Prototype Theatrical Digital Projector Unveiled
Ballantyne of Omaha, Inc., a leading manufacturer of motion picture projection equipment, and Digital Projection International, a leading manufacturer of high-brightness theatrical presentation, and multi-media projection systems, debuted a prototype of their jointly designed and manufactured THUNDER Display product at the recent INFOCOMM communication equipment industry trade show. The THUNDER Display prototype features next-generation SXGA (1280-1024) Digital Light Processingô (DLPô) technology from Texas Instruments and the latest optical, signal-processing, illumination and power supply innovations from Digital Projection and Ballantyne. Using a newly designed illumination source created by Ballantyne, the new projector is said to feature brighter images, higher resolution and better contrast than other available electronic displays. The prototype projectors are in service for the digital projection of Walt Disneyís newest animated film ""Tarzan,"" which began its run on July 26, 1999 at the AMC Pleasure Island multiplex at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, at AMC Media Center North 6 in Burbank, California and at the Edwards Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, California. The duration of the DLP run of ""Tarzan"" has not been announced. Speculation is that it will play for a few weeks. ""An Ideal Husband"" and ""Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace"" began their digital runs on June 18 and ran for four weeks each.