Writing-On-Stone visitor centre

Writing-on-Stone CAD diagram

Extron MLC 226 IP Enhanced MediaLink controller

Writing-on-Stone New Visitor Centre

The Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park / Aisinai'pi National Historic Site 50th anniversary brings a new visitor centre that offers visitors the chance to experience the Blackfoot culture, relive the European settler era and learn about park history. The visitor centre theatre resembles a teepee with open wood beams and canvas wall coverings. Stepping down a few steps, seating surrounds a circular stage that is in the middle of the room to facilitate educational presentations. Blended into this historic look and feel, Inland AV has designed and integrated an easy to use AV system.

Keith Bocking, Heritage Appreciation Team Leader, having worked with Inland AV during the Systems Design and installation of the Dinosaur Provincial Park theatre, turned to Inland AV to develop the Writing-on-Stone AV system.

Three 50" HD Plasma monitors are suspended from the ceiling on the perimeter of the circular stage (see the CAD diagram on the right).

The Extron MLC 226 IP Enhanced MediaLink Controller is an AV equipment control panel (pictured on the right) that ensures the system is very user friendly. The controller enables the user to turn the system on and off, select what input is displayed on the monitors (VHS, DVD, computer) and control the volume of the audio. The controller can link online with the Extron website to update the drivers as new peripheral equipment is added to the room.

The MLC 226 IP also features key asset management functions such as:

• Proactive maintenance - Stores and displays information about connected devices such as: projector lamp hours and total hours of use, serial numbers and maintenance history.
• Event scheduling - Automatically turns the system on and off to coincide with the visitors centre's hours of operation.
• Remote technical support - With the visitors centre located four hours outside of Calgary, many connected devices can be turned on and off, sources switched and other trouble shooting can be performed remotely.
• Theft alerts - If a DVD or plasma monitor is physically disconnected, an e-mail is sent out to multiple addresses including cell phones and PDA's, for immediate response.

Most importantly, the AV system is easy to use so the room facilitator can focus on delivering the historic experience and not on operating the technology.

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