Hitachi Digital Media Group announces the launch of a new LCD projector that delivers full interactive capability in combination with all of the benefits of the recently available Ultimate Short Throw series. The innovative iPJ-AW250N integrates Hitachi Starboard Soft Duo software to deliver a complete interactive experience on any flat surface. With a rich feature set that meets the specific interactive needs of both corporate and education users, the compact iPJ-AW250N, like the other models in the Ultimate range, is easy to install, easy on the environment and designed to deliver outstanding performance in any setting.

“As the first Hitachi interactive LCD projector, the iPJ-AW250N offers the market a real and innovative alternative to existing complex, bulky or compromised solutions. By embedding full interactive capability with all of the features of the new Ultimate Short Throw models, we are able to offer a high performance solution that works on any wall or with existing standard whiteboards,” said Axel Kutschke, Senior Manager, Presentation Products for Hitachi Digital Media Group. “In bringing interactivity to existing meeting and classroom facilities to improve productivity and learning, Hitachi is demonstrating its continued commitment to innovation by combining class leading technologies and solutions to meet growing market trends.”

The network ready iPJ-AW250N incorporates a built-in sensor that uses infrared and ultrasonic waves that, when integrated together with the well established Hitachi Starboard software, facilitates the interactive capabilities. By removing the cost of upgrading existing whiteboards, this innovative approach opens up a world of interactivity for large numbers of commercial and education users. While all users want a seamlessly fast response time for an interactive projector that is simple and easy to use, these two markets do have differing needs in key areas. Commercial users often look for one click operation of functions such as print or email. Education markets, where Hitachi has extensive experience and market share, are more likely to demand ease of use, compatibility with rich content as well as rapid response. The iPJ-AW250N has been designed with these diverging requirements in mind and offers simple operation for all of these needs.

To ensure easy installation, the iPJ-AW250N is bundled together with a unique, easy install wall mount that makes the precise setup and fine adjustments both quick and simple. This means that a single engineer using the easy set up procedure can quickly and correctly install and adjust the projector in six axes. An enhanced Hitachi Perfect Fit incorporating an eight point adjustment including all four corners and sides all but guarantees faultless images. Once the iPJ-AW250N is installed on the network, the latest Hitachi projector management software takes the strain out of managing multi-unit installations as well as providing usage reports to ease occasional maintenance scheduling.

Despite the addition of the interactive sensor, the iPJ-AW250N is still remarkably compact and light thanks to the outstanding design of the Ultimate Show Throw models. Indeed, at only 345mm (w) x 303mm (d) x 102mm (h) and 4.1kg, the projector’s physical dimensions are only bettered by its non-interactive siblings. The small size and low weight of the projector and the wall mount also help to reduce environmental impact by cutting the carbon footprint during shipping and distribution. The projector also offer a reduced power standby mode using only 0.3W which ensures power usage is reduced to a minimum during the lifetime of the projector.

By cleverly optimising cool air flow around the projector, Hitachi have managed to combine tight packaging within the small exterior dimensions together with an extended lamp life of at least 5000 hours when operated in the automatically selected eco mode (Auto Eco Mode). A hybrid filter further reduces cost and maintenance requirements.

However the projectors’ small size and ease of use do not in anyway diminish its impressive performance. While throw distance for a wide screen image of 80″ has been reduced to a mere 53cm from mirror to screen, Hitachi has at the same time increased image quality and virtually eliminated the distortions inherent in short throw projection. The exceptionally short throw distance means that the powerful 2500 lumen WXGA projector is both bright and safe in all environments.

In common with the other Ultimate Short Throw models, the Hitachi Active Iris that produces a contrast ratio of 2000:1 ensures that the iPJ-AW250N delivers distinct pure black levels even when displaying dark scenes or operating in a high ambient light.
Audio output is not left behind in the quest for visual excellence and the iPJ-AW250N also provides a 10w speaker for clear audio output in meetings and classrooms.