TouchLink

Introducing TouchLink™, the first fully configuration-based touchpanel control system with the power to handle the control needs of single display rooms, dual display rooms, divisible rooms, multi-image systems, and video conference suites. We pioneered configurable A/V control systems with the highly successful MediaLink® family of push-button controllers. Now, with TouchLink, we are set to revolutionize the way you design, install, and maintain touchpanel systems. With our user-friendly, ready-to-use, customizable, predesigned application templates, TouchLink Control Systems can be deployed much faster, and are easier and less costly to support, than traditional programmable systems.

The TouchLink System

With introduction of the TouchLink Touchpanel Control System, Extron elevates configurable control systems to the next level. Just like MediaLink, TouchLink doesn't require any programming skills to deploy. Leveraging our years of experience and library of thousands of tested and documented Extron Certified device drivers, we designed the TouchLink System to meet the demands of the types of systems you install every day.

Anyone familiar with configuring MediaLink® or IP Link® systems with our free Global Configurator software will be comfortable configuring a TouchLink System using the same easy-to-use tools and our predesigned application templates.

TouchLink control systems are made up of a touchpanel, a control processor, predesigned application templates, and user-friendly configuration software. This article will introduce you to each of these new system components.

TouchLink Touchpanels

Three full-featured TouchLink touchpanel models offer a variety of mounting options with an attractive user interface suitable for any room. The TLP 700MV, with a seven-inch touchscreen, is designed for mounting on a lectern or wall. The TLP 700TV, also with a seven-inch touchscreen, is designed for tabletop or VESA mounting. The TLP 350CV is a Cable Cubby® version that features a 3.5" touchscreen.

Each TLP Series TouchLink touchpanel model features:

High Resolution Touchscreen: Full-color in a size and quality that are ideal for our predesigned application templates with sophisticated touchscreen layouts.

Full-Motion Video: Each model accepts a standard resolution video signal from any source device, such as a DVD player, VCR, security camera, or upstream switcher.

Customizable Backlit Buttons: These tactile bi-color buttons can be customized in their function and labeling to ensure that frequently used or critical functions are easily accessible, independent of the current touchscreen mode. Backlighting provides ease of use in low light conditions.

Speaker: Provides user feedback as buttons are pressed or monitored events occur.

Volume Knob: TLP 700 models only - You can configure this knob for simple and fast volume control.

Motion Sensor: TLP 700 models only - Awakens panel when in power-saving sleep mode.

Auto Dimming Sensor: Automatically adjusts the screen’s brightness according to the room lighting.

Ready-To-Use Templates

GUI Configurator includes ready-to-use templates created for the following popular A/V system applications:

• Single Display Rooms
• Dual Display Room
• Divisible Room
• Multi-Image System
• Video Conference Suite
  ... and more will be added to www.extron.com soon.

Our touchscreen design templates are:

• Broadly Applicable - Our templates are matched carefully to the most common A/V applications installers and integrators are likely to encounter.
• Intuitive to Use - Readily learned and understood with clearly labeled buttons and logical page flows.
• Easy to Edit - The object appearance properties of every GUI element is easily changeable, including shape, color, label, and operation.

Since system designs vary, our templates can be customized to suit the specific needs of any application. GUI Configurator's intuitive design environment enables a wide variety of design choices for buttons, colors, logos, font styles, and more.

Start From Scratch and Design Your Own Layout

A wide array of design options enables users to develop their own touchscreen layouts to meet almost any system requirement.

GUI Configurator software's resource library of shapes, graphics, and sounds provide a wide variety of choices for design of pages, popup pages, multistate buttons, 3D effects, video windows, dynamic text, and more. In addition, users can import their own images or audio files into GUI Configurator and use the resource management tool to provide further customization capabilities. The Designer Window displays the layout design in progress, so the changes can be seen while the customization occurs.

Upload Your Finished Design To The TouchLink Panel

Once the touchscreen layout design is completed, the process for uploading the design files to a TouchLink touchpanel is simple. GUI Configurator connects to one or more TouchLink panels over the network for uploading the project layout data. In addition, project data can be saved to disk for future use.

Familiar System Configuration Process With Global Configurator Software

Anyone familiar with configuring MediaLink® or IP Link® Systems using Extron Global Configurator software will be comfortable installing and configuring a TouchLink system. With no code to write and no need for graphic design skills, anyone can develop and deploy a sophisticated, feature-rich, TouchLink A/V control system.

Global Configurator is a simple-to-use, yet comprehensive software application that allows non-programmers to configure a wide range of Extron IP Link-enabled products, including TouchLink Systems. It provides an integrated environment for defining A/V control and monitoring system functionality from an easy-to-use graphical user interface.

TouchLink touchpanels enable integrators to deploy a fully configurable touchscreen control interface with a sophisticated, high tech appearance.

It's simple enough to be used for configuring a single room controller, yet powerful enough to facilitate building a Web-based A/V resource management and remote monitoring system for hundreds of A/V devices in multiple locations.

Global Configurator's intuitive, step-by-step menus walk the user through the process of configuring a TouchLink Panel's functions to the IPL 250 controller. For large installations with IP-enabled systems, Global Configurator guides the user through adding new TouchLink Systems to the network, organizing them in a logical fashion, configuring IP and security settings, and defining monitoring and alert parameters.

Configuration changes may be required when a display or source device is replaced or additional functionality is desired.

With Global Configurator, modifying a configuration is fast and easy. The program creates and stores unique configuration files which can be recalled whenever changes are required.

Modifying a configuration is as simple as opening the configuration file, making the necessary changes, and uploading the new configuration and device drivers. This feature is also useful for replicating "cookie cutter" systems with only a few mouse clicks.

Thousands of Extron Certified Device Drivers

Extron maintains thousands of serial and IR drivers for devices from dozens of manufacturers. Each driver was written and reviewed by Extron engineers and our Certified drivers have been tested with at least one of the supported products. The Extron Web site features an easy-to-use online driver filter that enables installers and system integrators to select and download the appropriate driver files for their A/V system.

Powerful A/V System Management

You can proactively manage, monitor, and support TouchLink Systems right alongside MediaLink and IP Link systems using the award-winning Extron GlobalViewer Enterprise software. GlobalViewer Enterprise is the next step up for managing larger A/V installations. It provides an easy upgrade path for existing users of the Free GlobalViewer Web application. Compatible with most Web browsers, GlobalViewer Enterprise provides enhanced help desk functionality, enterprise-wide scheduling and monitoring, and time-stamped A/V system data collection for reporting. Built on Microsoft® .NET® technology, GlobalViewer Enterprise integrates with third-party facility scheduling software for viewing room availability and managing meeting schedules.

A New Way to Think About Touchpanel Control Systems

Up to now, deploying touchpanel A/V control systems, has remained in a different category from more common pushbutton control panels. While touchpanel systems are generally more elegant, they have been considered more complex, more costly, and more difficult to support than their pushbutton counterparts, due mostly to the programming skills needed for integration. Thanks to Extron TouchLink, the first fully configuration-based touchpanel control system, the industry now has an opportunity to view them in a whole new light.

Additional Resources

Extron.com offers extensive additional information and training on TouchLink Systems, including:

• Spec sheets
• Brochures
• White papers
• Training videos

Also, our unique online TouchLink Simulator lets you test drive each touchpanel model, trying it out in various types of presentation environments. For more information, visit www.extron.com/touchlink