender in March 2010 and Snelling Business Systems were delighted to be awarded the contract in July 2010.
Working hand-in-hand with Omnis Construction who was appointed to deliver this benchmark project, the work was predominately undertaken during the summer recess, for minimum disruption and impact on the student body.
The project was completed on time and to budget in September 2010.
AIMS OF THE PROJECT
The aim of the refurbishment was to transform the original facilities into a contemporary laboratory, which could be used as a single unit, or divided into two laboratories when required.
The University of East Anglia highlighted the need for the development to deliver a number of audio visual functional requirements. The AV install therefore needed to provide equipment which would facilitate interactive presentations from either end of the laboratory and convey the interactive presentations to numerous large installed relay screens.
In addition, computer input points on each laboratory bench and the ability to send content to local large relay screens for group activities was required, as well as password protected central control points and the ability to display high resolution images of physical objects from either end of the laboratory or any bench position. Snelling Business Systems therefore stipulated the use of Extron FOX Matrix 3200, a high performance, modular fibre optic matrix switcher, to ensure that the university's requirements were met.
Sound requirements included a voice reinforcement facility for when the laboratory is used in 'joined' mode and presentation sound at either end of the laboratories adjacent to the interactive presentation equipment. A manual pull down projection screen at either end of the laboratory for use with portable equipment was also included in the spec.
TECHNICAL SOLUTION
In order to meet the client requirements for the interactive equipment, Snelling Business Systems suggested the installation of an 88" hard surface design interactive whiteboard, supported by Hitatchi interactive software. For high resolution image capture Wolfvision VZ9Plus units were recommended and supplied.
For the display equipment, Snelling Business Systems recommended minimum WXGA resolution 2500 lumen short throw projection equipment for use with the interactive whiteboard(s) and providing RS232 or IP control interface. In addition, minimum 1920 x 1080 resolution widescreen format 50" commercial flat panel displays with modular input system and providing RS232 or IP control interface were recommended to deliver the display capabilities outlined in the brief.
For the control of the equipment, each laboratory was installed with wall mounted password protected touch panel control systems, which provided both a joined or divided choice of room configuration. The display system features an ON / OFF control of all displays and a source select for relay screens, as well as a global command, giving it the ability to distribute content from any input position to all relay screens.
The system programming is designed to allow independent use of each end of the laboratories and contains sufficient logic, giving the user the assurance that if the laboratory is being used in divided mode it will not be possible to switch to 'joined' mode without entering a password and that the voice reinforcement system only becomes active in 'joined' mode.
Each laboratory bench is also installed with an AV push button control system providing the following functions for activating the screen, local VGA and digital input and distributed content input.
To fulfil the audio requirements outlined in the spec, Snelling Business Systems recommended one wireless headset type microphone system per laboratory and amplification equipment with feedback suppression. Wall mounted wide dispersion loudspeakers were also included in the proposal, for intelligible voice reinforcement throughout the laboratory and the system voice reinforcement system is designed to be controlled by the AV control system and will mute sound unless the laboratory is used in 'joined' mode.
A pair of wall mounted full range loudspeakers were suggested to provide presentation sound, with one pair being installed adjacent the interactive equipment at each end of the laboratory.
The entire AV system has been designed to enable capability for accepting at all input positions, including VGA analogue inputs and digital inputs.
The system provides a Extron 32 way fibre optic matrix switching system capable of delivering any input type to any output device in the most appropriate format for the display device, the interconnect signal route between input points and matrix and matrix and display positions is immune from RF interference and able to support a minimum of WUXGA resolution for both digital and analogue signals.