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Scala - General Questions
General questions asked about Scala, Inc.
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Notes on Windows XP Service Pack 2, various other recent Microsoft Critical Updates, and Scala IC3 Release 7.2+
General FAQ Solution #1, XP Pack 2 (last modified 09/15/2004):
Based on Scala's internal testing to date, there are no known issues with Windows XP SP2 and Scala IC3 Release 7.2. On a properly configured PC, Scala IC3 R7.2 runs as intended on WXPsp2.
PLEASE NOTE: "On a properly configured PC!" Service Pack 2 introduces some system complexities with regard to Network Configuration. The IT Administrator/Technical User responsible for systems running IC3 should be aware of the proper TCP Firewall settings for their specific network.
Microsoft has published several useful "White Papers" and some helpful WWW-Sites/Pages on this topic:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;windowsxpsp2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;%5BLN%5D;835935
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=884130
Several "3rd Parties" have also published very helpful Web Pages on the topic of WXPsp2:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/
http://www.jsiinc.com/Tipndx/Recent.htm
http://www.winnetmag.com/Departments/Index.cfm?DepartmentID=855&PubID=16
Other recent Microsoft Component Updates:
DirectX 9.0c - This is the current release of the Microsoft Video/Audio API on which Scala's functionality depends. This update incorporates several earlier "Hotfixes" which were important for proper Scala IC3 function. This is a recommended update.
Windows Media Player 10 - This is the "latest and greatest" version of Windows Media Player. Its enhancements are primarily centered around:
Digital Rights Management: Transferring/(Restricting the transfer of) Music/Video files to other computers & external devices, (i.e. "iPods" and the like); and the support of Microsoft's new Online Music Store. There is no functionality in this release that, as of yet, would be of any value to a current IC3 system. This update is currently NOT recommended.
".NET Framework v.1.1" and the ".NET Framework v.1.1 Service Pack 1" --
Scala's products currently have no need for the ".NET Framework". Its presence or absence would have no impact on the functionality of the Scala IC3 Products. Matrox and ATI have started to use ".NET" for their video driver Control Panel Applications. Nether company's video drivers require ".NET"--however their [Advanced] configuration panels do use its functionality. We have noted in our testing lab that the installation of ".NET Framework v.1.1 Service Pack 1" on a WXPsp2 system can lead to a critical failure on some systems. To resolve this issue it is necessary to
completely uninstall ".NET Framework v.1.1" from "Add/Remove Programs"; reboot; and then re-install ".NET Framework v.1.1" and ".NET Framework v.1.1 Service Pack 1."
The Microsoft JEPG/GDI+ Parser - Microsoft has issued a "Critical" advisory for all systems running Windows XP. There is a defect in the Microsoft software that reads JPEG image files. Scala's products do NOT use this Microsoft component. HOWEVER: Basically everything from Microsoft does use this software. Windows Explorer in "Thumbnail View"; Internet Explorer 6; OfficeXP; Visual Studio, etc. Due to this defect it is now possible for a computer to become virus infected by simply viewing a JPEG image. Scala
strongly encourages that "Authoring" workstations be patched as soon as is practical.
For more information:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/bulletins/200409_jpeg.mspx
Regards,
Scala Technical Support
Why Is Choosing The Right Software Important For Digital Signage?
General FAQ Solution #1, Signage Revenue (last modified 12/02/2002):
Plasma Screens Are Infiltrating Every Nook And Cranny.
Flat panel displays are infiltrating every part of our lives, from automatic teller machines (ATMs), to shopping carts, to shopping malls. Everywhere you look, there they are. Through these new public venues, spam will reach new frontiers, and soon, every nook and cranny of eyeball space will be filled. Only visual pollution laws, and good taste will be able to stop it.
The Internet was only the beginning. Enter the Outernet.
Create New Sources Of Revenue.
Get on the bandwagon now by joining Scala. We will provide the expert advice you need to combine the 3 major components of any successful digital signage installation: networking, hardware and software. Doing digital signage installations gets cheaper and easier every day. Convert the space you control into new sources of revenue.
Don't let someone else steal this revenue by "offsetting" your startup costs and owning the network themselves. Maintain ownership because it won't be long before it pays back the outlay cost through either ad revenue or incremental operating efficiencies.
The Pain Of Choosing The Wrong Software.
Deliver highly targeted and scheduled advertising messages. This is the Holy Grail of digital signage -- and exactly what you will be shutting yourself out of if you choose the wrong software.
Here is what happens when you choose the wrong software piece of the equation: the first deployment goes great. Your video production staff produced some kick-butt content. It was delivered as compressed digital video to a low cost dedicated player unit such as a digital VCR or MPEG brick. Everything went great, so you scale your network up to 100 sites.
Get Stuck Producing Video At $5000 A Minute.
People start asking "can I do this?" or "can I do that?" Your answer is "yes we can, but here's how much it is going to cost..."
"First we have to do video production at $5000 a minute. Or we have to hire animation artists at $125 an hour. Next, we need to figure out how to make each site play a different targeted message. Can each player play a different MPEG? Maybe. Maybe not. How about scheduling? Can we schedule our programming to play one way during the day for the senior citizens, and another way later in the day for the students? We want to affect buying behavior, after all."
Choose The Software (Desired End Results) First.
With enough money, and you can solve any of these problems. But it would have been easier, cheaper and faster to choose the right solution right from the start? Otherwise, you're trapped into doing video production that is costly to update and customize. Pick up that phone and call Scala before you are millions of dollars into the project. Choose the software first.
So, what WILL the world look like with digital signage all over?
It will look much the same as today, but instead of VCR static, you will have "blue screens of death" all over.
That is, of course, unless you choose Scala as the critical software "enabling" component of your installation. Then, the world will look as good as the PhotoShop artists you hire to create your content. They'll produce an enormously faster rate than vector-artists or video production people. So, the world will be interesting, valuable to your audience, and always fresh, on-topic, relevant, going to your bottom-line.
Why is Scala better for dynamic signage than video production and vector graphics?
General FAQ Solution #1, Video Production Costs (last modified 12/02/2002):
Produce More Video and Animation While Charging Less.
There are things you can do in Scala that take much less time than video production or vector-based animation. Scala visual effects are attention grabbing and will influence buyer behavior. They are easy to produce, requiring only slightly more skills than what PhotoShop artists already possess. So, your staff can produce more content at a faster rate than possible with traditional video production and vector-animation techniques.
Control Costs While Offering Increased Message Customization.
What does video production time cost? What does custom animation cost? It's not practical to do all your visual effects in postproduction and Adobe AfterEffects because it effects what you have to charge your customer. Imagine what it costs to produce 15 minutes of video. So with just a little bit less traditional video production, you can control your costs, offer more to your customer, be more competitive with your competition, and get more flexibility in customizing the messaging to your target audience.
Looking At Examples Proves That Scala Is Impressive.
Sometimes, people write Scala off and don't believe our pitch about Scala being a viable alternative to video because they look at something produced with Scala, and think it looks like an unimpressive humdrum PowerPoint presentation. This perception is quickly dispelled the moment they see something produced by an experienced Scala user. And it takes much less to become an experiences Scala user than it takes to become an experienced video producer or vector animation artist.
Just Add Digital Camera, Artist and a Tiny Bit Of Training.
Scala, plus a digital camera, scanner, CD-ROM background collection and Scala / PhotoShop artist is a powerful combination. Dollar for dollar, you will get much more custom content and targeted high impact messaging than you will with video or vector graphics. Most artists will come right up to speed with Scala once provided a few expert templates to refer to as examples.
You Have To See Scala To Believe It.
You have to see the Scala environment to believe it. Get impressive results quickly, that will satisfy the rigorous demands of the emerging dynamic signage industry. Read about our software at http://www.scala.com/features or download a demo version at http://www.scala.com/downloads Follow the tutorials at http://www.scala.com/tutorials
Beware The Hidden Gotcha's of Non-Scala Solutions
Then download all the software required to get similar results from competitors. You'll see why Scala is the best-of-breed multimedia software component and the de facto standard software for the emerging industry of digital dynamic signage. Some solutions might offer something that looks appealing at first, but your production schedules may suffer, your ability to deliver customized messaging may suffer, and the stability and scalability of your network may suffer. Cost overruns may also occur on wasted bandwidth transmissions, and you may get closed into specific solution providers, and technicians requiring specialized and highly priced skill sets.
What are scalable multimedia networks?
General FAQ Solution #1, Scalable Multimedia (last modified 12/02/2002):
Scalable business solutions.
The idea of scalable multimedia is analogous to the idea of scalable business enterprise solutions. You can start small, with very little network infrastructure support. In fact, a single computer can serve as both the creative station, and the public playback display engine. But much more frequently, two computers are used so that the public display can run continuously while creative work is happening invisibly in the background from a separate machine.
Starting with just 2 systems.
Such 2-system multimedia setups are hardly a multimedia network, but they can be used to run a single revenue-producing photo-based cable channel, or feed a public video distribution system where all the screens are delivering the same, non-targeted messaging. Scala has installed thousands of such 2-system multimedia networks.
10 to 40 Nearby Playback Sites
When you are ready to target different messages to different locations, you simply add more Scala player units. These player units are standard PCs configured according to Scala's specifications for reliable playback 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. An unlimited number of Scala player units can be added to an existing large area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN), making Scala perfect for employee communication systems among buildings and offices already wired for terrestrial networking. At this point, a Scala network is usually scaled up to 10 to 50 nearby locations, and the messaging can be demographically targeted and scheduled.
Control Hundreds or Thousands of Remote Locations Using Satellite
Many corporations these days are choosing satellite communications for a wide array of applications including credit card verification and file transfer. These satellite networks use the new generation of tiny satellite dishes (VSATs), and are perfect for scaling your multimedia network up to unlimited numbers of players, over unlimited geographic locations. In other words, from a single Scala master station, you can control thousands of remote player sites, each with a plasma screen delivering professional, high impact multimedia messaging that's easier to produce than video.
Keeping Truly Large-scale Multimedia Networks Manageable
With truly large-scale multimedia comes the formidable tasks of management, and the delegation of responsibilities. This is where Scala multimedia software truly shines. With other cobbled together software solutions, or even other software solutions made specifically for the dynamic signage industry, you're OK until you get to about 50 sites. When you grow beyond 50 remote sites is where best of breed multimedia software components such as Scala truly differentiate themselves by keeping the network manageable and under control. The industry's most stable PC multimedia software keeps your displays running, while a host of back-channel and logging features keep you aware of problems in your network. And all the work responsibilities get divided up according to areas of expertise.
Delegating Multimedia Responsibilities
No longer do you need a jack-of-all-trades multimedia expert. Give the creative tasks to your creative people, and your technical tasks to your technical people. You can even give daily message updating tasks to your administrative or marketing staff. They can update prices and specials inside a template environment, without even entering the creative areas of the Scala software. This puts them "on rails", keeping them from altering the impact and flow of the multimedia program. These administrative message updaters can be located centrally, or at the individual remote sites, making for the perfect delegation of responsibilities. For the creative tasks, you can use your internal staff, or contract one of the many creative agencies that deal in Scala-based dynamic signage networks.
What are the definitions for different types of Multimedia?
General FAQ Solution #1, Interactive Multimedia (last modified 09/07/2001):
Multimedia is the encompass of all media used in electronics, particularly with computers. The use of computers to present text, graphics, video, animation, and sound in an integrated way. Long touted as the future revolution in computing, multimedia applications were, until the mid-90s, uncommon due to the expensive hardware required. With increases in performance and decreases in price, however, multimedia is now commonplace. Nearly all Personal Computers are capable of displaying video, though the resolution available depends on the power of the computer's video adapter and microprocessor.
Interactive Multimedia is the means to interface with these media typically with a computer keyboard, mouse, touch screen, on screen buttons, and text entry allowing a user to make decisions as to what takes place next with this multimedia.
With Scala products you can present multimedia by creating presentations which can include text, graphics, video, animation, and sound in the manner you wish. You can setup how your presentation is interactive with a computer keyboard, mouse, touch screen, on screen buttons, and text entry. Your presentations can be published to be display on the Internet, on a Stand-Along CD, or Digital Signage using large plasma screens to present advertisements or information.
Fell free to visit our web site at www.scala.com to learn more about our products and using multimedia. You can down a 30 days trial version of products to learn how multimedia will work for you first hand.
Best Regards,
Scala Technical Support
Who needs to know about Scala multimedia software for plasma?
General FAQ Solution #1, Needs Plasma (last modified 02/09/2004):
Run Extremely Scalable Multimedia Networks (great for plasma screens).
Scala is the best-of-breed software component for running extremely scalable multimedia networks of plasma screen-based dynamic signage. Scala is the de facto standard and industry leader in this emerging industry, having solved every problem you are bound to encounter. Using Scala is likely to make your pilot program successful, and your eventual large-scale deployments go smoothly. Scala is partnered with every major component provider, from satellite to plasma display panels, to creative, and value added resellers. Scala is to the Outernet what Netscape and Explorer were to the Internet.
Multimedia Developers and Content Creators Must Know About Scala.
Content creators need to know about Scala because it is emerging as the defacto standard software for dynamic signage creation, scheduling, distribution, and playback. Scala is becoming the killer app for dynamic signage the same way other programs became dominant in desktop publishing in years past. It's an easy leap for artists to make. Scala gives video creation-like capabilities to moderately competent PhotoShop artists. Scala has a low learning curve and a fast return on your time invested learning it. If you can use Quark XPress, then Scala will be a breeze.
Signage and P-O-P Display Companies
Like it or not, plasma display panels are here. It's not just a cardboard display alternative. PDPs have the potential to change everything in the signage industry. Custom signs won't go away, but merchandisers now have the opportunity to deliver targeted messages to their audience that automatically vary with time, season, weather, or promotions. The signage and point-of-purchase displays also become a source of revenue for co-op advertising dollars. Today's signage companies have to be ready for the requests for plasma signs to start pouring in. Partner with Scala and be ready to get the business.
Franchises and Retail Outlets
Face it; you have the best real estate for revenue generating plasma displays. You've got the highly qualified out of home consumer in the place of purchase. The studies are already appearing that engaging motion signage will motivate a purchase or up sell, or ensure the success of a special promotion. Don't get stuck with a multimillion-dollar humdrum solution that makes you a slave to the video department and huge file transmissions. Don't let a consultant sell you a bill of goods about kludging together the wrong parts. Take control of your targeted messaging by using Scala from the start -- not as a band-aid later on.
Advertisers and Media Buyers
Plasma signage will be everywhere. Your brand identity is going to be competing for that space. In not too long, you'll be buying exposure to the consumer according to time times and places your targeted demographic is most likely to be there. Unprecedented feedback can measure the effectiveness of your promotions.
Entrepreneurs and Startups
It takes money to make money, and let there be no mistake; the capital outlay of a plasma display advertising network is big. The good news is that the cost of the hardware and services is coming down all the time, and the opportunity to develop high value real estate plasma properties is high. Any surface can generate advertising revenue on an ongoing basis. But instead of sinking all your precious resources into reinventing the application, sink it into hardware and developing your business. You've already got a superior software solution in Scala. Get a good head start on your competition.
Design Schools
Design schools that begin teaching design for plasma advertising today will be ahead of their time. It is exactly analogous to how web design was not in any school programs 5 years ago, but now it's everywhere. Five years before that, computers were just being introduced for print-based graphic design. Today, schools must begin exploring the Scala application for plasma display advertising in order to have a competitive advantage.
Industry Analysts
Everyone is waiting for HDTV and plasma televisions to hit. But the business-to-people applications of plasma display panels are really going to drive the market in the short term. Everything is right for the Scala application to explode onto the scene. Just like how desktop publishing drove sales of expensive laser printers, Scala dynamic signage will drive sales of plasma displays. Industry analysts need to know this and will eventually start covering it.
Business Consultants
Businesses are always looking for ways to increase profits. Well, it's hard to imagine a way to improve operating efficiency more than communication along the entire chain from manufacturing to retail. Tell your people to gear up via wall mounted plasma displays in the factory. Tell your sales people to be ready via the plasma screen employee information system. Then tell your customers to buy via the plasmas right in the retail outlets. It's faster and reaches more people than email. Campaigns can be more creative, motivational, and well executed in less time than almost any other method. Business consultants ought to start suggesting Scala plasma display solutions to their clients.
Plasma Manufactures
Who will benefit more than the plasma display panel manufacturers themselves: Sony, Hitachi, Fujitsu, Pioneer, Sharp, and Matsushita? Did I miss anyone? Scala applications can sell hundreds or thousands of plasma units. It's one thing if you plan on producing video with a video department and hired production company. It's entirely another thing when you realize you can update plasma display content yourself rapidly, with a low learning curve, and deliver increasingly targeted messages to an increasingly large audience (as you add more plasma displays, of course). It makes targeted multimedia messaging applications very doable, and consequently makes the customers for plasma panels more ambitious. Every plasma manufacturer should be promoting the Scala application for their displays.
Plasma Wholesalers
Even plasma display wholesalers who just want to sell as many panels as possible can benefit from Scala. Suggesting Scala to all their business customers should lead to more business as the multimedia signage deployment grows.
Satellite Service Providers
Looking for customers for your bandwidth? Well, Scala is a perfect fit. Large-scale multimedia deployments are often best accomplished using VSAT (very small aperture terminals). VSAT technology represents a cost effective solution for users seeking an independent communications network connecting a large number of geographically dispersed sites. It's a perfect fit for Scala plasma display solutions. Get additional business from your existing VSAT customers, or create new opportunities.
Hardware Integrators
The opportunities are endless for the hardware integrator specializing in Scala-based solutions for plasma signs. Setting aside the plasma panels for a moment, there is still the issue of assembling stable, reliable hardware. Scala players are PCs running Scala software 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When the explosion in the emerging dynamic signage industry really hits, hardware integrators ready to deploy hundreds of Scala players will benefit.
Who is Scala's competition?
General FAQ Solution #1, Competition (last modified 12/02/2002):
Scala has very little competition in establishing itself as the software leader in the emerging industry of dynamic signage. Our application enables large-scale deployments of hundreds or thousands of plasma displays panels (PDP) across cities, countries, or even continents. We're like the "desktop publishing" software of plasma screens. We've been doing it for over 10 years in the hanging monitor and cable TV industries. We even have a large base of users of our application, and all the elements necessary to make large-scale deployments possible including relationships with satellite service providers and plasma screen manufacturers.
So who is Scala's competition anyway?
Hanging TVs
In some sense, those hanging TVs with built-in VCRs and auto-rewind are our biggest competition. But ultimately, the mechanical troubles, and the headache of sneaker-net makes Scala win out in the end.
Cheap MPEG Players
Cheap MPEG player boxes are displacing VCR in the targeted messaging industry because tapes don't have to be distributed. Instead, video production has to be performed for every little update, along with MPEG encoding, and the broadcast or distribution of bloated MPEG files (even when compressed). Sure, Scala can use MPEG just like these boxes, but for the continual updates, only tiny little files ever need to be distributed, saving tons in bandwidth and cost. Not to mention that updating content only requires using software that's a lot like page layout or slide show software. It's decidedly not as difficult or costly as video production. MPEG player boxes are no competition for Scala.
Other Software
There are dozens of little applications that address this market or that in plasma. Some do call center displays. Others do calls in queue applications, or reader boards or scoreboards. No one has such a long-standing application with such a large base of established users and low learning curve. Plus, because our multimedia engine is text script based, we're more open then anyone else. Custom applications can interact with Scala, as well as custom hardware and a large array of multimedia file formats. Traditional multimedia authoring applications are not competition because they are not suited for rapid day-in, day-out updating by non-programmer staff the way Scala is. Due to this, Scala actually has fans that love using it as a secret weapon to lower their production costs and raise their revenues. Other software is no competition for Scala.
Home Grown Applications
One of our favorite things is being the band-aid, the white knight, or the paramedics of large-scale plasma deployments. Almost everyone underestimates the difficulty in the software portion of large-scale plasma display deployments, and tries to make some half-baked homegrown application. We've hashed out the issues over 10+ years, and have the entire application worked out in a way that fits into almost everyone's plasma business plans. Scala handles the creation, scheduling, broadcasting, and reporting (feedback, accountability & billing). No cobbled together ensemble of components will do as good a job as simply using Scala right from the start. You don't expect every newspaper to write their own desktop publishing software, do you? Homegrown applications are no competition for Scala.
Why is Scala perfect for plasma screens?
General FAQ Solution #1, Plasma Screens (last modified 12/02/2002):
Scala Is The De Facto Standard Software for Plasma.
You found the definitive website for issues concerning computers and plasma screens. Scala is the de facto standard software for driving truly large-scale networks of plasma screen signage. Scalable multimedia means that you can start out with one computer station for both creation and playback, then scale up to 10 to 50 remote playback locations for an advertising or corporate communication pilot program.
Produce Lots of Content Without Much Production.
When you are happy with your pilot program, you can scale your number of playback locations on your network up to hundreds or thousands of sites with plasma display screens, directly under your control and the control of your subordinates. You can deliver visually impactful, broadcast quality, television-like multimedia messaging without the tremendous bottleneck of continual video production.
PhotoShop With Effects Is More Effective Than Vectors.
But you might ask yourself, shouldn't I use more "popular" software for signage networks? Flashy software like that used for vector-based animated graphics on the Internet? This is indeed a choice, but Scala has a unique approach that keeps production cycles fast and production costs low. Use digital photography, fonts, and "canned" clip-art and animation. Glue it all together fast and professionally, with the "guiding eye" of a talented PhotoShop artist. Add screen transitions, wipes, and fades for eye-catching motion. Do it with hardly any more skills than the PhotoShop artist already possesses. Do this over and over on a daily basis, rarely getting hung up on the complications and technical nuances of vector-based graphics.
Play Back Plasma Multimedia The Way You Designed It.
And best of all, design in a way that exactly shows you what it will look like at the playback location. That's right! Put a plasma screen right on the desk of your artist. Scala maps pixel-to-pixel to Plasma screens. What you see is exactly what you get. There will be few differences in appearance, performance, or timing at the playback location (when keeping the hardware the same at both locations). Scala was born for plasma displays.
Why use Scala instead of MPEG video?
General FAQ Solution #1, Digital Video (last modified 11/05/2001):
It would seem that traditional video production and MPEG would be the content-vehicle of choice for plasma signage networks, and not Scala. Not so! Scala will give you a content-vehicle that is so easy to produce for that you can keep fresh material going 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on-schedule, and under-budget. Anyone who has gone through the grief of "updating" video knows what we're talking about. Can you imagine producing the video, encoding the video, and re-transmitting huge MPEG files every time you want to change the price in the blue light special? Not only does Scala solve this problem with an easy-to-produce-for medium, but you can still include your MPEG video as Scala content! You can even delegate the price-updating tasks to non-production people such as administrators or accountants without any negative impact on the carefully designed multimedia-programming schedule. Think of Scala as your base-line way of keeping all your content fresh, and your screens always running, without becoming deathly repetitive.
What makes Scala different from other multimedia software?
General FAQ Solution #1, Full Screen (last modified 11/05/2001):
Anyone who has seen Scala in person sees right away that it's something special. It's hard to explain what it is about Scala that gets people excited. Perhaps it is the fact that after all these years of postage-stamp sized multimedia, Scala has preserved the unique user interface that is so conducive towards full-screen multimedia design. While most tools were oriented towards windows, Scala was targeting full screens. So today, when everyone else is just realizing the importance of full-screen delivery (besides the game industry), Scala has moved onto the next generation of issues -- managing multimedia signage networks that can scale to unlimited numbers of player locations. All the while, we never forgot that our products must appeal to graphic designers and artists; not programmers.
Few other products have extended the abilities of graphic designers and artists so far with so little effort. Not even the Internet. We know that's a bold claim. Try Scala. You'll see.
Why haven't I heard of Scala before?
General FAQ Solution #1, Secret Weapon (last modified 12/11/2002):
Scala has been the secret weapon of cable television advertisers for over a decade. Flip through your cable channels. You are likely to come across Scala more than once, running cable classifieds, real estate, and community news channels. This has given Scala a reputation for being a video company, or a character generator. But it also makes Scala possibly the most widely viewed multimedia software in the world. It also makes us the most experienced in high-impact, low bandwidth production that can be updated while on-air. Scala has fully Internet-enabled its software, made entry-level versions of its products so anyone can try it, and positioned itself to be the leaders in the widespread explosion of plasma screen-based signage networks. So, if you haven't yet heard of Scala other than through our website, you soon will.
Why Scala?
General FAQ Solution #1, Alternative To Video (last modified 11/05/2001):
We are often asked "why Scala?" The answer is usually that Scala is one of the few viable alternatives to video production. If you bracket dynamic visual communication with traditional television video production at one end, and advanced interactive multimedia authorware at the other end, then Scala lands somewhere in the middle. Scala producers need not be video producers or computer programmers. Instead, they are expected to be reasonably competent graphic artists with a sense of timing and transitions. The resulting Scala visual creations are dynamic and effective alternatives to video production and complicated programming. Scala is perfect for the emerging field of digital dynamic signage based around advertising and plasma screens.
Where can I get technical support?
General FAQ Solution #1, Technical Support (last modified 12/17/2004):
The technical support are of the website is at Support.
Key resources include...
The Support page http://www.scala.com/support
The FAQ page http://www.scala.com/faq
The Software Update page http://www.scala.com/downloads/updates.html
The User Discussion Forum (users helping users)http://www.scala.com/asp/messageboard.asp
Is Scala a plug-in like Macromedia Flash?
General FAQ Solution #1, Flash (last modified 11/05/2001):
Scala software is a complete multimedia environment used to run large networks of dynamic signage and interactive kiosks. So generally, Scala is not used as a plug-in. But our software is completely Internet compatible and certain versions of Scala can be used like a plug-in. iplay is routinely used for Internet slide-shows. iplay is a runtime player that can be launched by itself (eg: on a CD-ROM or hard disk) or within a browser. Content can appear full-screen, in a window, or embedded in a web page. iplay itself is not a plug-in; when used in a web page, an embedded Scala ActiveX object launches the player. But the content is played seamlessly along with other HTML text, graphics and objects. This environment is perfect for high-end, media-rich presentations where quality is important; for example, delivering digital photography presentations over the Internet. Content for iplay can be created with iplay studio or InfoChannel Designer, both available for online purchase.
Why do Scala products range from $59 to over $250,000?
General FAQ Solution #1, Broad Range (last modified 11/05/2001):
Scala is serving the needs of Fortune-1000 companies with the latest satellite and plasma technologies, and we continue to serve the multimedia enthusiasts and design professionals who made us great. By having a $59 entry-level web-enabled product, we have a continual influx of new users who inevitably lead us to new high-end digital dynamic signage opportunities. So, get familiar with the remarkable Scala user interface & screen transitions in Scala iplay studio, our slideshow product. Then move up to InfoChannel Designer, our $989 product for interactive multimedia and power presentations. Or contact us right away if you're investigating deployment of large multi-site display networks.
Is Scala like Microsoft PowerPoint?
General FAQ Solution #1, PowerPoint (last modified 11/05/2001):
Scala specializes in high-end software for controlling large networks of remote display and interactive devices. But we often get "the PowerPoint question" for two reasons. First, Scala has always produced entry-level versions of its products. Second, people outside the dynamic signage industry sometimes understand Scala software by comparing it to PowerPoint. Scala's entry-level product, iplay studio, is like PowerPoint. iplay studio is great for making slideshow-like presentations with TV-like playback, full of wipes, fades & transitions. It lets you assemble presentations very quickly from pre-existing backgrounds and clips. Scala's iplay studio is a good choice for slideshows requiring the attention-grabbing power of movement, and a good introduction to the Scala user interface. So whether you're giving a sales pitch or delivering ads to thousands of customers, your content gets noticed, not ignored. If you are a professional multimedia producer, we recommend InfoChannel Designer, which is often compared to Macromedia Director. When you choose any Scala product, you are choosing a multimedia development platform that can grow to support thousands of remote displays or interactive devices. Comparing PowerPoint to Scala's high-end products is like comparing a chalk board to the Internet.
What is digital dynamic signage?
General FAQ Solution #1, Digital Dynamic Signage (last modified 12/02/2002):
Constant Communication To Consumer And Corporate Customers.
Dynamic Signs are display devices such as plasma screens or hanging TV monitors used to communicate to people located nearby. Scala's software is uniquely suited to manage a large number of display devices located around the country or world. Dynamic signage networks are used for consumer advertising near their point of purchase. Dynamic signage is also used for corporate communication when companies need to communicate to their entire workforce & supply-chain in a fashion faster and more pervasive than even email.
Read more about Scala's dynamic signage solutions at...
http://www.scala.com/digital
http://www.scala.com/signage
Software With Two Key Competitive Advantages.
Scala provides two key competitive advantages in the dynamic signage industry. First, Scala has the expertise and partnerships (satellite, telephony & hardware companies) to ensure successful large-scale deployments. Second, Scala's software dramatically reduces the challenge of content production. Our superior user interface allows rapid production of content that is cheaper, faster, and more suitable and effective for dynamic signage than traditional video production and MPEG encoding. You can constantly update the signage with the latest company news or product promotions without the bottleneck of constant video production, MPEG encoding & transmission (We also fully support MPEG-1 & MPEG-2 distribution and playback).
Scala Is The Best Of Breed Multimedia Solution.
Scala is an open system working with most graphics formats and able to import resources from many sources. As a best-of-breed multimedia component, Scala alleviates most of the problems and issues surrounding truly scalable (large-scale) multimedia network deployments, while still allowing all the various vendors, value added resellers, and service providers (including broadband networking, creative agencies) be at your disposal.
Insist On Scala For Dynamic Signage.
You can provide as much or as little as you want towards a Scala solution, and contract out the rest. So, base your multimedia network on Scala, a technology that will let you work with commodity components and competitive service providers. Insist that your partners choose Scala. Ask around. Everyone "in the know" will agree that Scala is the long-standing dominant leaders in the reliable, high-impact, features required for broadcast-quality multimedia applications. Dynamic signage is no exception. Insist on Scala.
Is this the Scala I'm looking for?
General FAQ Solution #1, Other Scalas (last modified 11/05/2001):
You have found the Scala that provides MULTIMEDIA software solutions.
If you are looking for the Scala that provides ERP (enterprise resource planning), business management, and accounting software solutions, then you are looking for Scala Business Machines. Visit them at http://www.scala.se/ They have many more country-specific websites. Use their "Scala Worldwide Offices" menu to find your country.
If you are looking for the Scala that makes professional antennas and filters (including television broadcast transmitters), visit the Scala division of Kathrein-Group: http://www.kathrein-scala.com/ (United States) or http://www.kathrein.com/ (all countries)
If you're looking for La Scala, the Theater / Opera House in Italy, then click Teatro Alla Scala. Visit them at http://www.teatroallascala.org/
And if you're looking for any other Scala, check out this page that the Songwriters, Composers And Lyricists Association (S.C.A.L.A.) put together. It's a Scala world!
http://www.senet.com.au/~scala/scala.htm
What is Scala?
General FAQ Solution #1, What Is Scala (last modified 11/05/2001):
Scala, Inc. is a multimedia solutions company selling visually stunning presentation software. Our products run on everything from web browsers to large-scale multimedia networks of 1000's of display devices such as plasma signs. Because Scala has been producing multimedia software for the television broadcast industry since the early 1990s, we are uniquely qualified to handle large-scale multimedia deployment -- and are at the forefront of the dynamic signage revolution in point-of-purchase advertising. Contact Scala directly. We also sell through our excellent network of Authorized Resellers who know how to keep a computer display system running 24 x 7, and through Distributors, and direct to the public, with products priced $59 and up! Scala is for everyone.
