UK - When Coldplay decided they wanted 'Magic Balls' for their Viva la Vida World Tour, XL Video turned to Pufferfish to provide a custom solution. Pufferfish designed and delivered six new 'PufferSphere XL' touring units within the space of two months.

Lighting designer Paul Normandale was tasked with devising a new means of integrating the visual components for the current Viva la Vida tour.

"For my part the band's desire for a viewing surface without the use of LEDs, was an interesting challenge, and one for which the Pufferfish system of internal projection provided a unique solution," states Normandale. "It allows not only media content, but also live relay footage (via the Hippotizers) in large scale arenas worldwide."

In all, six PufferSpheres were commissioned for the tour, forming a major part of the overall visual design as well as

Germany - Independent LED specialist displayLED has announced the launch of its first dedicated mainland Europe operations, displayLED GmbH. This will be operated by ex-Lighthouse Technologies sales director Michiel Hettinga and his team including Jens Schelde, Maarten Hettinga, Stephan Krebernik and Jochen Knoll and will have a clear focus on the rental and staging, sports and digital out of home markets.

"displayLED's international business has grown steadily over the last five years and we have identified a need to provide our customers with local sales and technical support," says CEO, Graham Burgess. "The opportunity to add the experience of Michiel and his colleagues to the displayLED team was too good to miss. Furthermore, displayLED GmbH's base is ideally positioned to service central and western Europe, including Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France.

UK - PSCo has appointed Liz Kerrigan as Sales Manager, focussing on increasing the service levels for integration partners, as the company's portfolio expands with new products including the 108" LCD from Sharp.

Following her successful track record in a variety of roles within broadline consumer computing and electronics, Liz has been appointed to head up the specialist sales operation at PSCo. She will be working alongside the UK's leading integration companies for PSCo's range of high end, visually innovative products to help bring new products to market and improve client communication.

Liz started out with Computer 2000, before moving to Logitech to manage its distribution channel. Her career blossomed at Micro-P where she grew the consumables division from £600,000 to £1.2 million in nine months. This success saw her move to InTechnology (Now DNS Arrow)

UK - DB Systems (DB), the global audio-visual company, has been awarded a contract by Rapiergroup to provide AV solutions for defence and aerospace giant, BAE Systems.

The two-year contract, which begins in January 2009, will see DB working with Rapiergroup to design innovative and bespoke AV solutions for BAE Systems' exhibits at over 28 exhibitions and events around the world. These include Farnborough, Paris, Dubai and Singapore Airshows, DSEi London, IDEX in Abu Dhabi and LAAD in Rio de Janeiro.

Previously, DB worked with Rapiergroup for BAE Systems between 2006 and 2008. However, to win this new contract DB successfully came through a competitive five-way pitch, which was spearheaded by David Bulley, Managing Director, and Jay Goldson, Senior Account Manager, who will also oversee this contract. BAE Systems is the third largest global defence company in the world and has

France - Projection specialists E/T/C won first prize for 'Innovation contributing to the Events Industry' at the 2008 Heavent Expo Awards held at the Hippodrome de Longchamp in Paris last week. The Award was created four years ago by the exhibition organisers and the ANAé (Association des Agences de Communication Evénementielle) to pay tribute to and encourage the technical "savoir-faire" of companies or individuals in the event field.

E/T/C was rewarded for its technical contribution to The Image Mill, the spectacular show created and produced by Robert Lepage and Ex Machina for Quebec City's 400th anniversary. The ground-breaking show saw the installation of 27 Christie 20K video projectors, which were programmed and controlled by E/T/C's multimedia platform, Onlyview. A monumental image 657m long was beamed onto the Bunge grain silos running al

UK - The new division of XL Video, XL Events supplied cameras, LED screens and a PPU for the Top Gear Live arena at the 2008 MPH Prestige & Performance Motor Show exhibition at Earls Court, London and the NEC, Birmingham, and for its first ever show in Dublin.

Top Gear Live, a co-presentation with the BBC, is an all-action 90 minute performance car spectacular fusing theatre with stunts and turbo-charged fun for petrol-heads. Presented by Top Gear anchors Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, at the 2008 MPH Show, it was staged in a 5000 seater arena that sold out up to four shows a day.

Simon Aldridge from PMI production managed the live show with XL's managing director Lee Spencer acting as project manager. Phil Woodhead directed with the show being engineered on site for XL by Richard Shipman.

XL supplied a four-camera PPU featuring three Sony DXC5

Turkey - With sources claiming it to be the world's largest trade show booth, Turkish Telecom displayed a 4550sq.m booth for CEBIT Eurasia 2008 held in Istanbul, complete with concert lighting, a main stage, three cafes, and a vast video wall surrounding the entire space.

Istanbul-based The Partners was hired to design and build the booth, including lighting and video for Turkish Telecom and its partner companies Avea and TTNET. The Partners CEO Firat Kasapoglu explained, "We were approached last fall by Turkish Telecom to pull off one of their most ambitious trade show booth concepts to date. The idea was to create a world where visitors would enter and feel a part of it. They also wanted a live stage where performers could entertain the audience in a concert-like setting. The booth needed to entertain as well as educate, and show a unity of the three companies but allowin

UK - The 2009 Technology Finalists have been announced and voting is now activated. Over 11,600 individual votes were cast last year. There are no hidden voting costs. All that is required is some thought about the products that you consider being the most innovative and helpful to your business, say the organisers.

All valid and fully qualified votes registered before December 21st 2008 will also be entered into a prize draw. Prizes include flight & accommodation to Integrated Systems Europe 2009 and VIP tickets to the InAVation awards gala dinner held at the Hotel Okura, Amsterdam, 2 February 2009.

Among the manufacturers nominated in the 11 categories are Martin Audio, Vieta Pro, Niles, Community Professional, Barco and Crestron International. Full details are available at inavationawards@imlgroup.co.uk .

(Jim Evans)

Singapore - The Singapore skyline was transformed by a fusion of creativity and knowledge as the long-awaited Fusionopolis development officially opened in October at One-North.

The centrepiece of the development - designed by the late Japanese architect Dr Kisho Kurokawa - is a S$20m (£8.6m) performing arts space suspended six storeys up between three 24-storey towers. Designed to look like a brain, the theatre - Genexis - is a flexible, curved performance space set to become a magnet for Singapore's most exciting artists.

The 120,000sq.m complex is intended to become a hub for the media and information technologies of the future and a creative environment where brilliant ideas are born: a nerve centre and, almost literally, a neural network.

Keeping with the idea of neural signals, Genexis glows and flickers with an interactive light show programmed to synch with act

UK - Christie has introduced the LX700 with 4DColor technology. This new four-panel LCD projector offers a combination of real colour and high brightness in a compact size. At 7,000 lumens and XGA resolution, the Christie LX700 is suitable for large venues, educational facilities, retail environments, corporate boardrooms and training, rental staging and houses of worship.

At the core of the Christie LX700 is 4DColor technology combined with inorganic LCD panels. 4DColor provides a 20% increase in colour gamut over previous three-panel LCD models. The inorganic panels help create a "natural black" for sharper images and increased contrast ratio.

"The Christie LX700 is among the first on the market equipped with a fourth LCD panel," says Frank Anzures, product manager, business products, Christie. "By adding a fourth LCD panel, essentially a yellow pane

UK - WindowGain, the UK based outdoor media contractor and technology company, which recently launched its Hi Max (High Definition - Maximum Impact) network of strategically located large format digital projection screens in flagship UK shopping malls, has commenced its roll-out of iconic London sites network at the easyInternetcafé on London's Oxford Street.

Supported by AV distributor and custom engineering company, Paradigm AV, they evolved a solution in which two large format HD rear projection screens have been installed - measuring up to 40ft on the ground floor and up to 80ft on the first floor - with full audio capability.

The dual screen site (situated in the heart of Oxford Street, close to Bond Street tube station) has been created in association with Eyeconic Outdoor (the outdoor division of London based Media 7, who specialise in media sales at prominent ci

UK - XL Video UK worked with artist Martin Firrell on a special installation art work to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the 'topping out' of London's iconic St. Paul's Cathedral.

The Question Mark Inside was commissioned by the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's, and involved projecting video texts onto three separate locations at the Cathedral. Outside, this was onto the south elevation of the dome and the West Front at Ludgate Hill, and inside, around the famous Whispering Gallery.

Firrell's text included blog postings from the public plus comments from interviews he conducted with some of the UK's foremost thinkers and his own observations. All were based on the question: "What are the things that make life meaningful and what does St Paul's mean in contemporary contexts to us in 2008?"

XL has worked with Firrell on previous projection projects at the Roya

UK - From the production and distribution of live pictures and real time data to operating the largest fleet of satellite uplink fleets in Europe, Satellite information Services (SIS) is constantly reviewing its facilities based on the changing requirements of its customers.

The company recently commissioned two new dual antenna HD trucks, equipping each with 20-channel Soundcraft BB100 production/on-air mixing consoles.

Designed to offer complete diversity and unparalleled transmission resilience, each vehicle contains two fully-isolated/fully redundant SD/HD transmission chains, and comprehensive audio/video test and monitoring.

Dave George, project manager for SIS Live, says, "We looked into the marketplace and found the BB100 to be a high specification desk at a competitive price. It offered an excellent featureset, such as the mix minus facility, and we use the sub

Israel - Wireless Solution Sweden AB helped Israel celebrate independence day in style. Israel@60 was a worldwide celebration to commemorate the country's 60th year of independence. While special ceremonies celebrated the event from as far as Washington DC, the biggest festivities were in the Israeli cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv.

The project name for the Israel events was Lighting the Sky and combined multimedia sound and lighting with a laser show and pyro effects, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display. Altogether there were eight different mega shows at various sites, with the two main shows in Tel Aviv and Haifa.

Lighting designer for the events was Bambi (AKA Avio Benyaho) with lighting equipment supplied by Procon Event Engineering and Israel based Gil Teichman.

Because of the massive distances from console to lighting, W-DMX by Wireless Solution

UK - Stagecraft Technical Services was launched in November by directors Kevin Hughes, Michael Naish, Lisa Tapper, Simon Sketchley and Sheryle Daniels. Bringing together many years of experience, the new Company which is based in Salisbury, will work with the event, corporate, professional, educational, amateur and entertainment sectors to provide a comprehensive staging, lighting and sound service; from supply and installation to technical support and hire.

Lisa Tapper explains: "It is a very exciting time for us all; we have a clear focus and a driven, knowledgeable team. Certain assets were acquired by Stagecraft Technical Services from Stagecraft Limited, which recently went into voluntary liquidation.

"Stagecraft Technical Services is well placed to offer full technical support services for staging, lighting and sound projects of all sizes, alongside extensive a

UK - Specialist AV trade rental company PSCo is opening a new Midlands base, complementing its southern operations. The new office opening will enable the PSCo team to service the Midlands and north of England more effectively, working with clients to create a nationwide support service.

The base will feature the portfolio of PSCo's advanced products including a fleet of Panasonic 103" plasma screens, the Sharp 108" LCD, new Infinite plasma screens and a selection of top of the range mainstream AV products.

PSCo managing director Stuart Holmes comments, "For a long time we have seen a growing demand for our innovative 'Advanced' product range, for events in the north of England and the Midlands. This was the driving force for the decision to open the new office, from which we will also be offering training and demonstrations for clients."

(Jim Evans)

USA - The Pandoras Box Media Server from Coolux is being used by Geodezik, a Montreal-based multimedia design and production company, to support video projection for ZAIA, Cirque du Soleil's first permanent show in Asia. Staged at The Venetian Macao, ZAIA is the dream of a young girl who journeys into space on a voyage of self-discovery. Geodezik incorporated Pandoras Box into the show to help tell her story and illustrate her perception of the stars and planets, space and infinity, and the variety of fantastic creatures inhabiting them.

"Cirque du Soleil's stage productions are distinguished by their artistry and expressive power, and Pandoras Box proved to be a valuable tool in creating a visual narrative for ZAIA," said Jimmy Lakatos, who worked with fellow Geodezik founding member Raymond Saint-Jean to provide video system and content design for ZA

The Netherlands - A total of 432sq.m of B10 10mm enhanced resolution LED banner and 60m2 of S10 10mm virtual resolution digital signage screens from LED screen manufacturer, Lighthouse Technologies are currently enhancing Dutch supporters' football experience at a number of locations across the country.

Sold by Dutch systems integrator and Lighthouse's distributor in The Netherlands, Hecla Professional Audio & Video Systems BV, one system resides at FC Utrecht, the football club that has its home in Holland's fourth largest city, whilst the other is co-owned by two rental companies and two advertising agencies which have signed deals with several separate clubs.

"The first system we sold was 216m2 of Lighthouse's new B10 LED banner system," says Jos den Hartog, new business manager for Hecla. "This was purchased by a combination of two rental companies and two a

The Netherlands - Visual Productions has released a new USB device: the Duple is a dual DMX Input & Output interface, compatible with both the Canvix matrix control software and VisualDMX software lighting control programmes, available from the company.

The Duple enables both VisualDMX and Canvix to send and receive DMX Signal merging the functions of the Input and Output in order to supply customers with a cost efficient and smart solution - in essence an In and Out for the price of a current Output and still in the handy pocket sized unit, says the company.

The Duple hosts two DMX ports designed in compliance with the new DMX512A specifications; featuring a grounded bi-directional Output with RDM talkback and an optically isolated DMX Input. Multiple Duples can be connected to your computer to create a large multi-universe system.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Three dual output Catalyst G5 HD digital media servers formed a fast, flexible control hub driving all the digital lightsources and video surfaces on the set of the new ITV prime time games show, The Colour of Money, presented by Chris Tarrant.

The lighting design developed for the show by Tom Kinane and Svend Pedersen didn't contain a single moving light, and was styled to compliment Patrick Doherty's media-based stage set, and to offer a dramatic presentation departure from previous Chris Tarrant shows.

The Catalysts were supplied by Ross Williams and operated by Pedersen using a WholeHog 3 console, running 16 DMX universes and controlling up to 2060 individual fixtures around Studio 1 at the London Weekend Television HQ on London's South Bank.

Pedersen created approximately 200 custom video clips for the show, many of them involving turning the set into the id

Sweden - Wireless Solution Sweden delivered an interference-free DMX signal at the 2008 Nobel Prize Banquet. This is one of the highest profile events of the year in Sweden. It is always held in the Blue Hall of Stockholm City Hall on 10 December. In addition to the King and Queen of Sweden, approximately 1,300 guests attend the event, and it is broadcast live on television.

Per Sundin was again called in as lighting designer for the event, an honour bestowed upon him for 12 consecutive years. Ola Melzig was production manager, overseeing all aspects of lighting and video from build up through broadcast.

W-DMX was used in new ways this year. The Blue Hall, where the banquet takes place, is big space and the lighting is spread out in virtually every corner. "W-DMX is a life saver at this event," said Melzig, "In past years we've used it on moving lights that had

UK - This month, Hever Castle in Kent is hosting a Christmas spectacular featuring carols and music, huskies and illuminated gardens. The organisers have created an opportunity to view Hever Castle by moonlight, as the castle is adorned with traditionally decorated Christmas trees and the gardens illuminated.

Philips has sponsored the lighting for the festivities which also features a giant snowflake projected onto the front of the castle. This was created using Martin Professional's new Exterior 1200 Image Projector.

The Exterior 1200 Image Projector is the newest addition to Martin's Exterior range of outdoor luminaires. Designed for night-time environments with emotional impact, the Exterior 1200 Image Projector brings new elements of drama to outdoor illumination: effects projection and animation, says the company.

(Jim Evans)

USA - Elation Professional has introduced a low-lying fog effect machine that doesn't require dry ice or any connections to external units. The company's Antari DNG-200 Low Fog Generator is a self-contained unit that produces a continuous output of low-lying fog while running on X-Fog Ice fog fluid.

Featuring a 3M fog conducting hose, the DNG-200 creates low-lying fog straight from its nozzle, just like a regular fog machine. With no CO2 installation to hassle with, the DMX-controllable DNG-200 is operator-friendly, says the company.

"Until now, most low-lying fog machines had to use dry ice to generate fog that stays close to the ground," said Eric Loader, director of sales for Elation Professional. "Another alternative was to buy a 'fog chiller' machine that hooked up to your regular fogger and converted its output to ground-type fog. The DNG-200 eliminates b

UK - Video was used for the first time to project giant images onto the 353ft high Shell Building on the South Bank of the River Thames for the Mayor of London's 2008-09 New Year's Eve celebrations.

E/T/C London created a projection concept and suggested that they harness the flexibility and power of video for the first time on this event, on which E/T/C has worked for producers Jack Morton Worldwide for the last five years. With LG Electronics coming onboard as a new sponsor, they wanted to up the production values, making the show something extra special and more spectacular this year.

E/T/C's Ross Ashton says: "It was another milestone in giant video projection for E/T/C London, and probably the UK's largest New Year video installation to date as well as a great opportunity for us to move the company forward."

E/T/C's Richard Porter designed the technical instal

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