The specialist graphics presentation distribution company Visualex Ltd, based in Henley-on-Thames has launched a new electronic presentation system designed to run on 80286- or 80386-based AT-alikes. The two products, the Executive and the Producer, are totally developed and built by the US company TeleVision Laboratories (TVL) but Visualex will be the only UK distributor selling direct to the end user, although other distributors will be appointed in this country to sell to the dealer network. The entry level system is the Executive which is a portable product comprising one board to go into 16-bit AT slot, and designed for use with laptops. To get visu0l images into the system, a video camera can be used, or the personal computer’s mouse and keyboard. Graphics can be designed using the system’s own style sheets or templates or by using any leading graphics software, such as Targa, VideoShow, Genigraphics, Freelance or Lumena, since the systems are compatible with .pic and .tga files. Hard copy can be produced using a Calcomp colour printer, 35mm slide projector or QCR/PCR matrix, while the electronic presentation is not limited by the size of the computer monitor as it can be projected through a large monitor, such as a Sony 27, or through a Videobeam projector. The resolution is of a Video Graphics Array standard, and offers 16m colours. The presentation can be run automatically, by remote control, or synchronised with sound. Visualex is selling the Executive at UKP4,500 for the board and software, or as a turnkey system complete with 80386-based Compaq Computer, NEC or Toshiba portable, Microsoft mouse, Sony display monitor, video camera and stand, plus cables and interface for around UKP17,000. The Producer is the Executive’s father (more or less literally as it was the first system developed by TeleVisual four years ago), has three boards for three 16-bit slots and was developed to help design presentations for large audiences. The system has show, draw, and paint programs and is fully compatible with Executive software. It also has a multiple image grab which can grab up to three different things, such as two camera images and a tape machine. While the Executive presents single frame images, the Producer can show pieces of visual leading to quite an exciting, if potentially confusing, presentation. The Producer’s board and software sells for UKP10,950. In the US TeleVisual has an impressive customer list including Apple Computer (which uses the IBM-compatible system for its big presentations) and Walt Disney. The company has, however, not ruled out developing a system for the Apple Mac or IBM PS/2. In the UK, Visualex expects to sell around 100 systems in the first year, mainly as a marketing tool for large corporates, although local government and education are also markets that will be explored.
