What time is it? Apparently it's MicroTiles time for high end wrist watch specialist Hausmann & Co. in Italy.
They opened a new state-of-the-art boutique and workshop in Rome using the latest visual technology to lure its customers in.
This luxury retailer wanted their technological innovation, exquisite aesthetics and a long experience in the retail market to come together to offer a unique customer experience.That "timely" decision meant the store now has time for a total of 12 Christie MicroTiles.
Forming two screens of 6 tiles each that create a display of 244.8 cm x 30.6cm, these rear projection tiles that can be assembled like building blocks giving numerous possibilities of shape. With an individual screen size of 40.8cm wide x 30.6cm high, the tiles also feature a shallow depth of only 26cm and require just 5cm of minimal clearance for rear ventilation and cabling.
Benedetto Mauro, co-owner of the business together with Francesco Hausmann, at Hausmann commented: "The satisfaction with MicroTiles is total. If there was more room we would have put more units in. We are the first to use this technology in Italy."
The boutique was designed by Paula O 'Neill. AV integration specialist Engineering Solutions International took care of the control systems and displays, and with Ar-thema putting its touch on the interior.
Engineering Solutions Andrea De Martino says: “We advised Hausmann to use Christie MicroTiles for this job because this was the only way we were able to create a continuous display in a size that no flat screen displays can offer. Other requirements we had were that the display needed to be able to show images in HD and it had to be easy to assemble as well as scalable. Christie MicroTiles offer all of this and more. The screens are also self calibrating and it is very easy to input content via a basic media player.”
Benedetto added “The displays were specifically designed to give the store good visibility during the day and also at night. When the sun goes down, the moving images on the displays attracts passers-by and give the store a dynamic feel that is not found in any other store in the surrounding area.”
Christie MicroTiles complement the digital signage proposition together with LCD screens located in the windows.
The store offers an all-enveloping experience with the sound system totally invisible and music wirelessly streamed from an iPhone or iPad. The entrance of the store also features special audio system which, applied to the glass balustrade, turns it into a speaker.
Engineering Solutions also recommended installing LED lights controlled by DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface). This system is also integrated to KNX, a standardised, OSI-based network communications protocol for intelligent buildings.
All lights and audio can be operated from the elegant touch panel units from Belgium brand Basalte, or from a 19" touch screen which controls the interior of the store, its lighting, the audiovisual content and also the video surveillance system.