| Ease of Use
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| Setup
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Turn on projector. Turn on computer.
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| User Interfaces
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| Ergonomics
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Operator is untethered, and can use tactile wireless interfaces comfortably from anywhere in the dome. There is no laptop computer to hunch over or illuminate the dome with.
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| Multimedia Support
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Perspective, fisheye, and 360° spherical images and videos could not be easier to display anywhere on the dome and manipulate live.
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| Immersion Level
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Full. The audience is immersed in the simulation, and you can easily travel contiguously through time and space to demonstrate different concepts. Media are displayed within the simulation. No user interfaces need to distract the audience, and there are NO discontinuities. (Compare to other systems that break the immersion by requiring switching applications or software modes to show different locations or types of content.)
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| Software
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| Simulation Software
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Exclusive Nightshade G3 universe simulator from Digitalis. Unlike desktop software, Nightshade G3 was designed for planetarians by planetarians.
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| Included Content
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| Scripting Capability
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All system features can be scripted using StratoScript™ by Digitalis. StratoScript is a simple, yet powerful macro language specifically designed for planetariums and even non-programmers.
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| Software Updates
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All system software is maintained by Digitalis, and updates over the Internet with new features and bug fixes are free for the life of your system. You never have to pay to go from version to version, which is a huge savings over many competing systems. Software updates run at your command, so they will never get in the way of using your system like can happen with Windows computers.
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| Support
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| Training
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Online training via Zoom is provided with each purchase. Optional training academies are offered regularly for more advanced topics, like scripting. Optional onsite training is also available.
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| Technical Support
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Free standard technical support for the life of your system. Priority Support extended support options are available.
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| Warranty
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Three year limited warranty(Barco projector: three year, computer: two year). Contact us about extended warranty options.
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| Community
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Free membership in our Digitarium user community website to connect with other users around the world and share ideas and content. Online user group meetings are held regularly throughout the year via Zoom.
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| Projection Qualities
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Maximum Dome Diameter
The largest dome that we recommend for this system due to brightness.
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13.6m / 45 ft
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| Fulldome Projection
Fulldome projection offers the most immersive experience and the easiest teaching methods (no parts of the sky are missing).
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Yes. 180° x 360° field of view for full sky projection from horizon to horizon with no cutouts.
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| Projection Uniformity
Non-uniform projection, such as from spherical mirror projection, can be very obvious and distract from your teaching.
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Consistent focus, contrast, brightness, and pixel sizes across the dome.
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| Pixel Diameter
The number of pixels from one side of the dome to the other, passing through the zenith.
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2400 (pixel shifting technology)
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| Projected Resolution
The total number of unique pixels projected. The higher the number the more detail you can see, such as the phase of the unmagnified Moon from Earth.
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4.5 megapixels
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| Pixels per Linear Degree of Sky
This is another way of stating system resolution and how much detail can be shown. Consider that the angular size of the unmagnified Moon is only about half a degree, meaning it will be half this pixel count high on the dome.
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13.3
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| Angle of Projection
The projection angle from the central fisheye lens onto the dome. Angles less than 180° are desireable to keep the projector out of sight lines.
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160°
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| Lens Technology
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Exclusive Digitalis fisheye prime lens
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| Projection Technology
DLP (Digital Light Processing) is a time-tested solid-state projection technology using micro-mirrors.
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DLP
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| Base Projector Brightness
For comparison purposes, this is the base projector brightness without accounting for using a fisheye lens.
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10,700 ANSI lumens
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| Projector Contrast Ratio
The contrast ratio is the ratio between a white and black scene. The higher the ratio, the more realistic the projection can look.
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1,200:1 (up to 10,000:1 dynamic contrast)
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| Light Source
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Laser-phosphor
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| Illumination Lifetime
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20,000 hours in normal mode
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| Audio
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Up to 7.1 audio output. Dante digital audio optional.
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| Computer
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Computer with powerful Nvidia GPU.
Rackmount, tower, or central enclosure computer options.
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| Storage
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Internal and external storage of 2 TB each. (This is separate from the solid state operating system drive.)
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| Modularity
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Computer, projector, and lens are modular so that each can potentially be upgraded separately.
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| Power
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100-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz, 1200W
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| Regulatory
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FCC Class A, CE class A, RoHS compliant, UL or CSA marked components
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| Mechanical
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| Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Future Year Costs
Any purchase can require significant ongoing maintenance and support costs that must be considered when making a buying decision.
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| Support Costs
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$0/year for standard support, more for Priority Support plans.
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| Software Update Costs
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$0/year for software updates for the life of your system (unless you opt for a subscription based license). Compare to limited period or version-limited licenses on other systems.
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| Hardware/OS Upgrades
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We suggest budgeting for computer upgrades every 5 years or so to stay current.
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| Consumables
Consumables are items that are used up or must be replaced periodically.
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Under $20/year for lens cleaning fluid/wipes and remote control batteries. No expensive lamps to replace, ever!
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