Peer Reviewer: Martin Calverley, principal, ACT Associates, LLC, Storrs, CT. ACT (Anthony Calverley Thompson) Associates is an independent AV design, consulting, training, and project management firm specializing in sound, presentation, and videoconferencing systems in a variety of markets.
My Pick:
Crestron UPX-2 universal presentation processor, $9,000 MSRP
What I Like About It:
We've successfully specified the UPX-2 for clients who have demonstrated a real need for a windowed environment (multiple video and data images on a single display) and also needed real-time annotation and graphic overlay capability in a one-box solution. The UPX-2 can be paired with Crestron's 15-inch DTT-15 or 18-inch DTT-18 dedicated touchpanel, which makes the user interface a very powerful, user-friendly presentation tool.
The UPX-2 also includes a suite of onboard MediaMarker annotation software, which provides a large number of user-selectable annotation tools that allow users to select different line colors, line weights, and easily change font styles. Another key feature is the capability to save an annotated file. After completing an annotation, users can readily save the image as a graphics file, which can be captured and saved to a network storage device, USB drive, or portable flash card available on the front panel of the system.
Newer models ship with onboard Microsoft Office as an option, which is a helpful addition to the product.
I Would Change:
The price of the system should be carefully assessed against the client's needs, given the combined manufacturer's list price of $18,600 when including the larger DTT-18 touchpanel. Also, be prepared to compensate for cable distances when the UPX-2 is placed within an equipment rack. A USB 2.0 active extender should be taken into consideration for connection to the DTT touchpanels.
Where I Used It:
Boston College's Yawkey Varsity Athletic Center, Chestnut Hill, MA
My Results:
After testing a number of interactive annotation devices to find the right combination of hardware and software tools for the user interface at the coaching station, the UPX and DTT-18 combination was well received by the football program's coaching staff in a hands-on demonstration. The staff currently uses the UPX-2 and DTT-18 touchpanels installed in multiple rooms to annotate digital video football footage that's stored and accessed from a central server. The coaches can bring up more than one video camera view of the same play to allow student players to analyze the play footage frame by frame. At the same time, the coach can overlay real-time color pen annotation, which can be stored or printed. In addition to side-by-side digital video images, any computer presentation or number of video sources can be introduced as a main or windowed display at the discretion of the instructor.