The Extron WindoWall® System is a powerful and versatile, yet user-friendly approach for multi-display videowall systems. It features a highly scalable architecture that delivers optimum performance and reliability. WindoWall Console software is the user interface to the system, facilitating intuitive, straightforward control and configuration of videowall systems, and the creation of presentations with multiple, independent windows for displaying graphics, HDTV, and video. WindoWall is typically used to manage images on two to six screens. The WindoWall System is an ideal choice for command and control centers, network operations centers, medical facilities, courtrooms, conference rooms and training facilities, retail environments, and other applications requiring highly reliable, multi-window videowall systems.
Distributed Video Processing
WindoWall employs a distributed video processing architecture that dedicates a separate WindoWall high resolution graphics processor to each projector, video cube, or flat-panel monitor in the videowall system. Each WindoWall Processor allows for the display of up to four windows, each of which can show video, HDTV, or high resolution computer-video content. It employs proven Extron video processing technologies to deliver a fully optimized, high quality video output. The WindoWall Processor is compatible with virtually any available display and outputs high resolution video at resolutions up to 1920x1200 and HDTV 1080p/60.
Because a discrete, real-time processor is dedicated to each display unit in the videowall, WindoWall is fully scalable, supporting a wide variety of display layouts from 1x2 to 2x3 and larger. An Extron CrossPoint Ultra, CrossPoint 450 Plus, or DVI Matrix Switcher is required when distributing multiple input sources to the WindoWall Processors.
Graphical User Interface
WindoWall Console software is the user interface to the system. It brings all of the WindoWall Processors and the matrix switcher together via TCP/IP, and provides the tools and features to set up, create, and manage videowall presentations with up to four windows per display or video cube unit. The software includes intuitive Wizards that take the user step-by-step through the process of setting up a videowall and then configuring all input sources and the matrix switcher to be used in the system.
Once set-up is completed, customized window layouts can be created with the aid of a virtual canvas that lets you size and position windows anywhere as they would be shown on the videowall display. A static or live background display behind the windows adds a theme to the videowall presentation. Window layouts can be saved to 100 available memory presets for future recall.
- Scalable videowall systems from 1x2 up to 2x3 and larger
- Inputs - per WindoWall Processor: Four universal analog video inputs on BNCs for RGBHV up to 1920x1200, component video up to 1080p/60 HDTV, S-video, or composite video; live background input on DVI; and four optional DVI-D inputs
- Output - per WindoWall Processor: Scaled picture-in-picture output on DVI-D and BNCs as RGBHV, RGBS, RGsB, or HD component video
- Dedicated high performance video and graphics processing for each display or video cube
- Four independent windows per display of video, HDTV, and high resolution computer video
- Wizard-based graphical user interface for videowall system setup
- RGB, HD component video, and DVI outputs — The WindoWall Processor simultaneously outputs analog RGB computer-video or HDTV component video signals and digital DVI, for compatibility with virtually any display device.
- Virtual canvas for on-screen videowall visualization and dynamic window placement and sizing
- Optional DVI inputs
- Selectable output rates from 640x480 to 1920x1200, including HDTV 1080p/60
- Adjustments for window positioning, sizing, zoom, and priority; background and window border color selection
- Graphic Still Store enables use of uploaded graphics as background images — A powerful feature that enables uploaded BMP bitmap graphics to be stored in memory for use as background images to create themed multimedia presentations. Each WindoWall Processor can store up to six high resolution images, offering an easy way to display frequently used images such as a company logo.
- Live video background from a dedicated DVI source — In addition to Graphic Still Store, live, full-motion, high resolution computer video or HDTV from a DVI source can be used as a background to any presentation.
- EDID Emulation provides selectable resolutions and refresh rates to ensure reliable operation — WindoWall provides a means for specifying the rate of the DVI input, ensuring proper communication with the video source.
- Auto-Image™ setup — Each WindoWall Processor automatically optimizes the image to the scaled output rate, eliminating complex set-up procedures.
- Image freeze control — Any image in a picture-in-picture window can be frozen via the front panel, RS-232 or RS-422 control, or Ethernet control.
- Text overlay for window caption labeling — Each picture-in-picture window can be labeled with a text label of up to 16 characters, generated through RS-232 or RS-422 control or Ethernet control. Custom options are available for text positioning, text color, character size, translucent or color-selectable background, and text border.
- Picture controls for each window, including color, tint, brightness, contrast, and detail
- 100 memory presets for videowall layout configurations — A total of 100 customizable presets are available to quickly save and recall window configurations for the videowall system. These presets can easily be configured using the WindoWall Console software.
- 3:2 NTSC and 2:2 PAL pulldown detection — Advanced film mode processing techniques help maximize image detail and sharpness for NTSC or PAL sources that originated from film.
- Aspect ratio control — The aspect ratio of the video signals to the windows can be controlled by selecting a FILL mode, which provides a full window display, or a FOLLOW mode, which preserves the original aspect ratio of the input signal.
- Quad standard video decoding — The WindoWall Processor uses a digital, four-line adaptive comb filter to decode NTSC 3.58, NTSC 4.43, PAL, and SECAM for integration into systems worldwide.
- Internal test patterns for calibration and setup — The WindoWall Processor offers several test patterns, including a crop pattern, crosshatch, 16 bar grayscale, color bars, alternating pixels, ramp, white field, 4 x 4 crosshatch for use with videowalls, three film aspect ratio patterns - 1.78, 1.85, and 2.35, crop patterns for setting up side-by-side windows, and two patterns for fully populating 4:3 and 16:9 screens with 4:3 images. It also features a blue-only mode for proper setup of video color and tint levels.
- Ethernet monitoring and control — Ethernet control enables WindoWall System control and management of all WindoWall Processors over a LAN, WAN, or the Internet.
- RS-232 and RS-422 control port — Using serial commands, the WindoWall Processor can be controlled and configured via the Extron Windows®-based control program, or integrated into a control system. Extron products use the SIS™ - Simple Instruction Set command protocol, a set of basic ASCII code commands that allow for quick and easy programming.
- Rack-mountable 2U, full rack width metal enclosure with included brackets
- Highly reliable, energy-efficient internal universal power supply — The 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, international power supply provides worldwide power compatibility with high demonstrated reliability.
- Product Commissioning Services available — A proactive program designed to ensure optimum performance in AV presentation systems utilizing the Extron WindoWall System. The service includes an extensive pre-installation design review as well as one to two days on-site for system optimization and customer training.