Home entertainment is not what it used to be – the single television no longer reigns supreme.
The home network is a reality, and the multi-screen media room offers a unique and practical way of making the most of content access as you can choose to stream data to your various screens.
In today’s world, people have become accustomed to viewing more than one screen simultaneously. More viewers are watching TV, while interacting with other devices, such as their smartphone, laptop and tablet.
First there was picture-in-picture viewing, which evolved into split-screen viewing. Now, the latest evolution in home entertainment is the introduction of the multi-screen media room boasting fully fledged multi-screens comprising one dominant or primary screen, flanked by two or more screens on either side, says Ryno Goosen from HFX Systems.
This room does not take the place of the in-home theatre, but it is rather an evolution of the old-style living room, home study or games room. Goosen explains that the inclusion of a multi-screen media room is a natural progression since the introduction of numerous mobile devices and the home network. Although it may seem strange to the older generation to watch more than one screen at a time, Goosen says the younger generations have become accustomed to it and even expect it.
He explains that the modern consumer has numerous devices and they move with relative ease between them all. “Not only do they engage regularly with these devices on a social, educational and work basis, but these devices are increasingly being used to control the various technologies found in the home."
More viewers are watching TV, while interacting with other devices, such as their smartphone, laptop and tablet and so the inclusion of a multi-screen media room is a natural progression since the introduction of numerous mobile devices and the home network.
Today, the home network is a reality, and the multi-screen media room offers a unique and practical way of making the most of content access as you can choose to stream data, whether music, movies or information, to your various screens. You can also transfer and share content to a chosen screen from your smartphone, tablet or laptop via a WiFi connection.
“Streaming or downloading content from the Internet directly to your home television is fast gaining popularity – especially with the introduction of Apple’s Smart TV," Goosen says. Websites such as YouTube or iTunes for example, are becoming popular due to the variety that is on offer, the convenience of being able to download or stream content from the comfort of your own home, as well as the fact that it is slightly more affordable than buying a hard copy version, he says.
Gone are the days of channel surfing
Multi-screen rooms are convenient as they offer you the ability to access a lot of information all at one time, Goosen explains. For example, you can watch a movie on the primary screen, while still keeping an eye on your home’s security cameras, stay up-to-date with the latest stock market news, check out the weather, and remain up-to-date with the score of any sports game.
He says that multi-screen media rooms are not solely about home entertainment – they can be a wonderful supplement to the homeowner that works from home. Many homeowners are turning their home office into multi-screen media rooms. A multi-screen media room is the ideal location for conducting video conferencing – whether private or business. If it is your home office – you can view the screen on your PC in the primary screen, keep updated on business news via any news programme or RSS Feeds and speak to colleagues or business associates all over the world – all from one location in your home.
Multi-screen media rooms are ideal for a variety of interests, from work, through to education and entertainment. Goosen says the days when television was used purely for in-home entertainment are gone. Today, the TV can be used for business, education, gaming, communicating and sharing data and photos.
Another benefit of a multi-screen room is that it can form part of a room's décor aesthetics. “If your multi-screen room forms part of your greater living space, you can have family photos or images of great works of art scrolling on the various screens," he explains. This can add an attractive aesthetic or ambience to the overall look of a room, and not be the traditional eyesore that most screens are when they are not in use.
How do they work?
There is much more to a multi-screen media room than meets the eye. Goosen says it requires a high quality HD matrix in order to work properly. The matrix is the control component that receives the signals from all the different sources - such as the DSTV decoder, the Internet, the DVD player and the surveillance cameras – and directs it from the source to the chosen screen. It will also control which source gets preference with regards to audio.
He says if you are watching a movie on the primary screen for example, and you are simultaneously watching the live footage from your home’s security camera, the matrix will ensure that the audio from the primary screen gets preference over all the others.
What is clear is that setting up a multi-screen media room is a complicated business that requires professional planning and installation. “Investing in all the hardware and software to build a multi-screen media room can be costly, and so it is important to commission a professional to design and plan the room, and to install all the equipment in an integrated, functional and attractive manner." Goosen says consumers should choose a specialist company that has a well established reputation in the industry in order to get peace of mind that they are commissioning the services of specialists in the field of custom electronic residential design and installation who adhere to only the highest of standards and proficiency.
