Vista Systems, manufacturers of video processors and widescreen displays, has unveiled SpyderPoint, an innovative, new PowerPoint-based control system for the Spyder processor. Spyder offers a cost-effective, real-time compositing and windowing environment coupled with superb image quality and processing capabilities. The company will be showing SpyderPoint at INFOCOMM Booth #4001.
“We think Spyder’s control system leads its field in ease of use but it has still required that an operator be trained in the system’s concepts in order to become proficient in its use,” notes Vista Systems CEO Clark Williams. “A large number of Spyder customers have been looking for an easier solution. With the introduction of SpyderPoint an executive or secretary familiar with PowerPoint can integrate Spyder with their presentation with no additional training.”
Since PowerPoint is the standard in presentation creation tools, it was logical for Spyder to take advantage of PowerPoint’s deep and broad user base, Williams points out. “PowerPoint is often used as a communications tool by creative people to convey information on screen layouts and where windows should be to the technical people,” he explains. “That was the genesis of the idea behind SpyderPoint. Instead of using PowerPoint to define what they want to see then asking technical people to program it, SpyderPoint users now are doing the actual programming simply by creating their presentation or storyboard.”
The SpyderPoint add in, compatible with PowerPoint 2003, will be offered as a free download to all Spyder owners. SpyderPoint operates in concert with Vista Advanced control software and Montage II consoles so, if the need arises, users can switch from using SpyderPoint to control PowerPoint presentation elements to tapping Vista Advanced to control the rest of the presentation.
SpyderPoint was previewed at NAB 2006 and heads into Beta testing in early May. A full release is expected prior to INFOCOMM ‘06.
SpyderPoint is proving attractive to a wide range of Spyder owners. “Spyder is very popular in the church market. Churches typically have volunteers running the system, and they have little time to learn or be trained on the equipment,” says Williams. “The same is true of boardroom environments where you can’t have technical personnel at every meeting. SpyderPoint now allows anybody familiar with PowerPoint to use the Spyder system.”