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In the Value Chain Track at the Projection Summit
the panel discussion on rear projection screens brought together
three diverse manufacturers of screen products that included DNP
Denmark (www.dnp.dk), Reflexite
(Avon, CT) (www.reflexite.com)
and Jenmar Visual Systems (Fremont, CA) (www.jenmarvs.com).
Prepared answers to a common set of questions by Insight Media
moderator, John DiLoreto brought into focus how screens for RPTVs
were expected to evolve in performance and price over the next
few years.
Panelists were asked what top three screen issues
their customers were asking them to solve. DNP customer issues
are gain, short screen focal length and contrast. Reflexite's
customers are most concerned about screen ghosting, speckle and
ambient light rejection. Jenmar's customers are most interested
in high contrast, high resolution and speckle reduction.
On the subject of price, DNP saw prices trending downward slightly
over the next few years. Reflexite was the most aggressive with
an expected price of $20 per square foot, but holding constant.
Jenmar expected prices for its screens to start higher but come
down more dramatically in the next couple years, but its prices
have historically been higher in the A/V market.
Screen sizes are trending larger, but Jenmar imagines the sweet
spot in the living room growing to 60 inches by 2005, larger than
the other two companies expected.
On one extreme Reflexite imagines a 6-gain screen with a ±7°
half-gain angle is what customers want today vs. 3.5 gain ±15°
as seen by Jenmar. DNP currently ships its Ultra-Contrast Screens
that are in between. Both Reflexite and Jenmar anticipate gain
trending downward as wider viewing angles are needed for higher
resolution images. DNP sees the gain trending upward.
All of the screen makers pointed out that they remain focused
on what they have heard are their customers' needs. However, these
needs seem to vary greatly, meaning that there are a variety of
customers and applications in rear projection. We expect that
this will lead to an increasing variety of screens in the marketplace
that application developers can choose to best match their operating
environment and viewing needs - at least as they perceive them.
Ultimately the viewer will be the judge.
DNP Denmark, Soren Busk, [45] 46 16 51 00, sb@dnp.dk
Reflexite, Joe Lupone, 585-507-3276, joe.lupone@reflexite.com
Contact:
Insight Media
Annmarie Gabisch, 203-831-8464
annmarie@insightmedia.info
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