Total interconnectivity, no strings attached

Living on the cutting edge of technology has its moments. While much of the time is spent answering the same handful of questions over and over again, an opportunity to innovate occasionally arises and makes the tedium seem worthwhile.

That is exactly what happened a couple of weeks ago as we sat around the Granese Institute of Technology trying to decide whether to play Tetris or Hearts. One of our favorite associates, a stylist and designer of the highest order, came to us looking for a bit of direction.

She was seeking to incorporate contemporary technology into the presentation of her design work. Her premise entailed allowing her clients to view her work on a large-screen television while visiting her office. As simple as this may sound, it posed a number of unusual problems once the basic concept was defined.

That idea would require equipping a conference area with a widescreen flat-panel television that could be addressed by a laptop computer. The computer would be used to show photos and videos of design projects on the screen while clients watched. Ideally, the entire system would be wireless.

That last sentence was the biggie. Connecting a laptop to an external video device, especially when higher resolutions are involved, can be a little tricky. Doing it without wires is trickier still. Anxious to give it a whirl, we set about a bit of designing ourselves.

A wireless monitor has more useful applications than just making a business presentation. The lazy computerist could find this setup a true boon to immobile Internet activity and easy-chair computing. By hooking a laptop, or desktop for that matter, to a large monitor, users could easily work from a comfy chair a significant distance from the video.

Think of that the next time you are dead on your feet but still have a few tasks to complete online. Instead of sitting bolt upright at a desk, you can easily work from a much more comfortable recliner. When the relatives come over for a look at your latest digital pictures, you can let everybody view them in comfort instead of huddling around the computer desk. The possibilities seemed endless. Now all we had to do was make it work.

First, the components

Deciding to take the easiest part first, we started looking for a suitable monitor. We wanted one that could display computer images in decent resolution while still offering the option of presenting regular television programming when not in use. After getting an idea of the client’s physical premises, we decided on a 32-inch unit.

Making a choice was surprisingly easy. Many of the readily available televisions were not equipped to accept input from a computer, allowing us to narrow the field quickly. After a bit of investigation we decided to turn to a company that makes both televisions and computer monitors. In our case, we went with Viewsonic.

We made the choice by checking for appropriate inputs and resolutions. The 32-inch Viewsonic N3260w monitor that we chose had both VGA and DVI inputs and was equipped to display 1,024-by-768 video, an output common to laptop computers. We snooped around the Internet and found a number of positive user reviews before making our choice.

In addition to meeting our needs, the N3260w offered the user a chance to get true high-definition television, either from cable or over the air. It had spectacular surround audio through built-in 10-watt speakers and had an intuitive interface, both on the console and on the remote. You can get the whole story at www.viewsonic.com/products/largescreendisplays /lcdtvlargescreen/n3260w/.

With the monitor selected, we had to find a way to get the signal from the computer to the screen without wires. We had to cheat a little bit, but ultimately found another Viewsonic product that suited our needs perfectly. The WPG-150 Wireless Presentation Gateway offered an affordable means of connecting the devices without wires.

Sleight of hand revealed

This is where the cheat comes in. The WPG-150 accepts wireless input from the computer, but needs to be wired to the monitor. Fortunately, the device is small and can be easily hidden behind the monitor with plenty of room to conceal the video cable. With this accomplished, we were in business.

The WPG-150 retails for around $250. For that, you get to connect virtually any 802.11 B or G equipped computer to just about any monitor or projector. The latter capacity will be of interest to salesperson and demonstrators who regularly make presentations in the field. Instead of hauling around an enormous projector and screen, programming can now be shown on an onsite television with just a few minutes of simple setup.

Most wireless laptop and desktop computers can connect to the WPG-150. Software drivers can be downloaded directly from the device to further simplify the setup procedure. Minutes after arrival, you can be showing your photos, slides or other video information to your audience. You will look like a genius.

In addition, the WPG-150 offers 640-by-480 resolution for displaying full-motion video in good quality. You can check out the entire spec sheet at http://www.viewsonic.com/products/accessories/wpa/wpg150/. At 6 by 4.5 by 1.4, it is really no larger than a stack of photographs.

Only snag was a minor one

To present our friend’s information, we chose a new laptop widescreen laptop computer running under Microsoft Windows Vista Business. We wanted the format of the computer display to match the external device, and were anxious to test the graphics capabilities of Windows Vista in practical usage.

This is where we hit our only snag. When choosing to source from the Internet, we found that the system worked best when connected to the Internet via Ethernet. While this was a deviation from our wireless specification, it was a small one, and one that occurred only when seeking online content for display. Otherwise, the system was wireless, easy to set up and easy to use.

Coming soon to a home near you

The ease with which we configured and deployed this system is significant. Soon, very soon, expect your personal computing and home entertainment platforms to become one and the same. You will no longer have to sit at a desk in the other room to check your e-mail or finish up an assignment. You can simply flick back and forth between the Internet, your word processing software, and “Desperate Housewives” between commercials. You may want to earmark some of the time you save for a bit of physical exercise just to keep the end users moving smoothly.

Have your two systems joined forces yet? I would love to hear from readers who have incorporated their home computers with their home entertainment centers. It is something that many of us will be doing soon, and we may find that comparing notes with others can enhance productivity. Send your convergence saga via e-mail to granese(at)juno.com.