3M Digital Wall Display

3M Digital Wall Display

If you love all-in-one machines, the 3M Digital Wall Display might be something to add to your wish list. This latest product from 3M is a 60-inch screen with a retractable digital light processing (DLP) projector. When the projector is fully extended, it not only eliminates the problem of the projector being an obstacle, it also perfectly projects the image from a laptop or document camera to fill the screen. No adjustments to the screen are needed. The projection arm position guarantees the image is in focus every time.

The 3M Digital Wall Display is ideal for a conference room setting and can be integrated with a video conferencing system for true collaboration with remote locations.

While the Wall Display is perfect for a conference room, I decided to put it to the test in a small courtroom. With the permission of the court system’s staff and judge, I set up the Wall Display in a courtroom on a mobile cart, as we did not want to permanently mount the display. If possible, I recommend you permanently mount the display; however, you can purchase a mobile cart from Premier for $1,095. The only problem with this option is the maximum approved height for the mobile cart is 72 inches, which is too low for most courtrooms. Other companies manufacture 84-inch mounting poles for the Wall Display; however, 3M’s warranty would not cover damages if the display were to tip over or get damaged while using the poles.

It’s too bad the Wall Display can’t go higher on a mobile cart so you could move the display from courtroom to courtroom when needed since it really is a space-saver in smaller, cramped courtrooms.

In my experience using courtroom presentation systems, setting up a courtroom to use a laptop or document camera has always been a challenge because of the location of electrical outlets, lighting, cabling and positioning the equipment in the courtroom. In just about any configuration I have devised, the projector has always been in the way.

From the beginning I found the 3M Digital Wall Display eliminated this problem since the DLP projector is built into the screen. This makes it possible to conduct a presentation without blocking the image.

Although the Wall Display advertised to eliminate glare, I encountered problems with the courtroom lighting directly above the device. You could still see the display, but for better effect and clarity, the lighting needed to be adjusted slightly.

The Wall Display is also very versatile. You can connect a laptop, document camera, DVD or VCR to the display and switch between the various inputs. It also will automatically detect your source. The Wall Display offers full connectivity for computer or video presentations.

Unlike most plasma monitors, the 3M Digital Wall Display also has its own integrated speakers. Aside from the Wall Display’s power cord, the only cord you will need to connect is the one from your input device into the Wall Display.

The 3M Digital Wall Display might not be feasible in a large courtroom. Although you have a 60-inch screen, it isn’t the same as using a 7-by-7-foot or 8-by-8-foot projection screen. You will have better results using this in a smaller courtroom or keeping it in your conference room for meeting or in-house training. With its 4-to-3 screen aspect ratio and flat screen, you will have up to 170 degree viewing angles.

If you need the Wall Display to function as a collaboration tool, the screen can be replaced with an Ideaboard. With the Ideaboard, you get the eBeam software to make notes and brainstorm on the Wall Display, digitally capture notes to store or share with others, broadcast notes and your meeting over the Internet, e-mail whiteboard content, drag and drop content into an application or print directly from the screen itself.

Participants in remote locations also can annotate or edit the displayed information online in real time and have the information saved and sent to them. All information, including erased items, can be played back for review and cut and pasted into other applications. The software is compatible with Microsoft NetMeeting.

The downside to this great collaboration and all-in-one tool is the price. Since this is new on the market, it’s expensive, particularly with the addition of the mobile cart if you decide not to wall mount the display.

Generally, I don’t think the 3M Digital Wall Display is ready for the courtroom unless the screen is larger than 60 inches, but for the conference room or for training purposes, it’s a great asset. It’s always there and with just a push of a button you instantly have a projector and screen ready for your presentation.

3M Company
(800) 328-1371
www.3m.com/walldisplay

Price: $12,995 (with Ideaboard); $11,395 (without Ideaboard)

Reviewed by Milton Hooper, a litigation
support specialist in Macon, Ga.

Dec/Jan '03 Issue

PROS
Great for small conference rooms. Eliminates projection being an obstacle.

CONS
Not ready for the courtroom yet. Very expensive.

VERDICT
I would recommend it if you are designing a training room or conference room.