When it comes to the flat-screen business, how big is big enough?
Q&A: More businesses are turning to videowalls to drive up business. Here's how.
Last Updated: May 03, 2011
What exactly is a video wall? It's a giant screen made up of smaller flat-screen panels.
Why would a business want one? Many buy one to try to drive up revenues. There was one recently installed in Boston's Prudential Center, which stands 3 metres tall and features stock exchange feeds and other information aimed at drawing more customers to a local bank.
What other kinds of organisations in this region could use one to boost business? Airports make for a good fit. This year, the McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas erected the largest video wall in a US airport. It features 100 screens and measures 627 square feet.
Will that really lift business? Randall Walker, the airport's aviation director, thinks so. He has said the video wall's "eye-catching stature allows the airport and advertisers to speak to travellers from all corners of the world, and also presents a unique opportunity to increase revenue".
What should business owners consider before buying one? Be sure the video-wall panels offer ultra-wide viewing angles. And look at the width of the seams that separate each screen.
Last week, the electronics maker Sharp launched a Dh500,000 (US$136,130) TV in the Middle East, complete with a 108-inch interactive touch-screen panel.
The thought of having one's eyes and fingers glued to that much digital real estate might tickle many home theatre enthusiasts in the Emirates, although the set is actually being targeted at organisations such as universities, conference hotels, shopping centres and even boardrooms.
"It's entirely interactive," says Ravinder Kumar, the deputy general manager for the business solutions division at Sharp.
The industry is seeking to provide technology like this that would, for instance, allow a shopper to home in on what kinds of sales might be going on in particular stores.
Or in the case of a smaller set that might lay flat on a table, for business professionals to write and highlight text in a meeting then e-mail the notes to themselves later.
These kinds of innovations are part of an attempt to capitalise on what experts say is a growing, $250 million information display panel market in the Middle East.
Some of the latest products were shown in Dubai last week at Palme Middle East, a specialised audio-visual exhibition.
Video-wall panels are another growing area in this market, and were displayed by makers such as Prysm.
They are increasingly used by businesses for digital advertising, and in auditoriums, museums, airports and hospitals.
As well as providing all sorts of information to visitors, they can bring in extra revenues through advertisers keen on marketing to captivated audiences.
Top 5: Record-shattering screens
1: Largest display of screens: 4,138 7-inch monitors (Italy)
2: Largest LED screen: 250 metres by 30 metres (China)
3: Longest TV screen: 107.52 metres by 10.88 metres (UAE)
4: Largest plasma HDTV screen: 152 inches (Japan)
5: Largest LCD HDTV screen: 108 inches (Japan)
Source: Guinness World Records
But panels built into a video wall are not cheap. Sharp, which has a new line of 60-inch panels, sells them for Dh50,000 each.
In October, the company pieced together dozens of LCD monitors at Gitex in Dubai, in what became the biggest video wall on display in this region, at 360 inches.
"They're larger than life," says Mr Kumar.
The Quote: "A wide screen just makes a bad film twice as bad" Samuel Goldwyn, the famous film producer
nparmar@thenational.ae
The%20specs
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BRAZIL%20SQUAD
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Fourth-round clashes for British players
- Andy Murray (1) v Benoit Paire, Centre Court (not before 4pm)
- Johanna Konta (6) v Caroline Garcia (21), Court 1 (4pm)
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Kamindu Mendis bio
Full name: Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis
Born: September 30, 1998
Age: 20 years and 26 days
Nationality: Sri Lankan
Major teams Sri Lanka's Under 19 team
Batting style: Left-hander
Bowling style: Right-arm off-spin and slow left-arm orthodox (that's right!)
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh234,000 - Dh329,000
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Third-place play-off: New Zealand v Wales, Friday, 1pm
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.
- It’s So Easy
- Mr Brownstone
- Chinese Democracy
- Welcome to the Jungle
- Double Talkin’ Jive
- Better
- Estranged
- Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
- Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
- Rocket Queen
- You Could Be Mine
- Shadow of Your Love
- Attitude (Misfits cover)
- Civil War
- Coma
- Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
- Sweet Child O’ Mine
- Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
- Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
- November Rain
- Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
- Nightrain
Encore:
- Patience
- Don’t Cry
- The Seeker (The Who cover)
- Paradise City
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SE%20(second%20generation)
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LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Levante v Real Mallorca (12am)
Leganes v Barcelona (4pm)
Real Betis v Valencia (7pm)
Granada v Atletico Madrid (9.30pm)
Sunday
Real Madrid v Real Sociedad (12am)
Espanyol v Getafe (3pm)
Osasuna v Athletic Bilbao (5pm)
Eibar v Alaves (7pm)
Villarreal v Celta Vigo (9.30pm)
Monday
Real Valladolid v Sevilla (12am)
OIL PLEDGE
At the start of Russia's invasion, IEA member countries held 1.5 billion barrels in public reserves and about 575 million barrels under obligations with industry, according to the agency's website. The two collective actions of the IEA this year of 62.7 million barrels, which was agreed on March 1, and this week's 120 million barrels amount to 9 per cent of total emergency reserves, it added.
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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