With computing increasingly going wireless, projectors are the next to cash in onto the wireless trend.
The United States-based InFocus Corporation, one of the leaders in digital projection technology and services, has launched the wireless digital projector solution in Bangalore on Thursday.
The Bangalore-based Genesis IT Innovations will market the product in India.
Designed for simplicity-of-use, LiteShow is the world's first "connect and project," zero-configuration wireless projection system.
Created to produce more efficient meetings where users can securely project their ideas from anywhere in the room, LiteShow is compatible with most InFocus projectors produced in the last four years, and features the performance and security on par with cabled projection.
"We set out to create a wireless system with the same performance and security as a cabled system, without requiring an IT professional to set it up," says Thomson Chan, vice president and general manager of InFocus, Asia Pacific.
As businesses want to become wire-free, LiteShow offers a change to the way meetings can be conducted. It creates an environment where people can simply present ideas from their own notebooks in rapid succession through a shared projector. In addition, wireless projection enhances real-time collaboration activities, minimises equipment set-up and teardown and prevents lost or forgotten cables.
LiteShow typically produces refresh rates of less than one second, which is nearly five times faster than alternative solutions and equal to the response time of cabled projection depending on computer system specifications.
"We've made it possible to take projectors anywhere without compromising the confidence of those presenting. This progressive, innovative approach to product design keeps us at the forefront of meeting the needs of our customers," says Thomson.
The system uses industry-standard Wi-Fi compliant 802.11b wireless technology and the system has a range of up to 300 feet (100 meters) and requires no additional external power source. It is compatible with existing wireless equipment, both embedded and PC card-based 802.11b radios and Apple AirPort wireless LAN adapters.
The average set-up time is five mouse clicks, a significantly shorter time than the 20 or 30-minute set-up required by alternative solutions.
It will project any data displayed by a computer and transitions between meeting participants is claimed to be smooth and quick. With the LiteShow software loaded on all presenters' computers, speakers need only to release the projector while the next speaker searches and "grabs" it via the software-enabled network link.
"Having immersed ourselves in the nature and purpose of projection at meetings in business, government and educational settings, we understand what our customers need to conduct a confident, unburdened and efficient presentation," said Thomson.
Weighing in at a feather-light, sub two pounds (0.9 kg), the projector presents a sleek, narrow profile as thin as a paperback book in the shape of a boarding pass that was designed to fit into a briefcase along side a notebook computer, making it easy to stow and carry all in one bag.
The design tries to set the benchmark for simplicity-of-use and unencumbered portability.
"It is the ultimate statement of freedom, flexibility and quality for business professionals who want to project their best ideas as well as their best image-all from one piece of luggage (the projector comes with a protective sleeve instead of a traditional carry case). We have developed the lightest, most stylish projector that communicates back to the user making it the easiest projector to set-up, use and maintain," says Chan.
The projector can throw an image between 2.7' to 22.2' wide from distances of 1.5 to 5 meters.
It has also launched the InFocus LP120, a wireless-ready, smart, personal projector. To extend the concept of style it has partnered with Coach Inc, a marketer of quality leather goods and fine accessories, it has created the exclusive Coach Edition LP120. The Coach Edition is a custom leather briefcase designed to accommodate both projector and laptop computer, and includes color-coded compartments to match the color-coded cables that come with the projector.
"We are always looking to provide the modern consumer with updated products that fit their ever-changing lifestyle," says Kate Buggeln, senior vice-president, strategic planning and business development for Coach.
InFocus has long understood that a user projecting a presentation needs to look comfortable with technology, in control of the meeting, and have clear, bright and large images to present.
The InFocus LP120 projector costs Rs 250,000, while the Liteshow solution costs Rs 35,000.
