Displays can be troublesome at the best of times when there’s a lot riding on the result, so the last thing you want to be worrying about is the audio visual element. In this article I will present some basic guidelines that will help you set the room layout so you can accomplish the highest quality projection from your presentation.
General Guide-Lines
Viewing
* For optimum viewing, the audience should be seated within:
* +30 degrees of a line perpendicular to the screen’s centre.
* They should be seated no closer then twice the image height.
Note: (If this is not possible perhaps consider multiple viewing options for the audience).
Type of Content
* Entertainment – The last row should be no further than eight times the image height.
* Corporate – The last row should be to six times the image height.
* Critical Applications – The last row should be four times the image height
Setting the Screen
To avoid obstruction of viewing he bottom of the screen should be roughly 4 feet above the floor. If the seating is staggered, or if the floor is raked you can adjust this appropriately. Try to avoid setting the screen to high. The ergonomics associated with cushty viewing indicate no viewer should have to revolve their head more than +30 degrees from straight ahead, or lean their head not more than 25degrees from horizontal.
Seating
The planning of the seats is critical so viewers can gain full sight of the projection. Frequently the staggered seating arrangement is best suited for most eventualities. Overall they must be in rows, with a minimal unrestricted horizontal clearance between plumb lines from the front of an unoccupied seat to the back of the seat in front. This clearance may alter, but is typically sixteen inches ( 400mm ). Aisles must be provided so that there are no more than seven seats between any one seat and an aisle. The exit and entry doors need to be take into account when coming up with the layout of the seating. The layout wants to designed to:
* Allow for easy of enter into the room
* Allow for quick exit in the event of an emergency
* The row contains no more than 100 seats;
* Each doorway serves no more than three rows.
* Aisles must terminate in a cross-aisle.
Front or Rear Projection?
There are a spread of factors that may decide whether front or rear projections are most fitted for your displays.
Front Projection
* Front Projection can generally provide a wider viewing-angle than rear projection. It requires: Controlled lighting (ambient light must be kept off the screen to eliminate a reduction in contrast ratio).
* Requires either a projection room at the rear of the theatre, or a platform or mount for the projector(s) out in the theatre. Note that this latter is a potential noise source.
* The projection geometry must be carefully worked out to get the best compromise between image keystoning and blockage of the light path by the audience.
* Must be accessible for maintenance. A projection booth must be dust free (positive pressure preferred), and have adequate ventilation.
Rear Projection
- Rear projection room must be dust free, and have adequate ventilation.
- Requires space behind the screen. Mirrors may be used to reduce the required depth. Must be accessible for maintenance.
- Can be viewed with higher levels of room illumination, and is less immune to “wash out” by ambient lighting.
- Rear Projection Generally has a narrower viewing-angle than front projection – better for long, narrow rooms.
To choose whether front or rear projection will augment your presentation, ask yourself ‘What kind of presentation do I want to give’ and “What is the point of the display’. If as an example the presentation is “canned” you can consider either front or rear projection. If a live talker is interacting with the display, rear projection is best so the spokesman can interact with the pictures without being in the projector’s light path. Additionally, the higher allowable room illumination allows for note-taking, and so on.
Screen Width
Determine your minimum screen height based primarily on the distance to your farthest viewer and your ceiling height. This figure could be altered based on the application ( e.g. : an entertainment application will need a larger than minimum size screen for impact ).
ADA Requirements
Where needed agreements will need to be made for attendees who need wheelchair accessibility, and / or who have visual or hearing impairments The accessibility and size of these spaces is defined as :
A minimum number of aisle seats will be required to have either no aisle-side armrest or an aisle-side armrest that folds up. Certain further signage may be required. Your sound system will need the addition of a hearing-assisted system. Your emergency systems may need the addition of strobe signals or visual messaging systems. Your video and other visual display systems may need captioning.
Miscellaneous Considerations
Equipment location
Is very important to avoid any damage. This is generally, but not necessarily, located at the projector ( s ). This appliances may include projection controllers, a show controller, video hardware, and audio gear.
Acceptable power supply
don’t forget to provide adequate electrical power for this hardware and the projector ( s ). Do not forget to permit conduit for speaker cables, control signals, and so on. For boardrooms and meeting rooms you will also need to provide accessible sources ( like VCR’s and DVD players ).
Aesthetics or Theme
* Does it require the loudspeakers and other equipment be concealed?
* How is the presentation started?
* Automatically,
* Audience-demand,
* Host-demand, and live presenter (may require random-access control or other interactivity).
Whether your display is for the chairman or for an enormous concern, taking a minute to plan how you want to supply the information can make a major difference to your audience. So take a moment a review what you are wanting to point out, how you would like to claim it and how is the best way for your audience to receive it. It might make the difference between wining that new job or losing it.
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Article by John Black