Solution providers seeking impactful ways to help their customers attract eyeballs should take a closer look at projection technology. While many established technologies experience iterative improvements year to year, projection solutions are still new enough to have enjoyed a more substantial transformation. Take, for instance, the following ways projection technology has improved and is moving the industry.
1. Projection is still king of large format
While the size gap between TV- and projector-based solutions has certainly been reduced, affordable displays tend to stop being affordable around the 85-inch mark. On the other hand, projectors have no problems doubling, tripling and quadrupling the maximum size of traditional displays. Creating a large video wall using multiple LEDs is one potential solution, but still potentially cost-prohibitive for most. With the correct formula of projector, screen, ambient lighting and content, projectors are still way larger than life.
2. Destroy convention with projection mapping
One of the most impactful pro AV solutions today is projection mapping, where you take a 2D image or video and fit it precisely on or around a 3D object. As opposed to simply projecting 4:3 or 16:9 video onto an object and having light bleed everywhere, mapping software is used to identify the edges, contours and other details of the object and then projecting only onto areas where it should be; no light falls to the background or beyond the edges. If you have customers seeking to make a big impact, projection mapping could be the differentiator they need to stand apart from the competition.
3. Projection specs have improved
Today’s projectors are vastly superior to those of just a few years ago. In fact, if you haven’t evaluated projectors in a while, it’s time for another look. While traditional bulb-based projectors are still standard, some use alternatives to lamps/bulbs—more specifically, laser and LED. Both offer improved color rendering. You’ll find today’s projectors capable of greater brightness, improved resolution (for example, 4k/Widescreen Ultra Extended Graphics Array, or WUXGA), better contrast, color and more.
4. Projection maintenance has improved
Projectors mentioned above that rely on lasers or LED provide longer runtimes than traditional projectors. In fact, some boast 30,000 hours of near maintenance-free projection (i.e., no bulb replacements).
5. Get interactive with projection
Marketing can be made more impactful by adding an interactive element. In the past, projectors fell (understandably) short in this regard. However, today’s interactive projectors allow customers to project images on screen and notate with a light pen (or another device) on the projection surface.