UNIQUE CLARITY MATRIX MULTITOUCH VIDEO WALL BUILDS BUSINESS FOR SYSTEMS INTEGRATOR
There is a memorable scene in the 1980s movie, Big, in which the two leading actors dance out the song, 'Heart and Soul' on a life-size piano keyboard. That scene may have inspired the IT solutions and services firm, ProMission Projects, which recently built a video wall in the form of a life-size laptop computer that a number of its customers use today to introduce products and services. To give its laptop a suitable screen, ProMission turned to Planar Systems for a nine-panel array (3x3) of its Clarity™ Matrix MultiTouch LCD Video Wall. This video wall supports a series of custom applications developed by ProMission, and has been a significant business-builder for the company.
"We could not have imagined the impact this solution would make and the new business opportunities it is generating," says Michael Haberkorn, Account Manager for ProMission. "Much of its success owes to the attributes of the Clarity MultiTouch Video Wall including its unmatched style and visual performance and the superior touch experience it provides for our customers—they simply love it."
An innovative application platform
The laptop consists of a 10 foot-wide-by-5 foot-high keyboard integrated with the Clarity Matrix MultiTouch. The applications ProMission developed for the video wall have enabled it to be used as a technology platform for launching a major product, celebrating a particular accomplishment or milestone, for live video conferencing and much more.
ProMission also has developed applications where only the LCD panels within the Clarity Matrix MultiTouch Video Wall are used in a conventional video wall installation. Typical of these is a retail photo developing counter where customers bring in their digital camera memory cards, display all their images on the video wall and then select those they wish to have printed. "In this application – but with the laptop version as well – two important Clarity Matrix MultiTouch Video Wall features come into play," Haberkorn says. "First, the Clarity Matrix MultiTouch has the thinnest image-to-image gap of any product of its type on the market, resulting in the entire video wall looking as if it is virtually one screen."
Second, the very thin gap between LCD displays with the video wall (approximately 5.5mm) enhances the appeal of the video wall, Haberkorn says because it creates a surface that is almost perfectly flat. Also, the Clarity Martrix MultiTouch Video Wall features Planar's ERO™ (Extended Ruggedness and Optics) technology. "This is a sheet of bonded glass covering the entire video wall which protects the display and adds to the smoothness customers want," he adds.
Further, the video wall is engineered with a surrounding touch sensor frame that is equipped with up to 32 touch points. These are accessible to a single user or multiple users simultaneously. "The experience is pin-point accurate, and one person's touch never affects or interferes with the touch of another user," says Haberkorn.
Clarity Matrix MultiTouch features directly benefit the systems integrator
Several other Clarity Matrix MultiTouch features are important to almost any systems integrator, Haberkorn says. The first of these is the weight of a display panel. At 65 lbs. (29 kg) including the ERO and mount, Clarity Matrix MultiTouch LCD displays are among the lightest available today. "Our customers ship these video walls around the country and worldwide all the time. The difference in weight – compared to virtually every other manufacturer's panel – adds up to savings of thousands of dollars in shipping costs. That number flows to the customer's bottom line and it makes our solution more attractive as well."
The second important Clarity Matrix MultiTouch feature is its off-board electronics design. "Allowing power supplies, controllers and other components to be remotely located was critical because it removed heat-inducing elements which could shorten panel life. Also, it is key to our laptop version because it enabled us to cap the video wall so it looks like the real thing," Haberkorn says.
Planar's personal support is unique
Lastly, Haberkorn gives kudos to Planar for the manner in which it delivers customer support; notably, that it always provides ProMission with direct access to a live support person whenever needed—which is not the case with other manufacturers. "For example, it's not uncommon for our customers to need personal support in shipping their video wall overseas. If there's no one to help them solve it, they could miss a shipping deadline and incur customs storage costs of thousands of dollars per day. With Planar, someone is always available to help so these delays and unnecessary costs are avoided. That's customer service done the right way."
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
