| Presentations can be difficult at the best of times | | | | Rear Projection |
| when there is a lot riding on the result, so the last thing | | | | - Rear Projection Generally has a narrower |
| you want to be worrying about is the audio visual | | | | viewing-angle than front projection - better for long, |
| component. In this articles I will present some basic | | | | narrow rooms. |
| guidelines that will help you set the room layout so you | | | | - Can be viewed with higher levels of room illumination, |
| can achieve the highest quality projection from your | | | | and is less immune to "wash out" by ambient lighting. |
| presentation. | | | | - Available in flexible & rigid materials. A rigid |
| General Guide-Lines | | | | screen is more expensive than a front projection |
| Viewing | | | | screen, and has size restrictions. |
| - For optimum viewing, the audience should be seated | | | | - Requires space behind the screen. Mirrors may be |
| within: | | | | used to reduce the required depth. Must be accessible |
| - +30 degrees of a line perpendicular to the screen's | | | | for maintenance. |
| centre. | | | | - Rear projection room must be dust free, and have |
| - They should be seated no closer then twice the | | | | adequate ventilation. |
| image height. | | | | To decide whether front or rear projection will |
| Note: (If this is not possible perhaps consider multiple | | | | enhance your presentation, ask yourself 'What type of |
| viewing options for the audience). | | | | presentation do I want to give' and "What is the |
| Type of Content | | | | purpose of the presentation'. If for example the |
| - Entertainment - The last row should be no further | | | | presentation is "canned" you can consider either front |
| than eight times the image height. | | | | or rear projection. If a live talker is interacting with the |
| - Corporate - The last row should be to six times the | | | | presentation, rear projection is best so that the |
| image height. | | | | speaker can interact with the images without being in |
| - Critical Applications - The last row should be four | | | | the projector's light path. In addition, the higher allowable |
| times the image height | | | | room illumination allows for note-taking, etc. |
| Setting the Screen | | | | Screen Width |
| To avoid obstruction of viewing he bottom of the | | | | Determine your minimum screen height based on the |
| screen should be approximately four feet (1200mm) | | | | distance to your farthest viewer and your ceiling height. |
| above the floor. If the seating is staggered, or if the | | | | This figure may be adjusted based on the application |
| floor is raked you can adjust this accordingly. Try and | | | | (e.g.: an entertainment application will require a larger |
| avoid setting the screen to high. The ergonomics | | | | than minimum size screen for impact). |
| associated with comfortable viewing indicate no | | | | ADA Requirements |
| viewer should have to rotate their head more than | | | | Where required arrangements will need to be made |
| +30 degrees from straight ahead, or tilt their head no | | | | for attendees who require wheelchair access, and/or |
| more than 25degrees from horizontal. | | | | who have visual or hearing impairments The |
| Seating | | | | accessibility and size of these spaces is defined as: |
| The design of the seating is very important so viewers | | | | A minimum number of aisle seats will be required to |
| can gain full sight of the projection. Often the | | | | have either no aisle-side armrest or an aisle-side |
| staggered seating arrangement is best suited for most | | | | armrest that folds up. Certain additional signage may |
| situations. Overall they must be in rows, with a | | | | be required. Your sound system will require the addition |
| minimum unobstructed horizontal clearance between | | | | of a hearing-assisted system. Your emergency |
| plumb lines from the front of an unoccupied seat to | | | | systems may require the addition of strobe signals or |
| the back of the seat in front. This clearance may vary, | | | | visual messaging systems. Your video and other visual |
| but is typically 16 inches (400mm). Aisles must be | | | | presentation systems may require captioning. |
| provided so that there are no more than seven seats | | | | Miscellaneous Considerations |
| between any one seat and an aisle. The entry and | | | | Equipment location |
| exit doors need to be take into account when | | | | Is very important to avoid any damage. This is usually, |
| designing the layout of the seating. The layout needs | | | | but not always, located at the projector(s). This |
| to designed to: | | | | equipment may include projection controllers, a show |
| - Allow for easy of enter into the room | | | | controller, video equipment, and audio equipment. |
| - Allow for quick exit in the event of an emergency | | | | Adequate power supply |
| - The row contains no more than 100 seats; | | | | Don't forget to provide adequate electrical power for |
| - Each doorway serves no more than three rows. | | | | this equipment and the projector(s). Don't forget to |
| - Aisles must terminate in a cross-aisle. | | | | allow conduit for speaker cables, control signals, etc. |
| Front or Rear Projection? | | | | For boardrooms and meeting rooms you will also want |
| There are a variety of factors that can determine | | | | to provide accessible sources (such as VCR's and |
| whether front or rear projections are best suited for | | | | DVD players). |
| your presentations. | | | | Aesthetics or Theme |
| Front Projection | | | | - Does it require the loudspeakers and other equipment |
| - Front Projection can generally provide a wider | | | | be concealed? |
| viewing-angle than rear projection. It requires: Controlled | | | | - How is the presentation started? |
| lighting (ambient light must be kept off the screen to | | | | - Automatically, |
| eliminate a reduction in contrast ratio). | | | | - Audience-demand, |
| - Requires either a projection room at the rear of the | | | | - Host-demand, and live presenter (may require |
| theatre, or a platform or mount for the projector(s) out | | | | random-access control or other interactivity). |
| in the theatre. Note that this latter is a potential noise | | | | Whether your presentation is for the boss or for a |
| source. | | | | large corporation, taking a moment to plan how you |
| - The projection geometry must be carefully worked | | | | would like to deliver the information can make a |
| out to get the best compromise between image | | | | significant difference to your audience. So take a |
| keystoning and blockage of the light path by the | | | | moment a review what you are wanting to say, how |
| audience. | | | | you would like to say it and how is the best way for |
| - Must be accessible for maintenance. A projection | | | | your audience to receive it. It could make the |
| booth must be dust free (positive pressure preferred), | | | | difference between wining that new job or losing it. |
| and have adequate ventilation. | | | | |