VIDEO WALL BOLSTERS BUSINESS COLLEGE'S HIGH-TECH IMAGE

A large electronic sign hangs on the wall above the mock securities brokerage at the William R. Hough Hall, the newly constructed showpiece facility at the University of Florida's top-rated Warrington College of Business Administration. But unlike the low-resolution ticker boards in traditional trading rooms, this electronic sign is the absolute state of the art – a next generation information source for the next generation of business leaders.

The Planar Clarity Matrix™ LCD Video Wall System in the glass-walled "trading room" and a second larger video wall in the nearby atrium are stand-out features of the new hall. The atrium's video wall (shown above) combines six screens in a two-wide-by-three-high (2x3) configuration, delivering nearly 90 square feet of electronic signage. The trading room features a one-high-by-four-wide (1x4) configuration.

Support for full DVI, VGA and RS232C ensures the Clarity Matrix video wall displays almost any type of content. The video walls at Hough Hall feature everything from broadcast news clips and weather forecasts to live streams from business websites. Further, the image-to image gap is only 7.3 millimeters. Whether the video walls are displaying a PowerPoint classroom lecture or a live feed from cable TV, the image appears virtually seamless across the full video wall. The 700-nit brightness and 3000:1 contrast ratio ensure pristine picture quality.

The Clarity Matrix video wall's slim profile -- a mere 4.5 inches in total depth -- and ultra-thin bezel provide a sleek look that blends with rather than overwhelms the hall's design and image. The off-board electronics, which make it possible to remotely store most components and controls away from the displays, further reduce the footprint of the system, making the video wall even less conspicuous.

Just as importantly, the off-board electronics reduce heat produced by the system, which, in turn, reduces the amount of electricity consumed cooling the components. The reduced energy consumption is important to the college, which has applied for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for the new hall.

Planar designed the Clarity Matrix LCD Video Wall System to meet the demanding requirements of large video walls in public venues and deliver the industry's lowest total cost of ownership. The 46-inch Clarity Matrix panels used in the Hough Hall walls is commercial-grade, yet offers the thinnest profile of any video wall in its category.

Individual LCD panels can be easily aligned and serviced from the front thanks to Clarity Matrix's unique EasyAxis™ Mounting System. These and other features help ensure the video walls at Hough Hall will be up and running any time the college needs them 24x7 365 days a year.

The Clarity Matrix LCD Video Walls at University of Florida were specified and installed by Tampa, Fla.-based systems integration specialists of The Whitlock Group.