Quick Start
to the
Audiovisual
Industry
Employee's Guide
Chapter Two
infoComm
Academy
INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNICATIONS
INDUSTRIES
A S S O C I A T I O N , I N C ®.
© 2002 ICIA. All rights reserved. Information contained herein is valid at time of printing.
Table of Contents
Chapter Two: The Presentation Environment and Visual Display…………..………..1
Lesson One: AudioVISUAL……...........……………………………..…...…………...2
Lesson Two: The Optimized Viewing Environment…………………..…….....…….3
Lesson Three: Light in the Environment……………..……………………...…….….4
Lesson Four: Room Configuration….………………..……......................................5
Lesson Five: A History Lesson………….…................…………….….......…...…....6
Lesson Six: Transmissive Technology…….…………….………...………….……...7
Lesson Seven: Screens……….……………………….……………………………….8
Lesson Eight: An Extension of Visual Displays…………………..……………...…..9
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Chapter Two – The Presentation Environment and Visual Display
21 minutes of online instruction
Summary Objective
♦ Discuss the factors that affect the optimum-viewing environment for visual displays.
♦ Identify and explain applications of AV display technology in the presentation
environment.
♦ Identify and explain types of equipment historically associated with visual display.
♦ Demonstrate the setup and operation of a traditional visual display.
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Chapter Two: The Presentation Environment and Visual Display
Lesson One: AudioVISUAL
Lesson Objective
Preview chapter objectives.
Background
The following points are illustrated in this lesson:
♦ Chapters 2-4 focus on visual display and consideration for the viewer.
♦ A visual display is a formal presentation intended for a viewer.
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Chapter Two: The Presentation Environment and Visual Display
Lesson Two: The Optimized Viewing Environment
Lesson Objective
Identify and explain elements of a display that affect viewability.
Background
The following points are illustrated in this lesson:
♦ Important display characteristics are a visual’s size, shape, brightness and
contrast.
♦ Aspect ratio is a numerical value comparing the image width to the image height.
♦ Contrast is the range of light and dark values your eye perceives in a display.
Activities
Independent Activity: 10 minutes
Manipulate the contrast and brightness functions on your computer monitor or
television. Notice what happens to the image with each at the maximum and minimum
levels.
Tips and Techniques
When setting up a visual display, sit in the back of the room and critique the image size
based on its viewability.
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Chapter Two: The Presentation Environment and Visual Display
Lesson Three: Lighting in the Environment
Lesson Objective
Explain the importance of controlled lighting, and define ambient light.
Background
The following point is illustrated in this lesson:
♦ Controlled lighting ensures light goes where it’s needed and doesn’t interfere with
the visual display.
Activities
Independent Activity: 15 minutes
Ask your manager if the company has any projection equipment where the projector
is on the same side of the screen as the viewer (front-screen projection). Some
examples are overhead projectors, slide projectors, ceiling-mounted projectors, or
desktop projectors.
Change the room’s light levels (both controlled and ambient) and see how the light
affects the displayed image. To simulate ambient light, you can shine a flashlight
onto the screen. How does the image look with the lights on, door open, and
windows uncovered? Now turn off the lights, close the blinds or drapes, and shut
the door. How does the image change?
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Chapter Two: The Presentation Environment and Visual Display
Lesson Four: Room Configuration
Lesson Objective
You will describe how room configuration affects optimum viewing.
Background
The following point is illustrated in this lesson:
♦ Viewer positioning must allow for unobstructed sightlines.
Activities
Tips and Techniques
♦ Generally, the closest seat for viewing is one times the screen's width away.
♦ For general viewing, no member of the audience should sit farther away than
eight times the screen's height. General viewing includes video and PowerPoint
with large font. The farthest view should be closer to the screen for Word
documents and web page viewing. For spreadsheets and CAD drawings, the
farthest viewer is closer still.
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Chapter Two: The Presentation Environment and Visual Display
Lesson Five: A History Lesson
Lesson Objective
Describe three influences on the AV industry.
Background
The following point is illustrated in this lesson:
♦ Changes in technology forced changes in AV professional expertise.
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Chapter Two: The Presentation Environment and Visual Display
Lesson Six: Transmissive Technology
Lesson Objective
Identify three ways to capture and display an idea using transmissive technology.
Background
The following points are illustrated in this lesson:
♦ In the 1960’s, transmissive technology was the driving force of the industry.
♦ In a transmissive process, light passes through an image, travels through optics,
and displays the image on a screen.
Activities
Independent Activity: 15 minutes
Remember the “AV in Your World” worksheet from Chapter 1? Highlight examples of
visual display applications.
Tips and Techniques
♦ Most electronic equipment containing a lamp needs internal fans to prevent the
machine from overheating.
Do not block the vents.
♦ Never handle an overhead projector by the "neck." Doing so is likely to shift the
optical alignment.
Lift and carry it with two hands under the base.
♦ When using a slide projector, keep fingerprints off slides and always preview the
slide show to ensure that the slides are inserted correctly in the tray.
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Chapter Two: The Presentation Environment and Visual Display
Lesson Seven: Screens
Lesson Objective
Identify and describe three common screen types for front projection.
Background
The following points are illustrated in this lesson:
♦ There are a variety of screens available to accommodate any viewing space or
aspect ratio.
♦ Keystone error is marked by the projected image forming a trapezoidal shape on
the screen.
Activities
Independent Activity: 10 minutes
Find out what kind of screens your company owns or sells. Having AV resources is
a great benefit, but knowing that your company has these resources is more
important.
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Chapter Two: The Presentation Environment and Visual Display
Lesson Eight: An Extension of Visual Display
Lesson Objective
Test chapter objectives.
Background
This lesson helps you measure your success at meeting chapter objectives.
Activities
Practical Application Activity: 20 minutes
This activity gives you the opportunity to apply the information in this chapter. Work
with your manager to demonstrate the setup and operation of a traditional visual
display. In order to achieve this objective:
1. Ask your manager if you may have access to an overhead projector and tripod
screen.
2. Follow the manufacturers’ instructions for the setup of the screen and projector.
3. Use the information you learned in the online course and this guide for tips on the
proper placement of the projector from the screen.
4. Fill the screen with the projected image.
5. Experiment with the height positioning of the projector to create and correct
keystone error. (As another possibility for keystone troubleshooting, some tripod
screens have keystone correction. Screens with this feature have a small lever
at the top that can tilt the screen forward slightly.)
6. Set appropriate room lighting levels to allow for good contrast. (You may assume
that the audience does not need reading light.)
7. Estimate appropriate seating boundaries for the screen size (closest viewer and
farthest viewer).
8. Congratulations! You have successfully setup and operated a traditional visual
display.
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