Panasonic brought its end-to-end digital signage platform to Digital Signage Expo (DSE) last week in Las Vegas, stunning the show with two projection mapping demos as well as the latest professional projectors and displays.
While Panasonic’s Space Player was certainly a “treat” for attendees (you’ll get that in a minute), the company’s entire line promises a big impact on the digital signage market.
Displays
The new AF1 Series of commercial displays incorporates an open-source system-in-a-chip (SoC) platform. This means software companies can create apps for digital signage that can play on the new Panasonic displays. The series is Google-certified, featuring an Android and HTML5-based OpenPort Platform. It is equipped with a 1GHz quad-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, and 8 GB of internal storage.
The AF1 Series is a beautifully designed display in all sizes: 42″, 49″, and 55″. A narrow 6.3mm bezel accompanies each display.
Panasonic also showed its LFV6 / LFV60 Series video wall displays, featuring an even slimmer 3.5mm bezel and anti-glare and anti-reflective treatment. Both models are embedded with the “Failover and Failback” function which is designed to ensure reliable signal distribution even if some input signals are disrupted. The TH-55LFV6U offers brightness of 500 cd/m2 while the TH-55LFV60U provides a brightness of 700 cd/m2 for applications with high ambient light.
These displays can be operated 24/7, can be mounted in landscape or portrait mode, and are easily synchronized via an embedded USB port, enabling operators to update content wirelessly and efficiently.
Also demoed at DSE were the LF8, LF80 and LFE8 series of displays. The two former models were engineered for mission critical signage applications with continuous 24/7 operation and the same “Failover and Failback” function, while the latter was designed for simple, stylish yet cost effective digital signage including retail, public spaces and visual communication applications.
Projectors
Introduced for the first time at DSE 2016, Panasonic’s PT-RZ570WU 1-Chip DLP Solid Shine Laser Projector boasts 5,400 lumens, 20,000-hour maintenance-free 24.7 operation and WUXGA resolution. The projector has a four-segment Quartet Color Harmonizer color wheel that reduces energy loss from the light source, boosting perceived brightness and improving color accuracy.
Backing up its little brother, the PT-RZ12KU Projector is a 12,000 lumen, 3-Ship DLP WUXGA projector with 120 Hz frame replacement technology. It allows for vertical, horizontal and tilting 360-degree projection enabled by a laser light source.
Projection Mapping
Now for the fun stuff. Panasonic was showing a recreation of its projection mapping on the Bolshoi Ballet Theater in Moscow, just a little bit sized down to fit inside the show floor. It used a PT-RZ670UK 6,500 lumens laser projector equipped with an ET-DLE080 zoom lens.
On the other side of the Panasonic booth, stirring up a bit of commotion was the new Panasonic Space Player, a DLP projector pointed at a pan showing different kinds of food being cooked. The Space Player combines the functions of traditional lighting and video projection and could be quite perfect for restaurants, retail stores or museums. See the Space Player at work in the video below.
“We are immersed in a digital world, so being able to empower all our customers—whether a retailer, government organization, university, or K-12 institution—and speak their language and provide them with the solutions they need to grow their business is our mission,” says John Baisley, senior vice president, visual & imaging, Panasonic. “Creating impactful and memorable experiences through our professional displays and projectors that stand out is absolutely crucial.”
