Conference Room Update at IBM’s Headquarters Features Planar Ultra-Fine Pitch LED Video Wall
IBM (International Business Machines) is an American multi-national technology company with operations in more than 170 countries worldwide. At its corporate headquarters in Armonk, NY, IBM’s real estate operations identified a project to modernize the technology in a large, first-floor conference room. With old audio-visual equipment, upgrades were necessary to inspire more use of the room and maximize its value.
IBM engaged A-V Services, which supplies much of the company’s audio visual needs, to provide a redesign proposal. “The space has a beautiful 40-foot-long, 20-plus-seat oval conference table but had an outdated rear screen projection system,” said Pete Michetti, A-V Services senior account director. “Looking at a spreadsheet on that rear projection you can hardly make out the numbers. No wonder the room wasn’t getting the use it deserved.”
Michetti and his team created an audio visual design featuring LED display technology from Planar--specifically the Planar® TWS Series LED video wall. The proposal included three different pixel pitch options: 1.5mm, 1.2mm and 0.9mm.
“Obviously, the cost for the 0.9mm pixel pitch was higher than the others, but based on the seating arrangements in the room, it was the right choice,” Michetti said. “There would be people sitting four to five feet away. At that distance, you don’t want to go higher than 0.9 mm. Plus, with the size of the video wall we were proposing and their intended use of multiple 4K images, 0.9mm offered the best performance.”
Improving the usefulness of the space
Following IBM’s approval, A-V Services installed a nearly 12-foot-long, 7-foot-high Planar TWS Series LED video wall with a 0.9mm pixel pitch (TWS0.9) in a 6x6 configuration. The installation provides IBM’s headquarters with a versatile, ultra-fine pitch LED video wall for presentations, video conferencing and other uses.
“People are now lining up to book the room,” Michetti said. “With the video processing we included, up to 10 people can be shown on the display when they hold a video conference. Depending on the use, the video wall has the flexibility to switch from a single screen to many different layouts. That was a very necessary reason to go with this system.”
With the low pixel pitch, anybody in the conference room can view the installation from any distance, according to Michetti. “The resolution is just unbelievable. You can walk right up to it and the clarity is still tremendous.”
“Everything came out the way they expected,” said Michetti. Of course, every time I’m involved with a project that calls for LED, my first step is Planar. I know they’re always there for me with regard to service, answering questions and helping with the design and installation. I would rather go with Planar than anyone else.”
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.
