Touch-Screen Monitor Matrix Solution Delivers Elegant Control of Video Sources Throughout Vessel.
Unlimited Marine Services, Inc. (UMSI), a full service marine technology company, has announced Touch-Screen Automation Technology (T-SAT), its new high-end, customizable monitor matrix system. Powered by components from leading manufacturer of advanced control and automation systems, Crestron Electronics, T-SAT allows all video sources to be displayed on any monitor throughout the vessel, and uses touch screen technology to control a variety of onboard equipment. UMSI will demonstrate its new solution next month at Triton Expo at Lauderdale Marine Center in Fort Lauderdale on Oct. 10 and the 53rd Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, which runs Oct. 25-29, in the Yacht Builders Tent (Booth 684A) at the Bahia Mar.
Modern mega yachts feature multiple screens at the helm to monitor a variety of sources, including radar, sonar, sounder, plotting systems, vessel monitoring systems, CCTV cameras, and additional AV sources. T-SAT allows the captain and staff to monitor, control, and switch AV equipment, as well as lights, HVAC, shades, and blinds, from any onboard location, including the monitors used to navigate the vessel.
“Current systems rely on analog switchers with antiquated knobs that are incompatible with today’s technology and deliver low-quality video,” explained Mark Conde, UMSI director of AV. “T-SAT offers an elegant, future-proof solution that accommodates legacy systems and is flexible enough to accommodate new technologies as they develop.”
T-SAT displays up to 64 separate high-definition video sources simultaneously, and advanced touch screen controls can transfer video sources from one monitor to another with the slide of a finger. A customized touch screen interface offers easy access to entertainment and security controls. Plus, T-SAT provides onscreen annotation, so crew members can leave a note on the screen notifying the next shift of a potential hazard or other information.
The system is built around Crestron’s DGE-2 digital graphics engine for advanced touch screen performance, DVPHD multi-window video processor that displays and seamlessly switches up to eight sources, and DigitalMedia™ 16x16 matrix switcher (32x32 and 64x64 also available) that feeds multiple analog or digital video sources – including HD video, 3D video, and 7.1 surround sound – to displays in various locations throughout the vessel via a single Cat5 cable. Coupled with software developed by Crestron and customized programming and graphics by UMSI, T-SAT creates a high-end AV solution tailored for the yacht environment.
With a complete Crestron commercial-grade technology backbone, T-SAT is not subject to compatibility issues that can occur with systems that rely on components from multiple manufacturers. The T-SAT solution works best with touch-screens, but a combination of touch-screen and standard monitors can be used.
“T-SAT is an exciting solution for the yacht industry because it delivers much more functionality than standard routing systems,” said James Porreca, UMSI president. “A lot of vessels have already incorporated touch screen technology, but no one else delivers this type of innovative, user-friendly interface.”