The intent of the Sphere is to support the heritage of the Kelvin Grove campus as a place of learning and embrace the vision of the Education Precinct to provide the best experiences for students and faculty, according to QUT Visualisation and eResearch Manager Gavin Winter.

“Initially, the Sphere was a difficult object for QUT’s content developers to get their head around,” Winter said. “Our developer team created simulations in content engines to test how standard content mapped to the equirectangular geometry, and when used in virtual reality, both developers and stakeholders gained confidence in the solution and became very inspired. The technology is robust, and we’re impressed by the scale and level of engineering of the system. We are also greatly impressed with how the Planar team worked with local crews to assemble, install and commission the project in such a short time.”

The Sphere is complemented by a 15.7-foot-wide, 4.4-foot-high Planar® LED MultiTouch video wall with a 1.2mm pixel pitch (TWA1.2) in a 4x2 configuration. Using Planar® PLTS™ (Pliable LED Touch Surface) technology, Planar LED MultiTouch provides a protective, durable surface and 32 simultaneous touch points for creating a seamless and dynamic multi-user experience.

In addition to offering interactive content, the Planar LED MultiTouch allows users to interact with certain applications displayed on the Sphere. In one example, the planets of our solar system are displayed on the video wall. When one of the planets is touched, the entire Sphere transforms into a reflected image of that planet.

To bring the Sphere installation to QUT, the university partnered and worked closely with global AV technology distributer Midwich as well as systems integrator Pro AV Solutions, which assembled, installed and tested the technology.

“The Sphere and digital video wall touch screen are learning and teaching tools, offering QUT a changing menu of innovative and interactive content,” said David McIntyre, video business manager, with Midwich Australasia. “Given our long-standing partnership with Planar, we had full confidence they would deliver a solution exceeding QUT’s expectations.”

Shannan Brooksby, Pro AV Solutions senior account manager for the education sector, said the LED Sphere and Planar LED MultiTouch video wall are an extraordinary example of enhancing the student learning experience and continuing to provide quality teaching and education. “Future programs with the Sphere may include augmented reality to enhance 3D learning,” Brooksby said. “A climate change simulator is also under development.”

Customized and unique

Unique digital projects like the Sphere—which merge design, technology and creativity—reflect a rising trend of customization in the LED space, driven by significant advancements in the adaptability of display technologies. “The design flexibility with LED has progressed to the point where almost anything is possible,” said Planar Custom Design Team Manager Peter Lawrence.
Lawrence leads the Planar Custom Design Team, which is helping open a new world of digital possibilities in LED technology by creating unique, one-of-a-kind LED designs.

“When clients come to us, we work with them to understand their concept and what they are trying to achieve.Then we go and seek a way to do it,” Lawrence said. “Often, they want something memorable, something completely unique that’s never been done before. If clients have the imagination, we have the expertise, technology and resources to turn their ideas into bespoke LED solutions.”
Custom LED solutions are more likely to get photographed and posted on social media, creating a buzz around the organization, the school, the team, or the company, according to Lawrence. “It’s all about doing something amazing that the client can highlight. It is brand-building and it leaves a lasting impression,” he said.

“And, just because it’s a custom design doesn’t mean it can’t be affordable—our goal is to make these projects attainable,” Lawrence added. That includes more sphere-like installations, which Lawrence and his team are now bringing to the U.S. market. Planar can build LED spheres in multiple sizes, ranging from one to five meters in diameter, as well as in hanging or floor-standing applications. “There are many considerations to a project of that caliber, such as structural support and how to build it into a space,” he said. “But before a sphere installation can be realized in the U.S., the design needs to first clear several U.S. certification standards.