Dataton WATCHOUT User's Guide

The production computer talks to the display computers through the network,
transferring media files for you as required, as well as controlling the playback
of the show.
Display Computers
Network
You need one display computer for each display device (projector, monitor,
etc) used in you presentation. Display computers handle all the hard work
associated with rendering still images and video. They apply edge blends and
playing sound files.
The fact that there’s one computer for each display device makes the system
scalable to virtually any size; as more screens are added, you also add more
computing power to drive these screens.
A fast network ties the parts together, allowing the production computer to
manage all display computers remotely. Once the WATCHOUT software has
been installed on the display computers, most vital functions will be managed
over the network.
As you add new media to your presentation, or revise existing media, these
changes are automatically propagated, via the network, to the appropriate
display computers. The network also transfers your display configurations,
timeline programming and other aspects of your presentation to the display
computer. With all this material residing on the display computers, very little
information needs to be sent over the network during playback, avoiding
network congestion.
Chapter 1: Introduction 9