Month: October 2020

What is a wireless presentation system?

Definition of a wireless presentation system

A wireless presentation system is a media streaming device that allows one or more participants to wirelessly present content from a PC, tablet or smartphone on a larger screen using screen mirroring technology. This technology is suitable for various collaborative environments, such as meeting rooms, conference rooms, huddle rooms and classrooms.

What is a wireless presentation system used for and when do you need it?

Wireless presentation systems play an important role in sharing information in collaborative work environments. These systems allow meeting participants to send various types of content (desktop, documents, images, videos and apps) along with sound from any device to a projector, large monitor or TV. This allows multiple participants to seamlessly present, share and exchange ideas on the content displayed without restrictions. Wireless presentation systems are used for a variety of applications, such as

  • Wirelessly connect a laptop, desktop PC, smartphone or tablet to view on any television
  • Stream or mirror video and audio from any device to a larger screen or projector
  • Enable participants to interact by sharing content on a common screen

Where can you use wireless presentation systems?

Wireless presentation systems enable audio/video collaboration in venues such as

  • Small and large meeting rooms
  • Conference rooms
  • Huddle Rooms and Huddle Places
  • Classrooms and lecture halls

Advantages of using a wireless presentation system

Cross platform systems

These plug-and-play capable devices can be easily used with almost any display or projector for quick presentation sharing from any participant device such as desktop PCs, Macs, laptops, iOS/android phones and tablets.

Multi-participant collaboration

For an uncomplicated and smooth presentation experience, several participants can access the system simultaneously. The best wireless presentation system offers great interactivity and is perfect for open discussion forums in meeting rooms of any size.

Long range wireless connection

A wireless presentation system covers a wide signal range, which is also suitable for larger rooms, allowing users to show their presentations over distances of up to 90 meters.

Streaming via LAN, WLAN or dual network mode with guest segmentation

A wireless presentation system can provide connections via LAN (wired) and WLAN (wireless) and can support a dual network mode. For example, employees can connect over the corporate network while guests connect wirelessly without compromising the security of the corporate network. This is useful when a wireless presentation system is connected to a corporate network via Ethernet and guests join a meeting to collaborate with the company.

Compact and mobile without restrictions

Wireless presentation systems are usually compact devices that are ideal for room-to-room sharing or discreet mounting behind a screen or on top of a projector. While the system requires cable connections to connect the display, the network and the power supply, the participants are connected wirelessly, saving them time-consuming changing of cable connections and unsightly cables at the workplace.

HDMI and VGA Compatible

Even if older interfaces such as VGA are still found in corporate environments, it is advisable to choose a wireless presentation system that offers both analog (VGA) and digital (HDMI or DVI) interfaces. Although VGA can technically transmit a 1080p signal, fewer and fewer displays and projectors are available with VGA interfaces. HDMI displays are the most effective and future-proof way to meet the definition of the source.

Central presentation management

Many wireless presentation systems are also capable of providing mediator functions for managing presentations. The systems come with special web-based software that facilitates the moderation of presentations by multiple participants. Contributions from participants can be managed using touch controls on a display or mouse, providing the presenter with an easy way to rearrange screen elements.

Hotspot capability

With integrated wired and wireless connectivity, these devices can also be used as stand-alone access points. With the integrated access point, the presentation system can act as a hotspot, allowing several participants to access a display simultaneously, dial into the guest WLAN or do both simultaneously. Depending on hardware limitations, up to 254 participants can have simultaneous access, allowing for a smooth transition between different presentations.

Secure wireless presentation

A wireless presentation system gives the administrator detailed control. Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) tools allow the administrator to act as a gatekeeper by not only authorizing user access to the main display, but also controlling Internet access. The devices come with key access or line-of-sight and password protection and enable multiple collaboration modes:

  • Open: Users freely share content on the screen.
  • Screen key: requires line-of-sight for sharing.
  • Moderated (with password): Moderator approves/rejects items before they are displayed, which is especially important in an educational environment.
  • Option for AES-128 encryption of transmitted content

Are you considering whether a wireless presentation system would fit into your organization?

Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Does your organization have the ability to effectively manage presentations from multiple presenters in real time?
  • Do you spend significant amounts of time to ensure that meetings where multiple participants should be present and share content run smoothly?
  • Do you notice a delay between presentations when using different devices?
  • Does your current system allow multiple users to easily switch between source displays?

Criteria for business projectors Part 2: B2B attributes from the manufacturer’s perspective

What makes a business projector? Depending on the manufacturer, you will get different answers. An overview of different classification possibilities.

Even though brightness is the top selection criterion for business projectors, manufacturers use different options for implementation. Since some companies use two-track or even three-track systems including LCoS, the first thing they want to know is how they divide the market and what their business focus is.

Canon, for example, is positioning the LV series with 3LCD technology in the multimedia or consumer sector, while the LCoS-based devices in the XEED series are more in the business segment, with the installation models offering interchangeable lenses. According to product specialist Dieter Röther, brightness is an important criterion, but even more important is the raster and distortion-free quality of the projection, which includes high resolution and color reproduction.

Read more: Best Mini Projector for Business Presentations

Competitor BenQ divides the market into home cinema and business, including education. General Manager Thomas Müller puts more emphasis on Full-HD capability, price/performance ratio, black level and contrast in home cinema, whereas brightness, contrast ratio and interface diversity as well as flexibility with regard to the installation location are the most important factors for business devices.

“The future belongs to widescreen and Full-HD”

According to product manager Tobias Rönnebeck, Acer segments the projector market according to five areas of application: the rapidly growing home cinema market, the likewise increasingly popular short-distance projectors, installation equipment, LED representatives and the classic business projectors, which are highly portable at only 2.0 to 2.5 kg. The most important criterion for Rönnebeck is in any case the resolution. “The future belongs to widescreen format and Full-HD. In addition, brightness and contrast play a central role with business devices, since conference rooms often cannot be completely darkened,” says the Acer manager.

Finally, according to Clara Son from brand marketing, Sony divides the market into short and ultra-short distance devices, desktop and installation projectors, as well as home cinema projectors and beamers for visualization and simulation. The enterprise sets thereby on the own 3LCD panels like the inorganic BrightEra panels, which bring a higher fill factor, a longer life span and a better contrast ratio with itself.

Acer CastMaster Touch: Transferring presentations with just one touch

With the Acer CastMaster Touch, the Taiwanese manufacturer offers you an easy way to connect your notebook to a TV or projector. Images, videos and sound should be transmitted within milliseconds with just one touch.

You want to give a presentation, but the cable is too short to connect your laptop to the TV or projector and the wireless transmission fails because the devices are not found in the network? Acer wants to remedy such situations with the CastMaster Touch.

The presentation system consists of two parts. A dongle, which you attach to your notebook and a receiver, which is connected to the TV or projector. It is not necessary to install any software or set up a network connection.

The transmission is started or paused by touching the touch surface. A receiver can be connected with up to 64 dongles. With a single touch of the touch surface, it is then possible to switch between the individual sources.

The system is connected to the end devices via USB type C, HDMI or USB. Picture and sound should be transferred between transmitter and receiver in less than 100 milliseconds. Acer also promises a robust connection. The Acer CastMaster Touch should be able to perform its service without any interference even in offices with many interfering signals.

Thanks to a large number of connections, the CastMaster Touch is not only a presentation system, but can also be used in a variety of ways. For example, it can be connected to a sound system via audio-out and then only transmits sound or music to it. Furthermore, the receiver offers an RJ-45 Ethernet port and three USB ports as well as an HDMI input and output.

Price and availability

According to Acer, the presentation system is expected to go on sale during the third quarter. The market launch will therefore take place between the beginning of July and the end of September. The recommended retail price is 999 euros. Thus the Cast Master Touch might be rather interesting for enterprises or educational facilities, in which much presentations are held.